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A spider diversity model for the Caucasus Ecoregion

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Abstract

Precise information on spatial patterns of species richness and endemic species distribution is important for effective species conservation. In the Caucasus Ecoregion such information is virtually non-existent for invertebrate taxa. Using occurrence data from a large database we calculated species distribution models with the GARP algorithm for 471 spider species to visualize the diversity distribution of spider species in this region. Overall species diversity was highest in mountain forests of the North Caucasus, east-central Georgia, the southern slopes of the eastern Great Caucasus and south-east Azerbaijan. A regression tree analysis Chi squared automatic interaction detector method revealed the mean temperature of the driest quarter and precipitation parameters to be the main environmental factors shaping these patterns. Diversity of endemic species was correlated with overall species diversity but hotspots of endemic species (10+ percent of all species) exists in high-mountain areas, suggesting post-glacial speciation events in the high mountains as the main sources of high endemism in Caucasus. Further information on the spatial distribution of species diversity of invertebrate taxa in the Caucasus Ecoregion is needed to improve conservation efforts in this biodiversity hotspot.

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Acknowledgments

We are indebted to David Tarkhnishvili and Alexander Gavashelishvili for productive discussions of species distribution modeling. Jason Dunlop kindly commented our English.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Ecology, Ilia State University, 3/5 Cholokashvili Ave., 0162, Tbilisi, Georgia

    Giorgi Chaladze

  2. Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, University Würzburg, GutsMuthsstr. 42, 04177, Leipzig, Germany

    Stefan Otto

  3. Department of Computer Science, Business Information Systems, University Leipzig, Augustusplatz 10, Zimmer P614, 04109, Leipzig, Germany

    Sebastian Tramp

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  1. Giorgi Chaladze
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Correspondence to Giorgi Chaladze.

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Chaladze, G., Otto, S. & Tramp, S. A spider diversity model for the Caucasus Ecoregion. J Insect Conserv 18, 407–416 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-014-9649-1

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