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Ecology of Arachnida alien to Europe

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Abstract

The ecology of selected species of spiders (Araneae), harvestmen (Opiliones), and the neglected tropical order Schizomida, alien to Europe, is discussed. Their geographic origins and pathways of introduction, by transportation with goods, are similar to other predatory terrestrial arthropods. Occurrence in buildings (synanthropy) is a prerequisite for range expansion in many arachnid species. Thelytokous parthenogenesis facilitated spread of a few spider, harvestman and schizomid species outside their native range. Both prey generalists and specialists (woodlice-eating Dysdera crocata and ant-eating Zodarion rubidum) are among species successfully expanding their range. Alien arachnids include individual species belonging to many different families. We stress the absence of true invasiveness of alien arachnids in Europe. Some unusual adverse effects of alien arachnids were recorded, such as pollution of buildings and clogged car fuel system ventilation tubes. Frequency of painful biting and threat to native biota are low.

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Acknowledgments

Oldřich Nedvěd was supported by the grant no. MSM6007665801 provided by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic (ME hereafter). Stano Pekár was supported by the grant no. MSM0021622416 provided by ME. Milan Řezáč was supported by the grants no. 206/09P521 from the Czech Science Foundation, and MZE 0002700603 provided by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic. We are grateful to J. J. Sloggett for critical remarks and corrections of the manuscript, and to Jan Dolanský, Veronika Havlová, Vladimír Hula, and Robert Tropek for valuable suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic

    Oldřich Nedvěd

  2. Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre of Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic

    Oldřich Nedvěd

  3. Department of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37, Brno, Czech Republic

    Stano Pekár, Eva Líznarová & Lenka Sentenská

  4. Museum of Highlands Jihlava, Masaryk Square 55, 586 01, Jihlava, Czech Republic

    Pavel Bezděčka

  5. Crop Research Institute, Drnovská 507, CZ-161 06, Prague 6-Ruzyně, Czech Republic

    Milan Řezáč

  6. Fakultät für Biologie, Universität Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstrasse 5, 451 41, Essen, Germany

    Marcus Schmitt

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Correspondence to Oldřich Nedvěd or Stano Pekár.

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Handling Editor: Patrick De Clercq

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Nedvěd, O., Pekár, S., Bezděčka, P. et al. Ecology of Arachnida alien to Europe. BioControl 56, 539–550 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-011-9385-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-011-9385-3

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