Dispersal and life history of brown widow spiders in dated invasive populations on two continents

Mowery, Monica A.; Lubin, Yael; Harari, Ally R.; Mason, Andrew C.; Andrade, Maydianne C. B.

doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2022.02.006

Cited by 7 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 77 publications

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“…Yet, the underlying mechanisms of invasions by spiders have only recently started to receive scientific attention (Bauer et al, 2019; Campbell et al, 2020; Chuang & Riechert, 2021, 2022; Mowery et al, 2021, 2022; Narimanov et al, 2022; Narimanov, Hatamli, et al, 2021, Narimanov, Kempel, et al, 2021; Nentwig, 2015), most likely due to the prevalently synanthropic lifestyle and limited evidence for economic damage by spiders (Kobelt & Nentwig, 2008). To our knowledge, the range dynamics and evolution of rapidly spreading spiders are largely unexplored (Chuang & Peterson, 2016; but see Chuang & Riechert, 2021, 2022; Mowery et al, 2021, 2022; Wolz et al, 2020). The spatial sorting of invasive spiders has been studied only for the tentweb orbweaver spider ( Cyrtophora citricola ; a phenotypic shift in voracity, exploration and dispersal; Chuang & Riechert, 2021, 2022) and redback spider ( Latrodectus hasselti ; higher dispersal ability in invasive populations; Mowery et al, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As common and abundant predators, spiders play a central role in natural and agricultural ecosystems (Hogg et al, 2010;Michalko et al, 2019;Nyffeler & Birkhofer, 2017;Pétillon et al, 2020). Yet, the underlying mechanisms of invasions by spiders have only recently started to receive scientific attention (Bauer et al, 2019;Campbell et al, 2020;Chuang & Riechert, 2021Mowery et al, 2021Mowery et al, , 2022Narimanov et al, 2022;Narimanov, Hatamli, et al, 2021, Narimanov, Kempel, et al, 2021Nentwig, 2015),…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Accelerated invasion through the evolution of dispersal behaviour

Narimanov

Bauer

Bonte

et al. 2022

Global Ecol Biogeogr

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Aim The continuous spread of invasive species is attributed to demographic processes and high dispersal rates. Both can change and evolve during range expansion, eventually accelerating spread dynamics. Here, we document such an accelerated spread for one of the most invasive spiders in Europe, the dwarf spider Mermessus trilobatus, and test whether dispersal, reproduction or competitive ability is at the source of this pattern. Location Europe. Time period 1981–2021. Major taxon studied Mermessus trilobatus (Arachnida: Araneae: Linyphiidae). Methods First, we collected records from 21 countries across Europe to document the speed of progression of the invasion front over the last 40 years. Second, we collected live individuals from populations in the longest and more recently invaded areas and compared the dispersal propensity of offspring raised under standardized conditions. Third, we compared the reproduction and competitive ability of females derived from the populations of long‐invaded areas against areas with more recent establishment. Results The progression of the invaded range increased from about 150 km in the 1980s to some 400 km between 2010 and 2020. Dispersal‐related behaviour was nearly twice as frequent in offspring from invasion front populations compared to the core area. By contrast, we found no differences in reproduction or competitive ability among the studied populations. Further, neither joint inheritance nor trade‐offs of dispersal, reproduction or competitive ability were identified. Main conclusion As high dispersal is recessively inherited in M. trilobatus, our results suggest that the accelerated invasion is due to the accumulation of dispersive but not more reproductive or competitive genotypes in newly colonized areas. Given the high climatic amplitude of the species in North America, we expect it to spread over the remaining parts of Europe and large parts of Asia in the coming decades. Accelerated range expansion through the evolution of dispersal behaviour could play a role in numerous arthropod invasions worldwide.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Accelerated invasion through the evolution of dispersal behaviour

Narimanov

Bauer

Bonte

et al. 2022

Global Ecol Biogeogr

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“…Adult Brown Widow females have higher rates of fertility and a longer range of dispersal than adult Black Widow females (Mowery et al 2022). However, the relative rates of development to sexual maturity and their tolerant cohabitation with near neighbors are unknown.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The introduction of nonnative invertebrates into the United States via global commerce transport is a common phenomenon (Thornton and New 1988, Peters and Lodge 2009, Episcopio-Sturgeon and Pienaar 2019). Successful colonization by an introduced species occurs when reproductive adaptations include high fertility, rapid development, early reproduction, and broad dispersal abilities (Kolar and Lodge 2001, Brown et al 2008, Cassill 2019, Mowery et al 2022). Whether intended or unintended, introductions of nonnative species into habitats with abundant prey and lower rates of predation, parasites, or diseases enhance the successful colonization of a nonnative species (Wagner and Wise 1996).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Predation by the Introduced Brown Widow Spider (Araneae: Theridiidae) May Explain Local Extinctions of Native Black Widows in Urban Habitats

Coticchio

Vetter

Cassill

2023

Annals of the Entomological Society of America

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Invertebrates that successfully colonize new habitats often share life history characteristics including high fertility, rapid development, and early maturation. Since its introduction into Florida, USA, the non-native Brown Widow, Latrodectus geometricus (Kock 1841, Araneae: Theridiidae), has rapidly expanded its range into urban areas as far north as Kansas and as far west as California. During its expansion, the Brown Widow has displaced Florida’s Southern Black Widow, L. mactans (Fabricius 1775, Araneae: Tjerodoodae) and California’s Western Black Widow, L. Hesperus (Chamber lin & Ivie 1935, Araneae: Theridiidae). Here, based on a field survey and controlled laboratory experiments, we report possible causes for the rapid disappearance of Florida’s Southern Black Widows. Our field survey revealed that Brown Widows have twice the fertility potential as Southern Black Widows. In experiments comparing development, we show that sub-adult Brown Widows grew faster and matured earlier relative to Southern Black Widows. In our experiments on cohabitation with neighbors, bold Brown Widows were six times more likely to kill and consume shy Southern Black Widows than bold cobweb spiders and three times more likely to cohabitate with bold cobweb spiders than with shy Southern Black Widows. Our model of maternal risk-management revealed that competition for scarce prey was not a significant cause of offspring mortality for Latrodectus species. Hence, Brown Widows are not predating Black Widows or other cobweb spiders because prey is scarce. To our knowledge, this study is the first to suggest that aggressive predation by Brown Widows is a significant factor contributing to the local extinction of the shy Southern Black Widow in urban structures.

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“…This invasive species has a cosmopolitan distribution and is found mainly in disturbed and urban habitats. Spiderlings from recently established invasive populations of L. geometricus were more likely to show short and long-range dispersal behaviours under laboratory conditions than those from long-established populations in Israel (Mowery et al, 2022), suggesting that dispersal propensity increases during invasive spread. However, dispersal in widow spiders has not been studied under field conditions.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Invasive brown widow spiders disperse aerially under a broad range of environmental conditions

2022

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Spiders commonly disperse on silk lines as juveniles by means of rappelling or ballooning. These modes of dispersal, especially long‐distance dispersal via ballooning, can greatly increase the distance an individual can move and, at the population level, the speed of range expansion and likelihood of gene flow. Nevertheless, few studies have examined how spiders disperse under field conditions, and which environmental and meteorological conditions may affect their decision to disperse. We tested dispersal by spiderlings of the invasive brown widow (Latrodectus geometricus) under field conditions in the Negev Desert of Israel. We documented pre‐dispersal (climbing and tiptoeing) and dispersal (short‐distance dispersal by rappelling and long‐distance dispersal by ballooning) behaviours during the day (n = 147 spiders) and night (n = 171 spiders), while recording wind speed, temperature and humidity. We found that spiders ballooned significantly more during the day (14.3%) compared with 1.8% of spiders ballooning at night. At night, spiders were more likely to disperse in conditions of higher wind speeds, lower temperature and higher humidity, whereas during the day, environmental factors were less predictive of dispersal behaviour. In addition, we found significant differences in the proportion of spiderlings showing pre‐dispersal and dispersal behaviour depending on family line. In conjunction with human‐mediated dispersal, ballooning and rappelling may be an important mechanism of range expansion in the brown widow spider. Understanding the environmental and genetic factors affecting dispersal may lead to better management of invasive species.

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Dispersal and life history of brown widow spiders in dated invasive populations on two continents

Cited by 7 publications

References 77 publications

Accelerated invasion through the evolution of dispersal behaviour

Accelerated invasion through the evolution of dispersal behaviour

Predation by the Introduced Brown Widow Spider (Araneae: Theridiidae) May Explain Local Extinctions of Native Black Widows in Urban Habitats

Invasive brown widow spiders disperse aerially under a broad range of environmental conditions

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