Further research is needed to determine long-term monitoring effects on the spider and its habitat, especially in relation to disturbance regimes and ecological restoration of Picea rubens (Red Spruce). Rock slope significantly influenced reestablishment rates, highlighting that surveying bryophyte mats on slopes >80% may diminish or destroy habitat. As the moss dries up, the small, moisture loving creatures like springtails seek better digs. We found no difference between treatment and control plots, suggesting that no treatment is needed for mats to reestablish under the conditions described. We found that mat depth and overstory canopy cover had no effect on mat reestablishment, although bryophyte type did. The balsam-woolly adelgid infests Fraser fir trees, causing them to die within a time period of two to. Its populations have declined largely due to the introduction in the United States of an invasive European insect species, the balsam-woolly adelgid. The majority of plots (70%) reestablished after 1 year, whereas 15% did not reattach or showed substantial prolonged (e.g., ∼1 year) desiccation and 15% completely fell off or had 100% prolonged desiccation and were chlorotic. Spruce-fir moss spiders live in moss mats found only in the vicinity of Fraser fir trees. Sue Cameron is the Service expert for this species, and she recently visited Mount Mitchell State Park to search for the spider, and download humidity and temperature from data loggers that are continually recording the environmental data that may guide future management efforts. We monitored plots for 1 year post-survey to determine reattachment rates. In 2017, we surveyed sixty 10 cm × 10 cm plots, assigning a plot to either control or treatment (i.e., application of water post-reattachment). To help inform survey protocol for this endangered species, we studied reattachment rates of bryophyte mats to rock surfaces after their removal. Since temporary removal of the bryophyte mat is necessary to monitor the spider, surveyors may negatively impact the spider's habitat during monitoring. The spider is cryptic and difficult to monitor because this species lives in the interface between the bryophyte mat and the rock surface. The resulting increase in light level and temperature causes the moss mats on which spruce-fir moss spiders depend to dry up. Microhexura montivaga (Spruce-fir Moss Spider) is a federally endangered arachnid endemic to high-elevation montane conifer forests of the southern Appalachian Mountains.
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