Spider (Araneae) diversity, habitat distributions, and pitfall trapping in Kings Mountain National Military Park, South Carolina

The purpose of this study is to gain baseline data of the epigeic spider (Araneae) species composition and assess their habitat distributions in Kings Mountain National Military Park (KMNMP) in the Piedmont of South Carolina. Environments in their natural state are a cache for biodiversity, and maintaining the quality of these areas plays a crucial role in our future. Biological indicators such as spiders can be used as indicators of environmental quality, but baseline data for making these comparisons must be available. Three habitats types (riparian, ridge top, hardwood forest) in KMNMP are being monitored using pitfall trapping techniques to assess the habitat distributions of ground dwelling litter spiders. Sampling is conducted monthly for one year from August 2009 through July 2010. This type of data is important because it provides researchers and park officials with information needed to determine the effects of both use and management decisions on maintaining the health of an environment, it is relevant for conservation, and adds knowledge of field protocols to the pool of existing data.