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Krugner R, Espindola C, Justus N, Hatton RL. Web Vibrations in Intraspecific Contests of Female Black Widow Spiders, Latrodectus hesperus. ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 52:169-174. [PMID: 36727725 DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvad003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Female black widow spiders, Latrodectus hesperus Chamberlin and Ivie (Araneae: Theridiidae), are solitary predators of arthropods with no tolerance for intruders on the webs. In California, L. hesperus are found in urban and agricultural settings and can be a phytosanitary pest in fresh produce. Spatial separation of L. hesperus webs could be determined by seasonal population densities, with territorial competition expected under high densities in the environment. However, little is known about female-female communication behaviors in this species. In 1-hr laboratory observations, displays of female-female rivalry included production of vibrational signals in a majority (20 of 30) of trials. The number of signals produced by both females was highest during the initial 10 min of trials, with signaling rate (time interval between signals) peaking during the 40-50 min observation period. The overall ratio of signals produced by the resident female and the introduced female was about 5:1, with the number of signals produced by the resident female higher than the number of signals produced by the introduced female. Analysis of rivalry signals showed a peak in magnitude (about 0.4 m/s) ranging from 6 to 23 Hz and smaller peaks at about 29, 38, and 47 Hz. Collectively, these results demonstrate that female L. hesperus exhibit territorial rivalry and that female-female rivalry is mediated by emission of vibrational signals through the web. Understanding the mechanisms of intraspecific competition in L. hesperus is required for elucidating interspecific interactions in the environment and may lead to development of novel methods to prevent spiders from colonizing crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Krugner
- United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center, 9611 South Riverbend Avenue, Parlier, CA 93648, USA
| | - Crystal Espindola
- United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center, 9611 South Riverbend Avenue, Parlier, CA 93648, USA
| | - Nathan Justus
- School of Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering, Collaborative Robotics and Intelligent Systems Institute, College of Engineering, Oregon State University, 101 Covell Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Ross L Hatton
- School of Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering, Collaborative Robotics and Intelligent Systems Institute, College of Engineering, Oregon State University, 101 Covell Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
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Kwek BZW, Tan M, Yu L, Zhou W, Chang CC, Li D. Aggressive males are more attractive to females and more likely to win contests in jumping spiders. Anim Behav 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2021.06.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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McCambridge JE, Painting CJ, Walker LA, Holwell GI. Contests between male New Zealand sheet-web spiders, Cambridgea plagiata (Araneae: Desidae). NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/03014223.2021.1909081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Josephine E. McCambridge
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- AsureQuality Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Christina J. Painting
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- School of Science, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - Leilani A. Walker
- Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Gregory I. Holwell
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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Zhang S, Ai H, Li D. Mating changes a male contestant from a loser to a winner in male–male competition in a wolf spider. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blz091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Mating may change a male’s behaviour by increasing its motivation to engage in a contest, and enabling it to win in subsequent male–male contests. To test this hypothesis, we recorded male contests in the wolf spider, Venonia coruscans (Araneae: Lycosidae), testing a male’s motivation to fight under three different resource value conditions. First, we staged contests between two males in two different resource value conditions, on an egg-produced female’s web and then on a virgin female’s web, to test a male’s fighting ability. After determining each male’s fighting ability, we allowed each loser that lost its contests under both resource value conditions to mate with a virgin female and then introduced the previous contest winner to the web where the loser had mated. We found that without mating, the losers always lost their contests, regardless of the resource value conditions. However, once they had mated, the losers fiercely attacked the previous winners, and most won the contests back. Our study therefore provides evidence that a male’s motivation to fight can be changed under certain circumstances (e.g. mating) and can greatly influence contest outcomes in male–male competition in a mating context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shichang Zhang
- Centre for Behavioral Ecology and Evolution (CBEE), State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Hui Ai
- College of Life Science, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Daiqin Li
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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Andrade MC. Sexual selection and social context: Web-building spiders as emerging models for adaptive plasticity. ADVANCES IN THE STUDY OF BEHAVIOR 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.asb.2019.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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McCambridge JE, Painting CJ, Walker LA, Holwell GI. Weapon allometry and phenotypic correlation in the New Zealand sheetweb spiderCambridgea plagiata. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/bly170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Leilani A Walker
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Gregory I Holwell
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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Joel AC, Habedank A, Hausen J, Mey J. Fighting for the web: competition between female feather-legged spiders (Uloborus plumipes). ZOOLOGY 2016; 121:10-17. [PMID: 28109659 DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2016.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2016] [Revised: 10/16/2016] [Accepted: 12/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Most spider species are solitary, and among the few social interactions among them, resource competition between females has received little attention. We discovered that females of the feather-legged spider Uloborus plumipes invade the orb webs of conspecifics and compete for webs. Following observations in the wild, intruder-defender interactions were studied in a terrarium and in controlled laboratory experiments. We found that contests for orb webs occurred spontaneously between adult females. Competitive interactions in U. plumipes were characterized by an escalation of ritualized behaviors. In 27% of the contests the winner was determined by interactions at a distance, which involved behaviors that caused vibratory signaling on the web. The remaining interactions escalated to physical contact, and in 78% of these a fight occurred between the contestants. Using multivariate logistic regression we determined the factors that predicted the outcome of the contests: (i) Web ownership did not give the defender a competitive advantage. (ii) The difference in physical size between the competing spiders was the most important predictor for the outcome of web contests. (iii) Independent of body size, the display of certain behaviors, specifically the ability to reach the hub before the contestant and the frequency of attacks, increased the probability of winning. (iv) Winning or losing a fight did not affect the chances of winning subsequent contests. The interactions reported here provide a promising approach to investigate communication in spiders and to test theoretical models of intraspecific competition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Christin Joel
- Institut für Biologie II (Zoologie), RWTH Aachen, Worringerweg 1, D-52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Anne Habedank
- Institut für Biologie II (Zoologie), RWTH Aachen, Worringerweg 1, D-52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Jonas Hausen
- Institut für Biologie V (Umweltforschung), RWTH Aachen, Worringerweg 3, D-52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Jörg Mey
- Institut für Biologie II (Zoologie), RWTH Aachen, Worringerweg 1, D-52074 Aachen, Germany; Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, SESCAM, Finca la Peraleda s/n, 45071 Toledo, Spain.
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Contest experience and body size affect different types of contest decisions. Anim Cogn 2016; 19:1183-1193. [DOI: 10.1007/s10071-016-1028-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2016] [Revised: 08/15/2016] [Accepted: 08/22/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Withee JR, Rehan SM. Cumulative effects of body size and social experience on aggressive behaviour in a subsocial bee. BEHAVIOUR 2016. [DOI: 10.1163/1568539x-00003382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Dominance hierarchies represent some of nature’s most rudimentary social structures, and aggression is key to their establishment in many animal species. Previous studies have focused on the relative influences of prior experience and physiological traits of individuals in determining social rank through aggression. Here we examine the behavioural potential for dominance hierarchy formation in the subsocial small carpenter bee, Ceratina calcarata. Both physiological traits and social experience were found to play partial roles in predicting future interactive behaviour in this species. Our results suggest that individual size is associated with dominance in initial encounters, while prior experience plays a larger role in predicting dominance in subsequent encounters. Social systems in the early stages of social evolution may well have followed these same predictive factors and these factors are key targets for future studies of social evolution and the behavioural origins of dominance hierarchies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob R. Withee
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Hampshire, 46 College Road, Durham, NH 03824, USA
| | - Sandra M. Rehan
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Hampshire, 46 College Road, Durham, NH 03824, USA
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Reason for being single: some males do not guard receptive females in the hermit crab Pagurus filholi. Anim Behav 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2015.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Chiswell R, Girard M, Fricke C, Kasumovic MM. Prior mating success can affect allocation towards future sexual signaling in crickets. PeerJ 2014; 2:e657. [PMID: 25392758 PMCID: PMC4226636 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2014] [Accepted: 10/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Fitness is often correlated with the expression level of a sexually selected trait. However, sexually selected traits are costly to express such that investment in their expression should be optimised to maximize their overall fitness gains. Social interactions, in the form of successful and unsuccessful matings, may offer males one type of feedback allowing them to gauge how to allocate their resources towards sexual signaling. Here we tested whether adult male black field crickets (Teleogryllus commodus) modify the extent of their calling effort (the sexually selected trait) in response to successful and unsuccessful matings with females. To examine the effect that mating interactions with females have on investment into sexual signaling, we monitored male calling effort after maturation and then provided males with a female at two points within their life, manipulating whether or not males were able to successfully mate each time. Our results demonstrate that males alter their investment towards sexual signaling in response to successful matings, but only if the experience occurs early in their life. Males that mated early decreased their calling effort sooner than males that were denied a mating. Our results demonstrate that social feedback in the form of successful and unsuccessful matings has the potential to alter the effort a male places towards sexual signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Chiswell
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales , Kensington, Sydney, NSW , Australia
| | - Madeline Girard
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California , Berkeley, CA , USA
| | - Claudia Fricke
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Muenster , Muenster , Germany
| | - Michael M Kasumovic
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales , Kensington, Sydney, NSW , Australia
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Elias DO, Sivalinghem S, Mason AC, Andrade MC, Kasumovic MM. Mate-guarding courtship behaviour: tactics in a changing world. Anim Behav 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2014.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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15
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Yasuda CI, Matsuo K, Hasaba Y, Wada S. Hermit crab, Pagurus middendorffii, males avoid the escalation of contests with familiar winners. Anim Behav 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2014.07.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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16
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Bright turquoise as an intraspecific signal in the chameleon grasshopper (Kosciuscola tristis). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-012-1464-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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The combination of social and personal contexts affects dominance hierarchy development in shore crabs, Carcinus maenas. Anim Behav 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2011.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Tanner CJ, Salali GD, Jackson AL. The ghost of social environments past: dominance relationships include current interactions and experience carried over from previous groups. Biol Lett 2011; 7:818-21. [PMID: 21561961 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2011.0325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Dominance hierarchies pervade animal societies. Within a static social environment, in which group size and composition are unchanged, an individual's hierarchy rank results from intrinsic (e.g. body size) and extrinsic (e.g. previous experiences) factors. Little is known, however, about how dominance relationships are formed and maintained when group size and composition are dynamic. Using a fusion-fission protocol, we fused groups of previously isolated shore crabs (Carcinus maenas) into larger groups, and then restored groups to their original size and composition. Pre-fusion hierarchies formed independently of individuals' sizes, and were maintained within a static group via winner/loser effects. Post-fusion hierarchies differed from pre-fusion ones; losing fights during fusion led to a decline in an individual's rank between pre- and post-fusion conditions, while spending time being aggressive during fusion led to an improvement in rank. In post-fusion tanks, larger individuals achieved better ranks than smaller individuals. In conclusion, dominance hierarchies in crabs represent a complex combination of intrinsic and extrinsic factors, in which experiences from previous groups can carry over to affect current competitive interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colby J Tanner
- Department of Zoology, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Republic of Ireland.
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Batchelor TP, Briffa M. Fight tactics in wood ants: individuals in smaller groups fight harder but die faster. Proc Biol Sci 2011; 278:3243-50. [PMID: 21389029 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2011.0062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
When social animals engage in inter-group contests, the outcome is determined by group sizes and individual masses, which together determine group resource-holding potential ('group RHP'). Individuals that perceive themselves as being in a group with high RHP may receive a motivational increase and increase their aggression levels. Alternatively, individuals in lower RHP groups may increase their aggression levels in an attempt to overcome the RHP deficit. We investigate how 'group RHP' influences agonistic tactics in red wood ants Formica rufa. Larger groups had higher total agonistic indices, but per capita agonistic indices were highest in the smallest groups, indicating that individuals in smaller groups fought harder. Agonistic indices were influenced by relative mean mass, focal group size, opponent group size and opponent group agonistic index. Focal group attrition rates decreased as focal group relative agonistic indices increased and there was a strong negative influence of relative mean mass. The highest focal attrition rates were received when opponent groups were numerically large and composed of large individuals. Thus, fight tactics in F. rufa seem to vary with both aspects of group RHP, group size and the individual attributes of group members, indicating that information on these are available to fighting ants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim P Batchelor
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK.
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Kasumovic MM, Mason AC, Andrade MC, Elias DO. The relative importance of RHP and resource quality in contests with ownership asymmetries. Behav Ecol 2010. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arq161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Sivalinghem S, Kasumovic MM, Mason AC, Andrade MC, Elias DO. Vibratory communication in the jumping spider Phidippus clarus: polyandry, male courtship signals, and mating success. Behav Ecol 2010. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arq150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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Batchelor TP, Briffa M. Influences on resource-holding potential during dangerous group contests between wood ants. Anim Behav 2010. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2010.05.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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The role of body size and fighting experience in predicting contest behaviour in the black field cricket, Teleogryllus commodus. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2010. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-010-1030-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Elias DO, Botero CA, Andrade MCB, Mason AC, Kasumovic MM. High resource valuation fuels “desperado” fighting tactics in female jumping spiders. Behav Ecol 2010. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arq073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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Kasumovic MM, Elias DO, Sivalinghem S, Mason AC, Andrade MCB. Examination of prior contest experience and the retention of winner and loser effects. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010; 21:404-409. [PMID: 22476369 DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arp204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2009] [Revised: 12/06/2009] [Accepted: 12/06/2009] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
In many animal taxa, prior contest experience affects future performance such that winning increases the chances of winning in the future (winner effect) and losing increases the chances of losing in the future (loser effect). It is, however, not clear whether this pattern typically arises from experience effects on actual or perceived fighting ability (or both). In this study, we looked at winner and loser effects in the jumping spider Phidippus clarus. We assigned winning or losing experience to spiders and tested them against opponents of similar fighting ability in subsequent contests at 1-, 2-, 5-, and 24-h intervals. We examined the strength of winner and loser effects, how long effects persist, as well as how experience affected perceived and actual fighting ability. Our results demonstrate that winner and loser effects are of approximately the same magnitude, although loser effects last longer than winner effects. Our results also demonstrate that previous experience alters actual fighting ability because both the assessment and escalation periods were affected by experience. We suggest that the retention time of experience effects depends on expected encounter rates as well as other behavioral and ecological factors. In systems with short breeding seasons and/or rapidly fluctuating populations, context-dependent retention of experience effects may allow males to track their status relative to the fluctuating fighting ability of local competitors without paying the costs necessary to recall or assess individual competitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael M Kasumovic
- Integrative Behaviour and Neuroscience Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4, Canada
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