DOI: 10.5061/dryad.2v6wwq01j
title: SpiderATLAS: A database of spider traits and distributions in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

description: Aim Biodiversity shortfalls related to limited knowledge about geographic
 distribution (Wallacean) and species traits (Raunkiæran) are extremely
 common in many animal groups, and perhaps more evident in invertebrate
 groups such as spiders. This lack of knowledge could present challenges
 for researchers investigating the response and effects of spiders along
 large spatial scales, particularly in the Global South. The aim of the
 SpiderATLAS is to facilitate research that links macroecology,
 biogeography, trait-based ecology, and global change biology. Location
 Brazilian Atlantic Forest, spanning virtually the entire eastern coastline
 of Brazil, encompassing 1,62 million km², 30 degrees of latitude (3° 42’
 36” S to 33° 31’ 12” S), and 22 degrees of longitude (34° 50’ 24” W to 56°
 45’ 0” W). Taxon Spiders (Class Araneae), including 1,648 species from 63
 families. Methods We compiled the spatial distribution (i.e., occurrence
 data) and data on morphological characteristics and derived traits for
 spider species from species descriptions, taxonomic revisions, and
 personal collection. Species occurrences were extracted from several data
 sources spanning from the 1880s to 2023. Data on the morphological traits
 of species were compiled from taxonomic and diversity inventory papers
 published between 1833 and 2024. Results We provide 9,369 georeferenced
 point locations and six morphological characteristics (body length,
 prosoma length, prosoma width, prosoma height, femur I length, and patella
 I length) and three derived traits (body size, body volume, and leg
 length) for 1,648 spider species. Most data are available for females and
 males. The dataset and code are available to download from Dryad, World
 Spider Trait database, and the ZooTraits app. Main Conclusions The
 SpiderATLAS can be useful to access information on distribution and traits
 of spiders, contributing to development of macroecological,
 biogeographical, and trait-based ecology. This dataset can also facilitate
 the biodiversity conservation of one of the most abundant and important
 arthropod predators on the planet, in a biodiversity hotspot.
description: **README file for SpiderATLAS: A Database of Spider Traits and
 Distributions in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest** Access this dataset on
 Dryad:
 [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.2v6wwq01j](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.2v6wwq01j) The SpiderATLAS dataset provides information on the distribution and traits of 1,648 spider species, contributing to macroecological, biogeographical, and trait-based ecology. This dataset can also support biodiversity conservation efforts for one of the most abundant and ecologically important arthropod predators in a biodiversity hotspot. ## Description of the data and file structure 1. **SpiderATLAS_metadata.csv**\ Provides a detailed description of the columns provided in the dataset, including units and specificities of spider morphological measurements. 2. **SpiderATLAS_trait_data.csv**\ Contains trait data for 1,648 spider species, including: species name, family name, localities of species description, morphological characteristics/traits (i.e., body size, prosoma length, width, height, femur and patella length) of females and males, reference (article) of species description, year of description, and World Spider Catalog link for species description. 3. **SpiderATLAS_occurrence_data.csv**\ Contains occurrence data for spider specimens, including: species name, family name, longitude and latitude coordinates (decimal degrees). 4. **SpiderATLAS_code.R**\ Contains an R script (with usage notes) for merging trait and occurrence data, creating maps of spider distributions and traits, and performing some descriptive analyses. R is required to run the SpiderATLAS_code. The script was created using version 4.5.1. Annotations are provided throughout the script, for example: 1) library loading, 2) dataset loading and preparation, 3) figure creation, and 4) descriptive analyses.