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Quiñones-Lebrón SG, Kuntner M, Kralj-Fišer S. The effect of genetics, diet, and social environment on adult male size in a sexually dimorphic spider. Evol Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10682-020-10097-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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2
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Kuntner M, Coddington JA. Sexual Size Dimorphism: Evolution and Perils of Extreme Phenotypes in Spiders. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENTOMOLOGY 2020; 65:57-80. [PMID: 31573828 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ento-011019-025032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Sexual size dimorphism is one of the most striking animal traits, and among terrestrial animals, it is most extreme in certain spider lineages. The most extreme sexual size dimorphism (eSSD) is female biased. eSSD itself is probably an epiphenomenon of gendered evolutionary drivers whose strengths and directions are diverse. We demonstrate that eSSD spider clades are aberrant by sampling randomly across all spiders to establish overall averages for female (6.9 mm) and male (5.6 mm) size. At least 16 spider eSSD clades exist. We explore why the literature does not converge on an overall explanation for eSSD and propose an equilibrium model featuring clade- and context-specific drivers of gender size variation. eSSD affects other traits such as sexual cannibalism, genital damage, emasculation, and monogyny with terminal investment. Coevolution with these extreme sexual phenotypes is termed eSSD mating syndrome. Finally, as costs of female gigantism increase with size, eSSD may represent an evolutionary dead end.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matjaž Kuntner
- Evolutionary Zoology Laboratory, Department of Organisms and Ecosystems Research, National Institute of Biology, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
- Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560-0105, USA;
- Evolutionary Zoology Laboratory, Institute of Biology ZRC SAZU, SI-1001 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Jonathan A Coddington
- Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560-0105, USA;
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Wey TW, Réale D, Kelly CD. Developmental and genetic effects on behavioral and life-history traits in a field cricket. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:3434-3445. [PMID: 30962903 PMCID: PMC6434558 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Revised: 01/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
A fundamental goal of evolutionary ecology is to identify the sources underlying trait variation on which selection can act. Phenotypic variation will be determined by both genetic and environmental factors, and adaptive phenotypic plasticity is expected when organisms can adjust their phenotypes to match environmental cues. Much recent research interest has focused on the relative importance of environmental and genetic factors on the expression of behavioral traits, in particular, and how they compare with morphological and life-history traits. Little research to date examines the effect of development on the expression of heritable variation in behavioral traits, such as boldness and activity. We tested for genotype, environment, and genotype-by-environment differences in body mass, development time, boldness, and activity, using developmental density treatments combined with a quantitative genetic design in the sand field cricket (Gryllus firmus). Similar to results from previous work, animals reared at high densities were generally smaller and took longer to mature, and body mass and development time were moderately heritable. In contrast, neither boldness nor activity responded to density treatments, and they were not heritable. The only trait that showed significant genotype-by-environment differences was development time. It is possible that adaptive behavioral plasticity is not evident in this species because of the highly variable social environments it naturally experiences. Our results illustrate the importance of validating the assumption that behavioral phenotype reflects genetic patterns and suggest questions about the role of environmental instability in trait variation and heritability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina W. Wey
- Université du Québec à MontréalMontréalQuébecCanada
- Université de SherbrookeSherbrookeQuébecCanada
| | - Denis Réale
- Université du Québec à MontréalMontréalQuébecCanada
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4
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Andrade MC. Sexual selection and social context: Web-building spiders as emerging models for adaptive plasticity. ADVANCES IN THE STUDY OF BEHAVIOR 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.asb.2019.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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5
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Manenti R, Perreau L, Ficetola GF, Mangiacotti M. Effects of diet quality on morphology and intraspecific competition ability during development: the case of fire salamander larvae. EUROPEAN ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/24750263.2018.1501103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- R. Manenti
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - L. Perreau
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - G. F. Ficetola
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - M. Mangiacotti
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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6
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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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Neumann R, Ruppel N, Schneider JM. Fitness implications of sex-specific catch-up growth in Nephila senegalensis, a spider with extreme reversed SSD. PeerJ 2017; 5:e4050. [PMID: 29158981 PMCID: PMC5694211 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2017] [Accepted: 10/26/2017] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Animal growth is often constrained by unfavourable conditions and divergences from optimal body size can be detrimental to an individual's fitness, particularly in species with determinate growth and a narrow time-frame for life-time reproduction. Growth restriction in early juvenile stages can later be compensated by means of plastic developmental responses, such as adaptive catch-up growth (the compensation of growth deficits through delayed development). Although sex differences regarding the mode and degree of growth compensation have been coherently predicted from sex-specific fitness payoffs, inconsistent results imply a need for further research. We used the African Nephila senegalensis, representing an extreme case of female-biased sexual size dimorphism (SSD), to study fitness implications of sex-specific growth compensation. We predicted effective catch-up growth in early food-restricted females to result in full compensation of growth deficits and a life-time fecundity (LTF) equivalent to unrestricted females. Based on a stronger trade-off between size-related benefits and costs of a delayed maturation, we expected less effective catch-up growth in males. METHODS We tracked the development of over one thousand spiders in different feeding treatments, e.g., comprising a fixed period of early low feeding conditions followed by unrestricted feeding conditions, permanent unrestricted feeding conditions, or permanent low feeding conditions as a control. In a second experimental section, we assessed female fitness by measuring LTF in a subset of females. In addition, we tested whether compensatory development affected the reproductive lifespan in both sexes and analysed genotype-by-treatment interactions as a potential cause of variation in life-history traits. RESULTS Both sexes delayed maturation to counteract early growth restriction, but only females achieved full compensation of adult body size. Female catch-up growth resulted in equivalent LTF compared to unrestricted females. We found significant interactions between experimental treatments and sex as well as between treatments and family lineage, suggesting that family-specific responses contribute to the unusually large variation of life-history traits in Nephila spiders. Our feeding treatments had no effect on the reproductive lifespan in either sex. DISCUSSION Our findings are in line with predictions of life-history theory and corroborate strong fecundity selection to result in full female growth compensation. Males showed incomplete growth compensation despite a delayed development, indicating relaxed selection on large size and a stronger trade-off between late maturation and size-related benefits. We suggest that moderate catch-up growth in males is still adaptive as a 'bet-hedging' strategy to disperse unavoidable costs between life-history traits affected by early growth restriction (the duration of development and adult size).
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Affiliation(s)
- Rainer Neumann
- Zoologisches Institut, Biozentrum Grindel, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Nicole Ruppel
- Zoologisches Institut, Biozentrum Grindel, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jutta M. Schneider
- Zoologisches Institut, Biozentrum Grindel, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
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Lowe E, Wilder S, Hochuli D. Life history of an urban-tolerant spider shows resilience to anthropogenic habitat disturbance. JOURNAL OF URBAN ECOLOGY 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/jue/jux004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Ashman KR, McNamara KB, Symonds MRE. Experimental evolution reveals that population density does not affect moth signalling behaviour and antennal morphology. Evol Ecol 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s10682-016-9857-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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10
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Neumann R, Schneider JM. Socially cued developmental plasticity in web-building spiders. BMC Evol Biol 2016; 16:170. [PMID: 27561330 PMCID: PMC5000426 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-016-0736-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2016] [Accepted: 08/08/2016] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Socially cued anticipatory plasticity (SCAP) has been proposed as a widespread mechanism of adaptive life-history shifts in semelparous species with extreme male mating investment. Such mating systems evolved several times independently in spiders and male reproductive success should critically depend on timely maturation and rapid location of a receptive and, ideally, virgin female. We experimentally investigated socially cued anticipatory plasticity in two sympatric, closely related Nephila species that share many components of their mating systems, but differ in the degree to which male reproductive success depends on mating with virgin females. Juveniles of both species were reared either in the presence or absence of virgin female silk cues. We predicted strong selection on socially cued plasticity in N. fenestrata in which males follow a highly specialized terminal investment strategy, but expected a weaker plastic response in N. senegalensis in which males lost the ability to monopolize females. Results Contrary to our predictions, N. fenestrata males presented with virgin female silk cues did not mature earlier than siblings reared isolated from such cues. Males in N. senegalensis, however, showed a significant response to female cues and matured several days earlier than control males. Plastic adjustment of maturation had no effect on male size. Conclusions Our results indicate that a strong benefit of mating with virgins due to first male sperm priority does not necessarily promote socially cued anticipatory plasticity. We emphasize the bidirectional mode of developmental responses and suggest that this form of plasticity may not only yield benefits through accelerated maturation, but also by avoiding costs of precipitate maturation in the absence of female cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rainer Neumann
- Zoologisches Institut, Universität Hamburg, Martin-Luther-King-Platz 3, 20146, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Jutta M Schneider
- Zoologisches Institut, Universität Hamburg, Martin-Luther-King-Platz 3, 20146, Hamburg, Germany
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11
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An experimental demonstration that predation influences antelope sex ratios and resource-associated mortality. Basic Appl Ecol 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2015.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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12
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Neumann R, Schneider JM. Differential investment and size-related mating strategies facilitate extreme size variation in contesting male spiders. Anim Behav 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2014.12.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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13
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Lowe EC, Wilder SM, Hochuli DF. Urbanisation at multiple scales is associated with larger size and higher fecundity of an orb-weaving spider. PLoS One 2014; 9:e105480. [PMID: 25140809 PMCID: PMC4139358 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0105480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2014] [Accepted: 07/24/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Urbanisation modifies landscapes at multiple scales, impacting the local climate and changing the extent and quality of natural habitats. These habitat modifications significantly alter species distributions and can result in increased abundance of select species which are able to exploit novel ecosystems. We examined the effect of urbanisation at local and landscape scales on the body size, lipid reserves and ovary weight of Nephila plumipes, an orb weaving spider commonly found in both urban and natural landscapes. Habitat variables at landscape, local and microhabitat scales were integrated to create a series of indexes that quantified the degree of urbanisation at each site. Spider size was negatively associated with vegetation cover at a landscape scale, and positively associated with hard surfaces and anthropogenic disturbance on a local and microhabitat scale. Ovary weight increased in higher socioeconomic areas and was positively associated with hard surfaces and leaf litter at a local scale. The larger size and increased reproductive capacity of N.plumipes in urban areas show that some species benefit from the habitat changes associated with urbanisation. Our results also highlight the importance of incorporating environmental variables from multiple scales when quantifying species responses to landscape modification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth C. Lowe
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Shawn M. Wilder
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Dieter F. Hochuli
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Jordan LA, Kokko H, Kasumovic M. Reproductive foragers: male spiders choose mates by selecting among competitive environments. Am Nat 2014; 183:638-49. [PMID: 24739196 DOI: 10.1086/675755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Mate choice frequently operates differently for males and females as a consequence of male competition for mates. Competitive interactions can alter the fitness payoffs of choice and the realization of preferences under natural conditions, yet the majority of male choice studies still use binary trials that ignore social factors. Here we test the importance of contest dynamics in male choice using a framework in which females are considered analogous to foraging patches that are subject to competition. We track the mate choices and interactions of 640 spiders (Nephila plumipes) before and after manipulation of competition within enclosures, modeling the expected fitness payoffs of each male's actual choices and comparing these with all alternative choices. Many males choose new mates once social conditions change and achieve higher fitness than predicted under random movement. Males do not simply move to larger females but choose favorable competitive environments that balance competition and female fecundity, thereby increasing their fitness payoffs. Further, we show for the first time that prior-residence effects, which are known to influence male contests, also have a strong influence in male reproductive contests and can shape male mate choice. These results highlight the importance of situating male choice studies in the relevant social context, as intrasexual interactions can have profound effects on the realization and payoffs of male mate-choice strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lyndon Alexander Jordan
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
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15
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MacLeod EC, Andrade MC. Strong, convergent male mate choice along two preference axes in field populations of black widow spiders. Anim Behav 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2013.12.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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16
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Kasumovic MM, Jordan LA. Social Factors Driving Settlement and Relocation Decisions in a Solitary and Aggregative Spider. Am Nat 2013; 182:532-41. [DOI: 10.1086/671930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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17
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Carra S, Rusmini P, Crippa V, Giorgetti E, Boncoraglio A, Cristofani R, Naujock M, Meister M, Minoia M, Kampinga HH, Poletti A. Different anti-aggregation and pro-degradative functions of the members of the mammalian sHSP family in neurological disorders. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2013; 368:20110409. [PMID: 23530259 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2011.0409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The family of the mammalian small heat-shock proteins consists of 10 members (sHSPs/HSPBs: HSPB1-HSPB10) that all share a highly conserved C-terminal alpha-crystallin domain, important for the modulation of both their structural and functional properties. HSPB proteins are biochemically classified as molecular chaperones and participate in protein quality control, preventing the aggregation of unfolded or misfolded proteins and/or assisting in their degradation. Thus, several members of the HSPB family have been suggested to be protective in a number of neurodegenerative and neuromuscular diseases that are characterized by protein misfolding. However, the pro-refolding, anti-aggregation or pro-degradative properties of the various members of the HSPB family differ largely, thereby influencing their efficacy and protective functions. Such diversity depends on several factors, including biochemical and physical properties of the unfolded/misfolded client, the expression levels and the subcellular localization of both the chaperone and the client proteins. Furthermore, although some HSPB members are inefficient at inhibiting protein aggregation, they can still exert neuroprotective effects by other, as yet unidentified, manners; e.g. by maintaining the proper cellular redox state or/and by preventing the activation of the apoptotic cascade. Here, we will focus our attention on how the differences in the activities of the HSPB proteins can influence neurodegenerative and neuromuscular disorders characterized by accumulation of aggregate-prone proteins. Understanding their mechanism of action may allow us to target a specific member in a specific cell type/disease for therapeutic purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Carra
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Universita' degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, , via G. Campi 287, Modena 41125, Italy
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Kasumovic MM, Seebacher F. The active metabolic rate predicts a male spider's proximity to females and expected fitness. Biol Lett 2013; 9:20121164. [PMID: 23426914 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2012.1164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Conspicuous traits, such as weaponry and body size, are often correlated with fitness. By contrast, we understand less about how inconspicuous physiological traits affect fitness. Not only is linking physiology directly to fitness a challenge, but in addition, behavioural studies most often focus on resting or basal metabolic rates, resulting in a poor understanding of how active metabolic rates affect fitness. Here we use the golden orb-web spider (Nephila plumipes), a species for which proximity to a female on the web predicts a male's paternity share, to examine the role of resting and active metabolic rates in fitness. Using a semi-natural experimental set-up, we show that males closer to a female have higher active metabolic rates than males further from females. This higher metabolic activity is paralleled by increased citrate synthase activity, suggesting greater mitochondrial densities. Our results link both higher active metabolic rates and increased citrate synthase activity with fitness. Coupled with the behaviour and life history of N. plumipes, these results provide insight into the evolution of physiological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael M Kasumovic
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
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19
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Kasumovic MM, Hall MD, Try H, Brooks RC. Socially cued developmental plasticity affects condition-dependent trait expression. Behav Ecol 2012. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/ars180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
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20
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Juvenile exposure to acoustic sexual signals from conspecifics alters growth trajectory and an adult personality trait. Anim Behav 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2012.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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21
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Danielson-François A, Hou C, Cole N, Tso IM. Scramble competition for moulting females as a driving force for extreme male dwarfism in spiders. Anim Behav 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2012.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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22
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Han CS, Kang CK, Shin HS, Lee JH, Bae MR, Lee SI, Jablonski PG. Insects perceive local sex ratio in the absence of tactile or visual sex-specific cues. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2012; 66:1285-1290. [PMID: 22904594 PMCID: PMC3418494 DOI: 10.1007/s00265-012-1382-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2012] [Revised: 06/18/2012] [Accepted: 06/22/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Numerous studies have demonstrated adaptive behavioral responses of males and females to changes in operational sex ratio (the ratio of potentially receptive males to receptive females; OSR), and theory often assumes that animals have perfect instantaneous knowledge about the OSR. However, the role of sensory mechanisms in monitoring the local sex ratio by animals and whether animals can perceive local sex ratio in a manner consistent with model assumptions have not been well addressed. Here, we show that mating water striders Gerris gracilicornis respond to local sex ratio even when visual and physical contact with other individuals were experimentally prohibited. Our study shows that insects are able to estimate local population’s sex ratio and adjust their behavior based on nonvisual cues perceived at a distance or released to the habitat. Hence, the frequent theoretical assumption that individuals have knowledge about their local sex ratio regardless of their direct behavioral interactions may be an acceptable approximation of reality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang S. Han
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW Australia
| | - Chang-Ku Kang
- Laboratory of Behavioral Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hong-Sup Shin
- Laboratory of Behavioral Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jeong-Hyun Lee
- Laboratory of Behavioral Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Mi-Rye Bae
- Laboratory of Behavior and Ecology, Division of EcoScience, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sang-Im Lee
- Laboratory of Behavioral Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
- Institute of Advanced Machinery and Design, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Piotr G. Jablonski
- Laboratory of Behavioral Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
- Center for Ecological Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Dziekanow Lesny, 05 092 Lomianki Poland
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23
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Stoltz JA, Andrade MCB, Kasumovic MM. Developmental plasticity in metabolic rates reinforces morphological plasticity in response to social cues of sexual selection. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2012; 58:985-990. [PMID: 22626789 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2012.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2012] [Revised: 05/02/2012] [Accepted: 05/03/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Developmental plasticity allows individuals to match their phenotype to the competitive environment they are most likely to encounter. Although there are numerous studies that demonstrate adaptive shifts in life-history and metric traits, we still have a poor understanding of whether internal physiological processes demonstrate plasticity and whether this plasticity supports life-history and metric traits. Here we use the Australian redback spider (Latrodectus hasselti), a species that demonstrates adaptive developmental shifts in response to the availability of females and the density of males, to examine the relationship between the routine metabolic rate (RMR) and the expression of size, body-condition and development rate. We reared immature males in three diet treatments, and in social environments that varied the presence/absence of females and the density of males and measured their RMR, weight, size and developmental rate at maturity. We show that although RMR decreased with decreasing resource abundance, RMR was positively correlated with the density of rivals. Moreover, RMR was not correlated with size or body-condition at maturity. Our results demonstrate that plasticity in the RMR supports plasticity in metric and life-history traits to create an integrated phenotype that matches the competitive environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffery A Stoltz
- Integrative Behaviour and Neuroscience Group, University of Toronto at Scarborough,1265 Military Trail, Toronto, ON, Canada
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24
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Zimmer SM, Welke KW, Schneider JM. Determinants of natural mating success in the cannibalistic orb-web spider Argiope bruennichi. PLoS One 2012; 7:e31389. [PMID: 22319628 PMCID: PMC3272030 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0031389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2011] [Accepted: 01/06/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Monogynous mating systems (low male mating rates) occur in various taxa and have evolved several times independently in spiders. Monogyny is associated with remarkable male mating strategies and predicted to evolve under a male-biased sex ratio. While male reproductive strategies are well documented and male mating rates are easy to quantify, especially in sexually cannibalistic species, female reproductive strategies, the optimal female mating rate, and the factors that affect the evolution of female mating rates are still unclear. In this study, we examined natural female mating rates and tested the assumption of a male-biased sex ratio and female polyandry in a natural population of Argiope bruennichi in which we controlled female mating status prior to observations. We predicted variation in female mating frequencies as a result of spatial and temporal heterogeneity in the distribution of mature females and males. Females had a low average mating rate of 1.3 and the majority copulated only once. Polyandry did not entirely result from a male-biased sex-ratio but closely matched the rate of male bigamy. Male activity and the probability of polyandry correlated with factors affecting pheromone presence such as virgin females' density. We conclude that a strong sex ratio bias and high female mating rates are not necessary components of monogynous mating systems as long as males protect their paternity effectively and certain frequencies of bigyny stabilise the mating system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie M Zimmer
- Zoological Institute and Museum, Biozentrum Grindel, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
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Ruiz-López MJ, Chaskelson S, Gompper ME, Eggert LS. Multiple paternity in the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis (Acari: Ixodidae). J Parasitol 2012; 98:498-501. [PMID: 22257158 DOI: 10.1645/ge-2977.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The reproductive strategies and variation in reproductive success of ticks are poorly understood. We determined variation in multiple paternity in the American dog tick Dermancentor variabilis . In total, 48 blood-engorged female ticks and 22 male companion ticks were collected from 13 raccoon ( Procyon lotor ) hosts. In the laboratory, 56.3% of blood-engorged females laid eggs, of which 37.0% hatched or showed signs of development. We examined the presence of multiple paternity in the ensuing clutches by genotyping groups of eggs and larvae at 5 microsatellite loci and subtracting the known maternal alleles, thereby identifying male-contributed alleles. Seventy-five percent of the clutches presented multiple paternity, with a mode of 2 fathers siring the clutch. Males associated with the females on the host always sired some offspring. In 1 case, a male was the sire of clutches derived from 2 females, indicating both polygyny and polyandry may occur for this species. These results, combined with those of several other recent studies, suggest that multiple paternity might be frequent for ixodid ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- María José Ruiz-López
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, USA.
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Schneider JM, Lucass C, Brandler W, Fromhage L. Spider Males Adjust Mate Choice but Not Sperm Allocation to Cues of a Rival. Ethology 2011. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0310.2011.01960.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Kasumovic M, Brooks R. It's All Who You Know: The Evolution Of Socially Cued Anticipatory Plasticity As A Mating Strategy. QUARTERLY REVIEW OF BIOLOGY 2011; 86:181-97. [DOI: 10.1086/661119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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KASUMOVIC MM, HALL MD, TRY H, BROOKS RC. The importance of listening: juvenile allocation shifts in response to acoustic cues of the social environment. J Evol Biol 2011; 24:1325-34. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2011.02267.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Schneider JR, Chadee DD, Mori A, Romero-Severson J, Severson DW. Heritability and adaptive phenotypic plasticity of adult body size in the mosquito Aedes aegypti with implications for dengue vector competence. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2010; 11:11-6. [PMID: 21070891 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2010.10.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2010] [Revised: 10/28/2010] [Accepted: 10/29/2010] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Adaptive phenotypic plasticity is particularly important to organisms with developmental cycles that undergo ontogenetic niche shifts that differentially subject individual life stages to heterogeneous and often stressful environmental conditions. The yellow fever and dengue fever vector mosquito, Aedes aegypti, typically breeds in small water-filled containers that expose the developing aquatic larvae to competition for resources with conspecifics and high probabilities for habitat drying. Here we investigated the heritability (h(2)) and phenotypic plasticity among A. aegypti laboratory populations and field populations from Trinidad, West Indies. Heritability for body size was moderate or completely eroded among the laboratory populations, while field populations contained high genetic variation among both males and females. Norms of reactions based on optimum vs. deficient larval conditions for artificial sibling families representing Trinidad field populations suggested significant gene × environment interactions influence body size and that there may be sex specific differences in allocation of resources. Individuals reared under optimum laboratory conditions were significantly larger and showed much less variability in body size plasticity than their field reared cohorts, suggesting that exposure to environmental stress may be common for A. aegypti larval development and would undoubtedly impact other traits, including arbovirus vector competence among adult females, in a similar fashion. Broad genetic variance in body size and other characters is likely maintained by balancing selection. Our results also suggest the need for caution in translating conclusions from experiments with laboratory colonies to natural populations. These would likely be more informative to expected phenotypes under natural conditions if conducted over a range of conditions that simulate environmental stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer R Schneider
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556-5645, United States
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Kasumovic MM, Mason AC, Andrade MC, Elias DO. The relative importance of RHP and resource quality in contests with ownership asymmetries. Behav Ecol 2010. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arq161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Lailvaux SP, Kasumovic MM. Defining individual quality over lifetimes and selective contexts. Proc Biol Sci 2010; 278:321-8. [PMID: 20861050 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2010.1591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Individual quality has been measured as a variety of different traits and in several different contexts. However, the implications of such measurements in terms of overall fitness are less straightforward than has generally been appreciated. Here we outline some key issues in this regard that have yet to be addressed. Specifically, we consider the importance of both variation in selection on individual and multivariate suites of traits, and of context-specific plasticity in allocation strategies. We argue that an explicit life-history perspective is crucial for understanding variation in quality, as both the strength and direction of selection and an individual's response to it can vary within a breeding season. Hence, 'quality' is not a static characteristic that can be measured by taking longitudinal measures of single traits across a population, but rather a dynamic, multivariate suite of traits that is dependent not only on the selective context, but also on the nature and intensity of selection operating at any given time. We highlight these points by considering recent research on selection and plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon P Lailvaux
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Orleans, 2000 Lakeshore Drive, New Orleans, LA 70148, USA.
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Elias DO, Sivalinghem S, Mason AC, Andrade MCB, Kasumovic MM. Vibratory Communication in the Jumping Spider Phidippus clarus: Substrate-borne Courtship Signals are Important for Male Mating Success. Ethology 2010. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0310.2010.01815.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Elias DO, Botero CA, Andrade MCB, Mason AC, Kasumovic MM. High resource valuation fuels “desperado” fighting tactics in female jumping spiders. Behav Ecol 2010. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arq073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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Kasumovic MM, Elias DO, Sivalinghem S, Mason AC, Andrade MCB. Examination of prior contest experience and the retention of winner and loser effects. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010; 21:404-409. [PMID: 22476369 DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arp204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2009] [Revised: 12/06/2009] [Accepted: 12/06/2009] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
In many animal taxa, prior contest experience affects future performance such that winning increases the chances of winning in the future (winner effect) and losing increases the chances of losing in the future (loser effect). It is, however, not clear whether this pattern typically arises from experience effects on actual or perceived fighting ability (or both). In this study, we looked at winner and loser effects in the jumping spider Phidippus clarus. We assigned winning or losing experience to spiders and tested them against opponents of similar fighting ability in subsequent contests at 1-, 2-, 5-, and 24-h intervals. We examined the strength of winner and loser effects, how long effects persist, as well as how experience affected perceived and actual fighting ability. Our results demonstrate that winner and loser effects are of approximately the same magnitude, although loser effects last longer than winner effects. Our results also demonstrate that previous experience alters actual fighting ability because both the assessment and escalation periods were affected by experience. We suggest that the retention time of experience effects depends on expected encounter rates as well as other behavioral and ecological factors. In systems with short breeding seasons and/or rapidly fluctuating populations, context-dependent retention of experience effects may allow males to track their status relative to the fluctuating fighting ability of local competitors without paying the costs necessary to recall or assess individual competitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael M Kasumovic
- Integrative Behaviour and Neuroscience Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4, Canada
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