Programme of Ecology and Biodiversity (Zoology)

Institute of Biological Science

University of Malaya
50603 Kuala Lumpur
Session 2008/2009

Litter and Ground Dwelling Spiders of

Berembun Reserve Forest, Negeri Sembilan

Nurul Syuhadah Mohamed Dzarawi

A project paper submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the Degree of Bachelor of Sciences (Ecology and Biodiversity Programme)

Submitted 27 April 2009 to supervisors, Associate Professor Dr Rosli Hashim and

Professor Dr Norma-Rashid Yusoff

ABSTRACK

The aim of this study was to assess spider diversity among microhabitats at Berembun
Reserve Forest in Negeri Sembilan, and to provide a checklist on litter and ground dwelling
spiders which could be used in future study of Malaysian spiders. The study also compared
attractiveness of three different chemicals in capturing method. Ground dwelling spiders were
surveyed in Berembun Reserve Forest in two replicates with three sites of microhabitats, forest
floor (FF), Trail (T) and River Bank (R). The spiders were sampled using pitfall traps and by
manual collection. Three types of chemicals, 70% alcohol, acetic acid and salty water were used
as both attractant and preservative resulted in the capture of 60 species from 16 families of litter
and ground dwelling spiders. Sixty nine percent of total numbers of species listed were from
family Zodariidae. As expected, forest floor (FF) showed highest number of species abundance
and species dominance and also resulted in the highest number of individuals captured. One
family, Amaurobiidae and one species, Teutamus fertilis (Liocranidae) are possibly new to
Peninsular Malaysian. Alcohol in pitfall trap yielded the highest number of individual catched,
which is forty three percent.

Keywords: Spiders, Berembun Reserve Forest, microhabitats, diversity, new list, attractants