Mitochondrial DNA distributions indicate colony propagation by single matri-lineages in the social spider Stegodyphus dumicola (Eresidae)

Johannesen, Jes; Hennig, Anna Floriane; Dommermuth, Bianca; Schneider, Jutta M.

doi:10.1046/j.1095-8312.2002.00082.x

Cited by 47 publications

(99 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…containing multiple retreats), where smaller colonies will 'bud' off from the natal colony and share a single large capture web [36]. Although it is unknown if these budding individuals are also more likely to engage in long-distance dispersal to find new clusters of colonies [39], evidence from mitochondrial DNA suggests that colonies in close proximity are formed from single matri-lineage propagules, and thus local population dynamics are strongly influenced by individual behavioural decisions [40]. The propensity for individuals to leave the colony, in turn, seems to be influenced by group size (as in other social groups [41]), but an individual's decision to bud off from the natal colony may be influenced by individual-level traits (i.e.…”

Section: (A) Web Architecture and Dispersalmentioning

confidence: 99%

Personality composition is more important than group size in determining collective foraging behaviour in the wild

Keiser

Pruitt

2014

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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Describing the factors that shape collective behaviour is central to our understanding of animal societies. Countless studies have demonstrated an effect of group size in the emergence of collective behaviours, but comparatively few have accounted for the composition/diversity of behavioural phenotypes, which is often conflated with group size. Here, we simultaneously examine the effect of personality composition and group size on nest architecture and collective foraging aggressiveness in the social spider Stegodyphus dumicola. We created colonies of two different sizes (10 or 30 individuals) and four compositions of boldness (all bold, all shy, mixed bold and shy, or average individuals) in the field and then measured their collective behaviour. Larger colonies produced bigger capture webs, while colonies containing a higher proportion of bold individuals responded to and attacked prey more rapidly. The number of attackers during collective foraging was determined jointly by composition and size, although composition had an effect size more than twice that of colony size: our results suggest that colonies of just 10 bold spiders would attack prey with as many attackers as colonies of 110 'average' spiders. Thus, personality composition is a more potent (albeit more cryptic) determinant of collective foraging in these societies.

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Section: (A) Web Architecture and Dispersalmentioning

confidence: 99%

Personality composition is more important than group size in determining collective foraging behaviour in the wild

Keiser

Pruitt

2014

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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“…Moreover, Raven (1992) and Main (1992) suggested that L. hasselti may have only recently been introduced to eastern Australia from South Australia, which would explain the lack of genetic variation between the L. hasselti specimens. Although the ND1 mitochondrial gene region has previously been used to examine intra-specific variation between spider populations (Hedin 1997a;Hedin 1997b;Masta 2000;Johannesen et al 2002;Maddison & Hedin 2003;Masta & Maddison 2002), this gene region did not evolve fast enough to pro-vide the definition required to examine gene flow between populations of L. katipo, L. atritus or L. hasselti. Moreover, the low number of samples examined in this project also made it difficult to gain a definitive view of intraspecific gene flow.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The ND1 gene region was chosen because it is fast evolving and has been successfully used to examine genetic differences between spider species and populations (Hedin 1997a(Hedin , 1997bMasta 2000;Johannesen et al 2002;Maddison & Hedin 2003;Masta & Maddison 2002;Vink & Paterson 2003).…”

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confidence: 99%

Molecular Insights Into the Biogeography and Species Status of New Zealand's Endemic Latrodectus Spider Species; L. Katipo and L. Atritus (Araneae, Theridiidae)

Griffiths

Paterson

Vink

2005

Journal of Arachnology

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ABSTRACT. New Zealand's endemic sand dune Latrodectus widow spider species, L. katipo and L. atritus, possess behavioral and physiological attributes likely to promote dispersal over large distances. Morphological, physiological and behavioral similarities between L. katipo and L. hasselti, an Australian endemic, suggest gene flow may occur across the Tasman Sea. In this study we examine intraspecific and interspecific genetic relationships within the ND1 gene region between L. katipo, L. atritus, L. hasselti and L. hesperus to assess whether the genetic evidence supports current taxonomic species designations. We found low interspecific pairwise distances among L. katipo and L. atritus populations, suggesting either introgression, incomplete lineage sorting, or that the current taxonomic distinction between the two species may be invalid. Parsimony and maximum likelihood analyses were inconclusive as to the relationships between the New Zealand Latrodectus species and the Australian L. hasselti. Low pairwise distances between L. hasselti and the New Zealand widow fauna indicated that L. katipo and L. atritus were not present in New Zealand before the fragmentation of Gondwana.

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“…Mating between close relatives of the same cohort results in a high degree of inbreeding (Wickler and Seibt 1993). For S. dumicola females from Namibia, Johannesen et al (2002) showed that mitochondrial DNA variation is predominately distributed between colony clusters and each colony cluster is monomorphic for most loci. Nuclear DNA analysis of S. dumicola females confirmed low genetic variation among colony members (Smith DR, unpublished data).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Colony nutrition skews reproduction in a social spider

2008

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Cooperative breeding societies are characterized by alloparental care and unequal distribution of reproduction (skewed reproduction). Competition for resources among group members may determine the reproductive outcome of each individual. In a spider colony, females feed together on prey and therefore may compete over the extraction of specific nutrients required for reproduction. Here we examined the occurrence of skewed reproduction in colonies of the social spider Stegodyphus dumicola (Eresidae) in nature and asked whether competition over specific limiting nutrients is a mechanism leading to unequal distribution of reproduction. We determined the nutritional composition of breeding and nonbreeding females in natural colonies. By supplementing field colonies with prey rich in either proteins or lipids, we examined the effect of these nutrients on female breeding potential. We then determined which nutrients were extracted from prey by breeding and nonbreeding females in a noncompetitive setting. About 40% of the females in natural colonies are potential breeders. Field colonies supplemented with lipid-rich prey had a higher percentage of breeding females than colonies supplemented with protein-rich prey. Furthermore, when feeding alone, nonbreeding females extracted more lipids relative to protein than breeding females. We suggest that lipids are critical for maturation and ovarian development and that competition for lipids determines the skewed reproduction observed in colonies of S. dumicola.

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Mitochondrial DNA distributions indicate colony propagation by single matri-lineages in the social spider Stegodyphus dumicola (Eresidae)

Cited by 47 publications

References 34 publications

Personality composition is more important than group size in determining collective foraging behaviour in the wild

Personality composition is more important than group size in determining collective foraging behaviour in the wild

Molecular Insights Into the Biogeography and Species Status of New Zealand's Endemic Latrodectus Spider Species; L. Katipo and L. Atritus (Araneae, Theridiidae)

Colony nutrition skews reproduction in a social spider

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