Diversity of Spiders from Azorean Trails

The data presented here comes from samples collected as part of one recent doctoral project, which aimed to assess several components of the ecological impacts of recreational tourism on spiders. We focused on the Azorean forests, due to being home to several endemic species and its high interest in conservation. We applied the sampling protocol COBRA (Conservation Oriented Biodiversity Rapid Assessment, Cardoso 2009) in twenty-three 50 m x 50 m native forest plots in the Terceira and São Miguel Islands to assess the diversity of spiders species. Through this publication we contribute to the knowledge of the arachnofauna in the recreational trails of native forests of the Azores. Of the 45 species collected, were 13 endemic (9689 specimens), 10 native non-endemic (2048 specimens), and 22 introduced (698 specimens).