Kroppsstorleken har varit ett flitigt studerat ämne hos flera djurgrupper och har bevisats vara en faktor med direkt påverkan på beteende, livslängd och reproduktiv framgång. Det finns dock få studier som undersöker storlekens direkta påverkan på spindlars reproduktiva framgång och de studier som finns fokuserar främst på hanar medan studier på honors storlek är få. Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka om kroppsstorleken på honor av vargspindlar (Lycosidae) innebar en direkt fördel på reproduktiv framgång och om storleken hos insamlade individer skiljde sig mellan två lokaler i Sverige. Honor från släktet lövvargspindlar (Pardosa lugubris) samlades in från två lokaler i närhet till urbana miljöer i Sverige under artens reproduktiva period i september varefter en mätning av prosoma på varje exemplar utfördes. Genom en logistisk regressionsanalys undersöktes om storleken hade ett samband med förekomsten av äggsäck eller ungar vid insamlingstillfället. Ytterligare jämfördes medelstorleken på spindlarna mellan de två lokalerna. Den logistiska analysen visade ingen signifikant skillnad mellan kroppsstorlek och förekomst av avkomma. Det fanns inte heller någon skillnad i storlek mellan studielokalerna. Det går inte att använda kroppsstorleken som enda faktor för att förklara den reproduktiva framgången hos lövvargspindlar vilket förmodas bero på att storleken i sig påverkas av flera utomstående faktorer som i slutändan spelar roll på den reproduktiva framgången hos lövvargspindlar. / Body size has been a frequently studied topic in several animal groups and has proven to be a factor directly impacting behavior, longevity, and reproductive success. However, studies that have explored the impact that body size has on spiders' reproductive success are few, and the studies that do exist on the subject are often focused on males, while studies on the size of females are rare. This study aimed to investigate whether the body size of female wolf spiders (Lycosidae) meant a direct advantage on reproductive success and whether the body size of collected specimens differed between two sites in Sweden. Females of the species Pardosa lugubris were collected from two sites close to urban areas in Sweden during the spiders' reproductive period in September after which the prosoma on each collected specimen was measured. Logistic regression analysis examined whether the size was related to the presence of egg sacs or spiderlings at the time of collection. The average size of the spiders between the two sites was also compared to see if the sizes between the sites differed from each other. The results showed no statistical significance between body size and the presence of egg sacs or spiderlings. Furthermore, the body sizes between the two collection sites in Västra Götaland and Värmland did not differ significantly. Body size has previously been shown to be an important factor in the reproductive success of spiders, but this study showed that size cannot be used as the sole factor in explaining reproductive success which was presumed to be because there are ultimately many factors that play an important part in the reproductive success of Pardosa lugubris.

The purpose for using pesticides is to kill organisms that cause damage (so-called pests) on various crops and thus prevent possible crop losses. Their side effect is a negative impact on non-target organisms. The presented diploma thesis is focused on the effect of neonicotinoids on invertebrates particularly on spiders. Its main goal was to document their influence on behavioral parameters influencing dispersal abilities such as locomotion and tendency to spread by wind (so-called ballooning). The diploma thesis compares the influence of neonicotinoids on model species, Pardosa lugubris (Walckenaer, 1802) and Phylloneta impressa (L. Koch, 1881) with different modes of prey hunting and compares the influence on adult and nymphal stages. Pesticides Actara® 25 WG, Biscaya® 240 OD, Confidor® 200 OD and Mospilan® 20 SP were applied to the spiders under laboratory conditions and their effect was tested at different concentrations and different methods of application. The biggest impact on spiders had Confidor. It clearly had the most significant negative effect on mobility and a tendency to spider wind propagation. The lethal effects were caused by neonicotinoids in nymphal individuals Pardosa lugubris, especially Confidor (even 100% mortality for tarsal application). During an experiment studying the...