Towards establishment of a centralized spider traits database
Elizabeth Lowe, Jonas O. Wolff, Alfonso Aceves‐Aparicio, Klaus Birkhofer, Vasco Veiga Branco, Pedro Cardoso, Filipe Chichorro, Caroline Sayuri Fukushima, Thiago Gonçalves‐Souza, Charles R. Haddad, Marco Isaia, Henrik Krehenwinkel, Tracy Audisio, Nuria Macías‐Hernández, Jagoba Malumbres‐Olarte, Stefano Mammola, Donald James McLean, Radek Michalko, Wolfgang Nentwig, Stano Pekár, Julien Pétillon, Kaïna Privet, Catherine Scott, George R. Uhl, Fernando Urbano-Tenorio, Boon Hui Wong, Marie E. Herberstein
Abstract
A main goal of ecological and evolutionary biology is understanding and predicting interactions between populations and both abiotic and biotic environments, the spatial and temporal variation of these interactions, and the effects on population dynamics and performance. Trait-based approaches can help to model these interactions and generate a comprehensive understanding of ecosystem functioning. A central tool is the collation of databases that include species trait information. Such centralized databases have been set up for a number of organismal groups but is lacking for one of the most important groups of predators in terrestrial ecosystems – spiders. Here we promote the collation of an open spider traits database, integrated into the global Open Traits Network. We explore the current collation of spider data and cover the logistics of setting up a global database, including which traits to include, the source of data, how to input data, database governance, geographic cover, accessibility, quality control and how to make the database sustainable long-term. Finally, we explore the scope of research questions that could be investigated using a global spider traits database.