Experts, citizen scientists move 40 trapdoor spiders in mass relocation
February 16, 2024 12:35 AM Subscribe
Experts, citizen scientists move 40 trapdoor spiders in mass relocation
(to keep the spiders safe.) A team of conservationists and volunteers successfully relocate 40 trapdoor spiders across WA's Great Southern. Trapdoor spiders trace their ancestry on Australian land to the time of Gondwana, the supercontinent that existed up until 150 million years ago, setting them apart from many other species of spider.
Their name comes from the burrows they dig, with some able to create a hinged lid cover made of soil, vegetation, and silk.
The rare Cataxia bolganupensis live exclusively in the Porongurup Mountain Range. Scientists know the spiders can live for 40 years, but little else is known about the creatures.
"A team of experts and citizen scientists have pulled off a rare, and potentially Australia-first, relocation operation of spiders in southern Western Australia.
A team of volunteers has worked to relocate 40 rare trapdoor spiders facing the loss of habitat due to construction work.
A species acclimated to the very specific conditions of the Porongurup Range, they were each moved 150 metres away to safety in a painstaking challenge.
While there is much scientific interest in discovering new spiders and studying their behaviour, relocation efforts are rare and the team believes this is the first volunteer-driven relocation of trapdoors.
When Cass Lynch found out a picnic area was set to be built on top of the burrows of many trapdoor spiders, she sprang into action with help from leading expert Leanda Mason.
"It didn't feel fair for the spiders to die so humans could enjoy the area more," Dr Lynch said.
It was a challenging task. Relocation attempts involving spiders are rare and, as far as they know, it had never been done with trapdoor spiders, and certainly not with volunteers.
"They just build their burrows along the paths, and it's just beautiful. You don't really have to go traipsing through the bush to see them," Dr Lynch said.
They have been found to live for a remarkably long time — a trapdoor spider from WA holds the record for the longest life span of any spider at 43 years before dying in 2018.
Despite their unique qualities, there is still not a lot known about trapdoor spiders, especially the Cataxia bolganupensis species, which lives solely among the karri forests of the Porongurups."
"A team of experts and citizen scientists have pulled off a rare, and potentially Australia-first, relocation operation of spiders in southern Western Australia.
A team of volunteers has worked to relocate 40 rare trapdoor spiders facing the loss of habitat due to construction work.
A species acclimated to the very specific conditions of the Porongurup Range, they were each moved 150 metres away to safety in a painstaking challenge.
While there is much scientific interest in discovering new spiders and studying their behaviour, relocation efforts are rare and the team believes this is the first volunteer-driven relocation of trapdoors.
When Cass Lynch found out a picnic area was set to be built on top of the burrows of many trapdoor spiders, she sprang into action with help from leading expert Leanda Mason.
"It didn't feel fair for the spiders to die so humans could enjoy the area more," Dr Lynch said.
It was a challenging task. Relocation attempts involving spiders are rare and, as far as they know, it had never been done with trapdoor spiders, and certainly not with volunteers.
"They just build their burrows along the paths, and it's just beautiful. You don't really have to go traipsing through the bush to see them," Dr Lynch said.
They have been found to live for a remarkably long time — a trapdoor spider from WA holds the record for the longest life span of any spider at 43 years before dying in 2018.
Despite their unique qualities, there is still not a lot known about trapdoor spiders, especially the Cataxia bolganupensis species, which lives solely among the karri forests of the Porongurups."
Meanwhile: yeah I'm not going to a picnic 150 meters away from trapdoor spiders
You know they stay in or very close to their burrows, right? They're not going to travel 150 metres under their own steam unless there's a bushfire/forest fire, in which case you'd be leaving anyway because the area is on fire.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 1:05 AM on February 16 [6 favorites]
You know they stay in or very close to their burrows, right? They're not going to travel 150 metres under their own steam unless there's a bushfire/forest fire, in which case you'd be leaving anyway because the area is on fire.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 1:05 AM on February 16 [6 favorites]
You know they stay in or very close to their burrows, right?
That's what they want you to think!
posted by chavenet at 2:37 AM on February 16 [9 favorites]
That's what they want you to think!
posted by chavenet at 2:37 AM on February 16 [9 favorites]
I hope they are careful with Isaac Asimov!
(This is really very cool and good.)
posted by The Manwich Horror at 6:50 AM on February 16 [1 favorite]
(This is really very cool and good.)
posted by The Manwich Horror at 6:50 AM on February 16 [1 favorite]
My "take nothing but photographs, leave nothing but footprints" self is seething.
posted by lextex at 6:50 AM on February 16
posted by lextex at 6:50 AM on February 16
Despite the fact that I am "Aaaaagh! Spiders!!" I wish these little dudes all the best (from London, so a safe distance away)
posted by 43rdAnd9th at 9:08 AM on February 16 [2 favorites]
posted by 43rdAnd9th at 9:08 AM on February 16 [2 favorites]
Relocation attempts involving spiders are rare and, as far as they know, it had never been done with trapdoor spiders, and certainly not with volunteers.
I thought for a moment that the spiders had volunteered, and I wondered how they were even asked….
posted by GenjiandProust at 9:13 AM on February 16 [8 favorites]
I thought for a moment that the spiders had volunteered, and I wondered how they were even asked….
posted by GenjiandProust at 9:13 AM on February 16 [8 favorites]
More seriously, this is a neat project, and I hope it works out for the spiders. If it does, maybe it can be used in other areas where small creators with limited ranges are threatened.
posted by GenjiandProust at 9:15 AM on February 16 [1 favorite]
posted by GenjiandProust at 9:15 AM on February 16 [1 favorite]
I have a lot of sympathy for insects and spiders; I have also been small and territorial. I have to wonder what they are thinking. We know that jumping spiders/wolf spiders have a similar mathematical ability to border collies, which is around the same as a human toddler; there's research indicating bees and some spiders have dreams when they sleep. So I love that these people did this but also I wish I could have explained it to the spiders so they know what is happening and aren't so scared.
The closest I can think is the time I moved a beehive, and I can say from experience it's very strange knowing you have roughly 30-50,000 consciousnesses in the back of the car, who hate and fear whatever it is you're doing.
posted by blnkfrnk at 10:21 AM on February 16 [9 favorites]
The closest I can think is the time I moved a beehive, and I can say from experience it's very strange knowing you have roughly 30-50,000 consciousnesses in the back of the car, who hate and fear whatever it is you're doing.
posted by blnkfrnk at 10:21 AM on February 16 [9 favorites]
(to keep the spiders safe.)
I love that note. Because we might supply other reasons:
-to scare the hell out of people
-to further the arachnid empire
posted by doctornemo at 12:48 PM on February 16 [2 favorites]
I love that note. Because we might supply other reasons:
-to scare the hell out of people
-to further the arachnid empire
posted by doctornemo at 12:48 PM on February 16 [2 favorites]
The closest I can think is the time I moved a beehive, and I can say from experience it's very strange knowing you have roughly 30-50,000 consciousnesses in the back of the car, who hate and fear whatever it is you're doing.
I have this same experience whenever I drive my cat to the vet.
posted by LizBoBiz at 8:38 PM on February 16 [2 favorites]
I have this same experience whenever I drive my cat to the vet.
posted by LizBoBiz at 8:38 PM on February 16 [2 favorites]
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Meanwhile: yeah I'm not going to a picnic 150 meters away from trapdoor spiders
posted by chavenet at 1:03 AM on February 16 [3 favorites]