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Angelakakis A, Turetzek N, Tuni C. Female mating rates and their fitness consequences in the common house spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9678. [PMID: 36590337 PMCID: PMC9797470 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Mating systems, with varying female mating rates occurring with the same partner (monandry) or with multiple mates (polyandry), can have far reaching consequences for population viability and the rate of gene flow. Here, we investigate the mating rates of the common house spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum (Theridiidae), an emerging model for genetic studies, with yet undescribed reproductive behavior. It is hypothesized that spiders belonging to this family have low re-mating rates. We paired females twice with the same male (monandry) or with different males (polyandry), and recorded behaviors, mating success and fitness resulting from single- and double-matings, either monandrous or polyandrous. Despite the study being explorative in nature, we predict successful matings to be more frequent during first encounters, to reduce female risk of remaining unmated. For re-mating to be adaptive, we expect higher fitness of double-mated females, and polyandrous females to experience highest mating success and fitness if reproductive gains are achieved by mating with multiple partners. We show that the majority of the females did not mate, and those that did mated only once, not necessarily on their first encounter. The likelihood of re-mating did not differ between monandrous and polyandrous encounters and female mating experience (mated once, twice monandrous, twice polyandrous) did not affect fitness, indicated by similar offspring production. Female twanging of the web leads to successful matings suggesting female behavioral receptivity. Cannibalism rates were low and mostly occurred pre-copulatory. We discuss how the species ecology, with potentially high mating costs for males and limited female receptivity, may shape a mating system with low mating rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Apostolos Angelakakis
- Behavioral Ecology, Faculty of BiologyLudwig‐Maximilians‐University MunichPlanegg‐MartinsriedGermany,Evolutionary Ecology, Faculty of BiologyLudwig‐Maximilians‐University MunichPlanegg‐MartinsriedGermany
| | - Natascha Turetzek
- Evolutionary Ecology, Faculty of BiologyLudwig‐Maximilians‐University MunichPlanegg‐MartinsriedGermany
| | - Cristina Tuni
- Behavioral Ecology, Faculty of BiologyLudwig‐Maximilians‐University MunichPlanegg‐MartinsriedGermany
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2
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Wignall AE, Herberstein ME. Male courtship reduces the risk of female aggression in web-building spiders but varies in structure. Behav Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arab140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Male courtship serves multiple functions in addition to inducing females to accept them as a mate. In predatory species, male courtship can function to reduce the risk of sexual cannibalism. This is particularly important in web-building spiders in which males risk being mistaken for prey when they enter the female’s predatory trap—the web—in order to commence courtship. Male spiders generate vibrations by shuddering in the female’s web. Shudder vibrations can delay female aggression, even toward prey struggling in the web. We predicted that shudder vibrations are highly conserved across species of web-building spider as males all face the same constraint of not being mistaken for prey by females. We examined how conserved shudder vibrations are across web-building spiders by testing whether female Trichonephila plumipes delay aggressive behavior toward real prey struggling in the web during playback of conspecific or heterospecific (Argiope keyserlingi) male shudder vibrations. We found that while conspecific shudder vibrations do indeed delay female predatory behavior, heterospecific male shudder vibrations do not. There is evidence of shudder or shudder-like vibrations in male courtship behavior across web-building spider families, but these vary in structure. This suggests that despite strong constraints on courtship signal design to separate predatory responses from sexual responses, there is additional selection driving the divergence of signals across distantly related spider species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne E Wignall
- School of Natural and Computational Sciences, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, Australia
| | - Marie E Herberstein
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, Australia
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3
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Wignall AE, Soley FG. Assassin bugs can reduce the aggression of their spider prey before an attack. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blab128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Predators that hunt dangerous prey require specialized predatory tactics to avoid counter-attack. Usually, these predatory tactics reduce the probability of detection. The assassin bugs Stenolemus bituberus and S. giraffa rely on stealth or mimicry to prey on dangerous web-building spiders. Paradoxically, however, these assassin bugs tap the spiders with their antennae prior to attacking, leaving the bugs vulnerable to detection and counter-attack. Here, we tested the function of prey tapping. We used a controlled, repeated-measures experiment to assess the responses of spiders (Pholcus phalangioides) to simulated prey and compared their responses after being tapped on the leg (mimicking tapping by Stenolemus) or sham-tapped. We show that tapping can reduce the likelihood that spiders will behave aggressively, in turn lowering the risks of injury for assassin bug predators. Tapping may be an adaptation to reduce intraspecific aggression in prey that is being exploited by their predators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne E Wignall
- School of Natural and Computational Sciences, Massey University, Auckland 0632, New Zealand
| | - Fernando G Soley
- Organization for Tropical Studies, Apartado 676-2050, San José, Costa Rica
- Department of Terrestrial Zoology, Western Australian Museum, Welshpool, WA 6106, Australia
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4
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Sivalinghem S, Mason AC. Vibratory communication in a black widow spider (Latrodectus hesperus): signal structure and signalling mechanisms. Anim Behav 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2021.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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5
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Eberhard MJB, Möller TA, Uhl G. Dragline silk reveals female developmental stage and mediates male vibratory courtship in the nuptial gift‐giving spider
Pisaura mirabilis. Ethology 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.13124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Monika J. B. Eberhard
- General Zoology and Zoological Systematics Zoological Institute and Museum University of Greifswald Greifswald Germany
| | - Timon A. Möller
- General Zoology and Zoological Systematics Zoological Institute and Museum University of Greifswald Greifswald Germany
| | - Gabriele Uhl
- General Zoology and Zoological Systematics Zoological Institute and Museum University of Greifswald Greifswald Germany
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6
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Condition-dependent differences in male vibratory pre-copulatory and copulatory courtship in a nuptial gift-giving spider. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-020-02918-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Condition-dependent secondary sexual traits and signals are often crucial for mate choice decisions. Nuptial gifts, provided by the male to the female during mating, may represent an indicator of male condition, especially if production of the gift is energetically costly. Additionally, other signalling modalities may well play a role in mate choice in such systems. Females of the nursery web spider Pisaura mirabilis preferably mate with males that provide a prey item wrapped in silk. Apart from the nuptial gift, vibrational signals employed during courtship and mating may reveal additional information about male condition. We tested condition-dependence of male vibrational signals of well-fed versus starved males, when in contact with female dragline silk and during mating trials. Our results show that vibrational signals are produced in P. mirabilis, both during pre-copulatory courtship and during copulation. Male courtship signals were condition-dependent: males in good condition initiated signalling earlier and emitted more vibrational pulses than poor-condition males. They were also more likely to be accepted by the female for copulation. We additionally identified vibrational signals during copulation. These signals were different from pre-copulatory courtship vibrations but did not differ between the treatment groups. This study shows that vibrational communication plays an important role before and during copulation in P. mirabilis. It sets the stage for further experiments on spider biotremology associated with nuptial gift giving behaviour.
Significance statement
Male courtship behaviour can indicate a male’s condition and quality and be subject to female mate choice. Vibrational communication during mating plays a crucial role in many animal species. Spiders are known to be extremely sensitive towards vibrations, and there is evidence that vibratory signals are also used during courtship. Here, we study the nuptial gift-giving spider Pisaura mirabilis in which courtship entails providing a nuptial gift by the male to the female. The gift quality determines on the probability and duration of mating. We investigated the role of vibrational behaviour in this species by standardizing nuptial gifts. Our study demonstrates that vibratory signals comprise information about the male’s condition, that signals are also produced during mating and that courtship and copulatory signals are strikingly different. We suggest that vibrational communication provides important condition-dependent traits for female mate choice in addition to the nuptial gift.
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7
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Magris M, Wignall AE, Herberstein ME. Courtship and copula duration influence paternity success in a spider. Anim Behav 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2020.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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8
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Influence of past and current social contexts on hunting behaviour in spiderlings. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-020-02870-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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9
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Cordellier M, Schneider JM, Uhl G, Posnien N. Sex differences in spiders: from phenotype to genomics. Dev Genes Evol 2020; 230:155-172. [PMID: 32052129 PMCID: PMC7127994 DOI: 10.1007/s00427-020-00657-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Sexual reproduction is pervasive in animals and has led to the evolution of sexual dimorphism. In most animals, males and females show marked differences in primary and secondary sexual traits. The formation of sex-specific organs and eventually sex-specific behaviors is defined during the development of an organism. Sex determination processes have been extensively studied in a few well-established model organisms. While some key molecular regulators are conserved across animals, the initiation of sex determination is highly diverse. To reveal the mechanisms underlying the development of sexual dimorphism and to identify the evolutionary forces driving the evolution of different sexes, sex determination mechanisms must thus be studied in detail in many different animal species beyond the typical model systems. In this perspective article, we argue that spiders represent an excellent group of animals in which to study sex determination mechanisms. We show that spiders are sexually dimorphic in various morphological, behavioral, and life history traits. The availability of an increasing number of genomic and transcriptomic resources and functional tools provides a great starting point to scrutinize the extensive sexual dimorphism present in spiders on a mechanistic level. We provide an overview of the current knowledge of sex determination in spiders and propose approaches to reveal the molecular and genetic underpinnings of sexual dimorphism in these exciting animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathilde Cordellier
- Department of Biology, Institute of Zoology, Universität Hamburg, Martin-Luther-King Platz 3, 20146, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Jutta M Schneider
- Department of Biology, Institute of Zoology, Universität Hamburg, Martin-Luther-King Platz 3, 20146, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Gabriele Uhl
- Zoological Institute and Museum, Research Group General and Systematic Zoology, Universität Greifswald, Loitzer Straße 26, 17489, Greifswald, Germany.
| | - Nico Posnien
- Department of Developmental Biology, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University Göttingen, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077, Göttingen, Germany.
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10
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Ability makes a thief: vision, learning, and swift escape help kleptoparasitic hover wasps not to fall prey to their spider hosts. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-019-2767-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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11
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Calbacho‐Rosa L, Cargnelutti F, Córdoba‐Aguilar A, Peretti AV. Consistency of females' stridulatory behaviour during inter‐sexual interactions in spiders. Ethology 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lucía Calbacho‐Rosa
- Laboratorio de Biología Reproductiva y Evolución Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal (IDEA) Córdoba Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales Departamento de Diversidad Biológica y Ecología Universidad Nacional de Córdoba Córdoba Argentina
| | - Franco Cargnelutti
- Laboratorio de Biología Reproductiva y Evolución Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal (IDEA) Córdoba Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales Departamento de Diversidad Biológica y Ecología Universidad Nacional de Córdoba Córdoba Argentina
| | - Alex Córdoba‐Aguilar
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva Instituto de Ecología Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México México México
| | - Alfredo V. Peretti
- Laboratorio de Biología Reproductiva y Evolución Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal (IDEA) Córdoba Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales Departamento de Diversidad Biológica y Ecología Universidad Nacional de Córdoba Córdoba Argentina
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12
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Girard MB, Kasumovic MM, Elias DO. The role of red coloration and song in peacock spider courtship: insights into complex signaling systems. Behav Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/ary128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Madeline B Girard
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Mulford Hall, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Michael M Kasumovic
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Biological Sciences Building (D26) University of New South Wales, Kensington, Sydney, Australia
| | - Damian O Elias
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Mulford Hall, Berkeley, CA, USA
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13
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Líznarová E, Sentenská L, Šťáhlavský F, Pekár S. Stridulation can suppress cannibalism in a specialised araneophagous predator. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-018-2541-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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14
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O'Hanlon JC, Wignall AE, Herberstein ME. Short and fast vs long and slow: age changes courtship in male orb-web spiders (Argiope keyserlingi). Naturwissenschaften 2017; 105:3. [PMID: 29209865 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-017-1527-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2017] [Revised: 11/19/2017] [Accepted: 11/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Male reproductive performance can vary with condition, age and future reproductive opportunities. Web-building spiders are ideal models to examine the effects of senescence on fitness-related behaviours due to strong selection on male courtship to reduce pre-copulatory sexual cannibalism. Argiope keyserlingi spiders generate courtship vibrations, or 'shudders', that reduce female aggression. We found that male A. keyserlingi courtship slowed with chronological age. Older males took longer to travel across the courtship thread, and overall number of shudders increased. Males retained some ability to modulate courtship quality (shudder duration and number of rocks within each shudder) in response to female quality. A change in courtship performance over time, despite strong selection for repeatability, indicates that ageing in male A. keyserlingi may have direct impacts on reproductive performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- James C O'Hanlon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia. .,Centre of Excellence for Behavioural and Physiological Ecology, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, 2351, Australia.
| | - Anne E Wignall
- Institute of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, Massey University, Auckland, 0745, New Zealand
| | - Marie E Herberstein
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
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15
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Toft S, Albo MJ. The shield effect: nuptial gifts protect males against pre-copulatory sexual cannibalism. Biol Lett 2017; 12:rsbl.2015.1082. [PMID: 27194284 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2015.1082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2016] [Accepted: 04/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Several not mutually exclusive functions have been ascribed to nuptial gifts across different taxa. Although the idea that a nuptial prey gift may protect the male from pre-copulatory sexual cannibalism is attractive, it has previously been considered of no importance based on indirect evidence and rejected by experimental tests. We reinvestigated whether nuptial gifts may function as a shield against female attacks during mating encounters in the spider Pisaura mirabilis and whether female hunger influences the likelihood of cannibalistic attacks. The results showed that pre-copulatory sexual cannibalism was enhanced when males courted without a gift and this was independent of female hunger. We propose that the nuptial gift trait has evolved partly as a counteradaptation to female aggression in this spider species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Søren Toft
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus 8000, Denmark
| | - Maria J Albo
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus 8000, Denmark Laboratorio de Etología, Ecología y Evolución, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo, Uruguay
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16
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Cory AL, Schneider JM. Effects of social information on life history and mating tactics of males in the orb-web spider Argiope bruennichi. Ecol Evol 2017; 8:344-355. [PMID: 29321876 PMCID: PMC5756857 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2017] [Revised: 11/03/2017] [Accepted: 11/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Informed mating decisions are often based on social cues providing information about prospective mating opportunities. Social information early in life can trigger developmental modifications and influence later mating decisions. A high adaptive value of such adjustments is particularly obvious in systems where potential mating rates are extremely limited and have to be carried out in a short time window. Males of the sexually cannibalistic spider Argiope bruennichi can achieve maximally two copulations which they can use for one (monogyny) or two females (bigyny). The choice between these male mating tactics should rely on female availability that males might assess through volatile sex pheromones emitted by virgin females. We predict that in response to those female cues, males of A. bruennichi should mature earlier and at a smaller body size and favor a bigynous mating tactic in comparison with controls. We sampled spiders from two areas close to the Southern and Northern species range to account for differences in mate quality and seasonality. In a fully factorial design, half of the subadult males from both areas obtained silk cues of females, while the other half remained without female exposure. Adult males were subjected to no‐choice mating tests and could either monopolize the female or leave her (bigyny). We found that Southern males matured later and at a larger size than Northern males. Regardless of their origin, males also shortened the subadult stage in response to female cues, which, however, had no effects on male body mass. Contrary to our prediction, the frequencies of mating tactics were unaffected by the treatment. We conclude that while social cues during late development elicit adaptive life history adjustments, they are less important for the adjustment of mating decisions. We suggest that male tactics mostly rely on local information at the time of mate search.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Lena Cory
- Zoologisches Institut Universität Hamburg Hamburg Hamburg Germany
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17
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Joel AC, Habedank A, Mey J. Vibratory movements in contests between females of the feather-legged spider (Uloborus plumipes). ZOOLOGY 2017; 125:87-93. [PMID: 29174059 DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2017.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2017] [Revised: 08/23/2017] [Accepted: 08/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Females of the feather-legged spider Uloborus plumipes invade, and compete for, each other's orb webs. In the context of these competitive interactions the question arose how the spiders communicate. Since substrate-borne vibrations are the most important component of the sensory environment of web-building spiders, we investigated vibratory movements that might serve as signals of communication. Three behaviors were found to be associated with female-female contests and to cause propagating vibrations in the spider webs: thread pulling, abdominal trembling, and web shaking. While thread pulling and abdominal trembling were also observed when prey insects were caught in the webs, web shaking occurred only in response to the presence of a competing conspecific. Caused by flexing of the first legs and a vigorous rotary movement of the opisthosoma, web shaking creates a short burst of strong oscillations of the orb web. This behavior always elicited a behavioral reaction by the competitor and may serve as an intraspecific signal in the mutual assessment of competing spiders. We suggest that web shaking communicates resource holding potential in U. plumipes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Christin Joel
- Institut für Biologie II (Zoologie), RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 3, D-52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Anne Habedank
- Institut für Biologie II (Zoologie), RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 3, D-52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Jörg Mey
- Institut für Biologie II (Zoologie), RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 3, D-52074 Aachen, Germany; Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, SESCAM, Finca la Peraleda s/n, E-45071 Toledo, Spain.
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18
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Herberstein ME, Painting CJ, Holwell GI. Scramble Competition Polygyny in Terrestrial Arthropods. ADVANCES IN THE STUDY OF BEHAVIOR 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.asb.2017.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
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19
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Joel AC, Habedank A, Hausen J, Mey J. Fighting for the web: competition between female feather-legged spiders (Uloborus plumipes). ZOOLOGY 2016; 121:10-17. [PMID: 28109659 DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2016.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2016] [Revised: 10/16/2016] [Accepted: 12/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Most spider species are solitary, and among the few social interactions among them, resource competition between females has received little attention. We discovered that females of the feather-legged spider Uloborus plumipes invade the orb webs of conspecifics and compete for webs. Following observations in the wild, intruder-defender interactions were studied in a terrarium and in controlled laboratory experiments. We found that contests for orb webs occurred spontaneously between adult females. Competitive interactions in U. plumipes were characterized by an escalation of ritualized behaviors. In 27% of the contests the winner was determined by interactions at a distance, which involved behaviors that caused vibratory signaling on the web. The remaining interactions escalated to physical contact, and in 78% of these a fight occurred between the contestants. Using multivariate logistic regression we determined the factors that predicted the outcome of the contests: (i) Web ownership did not give the defender a competitive advantage. (ii) The difference in physical size between the competing spiders was the most important predictor for the outcome of web contests. (iii) Independent of body size, the display of certain behaviors, specifically the ability to reach the hub before the contestant and the frequency of attacks, increased the probability of winning. (iv) Winning or losing a fight did not affect the chances of winning subsequent contests. The interactions reported here provide a promising approach to investigate communication in spiders and to test theoretical models of intraspecific competition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Christin Joel
- Institut für Biologie II (Zoologie), RWTH Aachen, Worringerweg 1, D-52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Anne Habedank
- Institut für Biologie II (Zoologie), RWTH Aachen, Worringerweg 1, D-52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Jonas Hausen
- Institut für Biologie V (Umweltforschung), RWTH Aachen, Worringerweg 3, D-52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Jörg Mey
- Institut für Biologie II (Zoologie), RWTH Aachen, Worringerweg 1, D-52074 Aachen, Germany; Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, SESCAM, Finca la Peraleda s/n, 45071 Toledo, Spain.
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20
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Female predatory response to conspecific males and heterospecific prey in the praying mantis Mantis religiosa: evidence for discrimination of conspecific males. J ETHOL 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s10164-016-0458-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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21
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Multimodal Communication in Wolf Spiders (Lycosidae)—An Emerging Model for Study. ADVANCES IN THE STUDY OF BEHAVIOR 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.asb.2016.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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22
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Variable Signals in a Complex World. ADVANCES IN THE STUDY OF BEHAVIOR 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.asb.2016.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
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23
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Xiao YH, Zunic-Kosi A, Zhang LW, Prentice TR, McElfresh JS, Chinta SP, Zou YF, Millar JG. Male adaptations to minimize sexual cannibalism during reproduction in the funnel-web spider Hololena curta. INSECT SCIENCE 2015; 22:840-852. [PMID: 26033974 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/29/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Males of many spider species risk being attacked and cannibalized while searching for, courting, and mating with conspecific females. However, there are exceptions. We show that the funnel-web spider, Hololena curta, has 3 adaptations that minimize risk to males during courtship and mating, and enhance reproductive success. First, males detected chemical or tactile signals associated with webs of virgin females, and differentiated them from webs of mated females, enabling males to increase encounter rates with virgin females and avoid aggressive mated females. Second, males produced stereotyped vibrational signals during courting which induced female quiescence and suppressed female aggression. Third, when touched by males, sexually receptive females entered a cataleptic state, allowing males to safely approach and copulate. Because males can mate multiple times and the sex ratio in natural populations of H. curta is female biased, overall reproductive output is likely increased by males of this species avoiding sexual cannibalism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Hong Xiao
- College of Life Sciences, Jinggangshan University, Ji'an, Jiangxi, 343009, China
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Alenka Zunic-Kosi
- Department of Entomology, National Institute of Biology, Ljubljana, SI-1000, Slovenia
| | - Long-Wa Zhang
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Control, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui, 230036, China
| | - Thomas R Prentice
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - J Steven McElfresh
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Satya P Chinta
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Yun-Fan Zou
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Jocelyn G Millar
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
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Magris M, Wignall AE, Herberstein ME. The sterile male technique: irradiation negatively affects male fertility but not male courtship. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2015; 75:85-90. [PMID: 25794431 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2015.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2014] [Revised: 02/25/2015] [Accepted: 02/28/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The sterile male technique is a common method to assign paternity, widely adopted due to its relative simplicity and low cost. Male sterility is induced by exposure to sub lethal doses of chemosterilants or irradiation, the dosage of which has to be calibrated for every species to provide successful male sterilisation, without affecting male physiology and behaviour. While the physiological effects of sterilisation are usually assessed for each study, the behavioural ones are rarely analysed in detail. Using the orb web spider Argiope keyserlingi as a model we first tested (1) the validity of the thread assay, which simulates male courtship behaviour in a standardised context, as a proxy representing courtship on a female web. We then investigated (2) the effectiveness of male sterilisation via irradiation and (3) its consequences on male courtship behaviour. Our results validate the thread assay and the sterile male technique as legitimate tools for the study of male courtship behaviour and fertilisation success. We show that these techniques are time and cost effective and reduce undesirable variation, thereby creating opportunities to study and understand the mechanisms underlying sexual selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Magris
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW 2109, Australia.
| | - Anne E Wignall
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW 2109, Australia.
| | - Marie E Herberstein
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW 2109, Australia.
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Wignall AE, Kemp DJ, Herberstein ME. Extreme short-term repeatability of male courtship performance in a tropical orb-web spider. Behav Ecol 2014. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/aru083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
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