SPIDER BIODIVERSITY POTENTIAL OF AN UNGRAZED AND A GRAZED INLAND SALTMEADOW IN THE NATIONAL-PARK NEUSIEDLER SEE-SEEWINKEL (AUSTRIA) - IMPLICATIONS FOR MANAGEMENT (ARACHNIDA, ARANEAE)

To assess the biodiversity potential of an ungrazed and a grazed inlan d salt meadow in the Seewinkel (Eastern Austria), spider assemblages w ere recorded by pitfall trapping for 1 year. Both species assemblages consisted, to a large extent, of rare species of conservation interest . The species assemblage of the grazed site was dominated by Pardosa a grestis, but highly specific halotopobiontic species also occurred in higher numbers. Halotolerant species were also present in the ungrazed meadow, but their individual number was much lower. The species compo sition of this site reflects the more balanced microclimatical situati on of the high sward. Comparison of the two assemblages with 207 other meadow spider assemblages of Central Europe shows a separated positio n, especially of the grazed site assemblage. High similarities with as semblages of meadows with a similar vegetation structure indicate a hi gh importance of management. Considering the high proportion of rare s pecies on both sites, the best management of the salt meadow and pan s hores of the Seewinkel should combine areas of light grazing with ungr azed areas. However, the proportion of these parts and the intensity o f grazing still remains to be determined by quantitative experiments.