Spiders (Aranei) of Wrangel Island, Russia. 1. New data on the species composition and distribution

Wrangel Island hosts a unique spider fauna with significant Arctic and arctic-alpine/montane distribution patterns. The study identifies 20 species (35% of the total) found exclusively on Wrangel Island, highlighting its role as a biodiversity hotspot in the High Arctic. These species are predominantly associated with areas offering favorable mesoclimatic conditions. The research also reveals that the island's spider fauna is characterized by longitudinal and latitudinal influences, with Siberian-Nearctic (39%) and Siberian (30%) species dominating, alongside a high proportion of arctic and arctic-alpine/montane species (81%). This study contributes to our understanding of the island's ecological significance and the distribution patterns of its spider species.

Khruleva, O. A., Tanasevitch, A. V., & Marusik, Yu. M. (2022). Spiders (Aranei) of Wrangel Island, Russia. 1. New data on the species composition and distribution. Arthropoda Selecta, 31(4), 501–525. https://doi.org/10.15298/arthsel.31.4.12