Passive Re-colonization of the Spider Assemblage on an Ohio Restored Tall Grass Prairie Compared to Nearby Remnant Prairies and Old Fields

Abstract

The reconstructed prairie on the Marion Campus of The Ohio State University was established in 1977. Since then restoration has focused on plants. Animals on the site have recolonized without active management. Spider assemblages were sampled in 2000 and compared to those sampled at the time on 2 remnant prairies and 2 old fields. Pitfall traps and sweep nets were used for sampling. In 2000, spiders (n = 1,541) representing 94 species were captured; 91% of these were captured with pitfall traps. The restored Marion Campus Prairie was inhabited by an assemblage of spiders resembling those on nearby remnant prairies and old fields.