EFFECTS OF CULTURAL-PRACTICES ON THE SPIDER (ARANEAE) FAUNA OF LOWBUSH BLUEBERRY FIELDS IN WASHINGTON COUNTY, MAINE

Spiders of 17 families, 53 genera, and 87 species were captured in pit fall traps (n = 45 traps/year) placed in lowbush blueberry fields in W ashington County, Maine, during the summers of 1986 and 1987. Species and numbers of hunting spiders (Lycosidae, Gnaphosidae, Thomisidae) we re numerically dominant. Significantly more (ANOVA, G-tests) spiders w ere captured in 1987 than in 1986. Sex ratios were highly biased towar d males both years. Species richness, diversity, and evenness of trapp ed spiders varied among three blueberry cultural treatments (mowing, b urning, bearing crop). In 1986, richness and diversity were greatest i n crop bearing fields, with spiders more evenly distributed in burned fields. In 1987, species richness, diversity, and evenness were greate st in burned fields. Over all weeks in 1986, there were no significant differences (ANOVA, DMRT) in mean numbers of individuals or species c aptured among treatments. Significant differences in mean catches amon g treatments were observed on one of nine sampling dates in 1986. Grea ter variation was seen in 1987 for both individuals and species; signi ficant differences in mean catches among treatments were noted on six of 12 sampling dates. Percentage similarity (PS) of species quantities among treatments was > 60; PS values were greater in 1986 than in 198 7. The blueberry-spider fauna had more species in common (QS) with ter restrial habitats than arboreal habitats in Maine.