Threat level influences the use of venom in a scorpion species, Tityus stigmurus (Scorpiones, Buthidae)

Lira, André Felipe de Araújo; Santos, Adriana Barbosa dos; Silva, Nathalia A.; Martins, René Duarte

doi:10.1007/s10211-017-0274-3

Cited by 20 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…In contrast to the findings by Nisani and Hayes (2011) studies on dry stinging behavior in other scorpion species have produced differing results. Lira et al (2017) presented Tityus stigmurus with the same "low-threat" and "high-threat" stimuli described by Nisani and Hayes (2011), and found no correlation between dry sting rate and threat level. Furthermore, it has been shown that repeated simulated attacks against Hadrurus arizonensis lead to an increase in dry sting rate, despite venom remaining in the gland (Rasko et al, 2018).…”

Section: "Dry" Stingsmentioning

confidence: 82%

“…This latter result seems counter-intuitive, as scorpions might be expected to increase their defensive investment as a threat persists. Whilst the studies investigating the factors influencing dry stinging behavior in scorpions are limited, the evidence supports the idea that at least some scorpion species utilize dry stings as a means to optimize their venom in defensive contexts (Nisani and Hayes, 2011), while others may not (Lira et al, 2017;Rasko et al, 2018). Further research should aim to identify whether interspecific differences are truly occurring, or if methodological differences between the studies are responsible for the observed differences.…”

Section: "Dry" Stingsmentioning

confidence: 85%

“…Scorpions can still avoid venom use when stinging in defensive encounters by employing "dry" stings, where no venom is injected. Scorpions readily utilize dry stings in defensive situations (Nisani and Hayes, 2011;Lira et al, 2017;Rasko et al, 2018). The factors that determine whether venom is injected in a sting, however, are currently unclear.…”

Section: "Dry" Stingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…When scorpions are faced with repeated attacks from predators, they will continue to defensively sting as the attacks continue. Experiments into the defensive investment of scorpions in response to predation threat suggest that scorpions will repeatedly sting predators as the threat persists (Lira et al, 2017), but it is unclear whether the investment per attack increases or decreases with sting number (Nisani and Hayes, 2011;Rasko et al, 2018). Targeting prey, scorpions often hold on with their pedipalps and judiciously apply stings as the prey continues to struggle (Casper, 1985;Rein, 1993).…”

Section: Volume Injectedmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It has been proposed that due to costs associated with venom use, organisms will meter/optimize the volume of venom they inject in order to use their venom as economically as possible in different situations (Hayes et al, 2002;Wigger et al, 2002;Hayes, 2008;Morgenstern and King, 2013). Research into optimal venom use has primarily focussed on snakes (Hayes, 1995(Hayes, , 2008Hayes et al, 2002;Young et al, 2002), spiders (Wigger et al, 2002;Wullschleger and Nentwig, 2002;Hostettler and Nentwig, 2006;Nelsen et al, 2014;Cooper et al, 2015), and scorpions (Edmunds and Sibly, 2010;Nisani and Hayes, 2011;Lira et al, 2017), with the latter being the focus of this review.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Venom Costs and Optimization in Scorpions

et al. 2019

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Scorpions use venoms as weapons to improve prey capture and predator defense, and these benefits must be balanced against costs associated with its use. Venom costs involve direct energetic costs associated with the production and storage of toxins, and indirect fitness costs arising from reduced venom availability. In order to reduce these costs, scorpions optimize their venom use via evolutionary responses, phenotypic plasticity, and behavioral mechanisms. Over long timescales, evolutionary adaptation to environments with different selection pressures appears to have contributed to interspecific variation in venom composition and stinger morphology. Furthermore, plastic responses may allow scorpions to modify and optimize their venom composition as pressures change. Optimal venom use can vary when facing each prey item and potential predator encountered, and therefore scorpions display a range of behaviors to optimize their venom use to the particular situation. These behaviors include varying sting rates, employing dry stings, and further altering the volume and composition of venom injected. Whilst these cost-reducing mechanisms are recognized in scorpions, relatively little is understood about the factors that influence them. Here, we review evidence of the costs associated with venom use in scorpions and discuss the mechanisms that have evolved to minimize them.

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Section: "Dry" Stingsmentioning

confidence: 82%

Section: "Dry" Stingsmentioning

confidence: 85%

Section: "Dry" Stingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Volume Injectedmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Venom Costs and Optimization in Scorpions

et al. 2019

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Beyond spider personality: The relationships between behavioral, physiological, and environmental factors

Duran

Wilson

Briffa

et al. 2021

Ecology and Evolution

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Spiders are useful models for testing different hypotheses and methodologies relating to animal personality and behavioral syndromes because they show a range of behavioral types and unique physiological traits (e.g., silk and venom) that are not observed in many other animals. These characteristics allow for a unique understanding of how physiology, behavioral plasticity, and personality interact across different contexts to affect spider's individual fitness and survival. However, the relative effect of extrinsic factors on physiological traits (silk, venom, and neurohormones) that play an important role in spider survival, and which may impact personality, has received less attention. The goal of this review is to explore how the environment, experience, ontogeny, and physiology interact to affect spider personality types across different contexts. We highlight physiological traits, such as neurohormones, and unique spider biochemical weapons, namely silks and venoms, to explore how the use of these traits might, or might not, be constrained or limited by particular behavioral types. We argue that, to develop a comprehensive understanding of the flexibility and persistence of specific behavioral types in spiders, it is necessary to incorporate these underlying mechanisms into a synthesized whole, alongside other extrinsic and intrinsic factors.

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Role of venom quantity in the feeding behavior of Jaguajir rochae (Scorpiones: Buthidae)

Silva

Martins

2019

acta ethol

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Threat level influences the use of venom in a scorpion species, Tityus stigmurus (Scorpiones, Buthidae)

Cited by 20 publications

References 36 publications

Venom Costs and Optimization in Scorpions

Venom Costs and Optimization in Scorpions

Beyond spider personality: The relationships between behavioral, physiological, and environmental factors

Role of venom quantity in the feeding behavior of Jaguajir rochae (Scorpiones: Buthidae)

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