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Megabunus armatus und lesserti, zwei endemische Weberknechte in den Alpen (Opiliones: Phalangiidae). – Carinthia II, 188./108.: 619-627.
... Literatur: Ausobsky unpubl., Franz (1943), Kofler (1984), Komposch (1999Komposch ( , 2000Komposch ( , 2006 2009), Komposch unpubl., Komposch & Gruber (2004), Martens (1978), Novak & Gruber (2000). (Martens 1978, Hammelbacher 1987, Komposch 1998b, Muster 2000, Muster et al. 2005. Schweiz: fraglicher locus typicus im Engadin. ...
... Neuere Fundorte in Nordkärnten im Naturschutzgebiet Gurkursprung und im Natura-2000-Gebiet Inneres Pöllatal liegen ebenfalls auf kalkhaltigem Felsgrund inmitten der silikatischen Gurktaler Alpen bzw. Hohen Tauern (Komposch 1998b, Komposch unpubl., Komposch & Gruber 2004, Muster et al. 2005 (Martens 1978, Komposch 1998b, Muster et al. 2005. Daten zur Ernährungsbiologie liegen -bis auf die Einzelmeldung von Hammelbacher (1987), wonach ein Weibchen im Terrarium frisch getötete Stubenfliegen fraß -nicht vor. ...
... Neuere Fundorte in Nordkärnten im Naturschutzgebiet Gurkursprung und im Natura-2000-Gebiet Inneres Pöllatal liegen ebenfalls auf kalkhaltigem Felsgrund inmitten der silikatischen Gurktaler Alpen bzw. Hohen Tauern (Komposch 1998b, Komposch unpubl., Komposch & Gruber 2004, Muster et al. 2005 (Martens 1978, Komposch 1998b, Muster et al. 2005. Daten zur Ernährungsbiologie liegen -bis auf die Einzelmeldung von Hammelbacher (1987), wonach ein Weibchen im Terrarium frisch getötete Stubenfliegen fraß -nicht vor. ...
... Marcellino (1975Marcellino ( , 1988 and Zingerle (1999) studied harvestman distributions in the Dolomite Mts. in Italy, Komposch and Gruber (1999) in the Eastern Alps in Austria, and Muster (2002) in the northern Alps in Germany. The Alpine opilionid species Dicranopalpus gasteinensis, Mitostoma alpinum, Megabunus armatus and Gyas annulatus, found in the Kamnik-Savinja Alps, have been reported as representatives of specific highland HTs (Caporiacco 1922;Martens 1978;Marcellino 1988;Komposch 1998;Komposch and Gruber 1999;Muster 2002;Novak et al. 2004). Outside the Alps, Mitov and Stoyanov (2005) performed a similar study in the Vitosha Mts. in Bulgaria, where the harvestmen fauna partially differs from those in the Alps, and concluded that HTs are the most important factor determining the ecological classification of Opiliones. ...
... This study sets a relatively simple model for understanding the relationships among environmental conditions, highland HTs and the resident harvestman species. Among the harvestman species, M. armatus and L. palpinalis 1999;Komposch 1998Komposch , 2011Komposch and Gruber 1999;Martens 1978;Marcellino 1988;Novak et al. 2004). Ecologically specialized responses would also be expected in Paranemastoma bicuspidatum and Ischyropsalis hadzii, if these were to be found in the area in the future. ...
In nature conservation, providing new, advanced knowledge of protected habitats and biota often requires extensive sampling, which contradicts the main goal of minimizing damage and disturbance. How to avoid this innate collision was the main concern in our study. Highland habitats are suitable for addressing this problem, since they are relatively species-poor and therefore easier to analyze. Invertebrate distributions are, to some extent, expected to vary congruently with habitat type (HT) distributions. However, studies of such effects are scarce. In this study we researched harvestmen (Opiliones) in highland habitats above 1,800 m in the Kamnik-Savinja Alps, a Natura 2000 area in Slovenia. The question was whether mapping of HT distributions could predict the presence of the harvestman species and replace their laborious mapping. For this purpose, we studied relationships between the HT distributions and the harvestman species distributions with respect to environmental conditions. Chao2 and Jackknife1 were found to provide the best estimates of total species diversity. In assessing the species richness, the incidence-based approach was applied. No indicator harvestman species for the HTs, and no statistical difference was found in the harvestman community structure of three most frequently inhabited HTs. Most HTs and harvestman species responded gradually and in parallel to the changing environmental conditions along the altitudinal gradient, revealing covariation of their distributions. Hence, knowledge of highland HT distributions cannot replace the mapping of harvestmen.
... Auch im Zuge von "GEO-Tagen der Artenvielfalt" wurden viele Daten zur Spinnentierfauna erhoben , 2009b, 2011, 2012a, 2012b, 2008, Komposch & Platz 2009, Komposch & Blick 2010, Komposch & Horak 2011 statt. Weitere aktuelle Aufsammlungen erfolgten durch den deutschen Arachnologen Christoph Muster (Komposch 1998, Muster et al. 2005 , Klara Brandl (2005) und Peter Zulka (2013). Eine alpenweite Revision der Gattung Megabunus machte erneut die Ennstaler Alpen und das Gesäuse zum Ziel weberknechtkundlicher Kartierungsarbeiten (Wachter et al. 2015). ...
Biodiversity in the Gesäuse National Park-A zoological cross-taxon analysis. The Gesäuse National Park is amongst the best investigated areas in Styria and Austria. For the evertebrate groups harvestmen, spiders, ground beetles, beetles diversa, true bugs, leaf-and planthoppers and land snails 1,650 species are documented in 18,765 zoological records (detailing around 76,000 specimens) of 1,900 sample sites inside and in the close surroundings of the protected area. The dataset consists of records from historic sources as well as of our research results from the past 20 years. Overall, the recorded taxonomic diversity comprises 18.1 % threatened species, where most threatened species were found in low and high altitudes and least in middle altitude classes. Maximum numbers of threatened species were observed in the Enns River valley, amounting to about 25 % of all recorded species. Most datapoints were recorded around an altitude of 1,500 m. The average number of datapoints per species is highest for harvestmen, with 36.6 single datapoints per species. Almost all taxa show a higher species diversity in low to middle altitude classes compared to higher altitudes. Only land snails are relatively constant in their species diversity over altitude. High total species numbers were documented from the Kölblalm (349 species), the Kalktal (189) and the lower parts of the Hartelsgraben (157). We identify blank spots in the National Park's map of faunistical research that pertain to the altitudinal classes of 800 m and 1,300 m. Coenoses from the soil stratum and leaf litter, tree trunks and canopy have so far been very little researched as well. The Gesäuse National Park is an important outdoor-laboratory, where biological processes can be observed, questions concerning biodiversity, ecology and nature conservation can be formed and potential answers can be searched for and found. Zusammenfassung: Der Nationalpark Gesäuse ist hinsichtlich der vorliegenden Datenbasis zur wirbellosen Tierwelt einer der am besten untersuchten Landschafts-teile der Steiermark und Österreichs. Für die Tiergruppen Weberknechte, Spinnen, Laufkäfer, Käfer diversa, Wanzen, Zikaden und Schnecken mit insgesamt 1.650 Arten liegen gegenwärtig 18.765 zoologische Datensätze (rund 76.000 Individuen) von etwa 1.900 Fundpunkten aus dem Nationalpark und seiner unmittelbaren Umgebung vor. Sie rekrutieren sich sowohl aus historischen Quellen als auch aus den aktuellen Forschungsarbeiten der letzten 20 Jahre. Sie werden in Hinblick auf die räumliche Verteilung der Artendiversität und auf mögliche "weiße Flecken" der faunistischen Forschung im Schutzgebiet analysiert. Der Anteil an Rote-Liste-Arten beträgt insgesamt 18,1 %. Hohe Anteile gefährdeter Arten sind in tiefen und hohen Lagen zu finden, die geringsten relativen Werte wurden für die mittleren Lagen dokumentiert. Maximalwerte mit mehr als 25 % gefährdeter Arten wurden für den Talraum der Enns festgestellt. Aus Höhen um 1.500 m liegen absolut gesehen besonders viele Datensätze vor. Der Erforschungsgrad der einzelnen Tiergruppen spiegelt sich vor allem in der Anzahl an Datensätzen pro Art wieder. Bei dieser Auswertung liegt die artenärmere und gut bearbeitete Tiergruppe Weberknechte mit durchschnittlich 36,6 Datensätzen pro Spezies an der Spitze. In fast allen Tiergruppen ist die Anzahl nachgewiesener Arten in den Mittel-und Tallagen höher als in den in den Hochlagen. Für Landschnecken wurden hingegen für alle Seehöhe-Klassen konstante Artenzahlen dokumentiert. Die meisten Tierarten sind von der Kölblalm mit 349 Arten bekannt. Danach folgen die Lawinenrinne im Kalktal mit 189 und der untere Grabenabschnitt des Hartelsgraben mit 157 Arten. Komposch C. et al. 2021 Entomologica Austriaca 28: 57-105 58 Die taxaübergreifende Analyse der Höhenstufen zeigt ein Datenloch bei jeweils 800 m und 1.300 m Seehöhe. Hinsichtlich der bearbeiteten Straten bestehen Da-tendefizite für die Besiedler der Streuschicht, Bodenschicht, Baumstämme und Baumkronen. Der Nationalpark Gesäuse kann als bedeutendes Freiland-Laboratorium bezeichnet werden, in dem biologische Prozesse beobachtet und Antworten auf Fragen zu Biodiversität, Ökologie und Naturschutz gesucht und gefunden werden können.
... Dem Vorkommen des "Nördlichen Riesenauges" Megabunus lesserti Schenkel, 1927 (Abb. 1, 2) in den Nordostalpen ist in den letzten Jahren verstärkte Aufmerksamkeit gewidmet worden, zum einen wegen des seltenen Phänomens geographischer Parthenogenese, zum anderen wegen mutmaßlicher Glazialresistenz am Nordalpenrand. Die Verbreitungsdaten wurden von KOMPOSCH (1998) und MUSTER (2000 zusammenfassend dargestellt. Demnach umfasst das geschlossene Areal die Nördlichen Kalkalpen etwa von der Raxalpe bis zum Achenseegebiet, mit möglicherweise isolierten Vorposten im Ammergebirge und in den Gurktaler Alpen. ...
... Biologie und Ökologie: sehr hohe Stenotopie (Habitat: senkrechte und überhängende Kalkfelsen). Literatur: Thaler (1963, Ausobsky (1987), Ressl (1995), Komposch (1998a), Muster (2000Muster ( , 2001, Muster et al. (2005), Böttcher (2006). ...
The current checklist of harvestmen (Arachnida: Opiliones) found in Austria comprises 62 species from eight families. The phenotypic diversity of this arachnid order is impressive and equally well reflected in the variety of life-history and habitats.
The spectrum stretches from short-legged, mite-like soil dwellers through amber claw-harvestmen, earth-incrusted and flattened trogulids and powerful cheliferous troglobionts up to the well known long-legged saxicolous forms. Faunistic knowledge of this order can be considered as good to very good.
The representational red list of Austrian harvestmen is the very first nationwide threat assessment of this taxonomic group. Threat assessment as a probability of extinction has been geared to IUCN-criteria and is based on abundance, abundance trends, range trends, habitat availability, habitat trends, direct human influence, immigration and other risk factors, drawn from more than 13,000 Austrian data sources as well as the literature and expert opinion.
25 (40 %) taxa of the 62 total Austrian harvestmen are at present not endangered or of nature conservation interest, including 15 species (24 %) regarded as “Least concern” (LC), 3 neozoans (5 %) as “Not Evaluated” (NE) and 7 taxa (11 %) showing an impending threat (“Near Threatened”, NT). 2 trogulid taxa (3 %) are not evaluated due to a an ongoing revision (DD – Data Deficient). The remaining 35 species (56 %) are classified into the varying categories of endangerment (VU, EN, CR): 12 species (19 %) are “Vulnerable” (VU), 17 (27 %) are “Endangered” (EN) and 6 (10 %) are “Critically Endangered” (CR). Due to the recent rediscovery of Nelima apenninica none of the species were assigned to the category “Regionally Extinct” (RE).
Assignment of harvestman species to threat categories:
„Critically Endangered“ (CR): Anelasmocephalus cambridgei, Carinostoma carinatum, Ischyropsalis helvetica, Nelima apenninica, Trogulus cisalpinus, Trogulus falcipenis
„Endangered“ (EN): Anelasmocephalus hadzii, Astrobunus helleri, Cyphophthalmus duricorius, Dicranolasma scabrum, Gyas annulatus, Gyas titanus, Holoscotolemon unicolor, Ischyropsalis carli, Ischyropsalis hadzii, Ischyropsalis hellwigii hellwigii, Leiobunum roseum, Mitostoma alpinum, Nemastoma bidentatum relictum, Nemastoma lugubre, Nemastoma schuelleri, Opilio parietinus, Paranemastoma bicuspidatum
„Vulnerable“ (VU): Astrobunus laevipes, Dasylobus graniferus, Egaenus convexus, Histricostoma dentipalpe, Ischyropsalis kollari, Lacinius horridus, Leiobunum subalpinum, Megabunus armatus, Mitopus glacialis, Nemastoma bidentatum bidentatum, Platybunus pinetorum, Trogulus tingiformis
„Near Threatened“ (NT): Lacinius ephippiatus, Leiobunum rotundum, Megabunus lesserti, Nemastoma bidentatum sparsum, Opilio dinaricus, Paranemastoma quadripunctatum, Trogulus closanicus
„Least Concern“ (LC): Amilenus aurantiacus, Dicranopalpus gasteinensis, Lacinius dentiger, Leiobunum limbatum, Leiobunum rupestre, Lophopilio palpinalis, Mitopus morio, Mitostoma chrysomelas, Nelima sempronii, Nemastoma triste, Oligolophus tridens, Opilio saxatilis, Phalangium opilio, Platybunus bucephalus, Rilaena triangularis
„Not Evaluated“ (NE): Leiobunum sp., Opilio canestrinii, Opilio ruzickai
„Data Deficient“ (DD): Trogulus nepaeformis, Trogulus tricarinatus
The main cause of threat for Austrian harvestman fauna is the current forest management regime, followed by agriculture practices, river engineering measures and tourism. An analysis of the vertical distribution of endangered harvestmen in Austria shows the highest absolute number in the montane zone (27 species), followed by the submontane- (24) and the subalpine zone (17); in relative percent that means about 65 % of Austrian species occur in the subalpine zone, followed by 60 % in the montane zone and about 50 % each in the submontane- and alpine zones.
Austria should prioritize the long-term preservation of 18 harvestman species. A high responsibility of Austria exists for the preservation of further 14 taxa! Among these are two Austrian endemics, Nemastoma bidentatum relictum and Nemastoma schuelleri, and 12 subendemics.
Need for action persists for 66 % of the native harvestman fauna; 27 taxa need preservation and research efforts as well as incorporation within management plans and the evaluation of habitat types of the Fauna-Flora-Habitat-Directive of the European Union. There is an urgent need for action for an additional 14 species; adequate conservation programs should be put to practice immediately.
... Abb Die 30 nachgewiesenen Tiere verteilen sich auf 20 Männchen, 7 Weibchen und 3 Jungtiere (Pulli). Der mit 74 % extrem hohe Anteil an Männchen ist für diese Spezies sehr ungewöhnlich, tritt das Nördliche Riesenauge doch im überwiegenden Teil seines Areals entweder parthenogenetisch oder zumindest mit Weibchen-dominierten Populationen auf (MARTENS 1978, THALER 1984, KOMPOSCH 1998, MUSTER 2001, KOMPOSCH & GRUBER 2004, MUSTER et al. 2005. Ein ausgeglichenes oder zugunsten der Männchen verschobenes Geschlechterverhältnis kennen MUSTER et al. (2005) nach umfangreicher Analyse aller verfügbaren Daten weltweit nur aus dem Gesäuse und vom Mittersee bei Lunz (THALER 1963). ...
KOMPOSCH | Die Weberknechtfauna des Großen Buchsteins oder: "Jagd auf das Nördliche Riesenauge" | 5 | Teil 2 S. 114–125 | Schriften des NP Gesäuse 8 (2012) | GEO-Tag 2011 | Zwischen Bruckstein und Buchstein | ALPINE RÄUME 114 Teil 2 | 5 | KOMPOSCH | Die Weberknechtfauna des Großen Buchsteins oder: "Jagd auf das Nördliche Riesenauge" ALPINE RÄUME | Zwischen Bruckstein und Buchstein | GEO-Tag 2011 | Schriften des NP Gesäuse 8 (2012) | S. 114–125 Die Weberknechtfauna des Großen Buchsteins oder: "Jagd auf das Nördliche Riesenauge" (Arachnida: Opiliones) Von CHRISTIAN KOMPOSCH Insgesamt ist heute die Zeit reif für die moderne Erforschung von Trends in der Evolution Alpen-endemischer Tiere, und wir dürfen uns daraus das Zutagefördern bislang unterschätzter Charakteristika der Evolution dieser Fauna erwarten. (Florian Steiner & Birgit Schlick-Steiner im Projektantrag: "Alpiner Endemismus: Integrative Taxonomie und Faunengeschichte von Megabunus-Weberknechten") R iesenauge oder Megabunus. Was verbirgt sich hinter diesen klingenden Namen? Sind es Furcht einfl ößende Gestalten aus der Vergangenheit, die in den Gseis-Bergen ihr Unwe-sen treiben? Welche evolutionären Geheimnisse verbergen diese Kreaturen, die von einem österreichisch-deutsch-südtirolerischen Forscherteam im Alpenraum zwischen Lunz und Nizza gejagt werden? Zumindest eines dieser Fragenzeichen sollte im Zuge der 24-stün-digen Begehung der Südfl anke des Großen Buchsteins im Nationalpark Gesäuse geklärt werden … 2|5
... Parthenogenesis can account for successful spreading over longdistances (Meidell & Stol 1990). Also the species Megabunus lesserti Schenkel, 1927, which occurs in Germany, Switzerland and Austria (Blick & Komposch 2004), seems to be parthenogenetic (Komposch 1998, Komposch & Gruber 2004 No. of individuals tarbeid utført mellom Stavanger (EIS 7) og Flekkefjord (EIS 4) for å finne den sørlige utbredelsesgrensa til arten. Kommentarer til økologien til M. diadema er utførlig gitt. ...
The presently known distribution of Megabunus diadema is summarized and presented as a map. The species is known from Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Western Norway, Great Britain, Western France by the English Channel and Northern Spain. M. diadema was studied in 9 localities at the island of RY Karmøy, Ryfylke (EIS 13) in Western Norway from 3 different biotopes during the period of 15 June - 10 July 1997. During this period, 261 females and 3 males were collected by hand-picking. M. diadema is mainly a parthenogenetic species, and these males are the first reported from Norway. Regarding morphological characters the body length, movable cheliceral finger, pedipalpal tarsus and 1. eye spine were measured. Both the smallest and largest body length were found in specimens from coniferous wood. Compared to Western Europe and Great Britain no geographical differences were detected regarding body length. Regarding movable cheliceral finger length specimens from different coniferous woods were both smallest and largest in size. The length of pedipalpal tarsus was smallest in mixed wood and greatest in coniferous wood. 1. eye spine length was smallest in mixed wood and largest in coniferous wood. The southern distribution limit of M. diadema was found to lie close to the county border of VAY Vest-Agder. The biotope preference of the species was found to be mixed wood, and the density maximum was in the last week of June.
Arachnids are a major component in alpine assemblages, both for their diversity and abundance (Schmölzer 1962), spiders making up between 9–51% of the epigeic macrofauna (Meyer 1980; Matthey et al. 1981; Dethier 1984). Arachnids have been broadly discussed in coenological studies dealing with the Central Alps (Franz 1943; Schmölzer 1962; Christandl-Peskoller and Janetschek 1976), the nival zone (Bäbler 1910;Handschin 1919;Janetschek 1993), and glacier forelands (Janetschek 1949). However, few studies have focused on the spiders alone, e.g. in the Ötztal Alps (Palmgren 1973;Puntscher 1980), Dolomites (Zingerle 1999a,b), Bavarian Alps (Muster 2001) and at Grisons, Munt La Schera (Dethier 1983), since the work of Heller and Dalla Torre (1882) on the distribution of arachnids (and other arthropods) across life zones and along a longitudinal transect from Mt. Baldo in Trentino to the northern Calcareous Alps in Tyrol and a pioneering comment on high alpine spiders in Switzerland by Lessert (1909). This paper focuses mainly on the Eastern Alps because the spider fauna of the SW Alps is lesser known (Maurer and Thaler 1988).
Epigeic Spider and Harvestman Communities of the Northern Dolomites (Sesto/Sexten Nature Park and Sella Pass, South Tyrol, Italy) (Araneae, Opiliones) Synopsis: Arachnid communities of the subalpine, alpine and nival belts were investigated in north-eastern Italy. Sesto/Sexten Nature Park and Sella Pass (Dolomites). Altogether nine sites were sampled using 36 pitfall-traps during a whole year, from spring 1997 to spring 1998. Additionally alpine and nival habitats were sampled during summer 1996. 1997 and 1998 by hand collecting. The total material captured by pitfalls comprises 2512 adult and 440 inadult spiders. 110 species in 12 families. Dominant families are Linyphiidae (54 % of total adult specimens). Lycosidae (35 %), Thomisidae (4 %) and Gnaphosidae (2,5 %). Additionally 91 adult and 269 inadult harvestmen were colltected. 9 species in 4 families (58% Phalangiidae. 28 % Nemastomatidae. 8 % Trogulidae and 6 % Ischyropsalididae). At several summits additional 6 spider spe-cies and ! harvestman were captured by hand. Species number, diversity value ^log) according to SHANNON-WEAVER and evenness were calculated for each site. The effects of environmental factors and the relationship between species were in-vestigated by correspondence analysis. The spider and harvestman communites were also compared with previous studies in the Northern Dolomites and m the Central Alps. The alpine grasslands of the northern Dolomites are dominated by spider spe-cies belonging to the family Lycosidae. e.g. Aloper.osa taeniata (C. L. KOCH). Pardosa bianda (C. L. KOCH), P. mixta (KULCZYNSKI) and P. riparici (C. L. KOCH). Forests near to the timberlme are dommated by Imyphiid spiders which reach 78% of the spiders collected there. In these habitats specie^ number and diversity value are generally higher than in other habitats indicating a "mixed" fauna with alpine and subalpine elements. Screes are generally characterized by lower numbers of indi-viduals and species. Typical inhabitants are: Lepihyphantes variabilis Kui CZYNSKI, Pardosa nigra (C. L. KOCH). Tiso aestivus (L. KOCH) and Rugailwdes bellicasus (SIMON). Zoogeographically interesting species were discussed, i.e. Eperigone triloba-ta (EMERTON). Miniali candida DENIS, Walckeiiaeria languida (SIMON). Porrlmmma cf. cambridgei MERRETT. Ozyp/ila ladi na THALER & ZINGERLE. Xysticits obscurus COLLETT and Heliophanus iineiventris SIMON. Altogether 23 species are endemic to the Alps and 13 endemic to the Alpine system: 10 species show boreal-alpine and arctic-alpine distribution pattern. 25 spi-der species are not yet included in the Italian checklist. According to the red list of South-Tyrol 35 species of spiders can be considered as endangered in the area (30 % of the species captured). Endemic species seem to be restricted to the highest sum-mits ("Nunatakks"). demonstrating isolation and speciation effects during last glaciation, but also suggesting a high impact on the local fauna. The Linyphiidae Lepthyphantes merretli MILLIDGE. L bruniteli THALER and the harvestman Megabmuis arma-tus (Kui CYNSKI) are endemic to the Dolomites. Typical endemic glassland species from the southern border of the Alps seem to be absent in the northern Dolomites. Re-immigrants "over short distance" from the southern border of the Alps are Lepthyphantes cf.fragilis (THORELL) and Troglohyphantes tirolensis SCHENKEL. *) Anschrift des Verfassers: Mag. V. Zingerle.
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