The Spiders of East Bay, Southampton Island, Nunavut, Canada

Abstract

In 2000 and 2001, 22 816 spiders were caught in pitfall traps in East Bay Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Southampton Island, Nunavut, Canada. Of these, 18 711 were adults of 18 species, 4 lycosids and 14 linyphiids, with 2 of the linyphiids unknown. Six habitats in the study area (gravel ridge, dry heath, scrub willow, sedge meadow, moss carpet, and intertidal zone) are described, and habitat preferences of each species are presented. When compared to five other Canadian Arctic spider communities, the community reported here fits the general pattern of reduction in families and species with increasing latitude, and demonstrates both the patchiness of Arctic spider distribution and the difficulties of comparing habitat preferences.