Spider Diversity in the Fragmented Forest-Steppe Landscape of Northeastern Ukraine: Temporal Changes under the Impact of Human Activity

Semi-natural forests and dry grasslands are highly fragmented influenced by human activity. Despite the small area, they serve as refuge for habitat-specific species enhance agrolandscape biodiversity. We studied spiders in Velykoburlutskyi Steppe Regional Landscape Park (northeastern Ukraine) 10 years found 224 of 26 families; these, 27 rare require protection. The araneofauna gullies is poorer than that large oakeries hosts fewer sylvatic species; grassland fauna rich, has typical steppe traits, varies depending on topography grazing history. ungrazed gully hosted 125 spider species. richest assemblages (97 species) were at bottom, similar to those meadows forest edges. most formed slope (77 species). human-induced disturbance had a negative effect spiders: we only 63 grazed bottom 62 slope. After abrupt cessation, four appeared occurred constantly while no left this habitat. Grazing slopes declined gradually, did not change significantly after final cessation; moreover, enriched abandoned (75 presence variety confirm conservation value study site need maintain its mosaic pattern.