1urn:lsid:arphahub.com:pub:F9B2E808-C883-5F47-B276-6D62129E4FF4urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:245B00E9-BFE5-4B4F-B76E-15C30BA74C02Biodiversity Data JournalBDJ1314-28361314-2828Pensoft Publishers10.3897/BDJ.4.e10527105276286Species Conservation ProfileLycosidaeSpecies conservation profile of the alpine stenoendemic spider Vesubiajugorum (Araneae, Lycosidae) from the Maritime AlpsMammolaStefanostefanomammola@hotmail.ithttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-4471-9055533MilanoFilippo533CardosoPedro534IsaiaMarcomarco.isaia@unito.it533Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, Torino, ItalyDepartment of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of TorinoTorinoItalyIUCN SSC Spider & Scorpion Specialist Group, Helsinki, FinlandIUCN SSC Spider & Scorpion Specialist GroupHelsinkiFinland
Corresponding authors: Stefano Mammola (stefanomammola@hotmail.it), Marco Isaia (marco.isaia@unito.it).
Academic editor: Pavel Stoev
2016071020164e10527FFEDF93F-FF81-BD02-FF85-176DFFA1FFCD1595481609201604102016Stefano Mammola, Filippo Milano, Pedro Cardoso, Marco IsaiaThis is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Vesubiajugorum (Simon, 1881) (Araneae: Lycosidae) is a large-sized wolf spider that occurs in alpine rocky areas above 2,000 m altitude. The species is stenoendemic, with a limited number of populations documented in the literature from the Maritime Alps (Italy, France). Due to the climate change, the current observed extent of occurrence (EEO 4,412 km2) and the area of occupancy (AOO 835 km2) are declining.
Climate Changewolf spiderhigh altitudesIUCNred listSpecies information
Scientific name: Vesubiajugorum
Species authority: (Simon, 1881)
Common names: Giant alpine spider (English)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Family: Lycosidae
Taxonomic notes: Vesubiajugorum is a large-sized spider (body length: 15–20 mm, prosoma: 7-9 mm). The prosoma is generally blackish or dark brown, marked with black streaks irradiating from the fovea. The opisthosoma is dark grey dorsally and brown reddish ventrally. Legs are dark brown dorsally and reddish-yellowish ventrally, especially on coxae (Figs 1, 2). See Tongiorgi (1968), Tongiorgi (1969), Maurer and Thaler (1988) and Nentwig et al. (2016) for genitalic drawings and other relevant diagnostic features.
Figure(s) or Photo(s): Figs 2, 4
Region for assessment: Global
Geographic range
Biogeographic realm: Palearctic
Countries: FranceItaly
Map of records (image): Fig. 3
Map of records (Google Earth): Suppl. material 1
Basis of EOO and AOO: Species Distribution Model
Basis (narrative): We based the Species Distribution Model (SDM) on literature data (Isaia et al. (2015), Isaia et al. (2007), Maurer and Thaler (1988), Simon (1881), Tongiorgi (1968), Tongiorgi (1969)) and original unpublished data gathered during recent surveys (see New occurrences). Occurrences were used to model the current distribution of the species through a MaxEnt model in dismo R package (Hijmans et al. 2014). See Mammola et al. (2015) and Isaia et al. (2016) for details on modeling procedure. We estimated the extent of occurrence (EOO) and the area of occupancy (AOO) from the model, as implemented in the red R package (Cardoso 2016). To estimate the potential variation of the EOO and AOO due to future climate change, the model was projected in the future (year 2028; i.e. 3 spider generations) according to two different representative concentration pathways, namely rcp 2.6 (low emission rate) and rcp 8.5 (high emission rate).
Min Elevation/Depth (m): 2037
Max Elevation/Depth (m): 2939
Range description: Vesubiajugorum was originally described from an unspecified locality at high altitude in the vicinity of St. Martin-Vésubie (Haute Vésubie Valley, France). The range of this stenoendemic species is centered on the Maritime Alps (43 records). Two additional subpopulations occur at the eastern and north-western corners of the range, in Ligurian (2 records) and Cottian Alps (2 records). Most localities are situated in the Site of Community Importance and Special Area of Conservation IT1160056 “Alpi Marittime” (NW Italy).
Justification for trend: The species inhabits rocky areas of the subnival and nival zones of the Maritime Alps. The high altitude regions are particularly vulnerable to climatic variations due to climate change, with warming rates approximately doubling the global average (Böhm et al. 2001). In consequence of temperature increase, range shifts towards higher latitudes or altitudes are expected (Bellard et al. 2012), causing a decrease in the EOO. In particular, we predict a future reduction of the EOO ranging from 24% (low emission scenario) to 41% (high emission scenario).
Future decline (%): 41
Causes ceased?: No
Causes understood?: Yes
Causes reversible?: No
Extreme fluctuations?: Unknown
Area of occupancy
Trend: Decline (projected)
Justification for trend: Future forecasts based on different emission scenarios show a significant reduction in the bioclimatic range of Vesubiajugorum (details in Isaia et al. (2016)). We predict a future reduction of the AOO ranging from 12% (low emission scenario) to 32% (high emission scenario). In this perspective, it is important to take into account the connectivity of the suitable habitat, in order to provide coherent interpretations of the future trends. Suitable ecological corridors for this species would be represented by high-altitude rocky areas, which rarely occur between the Maritime Alps and the northern Alpine districts. The species is probably also limited by its low dispersal ability.
Future decline (%): 32
Causes ceased?: No
Causes understood?: Yes
Causes reversible?: No
Extreme fluctuations?: Unknown
AOO (km2): 835
Locations
Number of locations: 1
Justification for number of locations: The whole population is affected by the ongoing climate change.
Trend: Stable
Extreme fluctuations?: Unknown
Population
Number of individuals: Unknown —a census/estimation of the population has never been attempted.
Trend: Decline (inferred)
Justification for trend: Inferred from the decline in AOO.
Causes ceased?: No
Causes understood?: Yes
Causes reversible?: No
Extreme fluctuations?: Unknown
Subpopulations
Number of subpopulations: 3
Trend: Decline (projected)
Justification for trend: The main subpopulation of the species is centred in Maritime Alps. This core area includes over 90% of the known localities. Two additional subpopulations are identified at the north-western and eastern corners of the distribution range, corresponding to the Southern Cottian and Ligurian Alps, respectively. All future warming scenarios predict the extinction of the latter subpopulation.
Extreme fluctuations?: Unknown
Severe fragmentation?: No
Justification for fragmentation: Within the core area the suitable habitat is roughly continuous, with peaks and rocky areas ensuring connectivity between local populations. However, unsuitable habitat —namely grasslands at lower altitudes— reduces connectivity between subpopulations.
Habitat
System: Terrestrial
Habitat specialist: Yes
Habitat (narrative): The species is restricted to alpine rocky areas above 2,000 m. These include rocky debris, boulder fields, and alpine screes (Figs 4, 5).
Trend in extent, area or quality?: Stable
Justification for trend: The optimal habitat for the species is not expected to undergo significant variations in the future, as touristic pressure is negligible in the high mountain peaks of the Maritime Alps. Altitudinal shifts of vegetation due to climate change may hypothetically affect the extension of the subnival zone determining small variations in the extent of high altitude rocky areas.
Figure(s) or Photo(s): Fig. 5
Habitat
Habitat importance: Major Importance
Habitats: 6. Rocky areas (e.g. inland cliffs, mountain peaks)
Ecology
Size: Body length: 15–20 mm, prosoma: 7–9 mm
Generation length (yr): 4
Dependency of single sp?: No
Ecology and traits (narrative): The species is active during the warm season, from the snow melting in late June to mid September. Males are mainly found from July to August, whereas females and immatures can be found throughout the whole season. During the day, individuals can be observed wandering on the rocks. Females with cocoons build retreats under stones (see illustration in Tongiorgi (1969)), usually of 10–15 x 3cm. Preliminary data on reared individuals and estimations based on body size suggest generation length > 3–4 years.
ThreatsThreats
Threat type: Future
Threats: 11. Climate change & severe weather11.1. Climate change & severe weather - Habitat shifting & alteration11.3. Climate change & severe weather - Temperature extremes
Conservation
Justification for conservation actions: Most of the species range falls within the borders of national parks, sites of community importance and special protection areas, namely Parco Naturale Alpi Marittime (Italy), Parco Naturale del Marguareis (Italy) and Parc National du Mercantour (France).In the light of the existing threats, it is expected that the survival of the species will depend on monitoring, conservation management and translocation programmes. Ex-situ conservation should also be considered, to ensure the preservation of healthy individuals for re-introduction in suitable habitats situated to the north from the current distribution area.
Conservation actions: 3. Species management3.3. Species management - Species re-introduction3.4. Species management - Ex-situ conservation4. Education & awareness
Other
Justification for ecosystem services :
Research needed
Research needed: 1. Research1.2. Research - Population size, distribution & trends1.3. Research - Life history & ecology2. Conservation Planning2.1. Conservation Planning - Species Action/Recovery Plan3. Monitoring3.1. Monitoring - Population trends
Justification for research needed: Little is known about the ecological requirements of the species, life history, phenology and potential interactions with other ecosystem components. Population size need to be estimated as well as dispersal ability.
Acknowledgements
We are indebted to Wolfgang Nentwig for the helpful discussion about the life history of wolf spiders. Our thanks also go to Pavel Stoev, Gergin Blagoev, Wolfgang Nentwig and Christo Deltshev for their useful comments during the review process. We are greatful to Mattia, Adriana and Guido Colombo for providing logistic support at Rifugio Garelli, and to Emanuele Biggi for the photographs of Vesubia and its habitat. We also acknowledge the help of Luca Giraudo and the staff of Parco Naturale Alpi Marittime.
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Habitus of Vesubiajugorum — female. [Photo credit: Emanuele Biggi, 2003]