Antipredator responses of wolf spiders (Araneae: Lycosidae) to sensory cues representing an avian predator

Lohrey, Anne K.; Clark, David L.; Gordon, Shira D.; Uetz, George W.

doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2008.12.025

Cited by 98 publications

(67 citation statements)

References 63 publications

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“…Some species of spiders, when disturbed, have been observed to freeze in response to a threatening stimulus181920. Under this scenario, we would also predict delays in female predatory behaviour during white noise playbacks.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Male courtship vibrations delay predatory behaviour in female spiders

Wignall

Herberstein

2013

Sci Rep

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During courtship, individuals transfer information about identity, mating status and quality. However, male web-building spiders face a significant problem: how to begin courting female spiders without being mistaken for prey? Male Argiope spiders generate distinctive courtship vibrations (shudders) when entering a female's web. We tested whether courtship shudders delay female predatory behaviour, even when live prey is present in the web. We presented a live cricket to females during playbacks of shudder vibrations, or white noise, and compared female responses to a control in which we presented a live cricket with no playback vibrations. Females were much slower to respond to crickets during playback of shudder vibrations. Shudder vibrations also delayed female predatory behaviour in a related spider species, showing that these vibrations do not simply function for species identity. These results suggest that male web-building spiders employ a phylogenetically conserved vibratory signal to ameliorate the risk of pre-copulatory cannibalism.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Male courtship vibrations delay predatory behaviour in female spiders

Wignall

Herberstein

2013

Sci Rep

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“…Responses of individual spiders to speaker-generated stimuli were recorded using a digital video camera (60 frames per second), then categorized. Airborne signals, however, can cause substrate-borne vibrations—a phenomenon that can make it difficult to determine whether an animal is perceiving stimuli via the air or the substrate (see [3]). This is particularly problematic in spiders where sensitivity to vibrations is well documented [4–6].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Airborne Acoustic Perception by a Jumping Spider

et al. 2016

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Summary Jumping spiders (Salticidae) are famous for their visually driven behaviors [1]. Here, however, we present behavioral and neurophysiological evidence that these animals also perceive and respond to airborne acoustic stimuli, even when the distance between the animal and the sound source is relatively large (~3 m) and with stimulus amplitudes at the position of the spider of ~65 dB SPL. Behavioral experiments with the jumping spider Phidippus audax reveal that these animals respond to low frequency sounds (80 Hz; 65 dB SPL) by freezing—a common anti-predatory behavior characteristic of an acoustic startle response. Neurophysiological recordings from auditory-sensitive neural units in the brains of these jumping spiders showed responses to low-frequency tones (80 Hz at ~65 dB SPL); recordings that also represent the first record of acoustically-responsive neural units in the jumping spider brain. Responses persisted even when the distances between spider and stimulus source exceeded 3 m and under anechoic conditions. Thus, these spiders appear able to detect airborne sound at distances in the acoustic far-field region, beyond the near-field range often thought to bound acoustic perception in arthropods that lack tympanic ears (e.g. spiders) [2]. Further, direct mechanical stimulation of hairs on the patella of the foreleg was sufficient to generate responses in neural units that also responded to airborne acoustic stimuli—evidence that these hairs likely play a role in the detection of acoustic cues. We suggest that these auditory responses enable the detection of predators and facilitate an acoustic startle response.

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“…predators for which signals reveal the presence of potential prey; Haynes & Yeargan, 1999;Rosenthal, 2007;Zuk & Kolluru, 1998). Courtship display of male S. ocreata is conspicuous and clearly detectable by predators (Pruden & Uetz, 2004;Roberts et al, 2007;Roberts & Uetz, 2008), and males have been shown to cease courting in the presence of predator cues (Fowler-Finn & Hebets, 2011;Lohrey, Clark, Gordon, & Uetz, 2009). In this context, that is, courting when behaviour of others indicates female presence nearby, eavesdropping might be seen as tipping the balance of the trade-off between mating success versus mate competition and predation risk.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

The role of social experience in eavesdropping by male wolf spiders (Lycosidae)

et al. 2015

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Keywords: communication courtship eavesdropping Lycosidae multimodal signal spider video playbackWhen reproductive success is limited by mate search costs, males can reduce costs by eavesdropping and initiating displays if conspecific courtship is detected. Here, we examine eavesdropping by male Schizocosa ocreata wolf spiders, with field studies, laboratory studies using video playback and live exposure studies. In field enclosure experiments, introduced males responded with increased courtship signalling behaviour in the presence of a courting male. In the laboratory, field-collected males spent more time engaged in interaction behaviours and performed more bouts of courtship activity in response to a courting video male stimulus than did laboratory-reared males, suggesting that eavesdropping might arise as a consequence of field experience. To explore this further, we conducted associative learning studies on naïve, laboratory-reared males, pairing video playback of male courtship with sensory cues indicating female presence. Results showed that males with no prior exposure learned to associate courtship of other males with cues indicating the presence of females. In subsequent video playback experiments, field-collected males recognized differences in male behaviour, responding with courtship more often and for longer periods to video stimuli of courting male spiders than to walking males or an empty leaf litter background (no spider). Additional studies showed that males spent significantly more time in courtship displays when presented with two to three live or video male stimuli simultaneously. Together, these findings confirm that male wolf spiders meet assumptions of eavesdropping behaviour, and suggest that social experience arising from exposure to courtship interactions of conspecifics may impact male eavesdropping and subsequent courtship behaviour.

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Antipredator responses of wolf spiders (Araneae: Lycosidae) to sensory cues representing an avian predator

Cited by 98 publications

References 63 publications

Male courtship vibrations delay predatory behaviour in female spiders

Male courtship vibrations delay predatory behaviour in female spiders

Airborne Acoustic Perception by a Jumping Spider

The role of social experience in eavesdropping by male wolf spiders (Lycosidae)

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