Will Spiders Go Extinct?
WouterThere are a lot of spider species in existence. However, only a few are protected by law. While the majority are non-deadly to humans, they are still important as predators of pest insects. They also play an important role in natural systems. If they were to go extinct, many things would change.
In the US alone, there are about 3,500 spider species. While most aren’t considered endangered, there are a few on the chopping block.
The Wolf Spider is in danger of going extinct. The primary reason for this is habitat destruction. Climate change has made it difficult for the spider to find its habitat. This leaves the wolf spider with nowhere to live.
Another species in jeopardy is the Pelican Spider. Its habitat is extremely vulnerable to fire. Although some populations have adapted to survive the fire, they still have a good chance of being killed off.
Other factors that impact spider distribution include geological processes, habitat loss, and genetics. Depending on the location, the spider can be either a generalist or a specialist.
As the size of the spider’s colony grows, its ability to capture prey increases. The resulting bottleneck can cause mass die-offs.
It’s not unusual for a spider’s population to reach one million individuals per hectare. The only problem is that most of these species have never been adequately studied. This lack of information is a major challenge to conservation.
Scientists have investigated 32 different spider species. While the study is a big step forward, it’s not enough. Arachnologists and conservationists need to work together to make progress. This will require money, time, and effort on their part.
