Effects of simulated acid rain on growth rate in a spruce-living spider.
Growing juveniles of the spruce-living spider Pityohyphantes phrygianus were sprayed with water of different acidity--pH approximately 7 (control), 4.0 (acid rain) and 2.2-in a 2.5-month laboratory experiment. The growth rates did not differ between control and pH 4.0, while there was a significant growth reduction at pH 2.2. A low mortality occurred only in the pH 2.2 group. P. phrygianus seems to be resistant against acid rain although negative long-term effects cannot be ruled out.
Gunnarsson
B
B
Department of Zoology, University of Göteborg, Box 250 59, S-400 31 Göteborg, Sweden.
Johnsson
J
J