This project is done under the supervison ofNikolaj Scharff from Zoological Museum, Copenhagen and in collaboration withTodd Blackledge from the University of Akron, Akron, USA andJohn W. Wenzel from Ohio State University, Columbus, USA.

Project objectives:The spider family Araneidae is the largest family of spiders that construct orb-webs (wheel-shaped two-dimensional webs). Yet, many araneids have evolved highly specialized web construction behaviors that result in webs unlike typical orb webs. We are currently working to establish a generic level phylogeny for relationships within this group to investigate how and why these behavioral specializations have evolved, how they contribute to the dominance of araneid spiders as predators of flying insects, and how evolution of behavior and silk biomechanics interact with one another. This project includes molecular data from multiple nuclear and mitocondrial loci, as well as morphological data. Todd Blackledge and John Wenzel are responsible for the molecular and biomechanical aspects of the project. Nikolaj Scharff is responsible for the morphological aspects and together they will analyze the combined data. (text from arachnology@ZMUC)

To establish a generic level phylogeny Araneidae: The Araneidae includes more than 2800 described species of orb-weaving spiders and is distinguished from other orb weaving families by its immense ecological diversity. To date, there has been only a single phylogenetic analysis of the Araneidae (Scharff & Coddington, 1997). Scharff and Coddington used morphological and behavioral characters to produce a working araneid phylogenetic hypothesis, but they concluded that their matrix contained too many taxa and too few characters such that many relationships were poorly resolved. The previous phylogeny has been used in over 50 studies. Therefore, there is a need to expand character sampling to provide for robust relationships for this often-studied group of spiders. Our study will provide a robustly supported phylogeny for araneid relationships by producing the first molecular data sets and expanding the sampling of morphological and behavioral characters.

To investigate the phenotypic evolution of spider silks: The evolutionary demands of prey capture under a variety of different ecological conditions is expected to act upon the mechanical properties of the silks that spiders use to construct orb webs. Only a tiny fraction of the different silks spun by spiders have been mechanically tested. Moreover, the silks that have been characterized mechanically are spun primarily by two species of spiders, Araneus diadematus and Nephila clavipes, because these spiders are conspicuous, large, and abundant. We will measure the material properties of the frame and capture silk fibers spun by an ecologically diverse set of araneids. We will then use our phylogenetic hypothesis to evaluate the role of coevolution of silk biomechanical phenotypes with web architectures.

This project is done in collaboration with Nikolaj Scharff from the Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen)See more:here

Project objectives: The genera Hispo Simon, 1886, TomocyrbaSimon, 1900, GorgopsinaPetrunkevitch, 1942 (fossil), Prolinus Petrunkevitch, 1958 (fossil), and Massagris Simon, 1900, all share a conspicuous carapace constriction behind the posterior median eyes. The first four genera have been united in the subfamily Hisponinae due to this constriction, but no formal phylogenetic analysis have been carried out to test this classification. As the living genera Hispo and Massagrishave both been taxonomically revised recently, our study concentrated on the genus Tomocyrba. A total of sevenTomocyrba species have been described; 2 from Madagascar (including the type species T. decollata Simon, 1900) and 5 from East Africa. Our preliminary results show, that Tomocyrba senso lato is polyphyletic and far more diverse than previously thought. More than 15 new species have been found on Madagascar and another 40 new Tomocyrba-like species have turned up in tropical Africa. Several of these species are, however, not congeneric with the Tomocyrba from Madagascar and probably represent several new genera. We present the various species groups and characters that can be used to define them. We also present a first preliminary phylogeny of hisponine genera, based on morphological characters. It suggests that Hispo and Massagrisare more closely related to each other than any of them are with Tomocyrba. (text fromarachnology@ZMUC)

This project is done in collaboration with Nikolaj Scharff from the Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen).

Project objectives: Morphological exploration of the Triangular Spiders (Araneidae, Arkys). The spider genus Arkys is only known from the Austral-Pacific region. It was originally established by Walckenaer (1837) to hold some very conspicuous red triangular spiders from New Guinea and Australia, but was synonymised with the “bird-dropping” mimics belonging to the genus Archemorus in 1984. The morphology and biology (as far as it is known) of the genus is remarkable and the genus has therefore been placed in several different families since it original description. It is currently placed in Araneidae, but was formerly placed in what is currently known as Tetragnathidae, Mimetidae and Thomisidae. We have examined the morphology of the genus in detail in connection with an ongoing project on araneid phylogeny, and we here present details on the genitalia and somatic morphology and discuss character homology in light of previous and present family assignments.  

This project is done in collaboration with Nikolaj Scharff from the Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen).

Project summary: According to our present knowledge, jumping spiders (Salticidae) represent the most species rich group among the spider families. The 5000 species belonging here are easy to recognise by the large anterior median eyes, situated on the horizontal surface of the stout carapace. Most of the species are living, wandering and hunting in the canopy of trees or bushes. Many species are specialized on a peculiar prey, like the ant-eaters, termitophag or araneophag salticids.
Several species of few genera build a web, and there are some araneophag salticids, who invade those web-weaver salticid’s web, predating them as their alternative prey. The relationships of the family are still unclear. Recently it seems they might be related to Clubionidae, Anyphaenidae or Corinnidae. A possible synapomorphy with Clubionidae and Anyphaenidae is the absence of the cylindrical spigots. Corinnidae could also be related because of the peculiar Humua takeuchii ONO, 1987 possessing „salticoid” eyes, resembling much to the specialized „salticid” retina. Although salticids are present everywhere in a huge abundance and diversity, they reach their highest diversity in tropical areas.
Surprisingly, the identified tropical salticids are rare in scientific collections. This might be one of the reasons of our poor knowledge on tropical jumping spiders. About 40% of the species kept in only one collection, and one-fifth of the species cannot be found anywhere, so they exist only in literature. So far about 120 salticid genera have been described from Africa, and 20% of them haven’t been studied by recent arachnologist. The half of the genera requires revision and more than one-third of the genera is known only from the original description.
Because it is rather difficult to identify them, the identified material of the collections is not increasing, and without comparative, identified material the future identification of salticid taxa remains still difficult. There are several ways to escape from this devil’s circle: precise researches, type examination and redescription of name bearers. My researches focused on salticid genera difficult to identify, based on materials collected in West-Africa.
My aim is/was to ease the identification of West-African salticid genera, as it is the basic knowledge to further taxonomic, fanunistic researches, which at the moment can be carried out only with investing extra energy – knowing all the genera occur in the region. I would like to make possible the future recognition of the genera, either with revision of the questionable or not useable names (Alfenus, Depreissia, Saraina, Thiratoscirtus, Tarne), or with description of new taxa (Eburneana, Tomoccida). During my study I have described eleven species, new to the science. I would assist to the further studies, with an annotated check-list of West African genera, lists 80 genera and all the relevant taxonomical literature treating this topic. I also provide a key to 58 genera. During my studies I visited four spider collections (Tervuren, Paris, Wrocław, Copenhagen) and borrowed material from two other museums (Wien, London). Although I have examined type materials mainly, non-identified material was treated as well.

These are projects in cooperation with many different persons like Pedro Cardoso from Azorean Biodiversity Group – CITA-A, Universidade dos Açores, Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal and in collaboration with András Báldi from the Ecology Research Group of Hungarian Academy of Science.

Project objectives: I am readily join to ecological projects, where I also like to assist with collecting, and identifying spider specimens. Among the several co-operation I have carried out I'd refer the biodiversity assessment of Portugalian spider communities.
Abstract of Cardoso et al 2008 1. A thorough inventory of a Mediterranean oak forest spider fauna carried out during 2 weeks is presented. It used a semi-quantitative sampling protocol to collect comparable data in a rigorous, rapid and efficient way. Four hundred and eighty samples of one person-hour of work each were collected, mostly inside a delimited 1-ha plot. 2. Sampling yielded 10 808 adult spiders representing 204 species. The number of species present at the site was estimated using five different richness estimators (Chao1, Chao2, Jackknife1, Jackknife2 and Michaelis–Menten). The estimates ranged from 232 to 260. The most reliable estimates were provided by the Chao estimators and the least reliable was obtained with the Michaelis–Menten. However, the behavior of the Michaelis–Menten accumulation curves supports the use of this estimator as a stopping or reliability rule. 3. Nineteen per cent of the species were represented by a single specimen (singletons) and 12% by just two specimens (doubletons). The presence of locally rare species in this exhaustive inventory is discussed. 4. The effects of day, time of day, collector experience and sampling method on the number of adults, number of species and taxonomic composition of the samples are assessed. Sampling method is the single most important factor influencing the results and all methods generate unique species. Time of day is also important, in such way that each combination of method and time of day may be considered as a different method in itself. There are insignificant differences between the collectors in terms of species and number of adult spiders collected. Despite the high collecting effort, the species richness and abundance of spiders remained constant throughout the sampling period.

 This project is done in collaboration with Nikolaj Scharff from the Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen). See more: here

Project summary: During the revision of the Hisponinae salticids we appearently discoved an extra sclerite in the male palps, which might correspond with the salticid radix sensu Logunov. As in a lecture 2006 in Barcelona and another in 2007 in Dunasziget I have told we think the correct interpretation of this sclerite would shade some light on the salticid interfamiliar relationships. Rigorous examination and revision of previous sclerite tagging is badly need especially in those in Wijesinghe 2000, as they were the basis of phylogenetic decisions. We have different views on the sclerites of Lyssomanes and thus we disagree on its placement.
The salticid radix appearently is found in all modern salticids (salticoids) in a strongly modified way. This corresponds very well with the sporadic appearence of the salticid radix within the family.
For the sake to avoid homology and nomenclatural problems we also propose the term subcymbium to the sclerotized basal part of the cymbium, found in most salticids. Though this better wait until a final result is published from the spider ATOL, since several question could arise concerning the placement of this speciose family.

Project summary: During the taxonomical revisions I have accumulated a lots of geographical and morphological data. The past decade the internet became an important (if not the most important) forum for science. Cybertaxonomy tries to take advantage of these new technical tools. As a start i try compile a cybertaxonomy tool for Malagasy salticids. I also try to find other cybertaxonomy pages to cooperate with them.