The ecological determinants of space use by a burrowing wolf spider in a xeric shrubland ecosystem

The patterns of dispersion and habitat associations of a burrowing wolf spider were examined in a xeric shrubland ecosystem in central Florida, U.S.A. Geostatistical analyses of habitat features and burrow sites revealed that at the level of the scrub landscape burrow dispersion was correlated with patches of barren sand. This association was found to be the result of active choice in enclosure experiments. There was less prey available at burrow sites than at random sites within the scrub; thus, this microhabitat association is not explained by improved foraging in barren patches. Discriminant analysis of 18 features of burrow sites and non-burrow sites documented that there was no predictor of burrow placement other than barren sand. Burrows were aggregated within the open sand microhabitat. However, these aggregations were not explained by substratum moisture, prey, or the differential burrow-site tenure of aggregatedvs. solitary spiders.