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de Araújo GF, Moioli RC, de Souza SJ. The Shared Use of Extended Phenotypes Increases the Fitness of Simulated Populations. Front Genet 2021; 12:617915. [PMID: 33613639 PMCID: PMC7886806 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.617915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Extended phenotypes are manifestations of genes that occur outside of the organism that possess those genes. In spite of their widespread occurrence, the role of extended phenotypes in evolutionary biology is still a matter of debate. Here, we explore the indirect effects of extended phenotypes, especially their shared use, in the fitness of simulated individuals and populations. A computer simulation platform was developed in which different populations were compared regarding their ability to produce, use, and share extended phenotypes. Our results show that populations that produce and share extended phenotypes outrun populations that only produce them. A specific parameter in the simulations, a bonus for sharing extended phenotypes among conspecifics, has a more significant impact in defining which population will prevail. All these findings strongly support the view, postulated by the extended fitness hypothesis (EFH) that extended phenotypes play a significant role at the population level and their shared use increases population fitness. Our simulation platform is available at https://github.com/guilherme-araujo/gsop-dist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme F de Araújo
- Bioinformatics Multidisciplinary Environment, Instituto Metrópole Digital, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Renan C Moioli
- Bioinformatics Multidisciplinary Environment, Instituto Metrópole Digital, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Sandro J de Souza
- Bioinformatics Multidisciplinary Environment, Instituto Metrópole Digital, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil.,Brain Institute, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil.,Institutes for Systems Genetics, West China Hospital, University of Sichuan, Chengdu, China
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2
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The web architecture of Latrodectus hesperus black widow spiders (Araneae: Theridiidae) shows genetic variation and sexual dimorphism, but no plasticity according to the experience of the site of prey capture. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-020-02867-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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3
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Peng P, Stuart‐Fox D, Chen S, Tan EJ, Kuo G, Blamires SJ, Tso I, Elgar MA. High contrast yellow mosaic patterns are prey attractants for orb‐weaving spiders. Funct Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Po Peng
- School of BioSciences University of Melbourne Parkville Vic. Australia
| | - Devi Stuart‐Fox
- School of BioSciences University of Melbourne Parkville Vic. Australia
| | - Szu‐Wei Chen
- Agricultural Policy Research Centre Agricultural Technology Research Institute Taipei Taiwan
| | | | - Guan‐Lin Kuo
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology University of Leicester Leicester UK
| | - Sean J. Blamires
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre School of Biological Earth & Environmental Sciences The University of New South Wales Sydney NSW Australia
| | - I‐Min Tso
- Department of Life Science Tunghai University Taichung Taiwan
| | - Mark A. Elgar
- School of BioSciences University of Melbourne Parkville Vic. Australia
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4
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Properties of orb weaving spider glycoprotein glue change during Argiope trifasciata web construction. Sci Rep 2019; 9:20279. [PMID: 31889090 PMCID: PMC6937294 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-56707-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
An orb web’s prey capture thread relies on its glue droplets to retain insects until a spider can subdue them. Each droplet’s viscoelastic glycoprotein adhesive core extends to dissipate the forces of prey struggle as it transfers force to stiffer, support line flagelliform fibers. In large orb webs, switchback capture thread turns are placed at the bottom of the web before a continuous capture spiral progresses from the web’s periphery to its interior. To determine if the properties of capture thread droplets change during web spinning, we characterized droplet and glycoprotein volumes and material properties from the bottom, top, middle, and inner regions of webs. Both droplet and glycoprotein volume decreased during web construction, but there was a progressive increase in the glycoprotein’s Young’s modulus and toughness. Increases in the percentage of droplet aqueous material indicated that these increases in material properties are not due to reduced glycoprotein viscosity resulting from lower droplet hygroscopicity. Instead, they may result from changes in aqueous layer compounds that condition the glycoprotein. A 6-fold difference in glycoprotein toughness and a 70-fold difference in Young’s modulus across a web documents the phenotypic plasticity of this natural adhesive and its potential to inspire new materials.
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5
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Blamires SJ, Sellers WI. Modelling temperature and humidity effects on web performance: implications for predicting orb-web spider ( Argiope spp.) foraging under Australian climate change scenarios. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2019; 7:coz083. [PMID: 31832193 PMCID: PMC6899225 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coz083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2019] [Revised: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Phenotypic features extending beyond the body, or EPs, may vary plastically across environments. EP constructs, such as spider webs, vary in property across environments as a result of changes to the physiology of the animal or interactions between the environment and the integrity of the material from which the EP is manufactured. Due to the complexity of the interactions between EP constructs and the environment, the impact of climate change on EP functional integrity is poorly understood. Here we used a dynamic model to assess how temperature and humidity influence spider web major ampullate (MA) silk properties. MA silk is the silk that absorbs the impact of prey striking the web, hence our model provides a useful interpretation of web performance over the temperature (i.e. 20-55°C) and humidity (i.e. 15-100%) ranges assessed. Our results showed that extremely high or low humidity had direct negative effects on web capture performance, with changes in temperature likely having indirect effects. Undeniably, the effect of temperature on web architecture and its interactive effect with humidity on web tension and capture thread stickiness need to be factored into any further predictions of plausible climate change impacts. Since our study is the first to model plasticity in an EP construct's functionality and to extrapolate the results to predict climate change impacts, it stands as a template for future studies that endeavour to make predictions about the influence of climate change on animal EPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- S J Blamires
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - W I Sellers
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Williamson Building, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
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6
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Thompson CH, Rodríguez RL, Sergi C. Repeatability but no short‐term plasticity in the web architecture of
Latrodectus hesperus
western black widow spiders (Araneae: Theridiidae). Ethology 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Cory H. Thompson
- Behavioral & Molecular Ecology Group Department of Biological Sciences University of Wisconsin‐Milwaukee Milwaukee WI USA
| | - Rafael L. Rodríguez
- Behavioral & Molecular Ecology Group Department of Biological Sciences University of Wisconsin‐Milwaukee Milwaukee WI USA
| | - Clinton Sergi
- Behavioral & Molecular Ecology Group Department of Biological Sciences University of Wisconsin‐Milwaukee Milwaukee WI USA
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7
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Viera C, Garcia LF, Lacava M, Fang J, Wang X, Kasumovic MM, Blamires SJ. Silk physico-chemical variability and mechanical robustness facilitates intercontinental invasibility of a spider. Sci Rep 2019; 9:13273. [PMID: 31519928 PMCID: PMC6744404 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-49463-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2019] [Accepted: 08/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
There are substantive problems associated with invasive species, including threats to endemic organisms and biodiversity. Understanding the mechanisms driving invasions is thus critical. Variable extended phenotypes may enable animals to invade into novel environments. We explored here the proposition that silk variability is a facilitator of invasive success for the highly invasive Australian house spider, Badumna longinqua. We compared the physico-chemical and mechanical properties and underlying gene expressions of its major ampullate (MA) silk between a native Sydney population and an invasive counterpart from Montevideo, Uruguay. We found that while differential gene expressions might explain the differences in silk amino acid compositions and protein nanostructures, we did not find any significant differences in silk mechanical properties across the populations. Our results accordingly suggest that B. longinqua’s silk remains functionally robust despite underlying physico-chemical and genetic variability as the spider expands its range across continents. They also imply that a combination of silk physico-chemical plasticity combined with mechanical robustness might contribute more broadly to spider invasibilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Viera
- Entomología, Universidad de la República de Uruguay, Montevideo, Uruguay.,Laboratorio Ecología del Comportamiento (IIBCE), Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Luis F Garcia
- Centro Universitario Regional del Este, Sede Treinta y Tres, Universidad de la República, Treinta y Tres, Uruguay
| | - Mariángeles Lacava
- Laboratorio Ecología del Comportamiento (IIBCE), Montevideo, Uruguay.,Centro Universitario de Rivera, Universidad de la República, Rivera, Uruguay
| | - Jian Fang
- Deakin University, Institute for Frontier Materials (IFM), Waurn Ponds Campus, Geelong, 3220, Australia
| | - Xungai Wang
- Deakin University, Institute for Frontier Materials (IFM), Waurn Ponds Campus, Geelong, 3220, Australia
| | - Michael M Kasumovic
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Sean J Blamires
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
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Guo Y, Chang Z, Guo HY, Fang W, Li Q, Zhao HP, Feng XQ, Gao H. Synergistic adhesion mechanisms of spider capture silk. J R Soc Interface 2019. [PMID: 29514984 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2017.0894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
It is well known that capture silk, the main sticky component of the orb web of a spider, plays an important role in the spider's ability to capture prey via adhesion. However, the detailed mechanism with which the spider achieves its unparalleled high-adhesion performance remains elusive. In this work, we combine experiments and theoretical analysis to investigate the adhesion mechanisms of spider silk. In addition to the widely recognized adhesion effect of the sticky glue, we reveal a synergistic enhancement mechanism due to the elasticity of silk fibres. A balance between silk stiffness, strength and glue stickiness is crucial to endow the silk with superior adhesion, as well as outstanding energy absorption capacity and structural robustness. The revealed mechanisms deepen our understanding of the working principles of spider silk and suggest guidelines for biomimetic designs of spider-inspired adhesion and capture devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Guo
- AML, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, People's Republic of China
| | - Zheng Chang
- College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, People's Republic of China
| | - Hao-Yuan Guo
- AML, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Fang
- AML, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, People's Republic of China
| | - Qunyang Li
- AML, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, People's Republic of China.,State Key Laboratory of Tribology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, People's Republic of China
| | - Hong-Ping Zhao
- AML, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, People's Republic of China
| | - Xi-Qiao Feng
- AML, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, People's Republic of China .,State Key Laboratory of Tribology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, People's Republic of China
| | - Huajian Gao
- School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
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9
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An Updated Theoretical Framework for Human Sexual Selection: from Ecology, Genetics, and Life History to Extended Phenotypes. ADAPTIVE HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND PHYSIOLOGY 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s40750-018-0103-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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