MIKE BRAUN Ohio wants to keep tabs on its spiders

Anybody who has spent any time outdoors in Ohio knows that spiders are a fact of life.
I can't tell you how many times I've walked outside my home and felt the beginnings of some spider's web waft across my face or hands.
They are everywhere, all shapes, sizes and colors.
And now the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife would like to find out just what kinds of spiders inhabit the Buckeye State and they'd like your help to do it.
Conducting the study
The ODNR is conducting the study in cooperation with Dr. Richard Bradley, an associate professor in The Ohio State University's Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology.
You'd think that there would already be some sort of listing of Ohio spiders by now.
Well, there is, but it is kind of dated.
According to the ODNR, "The original list of Ohio Spiders was published by William Barrows in 1924 and included 306 species. The current project began in 1994 and the list of spider species known for Ohio has now reached over 583."
State wildlife experts are convinced that there are likely even more species in Ohio yet to be discovered.
"The aim of the Ohio Spider Survey is to fill the major gap in our understanding of natural spider communities in Ohio," a press release from the ODNR explained.
So, if you are game for this survey, how should you go about lending a hand?
If you are headed out to private property or public facilities such as parks and wildlife areas then you should acquire permission before collecting and specimens.
Tips about collecting
In fact, the ODNR made the following suggestions about collecting: "The Ohio Division of Wildlife has no general permit requirements for collecting spiders in Ohio. The Division does require that the collector obtain permission (preferably in writing) from the landowner before collecting. When collecting on public land this would involve contacting the public agency responsible for the area.
"This is particularly important if you may be collecting in ODNR Natural Areas and Nature Preserves or Ohio State Parks. Some of these areas are closed to collecting and others will require a specific permit. You should feel free to mention the Ohio Spider Survey in your request to a landowner/agency if that will help you convince them that the collections are for a legitimate scientific purpose."
According to the ODNR, specimens with basic data such as the collector's name, habitat the spider was collected from, date collected, and location of collection would be of particular interest.
Dr. Bradley also suggested the following method: "Specimens may be collected directly into 70 percent ethyl alcohol. Isopropyl [rubbing] alcohol can be used, but is less desirable for a number of reasons.
He said that there have been some specimens contributed from the greater Youngstown area but that this sector of the state is not that well represented and submissions would be welcome.
"The collections will be permanently housed at the Museum of Biodiversity, Ohio State University," he said. "I would welcome the donations of any spider specimens from Ohio, and I am particularly interested in receiving those that include basic data; that is, collector, habitat, date, and locality."
Dr. Bradley addded that good quality close-up color slides would also be of assistance. "Many spider species cannot be determined from photographs, but slides could be used in public-education projects associated with the survey," he said.
Results to be published
Results of the survey findings up to this point, "Ohio's Backyard: Spiders," will be published later this summer by the Ohio Biological Survey and it is expected to be a valuable resource on this portion of the state's fauna.
Dr Bradley said that a few spiders that have been submitted so far could evetually qualify as new species.
However, he explained, "there is a fairly elaborate review before a new species can be determined." He also said that most of the spider species in northeastern North America are "pretty well known."
Sometimes though, he said, spider "introductions" occur.
One such case is with a spider species that is generally found in the Warren area but has been discovered now in the Hiram and Ravenna areas. "It is spreading," he said.
Partial funding for this project came from donations to the state income tax check-off program for Wildlife Diversity and Endangered Species as well as the sale of Ohio conservation license plates.
Dr. Bradley can be reached at Ohio State University, Marion, 1465 Mount Vernon Ave., Marion, Ohio, 43302 or at bradley.10@osu.edu.
braun@vindy.com