The Effect of Sampling Bias on Evaluating the Diversity and Distribution Patterns of Iranian Spiders (Arachnida: Araneae)

Although spiders constitute a highly diversified group of animals, the knowledge regarding their geographic distribution (i.e., so-called Wallacean shortfall) and diversity patterns is incipient on global scale; while attempts to explore such have been made for Neotropical fauna, several Old World regions are historically neglected. Aiming close this gap, present study provides most comprehensive review spatial variation in spider fauna Iran. We also examined effects sampling biases results. gathered database with 4434 non-duplicate records 935 species from Iran, 215 which currently considered endemic country. showed that, despite significant improvement state-of-the-art taxonomic research past 20 years, Iranian suffers uneven throughout country its ecoregions. Additionally, sampled areas typically near large cities. found high correlation between number plants other animals suggesting that biodiversity shortfalls herein described corroborated by taxa. The reported likely be observed countries, as area alone explained only 33.24% richness among 171 compared countries. hope stimulates further aiming underlying biological processes related distribution.