Life history, habitat use and dispersal of a dune wolf spider (Pardosa monticola (Clerck, 1757) Lycosidae, Araneae) in the Flemish coastal dunes (Belgium)

Pardosa monticola (Araneae, Lycosidae) is a rare spider in Flanders. It is restricted to thermophilic mesotrophic (dune and heath) grasslands. Its lif e cycle and its habitat preference in the coastal dunes were analysed by in terpreting data of more than 200 year-round pitfall-samplings. Viable popul ations are found in short dune grasslands (grazed by rabbits) and in mown y oung dune slacks. The life cycle is mixed annual-biannual and hibernation t akes place in the juvenile or sub-adult instars. In short grasslands, the s pecies overwinters in the rough neighbouring vegetation, in dune slacks, in litter accumulations. In the latter, the species survives submerging durin g winter inundation. Dispersal between suitable habitats can occur by male terrestrial movements via xerophylic habitats and dense grassland vegetation. Aeronautic dispers al is a rare phenomenon in the first instars that takes place only in perio ds of food shortage. Although a low proportion of the population exhibits t his behaviour, this kind of dispersal can be of great importance for gene e xchange between distant or strongly isolated populations. The implications and the importance of these data are discussed in relation to contemporary nature management.