Spiders and management for invertebrates

Arachnids, insects and other invertebrate groups play a vital role in ecological systems and the importance of invertebrates is increasingly being recognised in nature conservation and management. The complex structural mosaic of a habitat and its diversity are very important to many invertebrates. Spiders are no exception, although their general lack of prey specialism means that floral and faunal diversity is unlikely to be as important as the structural spaces presented by the ground topography and vegetation, affecting features such as microclimate and web construction. These are the very factors likely to be most influenced by different management regimes, and spiders should therefore be valuable indicators on the success or otherwise of such management and the health of the countryside.

Management in place

Grazing animals

Management frequency

See also
summary and A-Z species index