Mikhailov et al. 2017, full-text PDF
Clubiona caucasica Mikhailov & Otto, 2017 has been described from the Caucasus in Mikhailov et al. (2017). Apparently all former records of Clubiona caerulescens from the Caucasus actually belong to this new species and C. caerulescens does not occur in the Caucasus Ecoregion.
Visit the species page of Clubiona caucasica on caucasus-spiders.info.
Homepage of Caucasian Spiders Database (click to access homepage).
Version 1.4.3 of the Caucasian Spider Database includes 13321 records of 1107 spider species, destilling the information distributed across 275 publications with occurrence data of spiders in the Caucaus Ecoregion.
Citation: Otto, S. (2015): Caucasian Spiders. A faunistic database on the spiders of the Caucasus. Version 1.4.3 Internet: http://caucasus-spiders.info/
Front page of article (click to download PDF).
Abstract: The commented checklist is based on 275 publications with occurrence data on spiders in the Caucasus Ecoregion (13321 records of 1107 species). The number of records as well as its abundance status is given for each species. The list of doubtful and erroneous species records contains another 57 species, which are either invalid species or their species records in the Caucasus Ecoregion are based on doubtful records, misidenti cations or related reasons. A record density map for the Caucasus Ecoregion is provided.
Chaladze, G., S. Otto & S. Tramp (2014): A spider diversity model for the Caucasus Ecoregion. Journal of Insect Conservation 18(3): 407-416 DOI 10.1007/s10841-014-9649-1 PDF
Species richness distribution of all species with a valid distribution model across the study area. Darker shades indicate higher predicted numbers of species
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.