Scale-dependent responses in spider and beetle communities to flooding: The role of dry refuges in wetlands

Flood disturbances act as strong filters on arthropod communities by excluding species that are not adapted to the high water tables. Sensitive species can survive in these areas by either migrating to more terrestrial habitats or by using dry refuges within the wetland created by topographical heterogeneity. In this study, we examined the role of such refugia and the scale at which these affect arthropod densities, mainly cursorial species, by using previous information on local dryness-wetness of wetlands, as expressed by inundation frequencies at a 2x2 m2 resolution. By focusing on spiders and beetles, these studies indicate that species within Linyphiidae, Staphylinidae, and Chrysomelidae were more abundant in the presence of dry refuges at a scale of 10x10 m2, whereas Salticidae preferred wetter areas. Species within Carabidae, Lycosidae, and a number of other taxon groups were indifferent to these structures. Moreover, the data seem to suggest that mainly habitat generalists benef..., , , # Scale-dependent responses in spider and beetle communities to flooding: The role of dry refuges in wetlands

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.8cz8w9h2p](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.8cz8w9h2p)

## Description of the data and file structure

Data from suction sampling of beetles and spiders in relation to the inundation frequency in the local pixel (2x2 m^2^) where samples were taken or in surrounding pixels (10x10 m^2^ ... 26x26 m^2^). All data were collected with a large fen, the Rastmyran wetland (60°07'35\" N 17°53'56\" E), which is situated two hours north of Stockholm.

R scripts underlying the analyses are included in Rscript.txt

Data is included in WetlandArthropods.xls

This file contains environmental and species data for the 60 included sampling sites

### Files and variables

#### File: WetlandArthropods.xlsx

**Description:** This file contains environmental and species data for the 60 included sampling sites

##### Variables

| **Variable** | **Description** ...,