Abstract
The present investigation aimed to record the diversity and distribution patterns of spiders within and around the MS Swaminathan School of Agriculture, Centurion University of Technology and Management Paralakhemundi, Odisha, India. Most of the spiders are not so highly mobile and an ecologically important group of arthropods, playing crucial roles in various ecosystems as both predators and prey. Most of the spiders, residing inside the agro-ecosystem, have very crucial role in the management of agricultural insect-pests. The survey employed a comprehensive sampling strategy that encompassed various habitats, including forests, agricultural farms, hostels, wetlands, and urban areas. A wide range of data have been collected during the survey, including species richness, abundance, and composition. The collected specimens were carefully identified to the species level, employing the morphological characteristics while the actual photographs with their habitats have been taken for their proper presentation in the article. Preliminary results indicate a remarkable diversity of spider species within the study area. A total number of 24 genera have been identified, residing to 8 families highlighting the importance of various ecological niches and microhabitats. The data suggest that habitat type and structural complexity play significant roles in determining spider diversity and community composition. The findings from this survey provide valuable insights into the spider fauna of the study area and concluded that family Araneidae having maximum population of individuals which is 472 followed by Oxyopidae with 277 and Salticidae with 199 number of encountered individuals. The maximum species richness was surveyed and Araneidae was recorded to be having maximum number of species (7) followed by Sparassidae (5) and Salticidae (5) at CUTM, Gajapati Odisha.