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Warren AD, Severns PM. Fatal Attraction: Argiope Spiders Lure Male Hemileuca Moth Prey with the Promise of Sex. INSECTS 2024; 15:53. [PMID: 38249059 PMCID: PMC10816778 DOI: 10.3390/insects15010053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Predator-prey coevolution, particularly chemo-ecological arms races, is challenging to study as it requires the integration of behavioral, chemical ecology, and phylogenetic studies in an amenable system. Moths of the genus Hemileuca (Saturniidae) are colorful, diurnal, and fast and often fly well above the vegetation canopy layer. However, several Hemileuca species have been reported as being captured in spider webs, specifically Argiope species (Araneidae). Female Hemileuca are known to produce mating pheromones and spiders of the Araneidae family are known to use pheromone lures to attract lepidopteran prey. We presented primarily female Argiope aurantia, which are attractive to male Anisota pellucida (Saturniidae), to different populations of Hemileuca species across the southern and western United States to categorize the homing response strength of different species of male Hemileuca. When we mapped these Argiope lure attraction strength categories onto the most recently published Hemileuca phylogeny, the behavioral patterns suggested a potential co-evolutionary arms race between predators and prey. Males of Hemileuca maia, H. grotei, and H. nevadensis (all in the same clade) appeared to have no attraction to A. aurantia, while H. magnifica and H. hera (within a different, separate clade) appeared to be strongly attracted to A. aurantia, but H. nuttalli (also within the H. hera and H. magnifica clade) displayed no attraction. Furthermore, Hemileuca eglanterina (yet a different clade) displayed strong, weak, and no attraction to A. aurantia, depending on the population. These apparent clade partitioning patterns of Argiope lure effectiveness and within-species variation in Hemileuca lure responses suggest a predator-prey coevolutionary history of measures and countermeasures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D. Warren
- McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity, Research Associate, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, 3215 Hull Rd., UF Cultural Plaza, Gainesville, FL 32611-2710, USA;
| | - Paul M. Severns
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Georgia, 2315 Miller Plant Sciences, Athens, GA 30602, USA
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2
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Kulkarni S, Wood HM, Hormiga G. Advances in the reconstruction of the spider tree of life: A roadmap for spider systematics and comparative studies. Cladistics 2023; 39:479-532. [PMID: 37787157 DOI: 10.1111/cla.12557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In the last decade and a half, advances in genetic sequencing technologies have revolutionized systematics, transforming the field from studying morphological characters or a few genetic markers, to genomic datasets in the phylogenomic era. A plethora of molecular phylogenetic studies on many taxonomic groups have come about, converging on, or refuting prevailing morphology or legacy-marker-based hypotheses about evolutionary affinities. Spider systematics has been no exception to this transformation and the inter-relationships of several groups have now been studied using genomic data. About 51 500 extant spider species have been described, all with a conservative body plan, but innumerable morphological and behavioural peculiarities. Inferring the spider tree of life using morphological data has been a challenging task. Molecular data have corroborated many hypotheses of higher-level relationships, but also resulted in new groups that refute previous hypotheses. In this review, we discuss recent advances in the reconstruction of the spider tree of life and highlight areas where additional effort is needed with potential solutions. We base this review on the most comprehensive spider phylogeny to date, representing 131 of the 132 spider families. To achieve this sampling, we combined six Sanger-based markers with newly generated and publicly available genome-scale datasets. We find that some inferred relationships between major lineages of spiders (such as Austrochiloidea, Palpimanoidea and Synspermiata) are robust across different classes of data. However, several new hypotheses have emerged with different classes of molecular data. We identify and discuss the robust and controversial hypotheses and compile this blueprint to design future studies targeting systematic revisions of these problematic groups. We offer an evolutionary framework to explore comparative questions such as evolution of venoms, silk, webs, morphological traits and reproductive strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siddharth Kulkarni
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, 2029 G St. NW, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
- Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, 1000 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20560, USA
| | - Hannah M Wood
- Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, 1000 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20560, USA
| | - Gustavo Hormiga
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, 2029 G St. NW, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
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3
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Ortiz D, Pekár S, Bilat J, Shafaie S, Alvarez N, Gauthier J. Dynamic evolution of size and colour in the highly specialized Zodarion ant-eating spiders. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20230797. [PMID: 37554037 PMCID: PMC10410226 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.0797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Ecological specialists constitute relevant case studies for understanding the mechanisms, potential and limitations of evolution. The species-rich and strictly myrmecophagous spiders of the genus Zodarion show diversified defence mechanisms, including myrmecomorphy of different ant species and nocturnality. Through Hybridization Capture Using RAD Probes (hyRAD), a phylogenomic technique designed for sequencing poorly preserved specimens, we reconstructed a phylogeny of Zodarion using 52 (approx. a third of the nominal) species that cover its phylogenetic and distributional diversity. We then estimated the evolution of body size and colour, traits that have diversified noticeably and are linked to defence mechanisms, across the group. Our genomic matrix of 300 loci led to a well-supported phylogenetic hypothesis that uncovered two main clades inside Zodarion. Ancestral state estimation revealed the highly dynamic evolution of body size and colour across the group, with multiple transitions and convergences in both traits, which we propose is likely indicative of multiple transitions in ant specialization across the genus. Our study will allow the informed targeted selection of Zodarion taxa of special interest for research into the group's remarkable adaptations to ant specialization. It also exemplifies the utility of hyRAD for phylogenetic studies using museum material.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Ortiz
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Stano Pekár
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Julia Bilat
- Geneva Natural History Museum, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sepideh Shafaie
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
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4
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Marin IN, Tiunov AV. Terrestrial crustaceans (Arthropoda, Crustacea): taxonomic diversity, terrestrial adaptations, and ecological functions. Zookeys 2023; 1169:95-162. [PMID: 38328027 PMCID: PMC10848873 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1169.97812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Terrestrial crustaceans are represented by approximately 4,900 species from six main lineages. The diversity of terrestrial taxa ranges from a few genera in Cladocera and Ostracoda to about a third of the known species in Isopoda. Crustaceans are among the smallest as well as the largest terrestrial arthropods. Tiny microcrustaceans (Branchiopoda, Ostracoda, Copepoda) are always associated with water films, while adult stages of macrocrustaceans (Isopoda, Amphipoda, Decapoda) spend most of their lives in terrestrial habitats, being independent of liquid water. Various adaptations in morphology, physiology, reproduction, and behavior allow them to thrive in virtually all geographic areas, including extremely arid habitats. The most derived terrestrial crustaceans have acquired highly developed visual and olfactory systems. The density of soil copepods is sometimes comparable to that of mites and springtails, while the total biomass of decapods on tropical islands can exceed that of mammals in tropical rainforests. During migrations, land crabs create record-breaking aggregations and biomass flows for terrestrial invertebrates. The ecological role of terrestrial microcrustaceans remains poorly studied, while omnivorous macrocrustaceans are important litter transformers and soil bioturbators, occasionally occupying the position of the top predators. Notably, crustaceans are the only group among terrestrial saprotrophic animals widely used by humans as food. Despite the great diversity and ecological impact, terrestrial crustaceans, except for woodlice, are often neglected by terrestrial ecologists. This review aims to narrow this gap discussing the diversity, abundance, adaptations to terrestrial lifestyle, trophic relationships and ecological functions, as well as the main methods used for sampling terrestrial crustaceans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan N. Marin
- A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119071, RussiaA.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of SciencesMoscowRussia
| | - Alexei V. Tiunov
- A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119071, RussiaA.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of SciencesMoscowRussia
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5
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Ramírez DS, Alzate JF, Simone Y, van der Meijden A, Guevara G, Franco Pérez LM, González-Gómez JC, Prada Quiroga CF. Intersexual Differences in the Gene Expression of Phoneutria depilata (Araneae, Ctenidae) Toxins Revealed by Venom Gland Transcriptome Analyses. Toxins (Basel) 2023; 15:429. [PMID: 37505698 PMCID: PMC10467060 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15070429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 06/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The wandering spider, Phoneutria depilata, is one of Colombia's most active nocturnal arthropod predators of vertebrates and invertebrates. Its venom has been a relevant subject of study in the last two decades. However, the scarcity of transcriptomic data for the species limits our knowledge of the distinct components present in its venom for linking the mainly neurotoxic effects of the spider venom to a particular molecular target. The transcriptome of the P. depilata venom gland was analyzed to understand the effect of different diets or sex and the impact of these variables on the composition of the venom. We sequenced venom glands obtained from ten males and ten females from three diet treatments: (i) invertebrate: Tenebrio molitor, (ii) vertebrate: Hemidactylus frenatus, and (iii) mixed (T. molitor + H. frenatus). Of 17,354 assembled transcripts from all samples, 65 transcripts relating to venom production differed between males and females. Among them, 36 were classified as neurotoxins, 14 as serine endopeptidases, 11 as other proteins related to venom production, three as metalloprotease toxins, and one as a venom potentiator. There were no differences in transcripts across the analyzed diets, but when considering the effect of diets on differences between the sexes, 59 transcripts were differentially expressed. Our findings provide essential information on toxins differentially expressed that can be related to sex and the plasticity of the diet of P. depilata and thus can be used as a reference for venomics of other wandering spider species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Sierra Ramírez
- Grupo de Investigación Biología y Ecología de Artrópodos (BEA), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del Tolima, Altos de Santa Helena, Ibagué 730001, Colombia; (D.S.R.); (J.C.G.-G.)
| | - Juan F. Alzate
- Centro Nacional de Secuenciación Genómica (CNSG), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín 050010, Colombia
| | - Yuri Simone
- CIBIO/InBIO/Biopolis, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas 7, 4485-661 Vila do Conde, Portugal; (Y.S.); (A.v.d.M.)
| | - Arie van der Meijden
- CIBIO/InBIO/Biopolis, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas 7, 4485-661 Vila do Conde, Portugal; (Y.S.); (A.v.d.M.)
| | - Giovany Guevara
- Grupo de Investigación en Zoología (GIZ), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del Tolima, Altos de Santa Helena, Ibagué 730001, Colombia;
| | - Lida Marcela Franco Pérez
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Matemáticas, Universidad de Ibagué, Carrera 22 Calle 67, Ibagué 730001, Colombia;
| | - Julio César González-Gómez
- Grupo de Investigación Biología y Ecología de Artrópodos (BEA), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del Tolima, Altos de Santa Helena, Ibagué 730001, Colombia; (D.S.R.); (J.C.G.-G.)
| | - Carlos F. Prada Quiroga
- Grupo de Investigación Biología y Ecología de Artrópodos (BEA), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del Tolima, Altos de Santa Helena, Ibagué 730001, Colombia; (D.S.R.); (J.C.G.-G.)
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6
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Řezáč M, Řezáčová V, Gloríková N, Némethová E, Heneberg P. Food provisioning to Pardosa spiders decreases the levels of tissue-resident endosymbiotic bacteria. Sci Rep 2023; 13:6943. [PMID: 37117271 PMCID: PMC10147729 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34229-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The diversity, host specificity, and physiological effects of endosymbiotic bacteria in spiders (Araneae) are poorly characterized. We used 16S rDNA sequencing to evaluate endosymbionts in the cephalothorax and legs of a wolf spider Pardosa agrestis. We tested the effects of feeding once or twice daily with fruit flies, aphids, or starved and compared them to those of syntopically occurring Pardosa palustris. The feeding increased traveled distance up to five times in some of the groups provisioned with food relative to the starved control. The Shannon diversity t-test revealed significant differences between these component communities of the two spider species. The increased frequency of feeding with fruit flies, but not aphids, increased the dominance and decreased the alpha diversity of OTUs. The obligate or facultative endosymbionts were present in all analyzed spider individuals and were represented mostly by Rickettsiella, Rhabdochlamydia, Spiroplasma, and the facultative intracellular parasite Legionella. Vertically transmitted endosymbionts were less common, represented by Wolbachia pipientis and Rickettsia sp. H820. The relative abundance of Mycoplasma spp. was negatively correlated with provisioned or killed aphids. In conclusion, the tissues of Pardosa spiders host tremendously diverse assemblages of bacteria, including obligate or facultative endosymbionts, with yet unknown phenotypic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milan Řezáč
- Crop Research Institute, Drnovská 507, 160 00, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Veronika Řezáčová
- Crop Research Institute, Drnovská 507, 160 00, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Nela Gloríková
- Crop Research Institute, Drnovská 507, 160 00, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Ema Némethová
- Crop Research Institute, Drnovská 507, 160 00, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Heneberg
- Crop Research Institute, Drnovská 507, 160 00, Prague, Czech Republic.
- Charles University, Third Faculty of Medicine, Ruská 87, 100 00, Prague, Czech Republic.
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7
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Michálek O, Walker AA, Šedo O, Zdráhal Z, King GF, Pekár S. Composition and toxicity of venom produced by araneophagous white-tailed spiders (Lamponidae: Lampona sp.). Sci Rep 2022; 12:21597. [PMID: 36517485 PMCID: PMC9751281 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24694-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Prey-specialised spiders are adapted to capture specific prey items, including dangerous prey. The venoms of specialists are often prey-specific and less complex than those of generalists, but their venom composition has not been studied in detail. Here, we investigated the venom of the prey-specialised white-tailed spiders (Lamponidae: Lampona), which utilise specialised morphological and behavioural adaptations to capture spider prey. We analysed the venom composition using proteo-transcriptomics and taxon-specific toxicity using venom bioassays. Our analysis identified 208 putative toxin sequences, comprising 103 peptides < 10 kDa and 105 proteins > 10 kDa. Most peptides belonged to one of two families characterised by scaffolds containing eight or ten cysteine residues. Toxin-like proteins showed similarity to galectins, leucine-rich repeat proteins, trypsins and neprilysins. The venom of Lampona was shown to be more potent against the preferred spider prey than against alternative cricket prey. In contrast, the venom of a related generalist was similarly potent against both prey types. These data provide insights into the molecular adaptations of venoms produced by prey-specialised spiders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ondřej Michálek
- grid.10267.320000 0001 2194 0956Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Andrew A. Walker
- grid.1003.20000 0000 9320 7537Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072 Australia ,grid.1003.20000 0000 9320 7537Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Ondrej Šedo
- grid.10267.320000 0001 2194 0956Research Group Proteomics, Mendel Centre for Plant Genomics and Proteomics, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic ,grid.10267.320000 0001 2194 0956Faculty of Science, National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Zbyněk Zdráhal
- grid.10267.320000 0001 2194 0956Research Group Proteomics, Mendel Centre for Plant Genomics and Proteomics, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic ,grid.10267.320000 0001 2194 0956Faculty of Science, National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Glenn F. King
- grid.1003.20000 0000 9320 7537Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072 Australia ,grid.1003.20000 0000 9320 7537Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Stano Pekár
- grid.10267.320000 0001 2194 0956Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic
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8
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Suzuki Y, Ikemoto M, Yokoi T. The ontogenetic dietary shift from non-dangerous to dangerous prey in predator-eating predators under capture risk. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9609. [PMID: 36514549 PMCID: PMC9731918 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Evaluating the patterns and generality of ontogenetic dietary shifts (ODSs) contributes to understanding prey-predator interactions and food web dynamics. Numerous studies have focused on predators that target distinctively lower trophic-level organisms. However, the ODS of predators that routinely prey on organisms at similar trophic levels (i.e., predator-eating predators) have been neglected in ODS research. The ODS patterns of predator eaters may not fit into conventional frameworks owing to constraints of potential capture risk (e.g., deadly counterattack from prey) and body size. We aimed to reveal the ODS patterns of predator eaters and determine whether the patterns were affected by body size and capture risk. Assuming that capture risk is a significant factor in ODS patterns, we expected: (1) juvenile araneophagic spiders to forage on non-dangerous prey (insects) and capture larger non-dangerous prey more frequently than dangerous prey (spiders); and (2) as they grow, their prey types will shift from non-dangerous to dangerous prey because larger predators will be able to capture dangerous prey as the optimal food. As a result of field observations, we revealed that the major ODS pattern in these spiders changed from a mixed (both insect and spider) to a spider-dominant diet. The model selection approach showed that this diet shift was partly due to predator size, and the relative importance of predator size was higher than the life stage per se and almost equal to species identity. In these spiders, the body size of spider prey tended to be smaller than that of insects when the predators were small, suggesting that capture risk may be a critical factor in determining the ODS patterns of these predators. Therefore, our study adds to the evidence that the capture risk is crucial in comprehensively understanding the mechanisms determining ODS patterns in natural systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuya Suzuki
- Laboratory of Conservation Ecology, Graduate School of Life and Environmental SciencesUniversity of TsukubaIbarakiJapan,The United Graduate School of Agricultural SciencesKagoshima UniversityKagoshimaJapan
| | - Mito Ikemoto
- Laboratory of Conservation Ecology, Graduate School of Life and Environmental SciencesUniversity of TsukubaIbarakiJapan,Biodiversity DivisionNational Institute for Environmental StudiesTsukubaJapan
| | - Tomoyuki Yokoi
- Laboratory of Conservation Ecology, Graduate School of Life and Environmental SciencesUniversity of TsukubaIbarakiJapan
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9
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Beydizada N, Pekár S. Personality predicts mode of attack in a generalist ground spider predator. Behav Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arac095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Personality traits, such as boldness and/or aggressiveness, have long been accepted to have a profound influence on many aspects of the lives of animals, including foraging. However, little is known about how personality traits shape the use of a particular attack strategy. Ground spiders use either venom or silk attack to immobilize prey. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that behavioral differences among individuals (namely boldness, measured as the time spent exploring a novel environment; and aggressiveness, measured as the number of killed but not consumed prey) drive the use of a particular attack strategy. We used a generalist ground spider, Drassodes lapidosus, and recorded the mode of attack on two types of prey, dangerous and safe. Moreover, we measured the size of the venom gland to test the relationship between the size of venom volume and the personality, as well as the mode of attack. Drassodes individuals showed consistent behavioral differences in the way they attacked prey. Venom attack was significantly related to increased aggressiveness when attacking spider (dangerous) prey and to increased boldness when attacking cricket (safe) prey. Silk attack was more frequently used by shy (for cricket prey) and docile (for spider prey). The volume of venom was not related to the attack strategy. We conclude that personality traits are important drivers of prey-capture behavior in generalist ground spiders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narmin Beydizada
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University , Kotlářská 2, 611 37 Brno , Czech Republic
| | - Stano Pekár
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University , Kotlářská 2, 611 37 Brno , Czech Republic
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10
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Abstract
Spiders, the most specious taxon of predators, have evolved an astounding range of predatory strategies, including group hunting, specialized silk traps, pheromone-loaded bolas, and aggressive mimicry. Spiders that hunt prey defended with behavioral, mechanical, or chemical means are under additional selection pressure to avoid injury and death. Ants are considered dangerous because they can harm or kill their predators, but some groups of spiders, such as the Theridiidae, have a very high diversification of ant-hunting species and strategies [J. Liu et al., Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 94, 658–675 (2016)]. Here, we provide detailed behavioral analyses of the highly acrobatic Australian ant-slayer spider, Euryopis umbilicata (Theridiidae), that captures much larger and defended Camponotus ants on vertical tree trunks. The hunting sequence consists of ritualized steps performed within split seconds, resulting in an exceptionally high prey capture success rate.
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11
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Inveninato Carmona G, Robinson E, Tonon Rosa A, Proctor CA, McMechan AJ. Impact of Cover Crop Planting and Termination Dates on Arthropod Activity in the Following Corn. JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 115:1177-1190. [PMID: 35786723 PMCID: PMC9365511 DOI: 10.1093/jee/toac090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Relative to fallow-cash crop rotations, the addition of a cover crop can contribute to greater plant diversity and has the potential to conserve predatory arthropods. The transition of arthropods from a cover crop to a subsequent cash crop depends on several factors, such as cover crop biomass production and weather conditions. Information about the effect of cover crop planting and termination dates on arthropods in a subsequent corn system is limited. A two-year field study was conducted in Nebraska in 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 to evaluate the impact of cover crop planting and termination dates as a source for arthropods in the subsequent corn. A total of 38,074 and 50,626 arthropods were collected in the first and second year, respectively. In both years, adding a grass cover crop increased predatory arthropods but reduced yield in follow corn crop. Of the arthropods collected, Carabidae and Araneae had greater activity with cover crop biomass increments, whereas Collembola and Acari activity only increased in treatments with little or no cover crop biomass. Insect pest pressure was not significant in any treatment for either year. A cover crop planted in mid- or late-September and terminated at corn planting was identified as the best management strategy to maximize cover crop biomass, increase predator activity, and modify predator-prey dynamics. The results of this study provide growers with a cover crop management strategy to maximize cover crop biomass, beneficial arthropod activity, and potentially minimize insect pest problems; however, corn Zea Mays (L.) grain yield was reduced as cover crop biomass increased.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emily Robinson
- Department of Statistics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, NE 68583, USA
| | | | - Christopher A Proctor
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, NE 68583, USA
| | - Anthony Justin McMechan
- Department of Entomology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, NE 68583, USA
- Nebraska Research, Extension, and Education Center, Ithaca, NE 68033, USA
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12
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High-Density Three-Dimensional Morphometric Analyses Reveal Predation-Based Disparity and Evolutionary Modularity in Spider ‘Jaws’. Evol Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s11692-022-09576-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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13
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Courtial C, Privet K, Aubriot X, Picard L, Pétillon J. Description of a new species of Hypaeus (Araneae: Salticidae: Salticinae: Amycini) based on integrative taxonomy. STUDIES ON NEOTROPICAL FAUNA AND ENVIRONMENT 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/01650521.2022.2068223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Kaïna Privet
- CNRS, Ecobio (Écosystèmes, biodiversité, évolution) - UMR 6553, Université Rennes, Rennes, France
| | - Xavier Aubriot
- CNRS, AgroParisTech, Laboratoire Écologie, Systématique et Évolution, Université Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
| | | | - Julien Pétillon
- CNRS, Ecobio (Écosystèmes, biodiversité, évolution) - UMR 6553, Université Rennes, Rennes, France
- Nelson Mandela University, Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
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14
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Taylor LA, Cross FR, Jackson RR. Blood-red colour as a prey choice cue for mosquito specialist predators. Anim Behav 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2022.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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15
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Tougeron K, Couthouis E, Marrec R, Barascou L, Baudry J, Boussard H, Burel F, Couty A, Doury G, Francis C, Hecq F, Le Roux V, Pétillon J, Spicher F, Hance T, van Baaren J. Multi-scale approach to biodiversity proxies of biological control service in European farmlands. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 822:153569. [PMID: 35114245 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Intensive agriculture has profoundly altered biodiversity and trophic relationships in agricultural landscapes, leading to the deterioration of many ecosystem services such as pollination or biological control. Information on which spatio-temporal factors are simultaneously affecting crop pests and their natural enemies is required to improve conservation biological control practices. We conducted a study in 80 winter wheat crop fields distributed in three regions of North-western Europe (Brittany, Hauts-de-France and Wallonia), along intra-regional gradients of landscape complexity. Five taxa of major crop pests (aphids and slugs) and natural enemies (spiders, carabids, and parasitoids) were sampled three times a year, for two consecutive years. We analysed the influence of regional (meteorology), landscape (structure in both the years n and n-1) and local factors (hedge or grass strip field boundaries, and distance to boundary) on the abundance and species richness of crop-dwelling organisms, as proxies of the service/disservice they provide. Firstly, there was higher biocontrol potential in areas with mild winter climatic conditions. Secondly, natural enemy communities were less diverse and had lower abundances in landscapes with high crop and wooded continuities (sum of interconnected crop or wood surfaces), contrary to slugs and aphids. Finally, field boundaries with grass strips were more favourable to spiders and carabids than boundaries formed by hedges, while the opposite was found for crop pests, with the latter being less abundant towards the centre of the fields. We also revealed temporal modulation-and sometimes reversion-of the impact of local elements on crop biodiversity. To some extent, these results cause controversy because they show that hedgerows and woodlots should not be the unique cornerstones of agro-ecological landscape design strategies. We point out that combining woody and grassy habitats to take full advantage of the features and ecosystem services they both provide (biological pest control, windbreak effect, soil stabilization) may promote sustainable agricultural ecosystems. It may be possible to both reduce pest pressure and promote natural enemies by accounting for taxa-specific antagonistic responses to multi-scale environmental characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kévin Tougeron
- Earth and Life Institute, Ecology and Biodiversity, Université catholique de Louvain, croix-du-Sud 4-5, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
| | - Eloïse Couthouis
- UMR 0980 BAGAP, INRAE, Institut Agro, ESA, 65 rue de St Brieuc, CS 84215, 35042 Rennes, France; Université de Rennes (UNIR), UMR 6553 ECOBIO, CNRS, 263 avenue du Général Leclerc, 35042 Rennes, France
| | - Ronan Marrec
- UMR 7058 EDYSAN "Ecologie et Dynamique des Systèmes Anthropisés", CNRS, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, 1 rue des Louvels, 80037 Amiens, France
| | - Léna Barascou
- Université de Rennes (UNIR), UMR 6553 ECOBIO, CNRS, 263 avenue du Général Leclerc, 35042 Rennes, France
| | - Jacques Baudry
- UMR 0980 BAGAP, INRAE, Institut Agro, ESA, 65 rue de St Brieuc, CS 84215, 35042 Rennes, France
| | - Hugues Boussard
- UMR 0980 BAGAP, INRAE, Institut Agro, ESA, 65 rue de St Brieuc, CS 84215, 35042 Rennes, France
| | - Françoise Burel
- Université de Rennes (UNIR), UMR 6553 ECOBIO, CNRS, 263 avenue du Général Leclerc, 35042 Rennes, France
| | - Aude Couty
- UMR 7058 EDYSAN "Ecologie et Dynamique des Systèmes Anthropisés", CNRS, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, 1 rue des Louvels, 80037 Amiens, France
| | - Géraldine Doury
- UMR 7058 EDYSAN "Ecologie et Dynamique des Systèmes Anthropisés", CNRS, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, 1 rue des Louvels, 80037 Amiens, France
| | - Charlotte Francis
- Earth and Life Institute, Ecology and Biodiversity, Université catholique de Louvain, croix-du-Sud 4-5, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Florence Hecq
- Earth and Life Institute, Ecology and Biodiversity, Université catholique de Louvain, croix-du-Sud 4-5, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Vincent Le Roux
- UMR 7058 EDYSAN "Ecologie et Dynamique des Systèmes Anthropisés", CNRS, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, 1 rue des Louvels, 80037 Amiens, France
| | - Julien Pétillon
- Université de Rennes (UNIR), UMR 6553 ECOBIO, CNRS, 263 avenue du Général Leclerc, 35042 Rennes, France
| | - Fabien Spicher
- UMR 7058 EDYSAN "Ecologie et Dynamique des Systèmes Anthropisés", CNRS, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, 1 rue des Louvels, 80037 Amiens, France
| | - Thierry Hance
- Earth and Life Institute, Ecology and Biodiversity, Université catholique de Louvain, croix-du-Sud 4-5, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Joan van Baaren
- Université de Rennes (UNIR), UMR 6553 ECOBIO, CNRS, 263 avenue du Général Leclerc, 35042 Rennes, France
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16
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Müller J, Brandl R, Cadotte MW, Heibl C, Bässler C, Weiß I, Birkhofer K, Thorn S, Seibold S. A replicated study on the response of spider assemblages to regional and local processes. ECOL MONOGR 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ecm.1511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jörg Müller
- Field Station Fabrikschleichach, Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocenter University of Würzburg, Glashüttenstraße 5 Rauhenebrach Germany
- Bavarian Forest National Park, Freyunger Str. 2 Grafenau Germany
| | - Roland Brandl
- Department of Ecology ‐ Animal Ecology, Faculty of Biology Philipps‐Universität Marburg, Karl‐von‐Frisch Str. 8 Marburg Germany
| | - Marc W. Cadotte
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Toronto–Scarborough Toronto Canada
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Toronto Toronto Canada
| | - Christoph Heibl
- Bavarian Forest National Park, Freyunger Str. 2 Grafenau Germany
| | - Claus Bässler
- Conservation Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Institute for Ecology, Evolution and Diversity Goethe‐University Frankfurt Frankfurt am Main Germany
| | - Ingmar Weiß
- Bavarian Forest National Park, Freyunger Str. 2 Grafenau Germany
| | - Klaus Birkhofer
- Department of Ecology Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus‐Senftenberg, Konrad‐Wachsmann Allee 6 Cottbus Germany
| | - Simon Thorn
- Field Station Fabrikschleichach, Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocenter University of Würzburg, Glashüttenstraße 5 Rauhenebrach Germany
| | - Sebastian Seibold
- Technical University of Munich Freising Germany
- Berchtesgaden National Park Berchtesgaden Germany
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17
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Gonzaga LEA, Salomão RP, Moura GJB, Lira AFA. Predation strategy of the brown widow spider Latrodectus geometricus Koch, 1841 against prey with different defensive mechanisms. J ETHOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10164-022-00745-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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18
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Beydizada N, Řezáč M, Pekár S. Use of conditional prey attack strategies in two generalist ground spider species. Ethology 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.13268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Narmin Beydizada
- Department of Botany & Zoology Faculty of Science Masaryk University Brno Czech Republic
| | - Milan Řezáč
- Biodiversity Lab Crop Research Institute Prague‐Ruzynĕ Czech Republic
| | - Stano Pekár
- Department of Botany & Zoology Faculty of Science Masaryk University Brno Czech Republic
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19
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Pekár S, Wolff JO, Černecká Ľ, Birkhofer K, Mammola S, Lowe EC, Fukushima CS, Herberstein ME, Kučera A, Buzatto BA, Djoudi EA, Domenech M, Enciso AV, Piñanez Espejo YMG, Febles S, García LF, Gonçalves-Souza T, Isaia M, Lafage D, Líznarová E, Macías-Hernández N, Magalhães I, Malumbres-Olarte J, Michálek O, Michalik P, Michalko R, Milano F, Munévar A, Nentwig W, Nicolosi G, Painting CJ, Pétillon J, Piano E, Privet K, Ramírez MJ, Ramos C, Řezáč M, Ridel A, Růžička V, Santos I, Sentenská L, Walker L, Wierucka K, Zurita GA, Cardoso P. The World Spider Trait database: a centralized global open repository for curated data on spider traits. Database (Oxford) 2021; 2021:baab064. [PMID: 34651181 PMCID: PMC8517500 DOI: 10.1093/database/baab064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Spiders are a highly diversified group of arthropods and play an important role in terrestrial ecosystems as ubiquitous predators, which makes them a suitable group to test a variety of eco-evolutionary hypotheses. For this purpose, knowledge of a diverse range of species traits is required. Until now, data on spider traits have been scattered across thousands of publications produced for over two centuries and written in diverse languages. To facilitate access to such data, we developed an online database for archiving and accessing spider traits at a global scale. The database has been designed to accommodate a great variety of traits (e.g. ecological, behavioural and morphological) measured at individual, species or higher taxonomic levels. Records are accompanied by extensive metadata (e.g. location and method). The database is curated by an expert team, regularly updated and open to any user. A future goal of the growing database is to include all published and unpublished data on spider traits provided by experts worldwide and to facilitate broad cross-taxon assays in functional ecology and comparative biology. Database URL:https://spidertraits.sci.muni.cz/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stano Pekár
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, Brno 611 37, Czechia
| | - Jonas O Wolff
- Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, Loitzer Str. 26, Greifswald 17489, Germany
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, 6 Wally’s Walk, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Ľudmila Černecká
- Slovak Academy of Sciences, Institute of Forest Ecology, Ľ. Štúra 2, Zvolen 960 01, Slovak Republic
| | - Klaus Birkhofer
- Department of Ecology, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, Konrad-Wachsmann-Allee 6, Cottbus 03046, Germany
| | - Stefano Mammola
- Laboratory for Integrative Biodiversity Research, Finnish Museum of Natural History LUOMUS, University of Helsinki, Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu 13, Helsinki 00014, Finland
- Molecular Ecology Group (MEG), Water Research Institute (IRSA), National Research Council (CNR), Corso Tonolli, 50, Pallanza 28922, Italy
| | - Elizabeth C Lowe
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, 6 Wally’s Walk, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Caroline S Fukushima
- Laboratory for Integrative Biodiversity Research, Finnish Museum of Natural History LUOMUS, University of Helsinki, Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu 13, Helsinki 00014, Finland
| | - Marie E Herberstein
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, 6 Wally’s Walk, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Adam Kučera
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, Brno 611 37, Czechia
| | - Bruno A Buzatto
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, 6 Wally’s Walk, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - El Aziz Djoudi
- Department of Ecology, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, Konrad-Wachsmann-Allee 6, Cottbus 03046, Germany
| | - Marc Domenech
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences & Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | | | | | - Sara Febles
- Grupo de Investigaciones Entomológicas de Tenerife (GIET), C/ San Eulogio 15, 1º, La Laguna, Canary Islands 38108, Spain
| | - Luis F García
- Centro Universitario Regional del Este, Universidad de la República, Ruta 8 Km 282, Treinta y Tres, Uruguay
| | - Thiago Gonçalves-Souza
- Department of Biology, Ecological Synthesis and Biodiversity Conservation Lab, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Dom Manuel de Medeiros, s/n, Dois Irmãos—CEP, Recife, PE 50710-270, Brazil
| | - Marco Isaia
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina, 13, Turin 10123, Italy
| | - Denis Lafage
- UMR CNRS 6553 ECOBIO, Université de Rennes 1, 263 Avenue du General Leclerc, Rennes 35042, France
| | - Eva Líznarová
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, Brno 611 37, Czechia
| | - Nuria Macías-Hernández
- Laboratory for Integrative Biodiversity Research, Finnish Museum of Natural History LUOMUS, University of Helsinki, Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu 13, Helsinki 00014, Finland
- Departamento de Biología Animal, Edafología y Geología, Universidad de La Laguna, La Laguna, Tenerife 38206, Spain
| | - Ivan Magalhães
- Division of Arachnology, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales ‘Bernardino Rivadavia’—CONICET, Av. Ángel Gallardo 470, Buenos Aires C1405DJR, Argentina
| | - Jagoba Malumbres-Olarte
- Laboratory for Integrative Biodiversity Research, Finnish Museum of Natural History LUOMUS, University of Helsinki, Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu 13, Helsinki 00014, Finland
- CE3C—Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Azorean Biodiversity Group and Universidade dos Açores, Angra do Heroísmo, Azores, Portugal
| | - Ondřej Michálek
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, Brno 611 37, Czechia
| | - Peter Michalik
- Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, Loitzer Str. 26, Greifswald 17489, Germany
| | - Radek Michalko
- Department of Forest Ecology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 3, Brno 613 00, Czech Republic
| | - Filippo Milano
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina, 13, Turin 10123, Italy
| | - Ana Munévar
- Instituto de Biología Subtropical (UNAM-CONICET), Puerto Iguazú, Argentina
| | - Wolfgang Nentwig
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 6, Bern 3012, Switzerland
| | - Giuseppe Nicolosi
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina, 13, Turin 10123, Italy
| | - Christina J Painting
- Te Aka Mātuatua School of Science, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
| | - Julien Pétillon
- UMR CNRS 6553 ECOBIO, Université de Rennes 1, 263 Avenue du General Leclerc, Rennes 35042, France
| | - Elena Piano
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina, 13, Turin 10123, Italy
| | - Kaïna Privet
- UMR CNRS 6553 ECOBIO, Université de Rennes 1, 263 Avenue du General Leclerc, Rennes 35042, France
| | - Martín J Ramírez
- Division of Arachnology, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales ‘Bernardino Rivadavia’—CONICET, Av. Ángel Gallardo 470, Buenos Aires C1405DJR, Argentina
| | - Cândida Ramos
- Laboratory for Integrative Biodiversity Research, Finnish Museum of Natural History LUOMUS, University of Helsinki, Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu 13, Helsinki 00014, Finland
| | - Milan Řezáč
- Crop Research Institute, Drnovská 507, Prague 6 CZ-16106, Czechia
| | - Aurélien Ridel
- UMR CNRS 6553 ECOBIO, Université de Rennes 1, 263 Avenue du General Leclerc, Rennes 35042, France
| | - Vlastimil Růžička
- Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Branišovská 31, České Budějovice 370 05, Czechia
| | - Irene Santos
- Grupo de Investigaciones Entomológicas de Tenerife (GIET), C/ San Eulogio 15, 1º, La Laguna, Canary Islands 38108, Spain
- Island Ecology and Evolution Research Group, Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología (IPNA-CSIC), La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands 38206, Spain
| | - Lenka Sentenská
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, Brno 611 37, Czechia
| | - Leilani Walker
- Natural Sciences, Auckland War Memorial Museum, Parnell, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Kaja Wierucka
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, 6 Wally’s Walk, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
- Department of Anthropology, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zürich 8057, Switzerland
| | | | - Pedro Cardoso
- Laboratory for Integrative Biodiversity Research, Finnish Museum of Natural History LUOMUS, University of Helsinki, Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu 13, Helsinki 00014, Finland
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20
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Inter-population variation and phenotypic plasticity in kairomone use by a poly-specialist spider-eating predator. J ETHOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10164-021-00725-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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21
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Wignall AE, Soley FG. Assassin bugs can reduce the aggression of their spider prey before an attack. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blab128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Predators that hunt dangerous prey require specialized predatory tactics to avoid counter-attack. Usually, these predatory tactics reduce the probability of detection. The assassin bugs Stenolemus bituberus and S. giraffa rely on stealth or mimicry to prey on dangerous web-building spiders. Paradoxically, however, these assassin bugs tap the spiders with their antennae prior to attacking, leaving the bugs vulnerable to detection and counter-attack. Here, we tested the function of prey tapping. We used a controlled, repeated-measures experiment to assess the responses of spiders (Pholcus phalangioides) to simulated prey and compared their responses after being tapped on the leg (mimicking tapping by Stenolemus) or sham-tapped. We show that tapping can reduce the likelihood that spiders will behave aggressively, in turn lowering the risks of injury for assassin bug predators. Tapping may be an adaptation to reduce intraspecific aggression in prey that is being exploited by their predators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne E Wignall
- School of Natural and Computational Sciences, Massey University, Auckland 0632, New Zealand
| | - Fernando G Soley
- Organization for Tropical Studies, Apartado 676-2050, San José, Costa Rica
- Department of Terrestrial Zoology, Western Australian Museum, Welshpool, WA 6106, Australia
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22
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Gut-content analysis in four species, combined with comparative analysis of trophic traits, suggests an araneophagous habit for the entire family Palpimanidae (Araneae). ORG DIVERS EVOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s13127-021-00525-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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23
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Michalko R, Birkhofer K, Pekár S. Interaction between hunting strategy, habitat type and stratum drive intraguild predation and cannibalism. OIKOS 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.08355] [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]
Affiliation(s)
- Radek Michalko
- Dept of Forest Ecology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel Univ. in Brno Brno Czech Republic
| | - Klaus Birkhofer
- Dept of Ecology, Brandenburg Univ. of Technology Cottbus Germany
| | - Stano Pekár
- Dept of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, Masaryk Univ. Brno Czech Republic
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24
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Lüddecke T, Herzig V, von Reumont BM, Vilcinskas A. The biology and evolution of spider venoms. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2021; 97:163-178. [PMID: 34453398 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Spiders are diverse, predatory arthropods that have inhabited Earth for around 400 million years. They are well known for their complex venom systems that are used to overpower their prey. Spider venoms contain many proteins and peptides with highly specific and potent activities suitable for biomedical or agrochemical applications, but the key role of venoms as an evolutionary innovation is often overlooked, even though this has enabled spiders to emerge as one of the most successful animal lineages. In this review, we discuss these neglected biological aspects of spider venoms. We focus on the morphology of spider venom systems, their major components, biochemical and chemical plasticity, as well as ecological and evolutionary trends. We argue that the effectiveness of spider venoms is due to their unprecedented complexity, with diverse components working synergistically to increase the overall potency. The analysis of spider venoms is difficult to standardize because they are dynamic systems, fine-tuned and modified by factors such as sex, life-history stage and biological role. Finally, we summarize the mechanisms that drive spider venom evolution and highlight the need for genome-based studies to reconstruct the evolutionary history and physiological networks of spider venom compounds with more certainty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Lüddecke
- Department for Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Ohlebergsweg 12, Gießen, 35392, Germany.,LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (TBG), Senckenberganlage 25, Frankfurt am Main, 60325, Germany
| | - Volker Herzig
- GeneCology Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, 4556, Australia.,School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, 4556, Australia
| | - Björn M von Reumont
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (TBG), Senckenberganlage 25, Frankfurt am Main, 60325, Germany.,Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, Gießen, 35392, Germany
| | - Andreas Vilcinskas
- Department for Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Ohlebergsweg 12, Gießen, 35392, Germany.,LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (TBG), Senckenberganlage 25, Frankfurt am Main, 60325, Germany.,Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, Gießen, 35392, Germany
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25
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Relationship between model noxiousness and mimetic accuracy in myrmecomorphic spiders. Evol Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10682-021-10126-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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26
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Sierra Ramírez D, Guevara G, Franco Pérez LM, van der Meijden A, González‐Gómez JC, Carlos Valenzuela‐Rojas J, Prada Quiroga CF. Deciphering the diet of a wandering spider ( Phoneutria boliviensis; Araneae: Ctenidae) by DNA metabarcoding of gut contents. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:5950-5965. [PMID: 34141195 PMCID: PMC8207164 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Arachnids are the most abundant land predators. Despite the importance of their functional roles as predators and the necessity to understand their diet for conservation, the trophic ecology of many arachnid species has not been sufficiently studied. In the case of the wandering spider, Phoneutria boliviensis F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1897, only field and laboratory observational studies on their diet exist. By using a DNA metabarcoding approach, we compared the prey found in the gut content of males and females from three distant Colombian populations of P. boliviensis. By DNA metabarcoding of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), we detected and identified 234 prey items (individual captured by the spider) belonging to 96 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), as prey for this wandering predator. Our results broaden the known diet of P. boliviensis with at least 75 prey taxa not previously registered in fieldwork or laboratory experimental trials. These results suggest that P. boliviensis feeds predominantly on invertebrates (Diptera, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, and Orthoptera) and opportunistically on small squamates. Intersex and interpopulation differences were also observed. Assuming that prey preference does not vary between populations, these differences are likely associated with a higher local prey availability. Finally, we suggest that DNA metabarcoding can be used for evaluating subtle differences in the diet of distinct populations of P. boliviensis, particularly when predation records in the field cannot be established or quantified using direct observation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Sierra Ramírez
- Grupo de Investigación Biología y Ecología de Artrópodos (BEA)Corporación HuilturNeiva, Facultad de CienciasUniversidad del TolimaIbaguéColombia
| | - Giovany Guevara
- Grupo de Investigación en Zoología (GIZ)Facultad de CienciasUniversidad del TolimaIbaguéColombia
| | | | - Arie van der Meijden
- Grupo de Investigación Biología y Ecología de Artrópodos (BEA)Corporación HuilturNeiva, Facultad de CienciasUniversidad del TolimaIbaguéColombia
- CIBIO Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic ResourcesInBIOUniversidade do PortoVairãoVila do CondePortugal
| | - Julio César González‐Gómez
- Grupo de Investigación Biología y Ecología de Artrópodos (BEA)Corporación HuilturNeiva, Facultad de CienciasUniversidad del TolimaIbaguéColombia
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y MatemáticasUniversidad de IbaguéIbaguéColombia
| | - Juan Carlos Valenzuela‐Rojas
- Grupo de Investigación Biología y Ecología de Artrópodos (BEA)Corporación HuilturNeiva, Facultad de CienciasUniversidad del TolimaIbaguéColombia
- Programa de Licenciatura en Ciencias Naturales y Educación AmbientalFacultad de EducaciónUniversidad SurcolombianaNeivaColombia
| | - Carlos Fernando Prada Quiroga
- Grupo de Investigación Biología y Ecología de Artrópodos (BEA)Corporación HuilturNeiva, Facultad de CienciasUniversidad del TolimaIbaguéColombia
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Mora-Rubio C, Parejo-Pulido D. Notas sobre la dieta de la viuda negra mediterránea Latrodectus tredecimguttatus (Rossi, 1790) (Araneae: Theridiidae) en el suroeste de la península ibérica. GRAELLSIA 2021. [DOI: 10.3989/graellsia.2021.v77.297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Los depredadores juegan un importante papel en la dinámica ecosistémica a raíz de los efectos que producen en la abundancia y diversidad de presas y, en última instancia, en las funciones del ecosistema. Para comprender la ecología del comportamiento depredador de los distintos grupos animales, así como su impacto en las comunidades de presas, es imprescindible conocer la composición de especies presa. El propósito de este estudio ha sido determinar la composición de la dieta de un artrópodo depredador, la viuda negra mediterránea Latrodectus tredecimguttatus (Rossi, 1790) en la península ibérica. Encontramos que L. tredecimguttatus puede considerarse un depredador generalista estenófago, que se alimenta de nueve órdenes distintos de artrópodos (Araneae, Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Julida, Mantodea, Orthoptera, Scorpiones y Solifugae). Los himenópteros (en su mayoría hormigas) fueron las presas más comunes (58.9% del total) y los coleópteros (en su mayoría Tenebrionidae) fueron los segundos más comunes (33.5% del total). Además, hemos encontrado evidencias de depredación intra-gremio en esta especie. Con este trabajo, se contribuye al conocimiento de la ecología de L. tredecimguttatus en la península ibérica, destacando su papel como depredador de diversos artrópodos, donde se incluyen arañas y otros depredadores.
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Toft S, Macías-Hernández N. Prey acceptance and metabolic specialisations in some Canarian Dysdera spiders. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 131:104227. [PMID: 33736981 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2021.104227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Spiders of the genus Dysdera are peculiar for their preying on terrestrial isopods though the preference for this prey type varies between species. We tested prey acceptance of two isopod and two non-isopod prey in 8 species endemic to the Canary Islands, and analyzed growth and metabolic parameters (growth efficiency; dry mass, lipid and N extraction efficiency; lipid:protein consumption ratio) of 6 of these species when fed either house flies (Musca domestica) or isopods (Porcellio scaber) in the laboratory. The species represented four morphological types (unmodified chelicerae, slightly elongated chelicerae, concave chelicerae, flattened fang), supposedly reflecting different specializations to isopod prey. The results showed reduced relative acceptance of non-isopod and increased acceptance of isopod prey in species groups with specialised morphologies compared to the unmodified species group. All species had similar or lower growth and growth efficiency when feeding on isopods than on flies. Extraction efficiency of dry mass and lipid were higher for flies than for isopods, while extraction efficiency of protein was higher for isopods than for flies. All species also utilized isopod protein equally well, but protein utilization of flies was lower in the presumed specialist compared to generalist species, indicating a possible metabolic trade-off from isopod specialisation. Thus, morphological adaptations were associated with increased behavioural preferences for isopods and reduced metabolic ability to handle 'generalist' prey.
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Affiliation(s)
- Søren Toft
- Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 116, DK-8000 Århus C, Denmark.
| | - Nuria Macías-Hernández
- Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 116, DK-8000 Århus C, Denmark; Departamento de Biología Animal, Edafología y Geología, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain; Laboratory for Integrative Biodiversity Research (LIBRe), Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Finland
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García LF, Rave C, Arcila K, García C, Robledo-Ospina LE, Willemart RH. Do predators react differently to dangerous and larger prey? The case of a mygalomorph generalist spider preying upon insects. ZOOLOGY 2021; 144:125863. [PMID: 33450622 DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2020.125863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Prey morphology and size are known to influence a predator's decision to attack and consume particular prey; however, studies that evaluate both traits simultaneously are uncommon. Here, we first described the trophic niche in the mygalomorph spider Paratropis sp. These spiders have a narrow trophic niche and feed mainly on sympatric species such as larvae of lepidopterans and of beetles such as carabids, passalids and scarabeids. Second, we evaluated the effect of prey taxon and size on acceptance and immobilization duration, and built an ethogram of the predator's behaviors. For each prey taxa, we offered large (approximately same size than the spider) and small larvae (approximately half of the size of the spider) of the aforementioned prey. We classified carabid beetle larvae as the most dangerous prey because of their sharp mandibles and predatory habits, followed by scarabeid larvae; lepidopteran and passalids larvae were considered to be non-dangerous prey. We did not find a significant effect of prey taxon or size on spiders' acceptance. Prey size did not affect the time invested on each behavioral category, but prey taxon did. Moreover, although spiders used a similar strategy for capturing prey, they spent more time biting carabid larvae than other prey. Our results suggest that, at least in our study area, prey that are dangerous or the predator's size do not seem to affect Paratropis sp. acceptance per se, but can cause the predator to change the time budget allocated to each behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Fernando García
- Grupo multidisciplinario en Ecología para la Agricultura, Centro Universitario Regional del Este (CURE), Universidad de la República, Treinta y Tres, 33000, Uruguay; Grupo de investigación Biología y Ecología de Artrópodos (BEA), Ibagué, Tolima, Colombia.
| | - Cristhian Rave
- Ecoparque los Yarumos, Red de ecoparque de Manizales, Corporación Megadiversa. Manizales, Caldas, Colombia; Grupo de Aracnología Universidad de Caldas (GAUC), Manizales, Colombia
| | - Karla Arcila
- Ecoparque los Yarumos, Red de ecoparque de Manizales, Corporación Megadiversa. Manizales, Caldas, Colombia; Universidad Nacional, Sede Manizales, Manizales, Colombia
| | | | - Luis E Robledo-Ospina
- Grupo de Aracnología Universidad de Caldas (GAUC), Manizales, Colombia; Red de Ecoetología, Instituto de Ecología A.C. (INECOL), Xalapa, Mexico
| | - Rodrigo Hirata Willemart
- Laboratório de Ecologia Sensorial e Comportamento de Artrópodes, Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Evolução, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Campus Diadema, Rua Professor Artur Riedel 275, Jardim Eldorado, CEP 09972-270, Diadema, SP, Brazil
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Abstract
Spiders (Araneae) make up a remarkably diverse lineage of predators that have successfully colonized most terrestrial ecosystems. All spiders produce silk, and many species use it to build capture webs with an extraordinary diversity of forms. Spider diversity is distributed in a highly uneven fashion across lineages. This strong imbalance in species richness has led to several causal hypotheses, such as codiversification with insects, key innovations in silk structure and web architecture, and loss of foraging webs. Recent advances in spider phylogenetics have allowed testing of some of these hypotheses, but results are often contradictory, highlighting the need to consider additional drivers of spider diversification. The spatial and historical patterns of diversity and diversification remain contentious. Comparative analyses of spider diversification will advance only if we continue to make progress with studies of species diversity, distribution, and phenotypic traits, together with finer-scale phylogenies and genomic data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitar Dimitrov
- Department of Natural History, University Museum of Bergen, University of Bergen, 5020 Bergen, Norway;
| | - Gustavo Hormiga
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA;
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Řezáč M, Pekár S, Arnedo M, Macías-Hernández N, Řezáčová V. Evolutionary insights into the eco-phenotypic diversification of Dysdera spiders in the Canary Islands. ORG DIVERS EVOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s13127-020-00473-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Wimp GM, Lewis D, Murphy SM. Prey identity but not prey quality affects spider performance. CURRENT RESEARCH IN INSECT SCIENCE 2021; 1:100013. [PMID: 36003602 PMCID: PMC9387502 DOI: 10.1016/j.cris.2021.100013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Prey identity affected the survival and body mass of a generalist spider predator. Trophic level of the prey did not affect spider survival and body mass. Prey identity and cordgrass quality had an interactive effect on spider body mass. Greater spider body mass led to greater egg production. In a literature review, female spider fitness increased with greater body size.
Increasing host plant quality affects higher trophic level predators, but whether such changes are simply a result of prey density or are also affected by changes in prey quality remain uncertain. Moreover, whether changes in prey quality affect measures of predator performance is understudied. Using a combination of field and greenhouse mesocosm experiments, we demonstrate that the survival and body size of a hunting spider (Pardosa littoralis Araneae: Lycosidae) is affected more by prey species identity than the trophic level of the prey. Furthermore, increasing host plant quality does not necessarily propagate through the food web by altering prey quality. While changes in plant quality affected spider body mass, they did so in opposite ways for spiders feeding on Prokelisia (Hemiptera: Delphacodes) herbivores relative to Tytthus (Hemiptera: Miridae) egg predators, and had no impact on spider body mass for two additional species of intraguild prey. These changes in body mass were important because greater body mass increased spider egg production. To examine the generality of this pattern, we reviewed the literature and found a consistent positive relationship between female body size and egg production for Pardosa species, indicating that body size is a reliable proxy for fitness. While many studies emphasize the importance of nitrogen to arthropod diets, this focus may be driven largely by our understanding of herbivore diets rather than predator diets. Thus, the positive impact of host plant quality on higher trophic level predators appears to be driven more by altering prey composition, density, and availability rather than simply providing predators with more nutritious prey.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gina M. Wimp
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
- Corresponding author.
| | - Danny Lewis
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Shannon M. Murphy
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA
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Ortiz D, Pekár S, Bilat J, Alvarez N. Poor performance of DNA barcoding and the impact of RAD loci filtering on the species delimitation of an Iberian ant-eating spider. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2020; 154:106997. [PMID: 33164854 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2020.106997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Genomic data provide unprecedented power for species delimitation. However, current implementations are still time and resource consuming. In addition, bioinformatic processing is contentious and its impact on downstream analyses is insufficiently understood. Here we employ ddRAD sequencing and a thorough sampling for species delimitation in Zodarion styliferum, a widespread Iberian ant-eating spider. We explore the influence of the loci filtering strategy on the downstream phylogenetic analyses, genomic clustering and coalescent species delimitation. We also assess the accuracy of one mitochondrial (COI) and one nuclear (ITS) barcode for fast and inexpensive species delineation in the group. Our genomic data strongly support two morphologically cryptic but ecologically divergent lineages, mainly restricted to the central-eastern and western parts of the Iberian Peninsula, respectively. Larger matrices with more missing data showed increased genomic diversity, supporting that bioinformatic strategies to maximize matrix completion disproportionately exclude loci with the highest mutation rates. Moderate loci filtering gave the best results across analyses: although larger matrices returned concatenated phylogenies with higher support, middle-sized matrices performed better in genetic structure analyses. COI displayed high diversity and a conspicuous barcode gap, revealing 13 mitochondrial lineages. Mitonuclear discordance is consistent with ancestral isolation in multiple groups, probably in glacial refugia, followed by range expansion and secondary contact that produced genomic homogenization. Several apparently (unidirectionally) introgressed specimens further challenge the accuracy of species identification through mitochondrial barcodes in the group. Conversely, ITS failed to separate both lineages of Z. styliferum. This study shows an extreme case of mitonuclear discordance that highlights the limitations of single molecular barcodes for species delimitation, even in presence of distinct barcode gaps, and brings new light on the effects of parameterization on shallow-divergence studies using RAD data.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Ortiz
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Stano Pekár
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Julia Bilat
- Geneva Natural History Museum, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Nadir Alvarez
- Geneva Natural History Museum, Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Genetics & Evolution, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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Baydizada N, Tóthová A, Pekár S. Tracing the evolution of trophic specialisation and mode of attack behaviour in the ground spider family Gnaphosidae. ORG DIVERS EVOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s13127-020-00453-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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35
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Mezőfi L, Markó G, Nagy C, Korányi D, Markó V. Beyond polyphagy and opportunism: natural prey of hunting spiders in the canopy of apple trees. PeerJ 2020; 8:e9334. [PMID: 32596048 PMCID: PMC7307562 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Spiders (Araneae) form abundant and diverse assemblages in agroecosystems such as fruit orchards, and thus might have an important role as natural enemies of orchard pests. Although spiders are polyphagous and opportunistic predators in general, limited information exists on their natural prey at both species and community levels. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the natural prey (realized trophic niche) of arboreal hunting spiders, their role in trophic webs and their biological control potential with direct observation of predation events in apple orchards. Hunting spiders with prey in their chelicerae were collected in the canopy of apple trees in organic apple orchards in Hungary during the growing seasons between 2013 and 2019 and both spiders and their prey were identified and measured. Among others, the composition of the actual (captured by spiders) and the potential (available in the canopy) prey was compared, trophic niche and food web metrics were calculated, and some morphological, dimensional data of the spider-prey pairs were analyzed. Species-specific differences in prey composition or pest control ability were also discussed. By analyzing a total of 878 prey items captured by spiders, we concluded that arboreal hunting spiders forage selectively and consume a large number of apple pests; however, spiders’ beneficial effects are greatly reduced by their high levels of intraguild predation and by a propensity to switch from pests to alternative prey. In this study, arboreal hunting spiders showed negative selectivity for pests, no selectivity for natural enemies and positive selectivity for neutral species. In the trophic web, the dominant hunting spider taxa/groups (Carrhotus xanthogramma, Philodromus cespitum, Clubiona spp., Ebrechtella tricuspidata, Xysticus spp. and ‘Other salticids’) exhibit different levels of predation on different prey groups and the trophic web’s structure changes depending on the time of year. Hunting spiders show a high functional redundancy in their predation, but contrary to their polyphagous nature, the examined spider taxa showed differences in their natural diet, exhibited a certain degree of prey specialization and selected prey by size and taxonomic identity. Guilds (such as stalkers, ambushers and foliage runners) did not consistently predict either prey composition or predation selectivity of arboreal hunting spider species. From the economic standpoint, Ph. cespitum and Clubiona spp. were found to be the most effective natural enemies of apple pests, especially of aphids. Finally, the trophic niche width of C. xanthogramma and Ph. cespitum increased during ontogeny, resulting in a shift in their predation. These results demonstrate how specific generalist predators can differ from each other in aspects of their predation ecology even within a relatively narrow taxonomic group.
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Affiliation(s)
- László Mezőfi
- Department of Entomology, Szent István University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gábor Markó
- Department of Plant Pathology, Szent István University, Budapest, Hungary.,Behavioural Ecology Group, Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Csaba Nagy
- Research Institute for Fruitgrowing and Ornamentals, National Agricultural Research and Innovation Centre, Újfehértó, Hungary
| | - Dávid Korányi
- Institute of Ecology and Botany, "Lendület" Landscape and Conservation Ecology, Centre for Ecological Research, Vácrátót, Hungary.,GINOP Sustainable Ecosystems Group, Centre for Ecological Research, Tihany, Hungary
| | - Viktor Markó
- Department of Entomology, Szent István University, Budapest, Hungary
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36
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Su Q, Qi L, Zhang W, Yun Y, Zhao Y, Peng Y. Biodiversity Survey of Flower-Visiting Spiders Based on Literature Review and Field Study. ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY 2020; 49:673-682. [PMID: 32281625 DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvaa022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Many arthropods exhibit flower-visiting behavior, including a variety of spider species. However, as spiders are assumed to be strictly predatory, flower-visiting spiders are an often neglected group. We conducted a systematic biodiversity study of flower-visiting spiders based on published papers and field surveys. Most previous studies have focused on the herbivorous behavior of flower-visiting spiders (nectivory or pollinivory) and their effects on host flowers (tritrophic interactions with flower-visiting insects). In our field survey, we utilized standard transect walks (active sampling) and colored pan traps (passive sampling) to investigate species occurrence, diurnal and seasonal variation, and flower color preference of flower-visiting spiders. From the transect walks, crab spider species were found to be the dominant flower-visiting spiders and, based on all spider species, juvenile visitors were significantly more common than adults. Furthermore, in terms of spider number and species richness, tulips were the preferred flower to visit. For the pan traps, wolf spiders were found to be the dominant spider species. No significant differences were observed in the number of spiders caught in different colored pans, suggesting that color may not be an important flower trait in regard to spider preference. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to propose the term 'flower-visiting spiders' and conduct a systematic investigation of their diversity. However, this is preliminary research and further studies are required, especially as biodiversity is often closely linked to survey sites and ecotopes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qichen Su
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering of China, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, China
| | - Lin Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering of China, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering of China, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yueli Yun
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering of China, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yao Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering of China, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yu Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering of China, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, China
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Estimation of trophic niches in myrmecophagous spider predators. Sci Rep 2020; 10:8683. [PMID: 32457437 PMCID: PMC7250852 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-65623-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Among spiders, taxonomically the most diversified group of terrestrial predators, only a few species are stenophagous and feed on ants. The levels of stenophagy and ant-specialisation vary among such species. To investigate whether stenophagy is only a result of a local specialisation both fundamental and realised trophic niches need to be estimated. Here we investigated trophic niches in three closely-related spider species from the family Gnaphosidae (Callilepis nocturna, C. schuszteri, Nomisia exornata) with different levels of myrmecophagy. Acceptance experiments were used to estimate fundamental trophic niches and molecular methods to estimate realised trophic niches. For the latter two PCR primer sets were used as these can affect the niche breadth estimates. The general invertebrate ZBJ primers were not appropriate for detecting ant DNA as they revealed very few prey types, therefore ant-specific primers were used. The cut-off threshold for erroneous MOTUs was identified as 0.005% of the total number of valid sequences, at individual predator level it was 0.05%. The fundamental trophic niche of Callilepis species included mainly ants, while that of N. exornata included many different prey types. The realised trophic niche in Callilepis species was similar to its fundamental niche but in N. exornata the fundamental niche was wider than realised niche. The results show that Callilepis species are ant-eating (specialised) stenophagous predators, catching mainly Formicinae ants, while N. exornata is an ant-eating euryphagous predator catching mainly Myrmicinae ants.
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Gajski D, Petráková L, Pekár S. Ant‐eating spider maintains specialist diet throughout its ontogeny. J Zool (1987) 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- D. Gajski
- Department of Botany and Zoology Faculty of Science Masaryk University Brno Czech Republic
| | - L. Petráková
- Department of Botany and Zoology Faculty of Science Masaryk University Brno Czech Republic
| | - S. Pekár
- Department of Botany and Zoology Faculty of Science Masaryk University Brno Czech Republic
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Pétillon J, Privet K, Roderick GK, Gillespie RG, Price DK. Non-native spiders change assemblages of Hawaiian forest fragment kipuka over space and time. NEOBIOTA 2020. [DOI: 10.3897/neobiota.55.48498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
We assessed how assemblages of spiders were structured in small Hawaiian tropical forest fragments (Hawaiian, kipuka) within a matrix of previous lava flows, over both space (sampling kipuka of different sizes) and time (comparison with a similar study from 1998). Standardized hand-collection by night was carried out in May 2016. In total, 702 spiders were collected, representing 6 families and 25 (morpho-)species. We found that the number of individuals, but not species richness, was highly correlated with the area of sampled forest fragments, suggesting that kipuka act as separate habitat islands for these predatory arthropods. Species richness was significantly lower in the lava matrix outside the kipuka compared to the kipuka habitats, although there was no statistical difference in species composition between the two habitats, largely because of similarity of non-native species in both habitats. Over the last 20 years, the abundance of non-native spider species substantially increased in both kipuka and lava habitats, in marked contrast to the vegetation that has remained more intact. With endemicity of terrestrial arthropods reaching over 95% in native forests, non-native predatory species present a critical challenge to the endemic fauna.
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The dynamics of prey selection by the trap-building predator Gasteracantha hasselti. JOURNAL OF TROPICAL ECOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1017/s0266467420000024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
AbstractPrey selection by generalist predators can be highly dynamic depending on the prey community structure. However, the dynamics of prey selection at the stage of prey entrapping are rarely investigated in trap-building predators, probably because their traps have been previously considered to intercept mobile prey proportionally to its availability in environment. Here we investigated the dynamics of prey selection by the orb-weaving spider Gasteracantha hasselti (Araneidae) depending on the composition of the available prey in tropical lowland forests located in north-eastern Thailand. We found that Gasteracantha captured a wide variety of prey but selected, on average, mostly Coleoptera and Diptera. The selectivity of Gasteracantha’s webs for Coleoptera was constant across the changes in overall prey availability and prey composition. The web selectivity for Hemiptera decreased rapidly with increasing relative densities of Hemiptera in the environment. The selectivity for Diptera and Hymenoptera increased and decreased, respectively, with their absolute densities in the environment. The relative selectivity of Gasteracantha’s traps for a particular prey type was driven by the presence and density of the highly selected prey rather than overall prey density. The results show that the selectivity of Gasteracantha’s traps for prey had both fixed and dynamic components and the dynamic component was determined by the relative as well as absolute densities of the particular prey types in the environment.
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Nelson XJ, Aguilar-Arguello S, Jackson RR. Widespread army ant aversion among East African jumping spiders (Salticidae). J ETHOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10164-020-00639-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
AbstractJumping spiders (Salticidae) typically prey on a variety of arthropods of similar size to themselves, but rarely on ants. Using 28 salticid species from East Africa, we first investigated vision-based aversion to ants by recording latency to enter a transparent sealed chamber flanked by chambers containing living army ants (Dorylus sp.) or tsetse flies (Glossina pallidipes) of comparable size. For all species, entry latency was significantly longer when the stimuli were ants. In another experiment, we used dead ants and tsetse flies mounted in a life-like posture as stimuli; except for Goleba puella, a species with unusual retinal ultrastructure, we again found significantly longer entry latency when the stimuli were ants. Our findings imply that these salticids express an aversion specifically to ants even when restricted to using vision alone and, except for G. puella, even when relying on solely the static appearance of the insects. Having used salticids from laboratory cultures with no prior experience with ants, our findings are consistent with vision-based aversion to army ants being innate.
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Pekár S, Petráková Dušátková L, Haddad CR. No ontogenetic shift in the realised trophic niche but in Batesian mimicry in an ant-eating spider. Sci Rep 2020; 10:1250. [PMID: 31988373 PMCID: PMC6985134 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-58281-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
In predators an ontogenetic trophic shift includes change from small to large prey of several different taxa. In myrmecophagous predators that are also mimics of ants, the ontogenetic trophic shift should be accompanied by a parallel mimetic change. Our aim was to test whether ant-eating jumping spider, Mexcala elegans, is myrmecomorphic throughout their ontogenetic development, and whether there is an ontogenetic shift in realised trophic niche and their mimetic models. We performed field observations on the association of Mexcala with ant species and investigated the natural prey of the ontogenetic classes by means of molecular methods. Then we measured the mimetic similarity of ontogenetic morphs to putative mimetic models. We found Mexcala is an inaccurate mimic of ants both in the juvenile and adult stages. During ontogenesis it shifts mimetic models. The mimetic similarity was rather superficial, so an average bird predator should distinguish spiders from ants based on colouration. The realised trophic niche was narrow, composed mainly of ants of different species. There was no significant difference in the prey composition between ontogenetic stages. Females were more stenophagous than juveniles. We conclude that Mexcala is an ant-eating specialist that reduces its prey spectrum and shifts ant models during ontogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Pekár
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - L Petráková Dušátková
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - C R Haddad
- Department of Zoology & Entomology, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa
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Lyons K, Dugon MM, Healy K. Diet Breadth Mediates the Prey Specificity of Venom Potency in Snakes. Toxins (Basel) 2020; 12:toxins12020074. [PMID: 31979380 PMCID: PMC7076792 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12020074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Venoms are best known for their ability to incapacitate prey. In predatory groups, venom potency is predicted to reflect ecological and evolutionary drivers relating to diet. While venoms have been found to have preyspecific potencies, the role of diet breadth on venom potencies has yet to be tested at large macroecological scales. Here, using a comparative analysis of 100 snake species, we show that the evolution of prey-specific venom potencies is contingent on the breadth of a species' diet. We find that while snake venom is more potent when tested on species closely related to natural prey items, we only find this prey-specific pattern in species with taxonomically narrow diets. While we find that the taxonomic diversity of a snakes' diet mediates the prey specificity of its venom, the species richness of its diet was not found to affect these prey-specific potency patterns. This indicates that the physiological diversity of a species' diet is an important driver of the evolution of generalist venom potencies. These findings suggest that the venoms of species with taxonomically diverse diets may be better suited to incapacitating novel prey species and hence play an important role for species within changing environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith Lyons
- Correspondence: (K.L.); (K.H.); Tel.: +353-91-493744 (K.H.)
| | | | - Kevin Healy
- Correspondence: (K.L.); (K.H.); Tel.: +353-91-493744 (K.H.)
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Diouf M, Sillam-Dussès D, Alphonse V, Frechault S, Miambi E, Mora P. Mercury species in the nests and bodies of soil-feeding termites, Silvestritermes spp. (Termitidae, Syntermitinae), in French Guiana. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2019; 254:113064. [PMID: 31479810 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Revised: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Mercury pollution is currently a major public health concern, given the adverse effects of mercury on wildlife and humans. Soil plays an essential role in speciation of mercury and its global cycling, while being a habitat for a wide range of terrestrial fauna. Soil fauna, primarily soil-feeding taxa that are in intimate contact with soil pollutants are key contributors in the cycling of soil mercury and might provide relevant indications about soil pollution. We studied the enrichment of various mercury species in the nests and bodies of soil-feeding termites Silvestritermes spp. in French Guiana. Soil-feeding termites are the only social insects using soil as both shelter and food and are major decomposers of organic matter in neotropical forests. Nests of S. minutus were depleted in total and mobile mercury compared to nearby soil. In contrast, they were enriched 17 times in methylmercury. The highest concentrations of methylmercury were found in body of both studied termite species, with mean bioconcentration factors of 58 for S. minutus and 179 for S. holmgreni relative to the soil. The assessment of the body distribution of methylmercury in S. minutus showed concentrations of 221 ng g-1 for the guts and even higher for the gut-free carcasses (683 ng g-1), suggesting that methylmercury is not confined to the gut where it was likely produced, but rather stored in various tissues. This enrichment in the most toxic form of Hg in termites may be of concern on termite predators and the higher levels in the food chain that may be endangered through prey-to-predator transfers and bioaccumulation. Soil-feeding termites appear to be promising candidates as bio-indicators of mercury pollution in soils of neotropical rainforest ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michel Diouf
- Faculté des Sciences et Technologie, Université Paris Est Créteil, Département ECOEVO, Institut d'Ecologie et des Sciences de l'Environnement de Paris (iEES, Paris), 61 avenue du Général de Gaulle, 94010 Créteil Cedex, France.
| | - David Sillam-Dussès
- Université Paris 13 - Sorbonne Paris Cité, Laboratoire d'Ethologie Expérimentale et Comparée, 99 avenue Jean-Baptiste Clément, 93430 Villetaneuse, France
| | - Vanessa Alphonse
- Faculté des Sciences et Technologie, Université Paris Est Créteil, Laboratoire Eau, Environnement, Systèmes Urbains (LEESU), UMR-MA 102, 61 avenue du Général de Gaulle, 94010 Créteil Cedex, France
| | - Sophie Frechault
- Faculté des Sciences et Technologie, Université Paris Est Créteil, Département ECOEVO, Institut d'Ecologie et des Sciences de l'Environnement de Paris (iEES, Paris), 61 avenue du Général de Gaulle, 94010 Créteil Cedex, France
| | - Edouard Miambi
- Faculté des Sciences et Technologie, Université Paris Est Créteil, Département ECOEVO, Institut d'Ecologie et des Sciences de l'Environnement de Paris (iEES, Paris), 61 avenue du Général de Gaulle, 94010 Créteil Cedex, France
| | - Philippe Mora
- Faculté des Sciences et Technologie, Université Paris Est Créteil, Département ECOEVO, Institut d'Ecologie et des Sciences de l'Environnement de Paris (iEES, Paris), 61 avenue du Général de Gaulle, 94010 Créteil Cedex, France
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Valenzuela-Rojas JC, González-Gómez JC, van der Meijden A, Cortés JN, Guevara G, Franco LM, Pekár S, García LF. Prey and Venom Efficacy of Male and Female Wandering Spider, Phoneutria boliviensis (Araneae: Ctenidae). Toxins (Basel) 2019; 11:toxins11110622. [PMID: 31717836 PMCID: PMC6891708 DOI: 10.3390/toxins11110622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Revised: 10/20/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Spiders rely on venom to catch prey and few species are even capable of capturing vertebrates. The majority of spiders are generalist predators, possessing complex venom, in which different toxins seem to target different types of prey. In this study, we focused on the trophic ecology and venom toxicity of Phoneutria boliviensis F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1897, a Central American spider of medical importance. We tested the hypothesis that its venom is adapted to catch vertebrate prey by studying its trophic ecology and venom toxicity against selected vertebrate and invertebrate prey. We compared both trophic ecology (based on acceptance experiments) and toxicity (based on bioassays) among sexes of this species. We found that P. boliviensis accepted geckos, spiders, and cockroaches as prey, but rejected frogs. There was no difference in acceptance between males and females. The venom of P. boliviensis was far more efficient against vertebrate (geckos) than invertebrate (spiders) prey in both immobilization time and LD50. Surprisingly, venom of males was more efficient than that of females. Our results suggest that P. boliviensis has adapted its venom to catch vertebrates, which may explain its toxicity to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Carlos Valenzuela-Rojas
- Grupo de Investigación Biología y Ecología de Artrópodos (BEA), Corporación Huiltur y Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del Tolima, Altos de Santa Helena, Ibagué 730001, Colombia; (J.C.V.-R.); (J.C.G.-G.); (A.v.d.M.)
| | - Julio César González-Gómez
- Grupo de Investigación Biología y Ecología de Artrópodos (BEA), Corporación Huiltur y Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del Tolima, Altos de Santa Helena, Ibagué 730001, Colombia; (J.C.V.-R.); (J.C.G.-G.); (A.v.d.M.)
| | - Arie van der Meijden
- Grupo de Investigación Biología y Ecología de Artrópodos (BEA), Corporación Huiltur y Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del Tolima, Altos de Santa Helena, Ibagué 730001, Colombia; (J.C.V.-R.); (J.C.G.-G.); (A.v.d.M.)
- CIBIO Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, InBIO, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas 7, 4485-661 Vairão, Vila do Conde, Portugal
| | - Juan Nicolás Cortés
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Matemáticas, Universidad de Ibagué, Carrera 22 calle 67, Ibagué 730001, Colombia; (J.N.C.); (L.M.F.)
| | - Giovany Guevara
- Grupo de Investigación en Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del Tolima, Altos de Santa Helena, Ibagué 730001, Colombia;
| | - Lida Marcela Franco
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Matemáticas, Universidad de Ibagué, Carrera 22 calle 67, Ibagué 730001, Colombia; (J.N.C.); (L.M.F.)
| | - Stano Pekár
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 61137 Brno, Czech Republic;
| | - Luis Fernando García
- Grupo de Investigación Biología y Ecología de Artrópodos (BEA), Corporación Huiltur y Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del Tolima, Altos de Santa Helena, Ibagué 730001, Colombia; (J.C.V.-R.); (J.C.G.-G.); (A.v.d.M.)
- Grupo Multidisciplinario en Ecología para la Agricultura, Centro Universitario Regional del Este, Treinta y Tres 33000, Uruguay
- Correspondence:
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King GF. Tying pest insects in knots: the deployment of spider-venom-derived knottins as bioinsecticides. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2019; 75:2437-2445. [PMID: 31025461 DOI: 10.1002/ps.5452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Revised: 04/20/2019] [Accepted: 04/25/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Spider venoms are complex chemical arsenals that contain a rich variety of insecticidal toxins. However, the major toxin class in many spider venoms is disulfide-rich peptides known as knottins. The knotted three-dimensional fold of these mini-proteins provides them with exceptional chemical and thermal stability as well as resistance to proteases. In contrast with other bioinsecticides, which are often slow-acting, spider knottins are fast-acting neurotoxins. In addition to being potently insecticidal, some knottins have exceptional taxonomic selectivity, being lethal to key agricultural pests but innocuous to vertebrates and beneficial insects such as bees. The intrinsic oral activity of these peptides, combined with the ability of aerosolized knottins to penetrate insect spiracles, has enabled them to be developed commercially as eco-friendly bioinsecticides. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that spider-knottin transgenes can be used to engineer faster-acting entomopathogens and insect-resistant crops. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Glenn F King
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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Sánchez-Herrero JF, Frías-López C, Escuer P, Hinojosa-Alvarez S, Arnedo MA, Sánchez-Gracia A, Rozas J. The draft genome sequence of the spider Dysdera silvatica (Araneae, Dysderidae): A valuable resource for functional and evolutionary genomic studies in chelicerates. Gigascience 2019; 8:giz099. [PMID: 31430368 PMCID: PMC6701490 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giz099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2019] [Revised: 06/27/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We present the draft genome sequence of Dysdera silvatica, a nocturnal ground-dwelling spider from a genus that has undergone a remarkable adaptive radiation in the Canary Islands. RESULTS The draft assembly was obtained using short (Illumina) and long (PaciBio and Nanopore) sequencing reads. Our de novo assembly (1.36 Gb), which represents 80% of the genome size estimated by flow cytometry (1.7 Gb), is constituted by a high fraction of interspersed repetitive elements (53.8%). The assembly completeness, using BUSCO and core eukaryotic genes, ranges from 90% to 96%. Functional annotations based on both ab initio and evidence-based information (including D. silvatica RNA sequencing) yielded a total of 48,619 protein-coding sequences, of which 36,398 (74.9%) have the molecular hallmark of known protein domains, or sequence similarity with Swiss-Prot sequences. The D. silvatica assembly is the first representative of the superfamily Dysderoidea, and just the second available genome of Synspermiata, one of the major evolutionary lineages of the "true spiders" (Araneomorphae). CONCLUSIONS Dysderoids, which are known for their numerous instances of adaptation to underground environments, include some of the few examples of trophic specialization within spiders and are excellent models for the study of cryptic female choice. This resource will be therefore useful as a starting point to study fundamental evolutionary and functional questions, including the molecular bases of the adaptation to extreme environments and ecological shifts, as well of the origin and evolution of relevant spider traits, such as the venom and silk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Francisco Sánchez-Herrero
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Universitat de Barcelona (UB) and Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Frías-López
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Universitat de Barcelona (UB) and Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Paula Escuer
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Universitat de Barcelona (UB) and Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Silvia Hinojosa-Alvarez
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Universitat de Barcelona (UB) and Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Jardín Botánico, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tercer Circuito Exterior S/N, Ciudad Universitaria Coyoacán, 04510 México DF, México
| | - Miquel A Arnedo
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Universitat de Barcelona (UB) and Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alejandro Sánchez-Gracia
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Universitat de Barcelona (UB) and Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Julio Rozas
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Universitat de Barcelona (UB) and Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
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Haddad CR, Henrard A, Jocqué R. Revision of the ant-eating spider genus Mallinus Simon, 1893 (Araneae, Zodariidae). Zookeys 2019:141-158. [PMID: 30774504 PMCID: PMC6374355 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.822.29835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The zodariine spider genus Mallinus Simon, 1893 is redescribed and diagnosed. The type species, M.nitidiventris Simon, 1893 from South Africa, was originally described from subadult specimens. Adults of both sexes of M.nitidiventris are described for the first time, based on recently collected material, and the genus is rediagnosed, redescribed, and its relationships discussed. A single aberrant male specimen from Namibia is here described as a morphospecies, as it is presumed to only be superficially related. A second species, M.defectus Strand, 1906 from Tunisia, is considered a ‘species inquirenda’, as the type specimens could not be traced, but this species is in any case unlikely to be congeneric. The genus is one of 10 cases of a monotypic genus in the Zodariidae. Notes are provided on the biology of M.nitidiventris.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles R Haddad
- Department of Zoology & Entomology, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa University of the Free State Bloemfontein South Africa
| | - Arnaud Henrard
- Department of Zoology, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Leuvensesteenweg 13, B-3080 Tervuren, Belgium Royal Museum for Central Africa Tervuren Belgium.,Earth and life Institute, Biodiversity Research Center, Université catholique de Louvain, B-1348, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium Université catholique de Louvain Louvain-la-Neuve Belgium
| | - Rudy Jocqué
- Department of Zoology, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Leuvensesteenweg 13, B-3080 Tervuren, Belgium Royal Museum for Central Africa Tervuren Belgium
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Turney S, Buddle CM. Body size mediates the relationship between spider (Arachnida: Araneae) assemblage composition and prey consumption rate: results of a mesocosm experiment in the Yukon, Canada. Oecologia 2019; 189:757-768. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-019-04346-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2018] [Accepted: 01/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
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50
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Michalko R, Pekár S, Entling MH. An updated perspective on spiders as generalist predators in biological control. Oecologia 2018; 189:21-36. [PMID: 30535723 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-018-4313-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2017] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The role of generalist predators in biological control remains controversial as they may not only reduce pest populations but also disrupt biocontrol exerted by other natural enemies. Here, we focus on spiders as a model group of generalist predators. They are among the most abundant and most diverse natural enemies in agroecosystems. We review their functional traits that influence food-web dynamics and pest suppression at organisational levels ranging from individuals to communities. At the individual and population levels, we focus on hunting strategy, body size, life stage, nutritional target, and personality (i.e., consistent inter-individual differences in behaviour). These functional traits determine the spider trophic niches. We also focus on the functional and numerical response to pest densities and on non-consumptive effects of spiders on pests. At the community level, we review multiple-predator effects and effect of alternative prey on pest suppression. Evidence for a key role of spiders in pest suppression is accumulating. Importantly, recent research has highlighted widespread non-consumptive effects and complex intraguild interactions of spiders. A better understanding of these effects is needed to optimize biocontrol services by spiders in agroecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radek Michalko
- Department of Forest Ecology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 3, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Stano Pekár
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Martin H Entling
- Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Fortstrasse 7, 76829, Landau/Pfalz, Germany
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