Dr. Leanda Mason and Dr. Cassandra Lynch have recently examined a trapdoor spider, contributing to ongoing research in Western Australia (WA) that has unveiled two new species of these arachnids. The finding increases the number of described WA trapdoor spider species to more than 200. It showcases the beauty and variety of our state’s extraordinary biodiversity. The South West region of WA is the capital of trapdoor spider diversity. Conservationists need to do more to protect these irreplaceable creatures, experts said.
Dr. Mark’s research team discovered something revolutionary. This discovery points to the profound need to direct greater attention towards less-explored animal lineages, those typically neglected in analyses. Charismatic species almost always capture additional support and conservation resources. Our most important ecosystems are maintained by those not-so-cute critters that keep ecosystems healthy and vibrant.
The Significance of Trapdoor Spiders
Trapdoor spiders, though often underappreciated, are important contributors to their ecosystems. An arachnologist by training, Dr. Wilson believes that knowing species is fundamental in order to do excellent conservation. He states, “We can’t conserve things if we don’t know where they are and how to identify them, and that’s the main issue.”
South West region has some of the highest endemicity rates in the world. As a result, many of the species that call this place home are endemic, found nowhere else on the planet. Dr. Mason notes, “[The South West] has extremely high rates of endemism, which means that there are species that are only found here and are very special to this place and don’t occur anywhere else in the world.”
Local cave systems act as key habitats for these spiders, offering a consistently cool, moist environment. Dr. Mason explains, “Caves kind of remain the same because they go underground [where] the humidity and temperature doesn’t change as much, so a lot of species retreat into cave systems and use them as bases for surviving.”
Conservation Challenges
Trapdoor spiders contribute greatly to the health of ecosystems. Yet conservation tends to falter on the front lines when people are unfamiliar and are not funded for the more charismatic species. Dr. Mason expresses frustration with this trend: “You can definitely conserve things without having a name to them; it’s something I find really frustrating.”
She cautions, though, that research isn’t keeping pace. According to the UN, a million species are at risk of extinction before we have even identified them. “It’ll take hundreds of years to get through all of them and things will go extinct by that point,” she adds. This feeling resonates with worries published by fellow researchers regarding biases that run deep in conservation science.
Dr. Wilson points out that there is “sort of a bias towards studying these groups that, to be honest, we already know a lot about, which are all the cute fluffy things.” This bias not only restricts available funding but affects successful management approaches for less charismatic species, like trapdoor spiders.
The Role of Community Awareness
Raising awareness about the importance of various species, including trapdoor spiders, is essential for fostering community involvement in conservation efforts. Local wildlife tour guide and expert Bob Bullen brings attention to these local impacts by sharing an example that’s easy to forget—our local bat colonies. “In Bunbury, you’ve got probably seven or eight in your backyard every night,” he states, reinforcing the idea that local communities play a crucial role in conservation.
Bullen further reminds us that bats eat a lot of mosquitoes, highlighting just one way that each species is the keystone of its own ecosystem. As summer barbecues draw families outdoors, Bullen reminds them that “the bats come out” after sunset to manage pest populations.
