Seasonal Variations in Spider Populations in and Around Nainital, Kumaun region, Uttarakhand, India

This study investigates the seasonal distribution and abundance of various spider species across different sites in the Uttarakhand region. Data were collected during the Pre-monsoon, Monsoon, and post-monsoon seasons. The study identified 21 species across 19 genera and 11 families. The sampling methods used to capture these spiders included visual searching, handpicking, ground and aerial hand collections, the kerchief method, pitfall traps, beating, and sweep netting. The highest diversity of spider populations was observed during monsoon season, and the most abundant family of spiders was the Araneidae. This study provides insight into the ecological dynamics of spiders in this region and their response to changing climatic conditions and serves as a baseline for further research on spider diversity in the Kumaun region.