The role of experience in web-building spiders (Araneidae)

Heiling, Astrid M.; Herberstein, Marie E.

doi:10.1007/s100710050037

Cited by 94 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…These experiences are likely to be assessed by their prey-capture experiences (Heiling and Herberstein, 1999;Venner et al, 2000;Mestre and Lubin, 2011), or by the quality and quantity of specific stimuli (Blamires et al, 2011). The stimuli received may include a combination of web-borne tactile stimuli detected by the strainsensitive slit sensilla, or changes in air pressure detected by the pressure-sensitive trichobothriae (Barth, 2002;French et al, 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wind induces variations in spider web geometry and sticky spiral droplet volume

Blamires

et al. 2013

Journal of Experimental Biology

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SUMMARYTrap building by animals is rare because it comes at a substantial cost. Using materials with properties that vary across environments maintains trap functionality. The sticky spiral silks of spider orb webs are used to catch flying prey. Web geometry, accompanied by compensatory changes in silk properties, may change across environments to sustain web functionality. We exposed the spider Cyclosa mulmeinensis to wind to test whether wind-induced changes in web geometry are accompanied by changes in aggregate silk droplet morphology, axial thread width or spiral stickiness. We compared: (i) web catching area, (ii) length of total silks, (iii) mesh height, (iv) number of radii, (v) aggregate droplet morphology and (vi) spiral thread stickiness, between webs made by spiders exposed to wind and those made by spiders not exposed to wind. We interpreted co-variation in droplet morphology or spiral stickiness with web capture area, mesh height or spiral length as the silk properties functionally compensating for changes in web geometry to reduce wind drag. Wind-exposed C. mulmeinensis built webs with smaller capture areas, shorter capture spiral lengths and more widely spaced capture spirals, resulting in the expenditure of less silk. Individuals that were exposed to wind also deposited larger droplets of sticky silk but the stickiness of the spiral threads remained unchanged. The larger droplets may be a product of a greater investment in water, or low molecular weight compounds facilitating atmospheric water uptake. Either way, droplet dehydration in wind is likely to be minimized.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wind induces variations in spider web geometry and sticky spiral droplet volume

Blamires

et al. 2013

Journal of Experimental Biology

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“…That spider behaviour may be modified by experience has been firmly established for over 40 years (Grunbaum 1927;Bays 1962;LeGuelte 1969;Lahue 1973;Seyfarth et al 1982). Numerous recent studies have demonstrated how prior experience influences spider intraspecific interactions, web-building behaviour and foraging decisions (Sebrier & Kraft 1993;Sandoval 1994;Edwards & Jackson 1994;Whitehouse 1997;Helling & Herberstein 1999;Morse 1999Morse , 2000aNakata & Ushimuru 1999;Tso 1999;Venner et al 2000). This and the earlier (Jackson & Wilcox 1993) study of the Portia trialand-error tactic appear to be additional examples where spider foraging decisions are modified by experience.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Trial‐and‐error derivation of aggressive‐mimicry signals byBrettusandCyrba, spartaeine jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae) from Israel, Kenya, and Sri Lanka

Jackson¹

2002

New Zealand Journal of Zoology

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Brettus adonis, Brettus albolimbatus, Cyrba algerina, Cyrba ocellata, and Cyrba simoni are spartaeine jumping spiders (Salticidae) that invade other spiders' webs, make vibratory signals that deceive the resident spider (aggressive mimicry), then attack and eat the spider. The signal-generation behaviour of each of these five species is investigated in the laboratory. Each species is characterised by flexible predatory behaviour, including use of a trialand-error (generate-and-test) algorithm to derive appropriate aggressive-mimicry signals: first broadcast an array of different signals, then choose particular signals as a consequence of feedback from the prey spider. However, in laboratory experiments, B. adonis and B. albolimbatus relied on trial-and-error significantly more often than did C. algerina, C. ocellata, and C. simoni. Maternal effects and variation in experience were minimised because all individuals tested were laboratory-reared to the second and third generation under standardised conditions. Selection pressures that may have been responsible for evolution of different levels of flexibility are considered.

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“…In the presence of few plants or less dense vegetation, the probability of building horizontal webs would be higher. Fourth, Heiling & Herberstein (1999a) found that web building behaviour is affected by a spider's experience. Although their study was related to changes in web design, the potential influence of a spider's experience on web inclination should not be ruled out.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Horizontally oriented webs are mostly symmetrical (Vollrath, 1992) and expenditures for the vertical building (which are usually asymmetrical) of the orb-webs are comparatively different between the upper and lower web region (e.g. Heiling & Herberstein, 1999a). Investment in web building (in terms of energy spent during web construction) would be generally different.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Web inclination alters foraging success of a nocturnal predator

Prokop

2005

Italian Journal of Zoology

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In spider species, web inclination (vertical and horizontal webs) plays an important role in foraging success. However, these effects are poorly understood especially in such spiders that build both vertical and horizontal orb-webs. Recent studies have shown that spider species with horizontal orb-webs are specialized in preying aquatic insects emerging from the water. Females of a nocturnal orb-weaving spider, Larinioides cornutus, are able to build both vertical and horizontal orb-webs. Contrary to expectations, spiders which built horizontal orb-webs made higher expenditures in the form of sticky spirals and captured less prey in comparison with females in vertical webs. Moreover, horizontal webs were not closely related to water, as might have been expected given their potential function of catching aquatic insects, despite the probability of successful foraging was generally higher in webs placed closely to water stream. On the other hand, the probability of a web being destroyed was higher in vertical orb-webs, which may indicate that horizontal webs may be a compromise between more successful, but less lasting capture traps that would benefit from exposition during windless days and vice versa.

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The role of experience in web-building spiders (Araneidae)

Cited by 94 publications

References 35 publications

Wind induces variations in spider web geometry and sticky spiral droplet volume

Wind induces variations in spider web geometry and sticky spiral droplet volume

Trial‐and‐error derivation of aggressive‐mimicry signals byBrettusandCyrba, spartaeine jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae) from Israel, Kenya, and Sri Lanka

Web inclination alters foraging success of a nocturnal predator

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