Local and landscape-scale environmental filters drive the functional diversity and taxonomic composition of spiders across urban greenspaces

1. Urban patch colonization and species establishment within cities are restricted by the behavioral, life history, and physiological attributes of colonizing species, in conjunction with environmental filtering processes at small and large spatial scales. To enhance local biodiversity in urban greenspaces, these filtering processes need to be assessed so that greenspace design and management can guide establishment of local species pools. 2. We investigated the relative importance of local and landscape-scale features on spider community assembly using a functional and taxonomic approach. Within the shrinking city of Cleveland Ohio, we established a field experiment wherein control vacant lots, urban meadows, and low- & high-diversity pocket prairies were established across eight neighborhoods (N = 32). Spiders were sampled in June-August of 2015 and 2016 using pitfall traps and vacuums. Spider functional diversity was assessed using null models, while local and landscape drivers w...