Data for an unusually dense population of Sphodros rufipes (Latreille 1829) (Mygalomorphae, Atypidae) at the edge of its range on Tuckernuck Island, Massachusetts

Data submitted in fulfillment of a 2008 Nantucket Biodiversity Initiative grant. Paper Abstract: We counted and measured <em>Sphodros rufipes</em> (Latreille 1829) pursewebs in two survey plots on Tuckernuck Island, Massachusetts. Tuckernuck is 50 Km south of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and is entirely owned by private landowners or conservation organizations; biological research activities are supported and encouraged by residents on a limited basis. Our objectives were to quantify web density and determine the main components of the <em>S. rufipes</em> diet. We counted 479 webs in the two plots and report web densities between 0.058 and 0.18 webs/m²; denser than previously reported populations. Contrary to most previously published literature on <em>S. rufipes,</em> we noted the predominance of the grass-like sedge, <em>Carex pensylvanica,</em> rather than trees, as a web support. However, we also offer the first report of <em>S. rufipes </em>using a conifer (<em>Pinus rigida</em>) as a web support. Coleopterans and isopods made up 79 percent of the prey parts collected from 56 pursewebs. We suggest that the Tuckernuck population offers an opportunity to collect important long-term demographic data. Datasets:<br> sphodrosWebLocations.csv - data from two specific areas<br> sphodrosSpiderMeasurements.csv - measurements of live spiders borrowed from their webs<br> sphodrosRandomWebLocations.csv - data for webs found by happenstance<br> sphodrosDiet.csv - diet data from body parts collected from Sphodros webs<br> sphodrosDataDictionary.csv