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Michálek O, King GF, Pekár S. Prey specificity of predatory venoms. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2024. [PMID: 38991997 DOI: 10.1111/brv.13120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2024] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
Venom represents a key adaptation of many venomous predators, allowing them to immobilise prey quickly through chemical rather than physical warfare. Evolutionary arms races between prey and a predator are believed to be the main factor influencing the potency and composition of predatory venoms. Predators with narrowly restricted diets are expected to evolve specifically potent venom towards their focal prey, with lower efficacy on alternative prey. Here, we evaluate hypotheses on the evolution of prey-specific venom, focusing on the effect of restricted diet, prey defences, and prey resistance. Prey specificity as a potential evolutionary dead end is also discussed. We then provide an overview of the current knowledge on venom prey specificity, with emphasis on snakes, cone snails, and spiders. As the current evidence for venom prey specificity is still quite limited, we also overview the best approaches and methods for its investigation and provide a brief summary of potential model groups. Finally, possible applications of prey-specific toxins are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ondřej Michálek
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, Brno, 611 37, Czech Republic
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia
| | - Glenn F King
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia
| | - Stano Pekár
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, Brno, 611 37, Czech Republic
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2
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Bollinger E, Zubrod JP, Englert D, Graf N, Weisner O, Kolb S, Schäfer RB, Entling MH, Schulz R. The influence of season, hunting mode, and habitat specialization on riparian spiders as key predators in the aquatic-terrestrial linkage. Sci Rep 2023; 13:22950. [PMID: 38135811 PMCID: PMC10746743 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-50420-w] [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: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Freshwater ecosystems subsidize riparian zones with high-quality nutrients via the emergence of aquatic insects. Spiders are dominant consumers of these insect subsidies. However, little is known about the variation of aquatic insect consumption across spiders of different hunting modes, habitat specializations, seasons, and systems. To explore this, we assembled a large stable isotope dataset (n > 1000) of aquatic versus terrestrial sources and six spider species over four points in time adjacent to a lotic and a lentic system. The spiders represent three hunting modes each consisting of a wetland specialist and a habitat generalist. We expected that specialists would feed more on aquatic prey than their generalist counterparts. Mixing models showed that spiders' diet consisted of 17-99% of aquatic sources, with no clear effect of habitat specialization. Averaged over the whole study period, web builders (WB) showed the highest proportions (78%) followed by ground hunters (GH, 42%) and vegetation hunters (VH, 31%). Consumption of aquatic prey was highest in June and August, which is most pronounced in GH and WBs, with the latter feeding almost entirely on aquatic sources during this period. Additionally, the elevated importance of high-quality lipids from aquatic origin during fall is indicated by elemental analyses pointing to an accumulation of lipids in October, which represent critical energy reserves during winter. Consequently, this study underlines the importance of aquatic prey irrespective of the habitat specialization of spiders. Furthermore, it suggests that energy flows vary substantially between spider hunting modes and seasons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Bollinger
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Fortstraße 7, D-76829, Landau, Germany.
| | - Jochen P Zubrod
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Fortstraße 7, D-76829, Landau, Germany
- Zubrod Environmental Data Science, Ostring 24a, D-76829, Landau, Germany
| | - Dominic Englert
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Fortstraße 7, D-76829, Landau, Germany
| | - Nadin Graf
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Fortstraße 7, D-76829, Landau, Germany
| | - Oliver Weisner
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Fortstraße 7, D-76829, Landau, Germany
| | - Sebastian Kolb
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Fortstraße 7, D-76829, Landau, Germany
| | - Ralf B Schäfer
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Fortstraße 7, D-76829, Landau, Germany
| | - Martin H Entling
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Fortstraße 7, D-76829, Landau, Germany
| | - Ralf Schulz
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Fortstraße 7, D-76829, Landau, Germany
- Eußerthal Ecosystem Research Station, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Birkenthalstraße 13, D-76857, Eußerthal, Germany
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3
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Bellvert A, Adrián-Serrano S, Macías-Hernández N, Toft S, Kaliontzopoulou A, Arnedo MA. The Non-Dereliction in Evolution: Trophic Specialisation Drives Convergence in the Radiation of Red Devil Spiders (Araneae: Dysderidae) in the Canary Islands. Syst Biol 2023; 72:998-1012. [PMID: 37474131 DOI: 10.1093/sysbio/syad046] [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: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural selection plays a key role in deterministic evolution, as clearly illustrated by the multiple cases of repeated evolution of ecomorphological characters observed in adaptive radiations. Unlike most spiders, Dysdera species display a high variability of cheliceral morphologies, which has been suggested to reflect different levels of specialization to feed on isopods. In this study, we integrate geometric morphometrics and experimental trials with a fully resolved phylogeny of the highly diverse endemic species from the Canary Islands to 1) quantitatively delimit the different cheliceral morphotypes present in the archipelago, 2) test their association with trophic specialization, as reported for continental species, 3) reconstruct the evolution of these ecomorphs throughout the diversification of the group, 4) test the hypothesis of convergent evolution of the different morphotypes, and 5) examine whether specialization constitutes a case of evolutionary irreversibility in this group. We show the existence of 9 cheliceral morphotypes and uncovered their significance for trophic ecology. Further, we demonstrate that similar ecomorphs evolved multiple times in the archipelago, providing a novel study system to explain how convergent evolution and irreversibility due to specialization may be combined to shape phenotypic diversification in adaptive radiations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrià Bellvert
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Av. Diagonal, 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Silvia Adrián-Serrano
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Av. Diagonal, 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nuria Macías-Hernández
- Department of Animal Biology, Edaphology and Geology, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
- Laboratory for Integrative Biodiversity Research (LIBRe), Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Søren Toft
- Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 116, DK-8000 Århus C, Denmark
| | - Antigoni Kaliontzopoulou
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Av. Diagonal, 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miquel A Arnedo
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Av. Diagonal, 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
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Zha S, Wang Z, Li X, Chen Z, Wang J, Li H, Cai W, Tian L. Microstructural Adaptation for Prey Manipulation in the Millipede Assassin Bugs (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Ectrichodiinae). BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1299. [PMID: 37887009 PMCID: PMC10604205 DOI: 10.3390/biology12101299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Species in Ectrichodiinae are known for their prey specialization on millipedes. However, knowledge of the morphological adaptations to this unique feeding habit was limited. In the current study, we examined the microstructures of the antennae, mouthparts, and legs of four millipede feeding ectrichodiines, Ectrychotes andreae (Thunberg, 1888), Haematoloecha limbata Miller, 1953, Labidocoris pectoralis (Stål, 1863), and Neozirta eidmanni (Taueber, 1930), and compared them with those of three species of tribelocephalines, a group closely related to Ectrichodiinae. On the antennae, we found four types of antennal sensilla. On the mouthparts, we recognized four types of labial sensilla. Sampled ectrichodiines have distinctly more and denser slightly transverse ridges on the external side of mandibles than tribelocephalines. E. andreae and H. limbata possess numerous small papillae fringed with densely arranged finger-print-like grains on the trochanter and femur; these probably facilitate the immobilization of prey. Overall, our study illustrates, at a microstructural level, the remarkable morphological adaption of prey manipulation in ectrichodiine, and has enhanced our understanding about stenophagy in the family Reduviidae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiyu Zha
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (S.Z.); (Z.W.); (X.L.); (Z.C.); (H.L.); (W.C.)
| | - Zhiyao Wang
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (S.Z.); (Z.W.); (X.L.); (Z.C.); (H.L.); (W.C.)
| | - Xinyu Li
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (S.Z.); (Z.W.); (X.L.); (Z.C.); (H.L.); (W.C.)
- College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Qinghua East Road 35, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Zhaoyang Chen
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (S.Z.); (Z.W.); (X.L.); (Z.C.); (H.L.); (W.C.)
| | - Jianyun Wang
- Environment and Plant Protection Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou 571101, China;
| | - Hu Li
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (S.Z.); (Z.W.); (X.L.); (Z.C.); (H.L.); (W.C.)
| | - Wanzhi Cai
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (S.Z.); (Z.W.); (X.L.); (Z.C.); (H.L.); (W.C.)
| | - Li Tian
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (S.Z.); (Z.W.); (X.L.); (Z.C.); (H.L.); (W.C.)
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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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [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
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Andrew A Walker
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Ondrej Šedo
- Research Group Proteomics, Mendel Centre for Plant Genomics and Proteomics, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Zbyněk Zdráhal
- Research Group Proteomics, Mendel Centre for Plant Genomics and Proteomics, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Glenn F King
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Stano Pekár
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37, Brno, Czech Republic
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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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Thill VL, Moniz HA, Teglas MB, Wasley MJ, Feldman CR. Preying dangerously: black widow spider venom resistance in sympatric lizards. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2022; 9:221012. [PMID: 36277837 PMCID: PMC9579766 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.221012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Lizards and spiders are natural adversaries, yet little is known of adaptations that lizards might possess for dealing with the venomous defences of spider prey. In the Western USA, two lizard species (Elgaria multicarinata and Sceloporus occidentalis) are sympatric with and predate western black widow spiders (Latrodectus hesperus). The consequences of black widow spider venom (BWSV) can be severe, and are well understood for mammals but unknown for reptiles. We evaluated potential resistance to BWSV in the lizards that consume black widows, and a potentially susceptible species (Uta stansburiana) known as prey of widows. We investigated BWSV effects on whole-animal performance (sprint) and muscle tissue at two venom doses compared with control injections. Sprint speed was not significantly decreased in E. multicarinata or S. occidentalis in any treatment, while U. stansburiana suffered significant performance reductions in response to BWSV. Furthermore, E. multicarinata showed minimal tissue damage and immune response, while S. occidentalis and U. stansburiana exhibited increased muscle damage and immune system infiltration in response to BWSV. Our data suggest predator-prey relationships between lizards and spiders are complex, possibly leading to physiological and molecular adaptations that allow some lizards to tolerate or overcome the dangerous defences of their arachnid prey.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vicki L. Thill
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
- Program in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Haley A. Moniz
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
- Program in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Mike B. Teglas
- Program in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
- Department of Agriculture, Veterinary and Rangeland Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - McKenzie J. Wasley
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Klamath Falls Fish and Wildlife Office, Klamath Falls, OR 97602, USA
| | - Chris R. Feldman
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
- Program in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
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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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9
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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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10
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Potapov AM, Beaulieu F, Birkhofer K, Bluhm SL, Degtyarev MI, Devetter M, Goncharov AA, Gongalsky KB, Klarner B, Korobushkin DI, Liebke DF, Maraun M, Mc Donnell RJ, Pollierer MM, Schaefer I, Shrubovych J, Semenyuk II, Sendra A, Tuma J, Tůmová M, Vassilieva AB, Chen T, Geisen S, Schmidt O, Tiunov AV, Scheu S. Feeding habits and multifunctional classification of soil‐associated consumers from protists to vertebrates. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2022; 97:1057-1117. [DOI: 10.1111/brv.12832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anton M. Potapov
- J.F. Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology University of Göttingen Untere Karspüle 2 37073 Göttingen Germany
- A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences Leninsky Prospect 33 119071 Moscow Russia
| | - Frédéric Beaulieu
- Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes, Agriculture and Agri‐Food Canada Ottawa ON K1A 0C6 Canada
| | - Klaus Birkhofer
- Department of Ecology Brandenburg University of Technology Karl‐Wachsmann‐Allee 6 03046 Cottbus Germany
| | - Sarah L. Bluhm
- J.F. Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology University of Göttingen Untere Karspüle 2 37073 Göttingen Germany
| | - Maxim I. Degtyarev
- A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences Leninsky Prospect 33 119071 Moscow Russia
| | - Miloslav Devetter
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Soil Biology Na Sádkách 702/7 37005 České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - Anton A. Goncharov
- A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences Leninsky Prospect 33 119071 Moscow Russia
| | - Konstantin B. Gongalsky
- A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences Leninsky Prospect 33 119071 Moscow Russia
| | - Bernhard Klarner
- J.F. Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology University of Göttingen Untere Karspüle 2 37073 Göttingen Germany
| | - Daniil I. Korobushkin
- A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences Leninsky Prospect 33 119071 Moscow Russia
| | - Dana F. Liebke
- J.F. Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology University of Göttingen Untere Karspüle 2 37073 Göttingen Germany
| | - Mark Maraun
- J.F. Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology University of Göttingen Untere Karspüle 2 37073 Göttingen Germany
| | - Rory J. Mc Donnell
- Department of Crop and Soil Science Oregon State University Corvallis OR 97331 U.S.A
| | - Melanie M. Pollierer
- J.F. Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology University of Göttingen Untere Karspüle 2 37073 Göttingen Germany
| | - Ina Schaefer
- J.F. Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology University of Göttingen Untere Karspüle 2 37073 Göttingen Germany
| | - Julia Shrubovych
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Soil Biology Na Sádkách 702/7 37005 České Budějovice Czech Republic
- Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals PAS Slawkowska 17 Pl 31‐016 Krakow Poland
- State Museum Natural History of NAS of Ukraine Teatralna 18 79008 Lviv Ukraine
| | - Irina I. Semenyuk
- A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences Leninsky Prospect 33 119071 Moscow Russia
- Joint Russian‐Vietnamese Tropical Center №3 Street 3 Thang 2, Q10 Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam
| | - Alberto Sendra
- Colecciones Entomológicas Torres‐Sala, Servei de Patrimoni Històric, Ajuntament de València València Spain
- Departament de Didàctica de les Cièncias Experimentals i Socials, Facultat de Magisteri Universitat de València València Spain
| | - Jiri Tuma
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Soil Biology Na Sádkách 702/7 37005 České Budějovice Czech Republic
- Biology Centre CAS, Institute of Entomology Branisovska 1160/31 370 05 Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic
| | - Michala Tůmová
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Soil Biology Na Sádkách 702/7 37005 České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - Anna B. Vassilieva
- A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences Leninsky Prospect 33 119071 Moscow Russia
| | - Ting‐Wen Chen
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Soil Biology Na Sádkách 702/7 37005 České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - Stefan Geisen
- Department of Nematology Wageningen University & Research 6700ES Wageningen The Netherlands
| | - Olaf Schmidt
- UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science University College Dublin Belfield Dublin 4 Ireland
| | - Alexei V. Tiunov
- A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences Leninsky Prospect 33 119071 Moscow Russia
| | - Stefan Scheu
- J.F. Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology University of Göttingen Untere Karspüle 2 37073 Göttingen Germany
- Centre of Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Use Büsgenweg 1 37077 Göttingen Germany
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Košulič O, Procházka J, Tuf IH, Michalko R. Intensive site preparation for reforestation wastes multi-trophic biodiversity potential in commercial oak woodlands. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 300:113741. [PMID: 34562820 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 09/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Lowland oak forests host high biodiversity throughout Europe, and to maintain their high biodiversity potential we need to understand how current silviculture practices influence these ecosystems. The most common harvest approach in oak woodlands remains clear-cutting followed by site preparation for reforestation. The site preparation can vary in intensity and possibly affect forest biodiversity in various ways. We studied the impact of site preparation intensity on ground-dwelling arthropod predators and detritivores in commercial oak woodlands. The intensive management included mechanical site preparation with soil milling, stump removal, and herbicide application. The extensive management consisted of natural succession after reforestation with only such slight disturbances as regular hand-provided mowing of vegetation. We recorded 120 spider species, 92 species of ground beetles, 10 species of centipedes, 17 species of millipedes, and 7 species of woodlice, including a relatively large number of threatened species. We found that intensive post-logging management strongly homogenized the habitat structure, and this led to low multi-trophic taxonomic and functional diversity in comparison to that under extensive management. At sites with extensive management, there was not only high functional diversity but also high functional redundancy. Species of conservation concern almost vanished from clearings under intensive management. The high multi-trophic diversity and functional redundancy indicate that extensive site preparation may enhance ecosystem multi-functionality, including primary productivity and ecosystem resilience. Extensive post-harvest management is therefore strongly preferable, and it is also economically more feasible. Intensive post-harvest management should be prohibited in lowland forests within transition zones to localities under nature protection or in natural oak forests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ondřej Košulič
- Department of Forest Protection and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 3, Brno, 613 00, Czech Republic.
| | - Jiří Procházka
- Silva Tarouca Research Institute, Lidická 25/27, Brno, 60200, Czech Republic; Moravian Museum, Zelný Trh 6, Brno, 60200, Czech Republic
| | - Ivan H Tuf
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Palacký University Olomouc, Šlechtitelů 27, Olomouc, 77900, Czech Republic
| | - Radek Michalko
- Department of Forest Ecology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 3, Brno, 613 00, Czech Republic
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12
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Xavier GM, Quero A, Moura RR, Vieira C, Meira FA, Gonzaga MO. Influence of web traits, height, and daily periods of exposition on prey captured by orb-weaver spiders. Behav Processes 2021; 193:104536. [PMID: 34728314 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2021.104536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Orb-webs show diversity in several traits, including silk types, architecture, physical properties, locale, and period of exposition. The investigation of how they determine the identity of intercepted prey is important to functional ecology and to the evaluation of trophic niche partitioning within communities. However, the influence of several of these variables on the composition of intercepted insects remains to be determined. In this study, we evaluated the effects of web architectural traits, height, and daily periods of exposition on the interception of different insects in terms of sizes, masses, and taxa. We conducted observations of prey intercepted by the orb webs of 16 sympatric spider species and artificial webs. We found that all orb webs mainly intercepted small and light insects, sharing the most abundant insect families found in the study area. However, spiders that show nocturnal activity, more radii in their webs, large and high webs captured heavier insects. Other orb-web traits, such as the density of capture threads did not influence the kind of intercepted insects. We discuss why some variables affected prey interceptions in terms of mass. Finally, we discuss the implications of these influential variables to functional ecology, niche differentiation, and how behavioral assessments can complete this investigation in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Máximo Xavier
- Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação de Recursos Naturais, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.
| | - Adilson Quero
- Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação de Recursos Naturais, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil
| | - Rafael Rios Moura
- Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação de Recursos Naturais, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil; Núcleo de Extensão e Pesquisa em Ecologia e Evolução (NEPEE), Departamento de Ciências Agrárias e Naturais, Universidade do Estado de Minas Gerais, Ituiutaba, MG, Brazil
| | - Camila Vieira
- Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação de Recursos Naturais, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil
| | - Felipe André Meira
- Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação de Recursos Naturais, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil
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13
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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: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [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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14
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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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15
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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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16
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Soil Arthropods in the Douro Demarcated Region Vineyards: General Characteristics and Ecosystem Services Provided. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su13147837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Viticulture is one of the oldest and most profitable forms of agriculture; it is also one of the most intensive farming systems. As intensive cultivation threatens the environment, there is increasing interest in the concept of sustainability within the wine industry, as well as new business opportunities, as customers begin to pay more attention to environmental and sustainability issues. Recognizing the key role of soil quality in environmentally and economically sustainable viticulture makes it essential to understand better soil arthropod communities, given their crucial functions in maintaining soil quality and health. The ‘Douro Demarcated Region’ (DDR) in northern Portugal offers good potential, in regards to biodiversity, due to its significant areas of non-crop habitats. This work aims to compile information on soil arthropod communities (both soil surface and soil-living) collected in the DDR vineyard agroecosystems. A description of the ecosystem services provided by them, as a basis for the development and implementation of sustainable viticulture systems, is also an objective of this work. An important set of soil arthropods necessary for the delivery of vital ecosystem services for viticulture, with particular reference to supporting and regulating services, occurred in this ecosystem. Eight classes were chiefly represented in a sample of about 167,000 arthropod specimens: Arachnida, Chilopoda, Diplopoda, Entognatha, Insecta, Malacostraca, Pauropoda, and Symphyla. The most representative were Entognatha and Insecta in soil-surface arthropods, and Arachnida and Entognatha in soil-living arthropods. The presence of recognized groups as bioindicators in agroecosystems, such as soil quality indicators, is also revealed. This knowledge is expected to contribute to a more efficient and sustainable management of the viticultural ecosystem.
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17
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Parimuchová A, Dušátková LP, Kováč Ľ, Macháčková T, Slabý O, Pekár S. The food web in a subterranean ecosystem is driven by intraguild predation. Sci Rep 2021; 11:4994. [PMID: 33654189 PMCID: PMC7925651 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-84521-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Trophic interactions of cave arthropods have been understudied. We used molecular methods (NGS) to decipher the food web in the subterranean ecosystem of the Ardovská Cave (Western Carpathians, Slovakia). We collected five arthropod predators of the species Parasitus loricatus (gamasid mites), Eukoenenia spelaea (palpigrades), Quedius mesomelinus (beetles), and Porrhomma profundum and Centromerus cavernarum (both spiders) and prey belonging to several orders. Various arthropod orders were exploited as prey, and trophic interactions differed among the predators. Linear models were used to compare absolute and relative prey body sizes among the predators. Quedius exploited relatively small prey, while Eukoenenia and Parasitus fed on relatively large prey. Exploitation of eggs or cadavers is discussed. In contrast to previous studies, Eukoenenia was found to be carnivorous. A high proportion of intraguild predation was found in all predators. Intraspecific consumption (most likely cannibalism) was detected only in mites and beetles. Using Pianka's index, the highest trophic niche overlaps were found between Porrhomma and Parasitus and between Centromerus and Eukoenenia, while the lowest niche overlap was found between Parasitus and Quedius. Contrary to what we expected, the high availability of Diptera and Isopoda as a potential prey in the studied system was not corroborated. Our work demonstrates that intraguild diet plays an important role in predators occupying subterranean ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Parimuchová
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, P. J. Šafárik University, Šrobárova 2, 041 54, Košice, Slovakia.
| | - Lenka Petráková Dušátková
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ľubomír Kováč
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, P. J. Šafárik University, Šrobárova 2, 041 54, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Táňa Macháčková
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ondřej Slabý
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, 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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18
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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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19
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Fulgence TR, Martin DA, Kreft H, Ratsoavina FM, Andrianarimisa A. Spider traps amphibian in northeastern Madagascar. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:682-687. [PMID: 33520157 PMCID: PMC7820146 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Predation can take unexpected turns. For instance, various invertebrate species-most commonly spiders-may prey on vertebrates. Here, we report one observation of a spider (Sparassidae, Damastes sp.) feeding on an amphibian (Hyperoliidae, Heterixalus andrakata) inside a retreat in northeastern Madagascar. To our knowledge, this is the second report of vertebrate predation by spiders in Madagascar. Three additional observations of retreats built by the same spider species show that the spiders built similar retreats and were hiding at the rear end of the retreat. The retreats were built by weaving two green leaves together which were still attached to the tree. We speculate from the observations, that the retreat serves as a targeted trap that deceives frogs seeking shelter during daytime.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thio Rosin Fulgence
- Natural and Environmental SciencesRegional University Centre of the SAVA Region (CURSA)AntalahaMadagascar
- Zoology and Animal Biodiversity, Faculty of SciencesUniversity of AntananarivoAntananarivoMadagascar
- Biodiversity, Macroecology and BiogeographyUniversity of GoettingenGoettingenGermany
| | | | - Holger Kreft
- Biodiversity, Macroecology and BiogeographyUniversity of GoettingenGoettingenGermany
- Centre for Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Use (CBL)University of GoettingenGoettingenGermany
| | | | - Aristide Andrianarimisa
- Zoology and Animal Biodiversity, Faculty of SciencesUniversity of AntananarivoAntananarivoMadagascar
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20
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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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21
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Townley MA, Harms D. Temperature fluctuations during embryonic development implicated in a naturally occurring instance of abnormal spinnerets in the spider Australomimetus maculosus (Araneae, Mimetidae). ARTHROPOD STRUCTURE & DEVELOPMENT 2020; 57:100945. [PMID: 32361425 DOI: 10.1016/j.asd.2020.100945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2020] [Revised: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/04/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
We record developmental abnormalities of the spinnerets in a field-collected adult male specimen of Australomimetus maculosus. These include (1) a supernumerary right posterior lateral spinneret (PLS), (2) ectopic piriform silk gland spigots and tartipores on the left PLS that are normally restricted to anterior lateral spinnerets (ALSs), and (3) what appear to be ectopic ALS sensilla on the left posterior median spinneret (PMS). Published results of teratological experiments and climate data for the collection site indicate that fluctuating sub- and supra-optimal temperatures during embryogenesis may have been responsible for these anomalies. This specimen thus supports the view that spinneret abnormalities, among other aberrations, may be induced when embryos of entelegyne spiders are exposed to fluctuations between high and low temperatures, whether in the laboratory or, as here, in nature. To our knowledge, the ectopic structures seen on the left PLS and left PMS have not been observed previously. Their locations are consistent with a hypothesis by which only the lateral portion of the araneomorph ALS is serially homologous to the PLS, while the remainder of the ALS, along with the colulus/cribellum, is homologous to the PMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Townley
- University Instrumentation Center, University of New Hampshire, 23 Academic Way, Durham, NH, 03824, USA.
| | - Danilo Harms
- Zoological Museum, Center of Natural History, Universität Hamburg, Martin-Luther-King-Platz 3, D-20146, Hamburg, Germany.
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22
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Amorim IC, Melo ES, Moura RC, Wallau GL. Diverse mobilome of Dichotomius (Luederwaldtinia) schiffleri (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) reveals long-range horizontal transfer events of DNA transposons. Mol Genet Genomics 2020; 295:1339-1353. [PMID: 32601732 DOI: 10.1007/s00438-020-01703-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Transposable elements (TEs) are mobile DNA sequences that are able to move from one genomic location to another. These selfish elements are known as genomic parasites, since they hijack the host molecular machinery to generate new copies of themselves. The mobilization of TEs can be seen as a natural mutagen because new TE copies can insert into different loci and impact host genomic structure through different mechanisms. Although our knowledge about TEs is improving with new genomes available, there is still very limited data about the mobilome of species from the Coleoptera order, the most diverse order of insects, including species from the Scarabaeidae family. Therefore, the main goal of this study was to characterize the mobilome of D. (Luederwaldtinia) schiffleri, based on low-coverage genome sequencing, and reconstruct their evolutionary history. We used a combination of four different approaches for TE characterization and maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis to study their evolution. We found a large and diverse mobilome composed of 38 TE superfamilies, 20 DNA transposon and 18 retrotransposons, accounting for 21% of the genome. Moreover, we found a number of incongruences between the TE and host phylogenetic trees in three DNA transposon TE superfamilies, which represents five TE families, suggesting possible horizontal transfer events between highly divergent taxa. In summary, we found an abundant and diverse mobilome and a number of horizontal transfer events that have shaped the evolutionary history of this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- I C Amorim
- Laboratório de Biodiversidade E Genética de Insetos, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Pernambuco, Rua Arnóbio Marques, 310- Santo Amaro, Recife, PE, CEP: 50100-130, Brasil
| | - E S Melo
- Departamento de Entomologia, Instituto Aggeu Magalhães, FIOCRUZ, Recife, PE, Brasil
| | - R C Moura
- Laboratório de Biodiversidade E Genética de Insetos, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Pernambuco, Rua Arnóbio Marques, 310- Santo Amaro, Recife, PE, CEP: 50100-130, Brasil.
| | - G L Wallau
- Departamento de Entomologia, Instituto Aggeu Magalhães, FIOCRUZ, Recife, PE, Brasil.
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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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24
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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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25
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Cooperation and conflicts during prey capture in colonies of the colonial spider Parawixia bistriata (Araneae: Araneidae). Acta Ethol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10211-020-00342-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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26
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Mestre L, Narimanov N, Menzel F, Entling MH. Non‐consumptive effects between predators depend on the foraging mode of intraguild prey. J Anim Ecol 2020; 89:1690-1700. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Laia Mestre
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences University of Koblenz‐Landau Landau Germany
| | - Nijat Narimanov
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences University of Koblenz‐Landau Landau Germany
| | - Florian Menzel
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Biocentre I University of Mainz Mainz Germany
| | - Martin H. Entling
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences University of Koblenz‐Landau Landau Germany
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27
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Munévar A, Cardoso P, Piñanez Espejo YMG, Zurita GA. Spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) in the semideciduous Atlantic Forest: An ecological and morphological trait dataset for functional studies. Biodivers Data J 2020; 8:e49889. [PMID: 32210672 PMCID: PMC7082367 DOI: 10.3897/bdj.8.e49889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The semideciduous Atlantic Forest is one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world with a great diversity of spiders. Most spider-related studies in this ecosystem focused on species richness and composition; however, little is known about their trait diversity (including morphological, ecological and/or physiological traits). Two main datasets were compiled to generate a complete record of spider traits for this ecosystem. New information Here, we present two datasets about 259 species of spiders from the semideciduous Atlantic Forest of Argentina. The trait data set compiled information of morphological and ecological traits such as body size, femur length, ocular distance, foraging strategy, prey range, circadian activity and stratum preference; traits were assessed by species considering sexual dimorphism. The second dataset included information about phenology (season when spiders were collected), number of individuals assessed by species and presence/absence of spiders in the different sample sites. This dataset has high potential to help researchers in recording the state of a component of biodiversity (functional) and contributes with the study of ecosystem services and species conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Munévar
- Instituto de Biología Subtropical (UNAM-CONICET), Puerto Iguazú, Argentina Instituto de Biología Subtropical (UNAM-CONICET) Puerto Iguazú Argentina.,Laboratory for Integrative Biodiversity Research (LIBRe), Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland Laboratory for Integrative Biodiversity Research (LIBRe), Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki Helsinki Finland
| | - Pedro Cardoso
- Laboratory for Integrative Biodiversity Research (LIBRe), Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland Laboratory for Integrative Biodiversity Research (LIBRe), Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki Helsinki Finland
| | - Yolanda M G Piñanez Espejo
- Instituto de Biología Subtropical (UNAM-CONICET), Puerto Iguazú, Argentina Instituto de Biología Subtropical (UNAM-CONICET) Puerto Iguazú Argentina
| | - Gustavo Andres Zurita
- Instituto de Biología Subtropical, Universidad Nacional de Misiones-CONICET, Puerto Iguazú, Misiones, Argentina. Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad Nacional de Misiones, Misiones, Argentina Instituto de Biología Subtropical, Universidad Nacional de Misiones-CONICET, Puerto Iguazú, Misiones, Argentina. Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad Nacional de Misiones Misiones Argentina
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28
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Arvidsson F, Addison P, Addison M, Haddad CR, Birkhofer K. Weed species, not mulching, affect web‐building spiders and their prey in organic fruit orchards in South Africa. Ecosphere 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- F. Arvidsson
- Department of Ecology Brandenburg University of Technology Konrad‐Wachsmann‐Allee 6 03046 Cottbus Germany
| | - P. Addison
- Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology Faculty of AgriSciences Stellenbosch University JS Marais Building Victoria Street Stellenbosch 7600 South Africa
| | - M. Addison
- Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology Faculty of AgriSciences Stellenbosch University JS Marais Building Victoria Street Stellenbosch 7600 South Africa
| | - C. R. Haddad
- Department of Zoology and Entomology University of the Free State P.O. Box 339 Bloemfontein 9300 South Africa
| | - K. Birkhofer
- Department of Ecology Brandenburg University of Technology Konrad‐Wachsmann‐Allee 6 03046 Cottbus Germany
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Gonçalves F, Carlos C, Crespi A, Villemant C, Trivellone V, Goula M, Canovai R, Zina V, Crespo L, Pinheiro L, Lucchi A, Bagnoli B, Oliveira I, Pinto R, Torres L. The functional agrobiodiversity in the Douro demarcated region viticulture: utopia or reality? Arthropods as a case-study – A review. CIÊNCIA E TÉCNICA VITIVINÍCOLA 2019. [DOI: 10.1051/ctv/201934010102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Aiming to reduce the losses of biodiversity and the degradation of associated ecosystem services, the United Nations established the 2011-2020 period as the UN Decade on Biodiversity. During this period, the countries involved compromised on implementing the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity, including the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. The argument is that biological diversity underpins the functioning of ecosystems and the provision of services essential to human well-being, further contributing to economic development and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. The purpose of this review is to present results of research and academic works carried out over several years in the Douro Demarcated Region in the field of functional agrobiodiversity, understood as the part of ecosystem biodiversity that provides ecosystem services, which support sustainable agricultural production and can also bring benefits to the regional and global environment and to society as a whole. Such studies specifically aimed to contribute knowledge about the diversity of arthropods in the vineyard ecosystem and about practices that can increase their abundance, diversity and services provided. In this context, a general characterization of the arthropod community identified in the vineyard ecosystem is conducted, complemented by information on the role played, by the taxonomic groups identified. The importance of increasing arthropod populations, the vegetation of vineyard slopes, and the existence of shrubs, forests and hedgerows next to the vineyards is discussed. The fundamental role of soil management practices is also referred, namely that of ground cover and the application of compost from winery wastes in the abundance and diversity of these organisms populations. Finally, bearing in mind the importance of the use of this information by vine growers, the measures taken for its dissemination are also presented.
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Michálek O, Kuhn-Nentwig L, Pekár S. High Specific Efficiency of Venom of Two Prey-Specialized Spiders. Toxins (Basel) 2019; 11:E687. [PMID: 31771158 PMCID: PMC6950493 DOI: 10.3390/toxins11120687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Revised: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 11/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The venom of predators should be under strong selection pressure because it is a costly substance and prey may potentially become resistant. Particularly in prey-specialized predators, venom should be selected for its high efficiency against the focal prey. Very effective venom paralysis has been observed in specialized predators, such as spiders preying on dangerous prey. Here, we compared the toxicity of the venoms of two prey-specialized species, araneophagous Palpimanus sp. and myrmecophagous Zodarion nitidum, and their related generalist species. We injected different venom concentrations into two prey types-the prey preferred by a specialist and an alternative prey-and observed the mortality and the paralysis of the prey within 24 h. We found that the venoms of specialists were far more potent towards the preferred prey than alternative prey. The venoms of generalists were similarly potent towards both prey types. In addition, we tested the efficacy of two venom fractions (smaller and larger than 10 kDa) in araneophagous Palpimanus sp. Compounds larger than 10 kDa paralyzed both prey types, but smaller compounds (<10 kDa) were effective only on preferred prey, suggesting the presence of prey-specific compounds in the latter fraction. Our results confirm that prey-specialized spiders possess highly specific venom that allows them to subdue dangerous prey.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ondřej Michálek
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Lucia Kuhn-Nentwig
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 6, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland;
| | - Stano Pekár
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic
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31
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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:E622. [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
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Fülöp D, Szita É, Gerstenbrand R, Tholt G, Samu F. Consuming alternative prey does not influence the DNA detectability half-life of pest prey in spider gut contents. PeerJ 2019; 7:e7680. [PMID: 31660259 PMCID: PMC6814063 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Key natural enemy-pest interactions can be mapped in agricultural food webs by analysing predator gut content for the presence of a focal pest species. For this, PCR-based approaches are the most widely used methods providing the incidence of consumption of a focal pest in field sampled predators. To interpret such data the rate of prey DNA decay in the predators' gut, described by DNA detectability half-life (t 1/2), is needed. DNA decay may depend on the presence of alternative prey in the gut of generalist predators, but this effect has not been investigated in one of the major predatory arthropod groups, spiders. METHODS In a laboratory feeding experiment, we determined t 1/2 of the key cereal pest virus vector leafhopper Psammotettix alienus in the digestive tracts of its natural enemy, the spider Tibellus oblongus. We followed the fate of prey DNA in spiders which received only the focal prey as food, or as an alternative prey treatment they also received a meal of fruit flies after leafhopper consumption. After these feeding treatments, spiders were starved for variable time intervals prior to testing for leafhopper DNA in order to establish t 1/2. RESULTS We created a PCR protocol that detects P. alienus DNA in its spider predator. The protocol was further calibrated to the digestion speed of the spider by establishing DNA decay rate. Detectability limit was reached at 14 days, where c. 10% of the animals tested positive. The calculated t 1/2 = 5 days value of P. alienus DNA did not differ statistically between the treatment groups which received only the leafhopper prey or which also received fruit fly. The PCR protocol was validated in a field with known P. alienus infestation. In this applicability trial, we showed that 12.5% of field collected spiders were positive for the leafhopper DNA. We conclude that in our model system the presence of alternative prey did not influence the t 1/2 estimate of a pest species, which makes laboratory protocols more straightforward for the calibration of future field data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dávid Fülöp
- Department of Zoology, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Éva Szita
- Department of Zoology, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Regina Gerstenbrand
- Department of Zoology, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gergely Tholt
- Department of Zoology, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ferenc Samu
- Department of Zoology, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Budapest, Hungary
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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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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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Pekár S, Bočánek O, Michálek O, Petráková L, Haddad CR, Šedo O, Zdráhal Z. Venom gland size and venom complexity-essential trophic adaptations of venomous predators: A case study using spiders. Mol Ecol 2018; 27:4257-4269. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.14859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2018] [Revised: 08/23/2018] [Accepted: 08/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Stano Pekár
- Department of Botany and Zoology; Faculty of Science; Masaryk University; Brno Czech Republic
| | - Ondřej Bočánek
- Central European Institute of Technology; Masaryk University; Brno Czech Republic
- National Centre for Biomolecular Research; Faculty of Science; Masaryk University; Brno Czech Republic
| | - Ondřej Michálek
- Department of Botany and Zoology; Faculty of Science; Masaryk University; Brno Czech Republic
| | - Lenka Petráková
- Department of Botany and Zoology; Faculty of Science; Masaryk University; Brno Czech Republic
| | - Charles R. Haddad
- Department of Zoology & Entomology; University of the Free State; Bloemfontein South Africa
| | - Ondrej Šedo
- Central European Institute of Technology; Masaryk University; Brno Czech Republic
| | - Zbyněk Zdráhal
- Central European Institute of Technology; Masaryk University; Brno Czech Republic
- National Centre for Biomolecular Research; Faculty of Science; Masaryk University; Brno Czech Republic
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Pekár S, Líznarová E, Bočánek O, Zdráhal Z. Venom of prey-specialized spiders is more toxic to their preferred prey: A result of prey-specific toxins. J Anim Ecol 2018; 87:1639-1652. [PMID: 30125357 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2018] [Accepted: 08/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
In specialized predators, a variety of adaptations have evolved to such a level of specificity that they allow very effective exploitation of focal prey. Venom is an essential adaptive trait of predatory venomous species, such as spiders, yet our knowledge of spider venom is incomplete. In agreement with the prey preference hypothesis, we expected that the venom of spider specialists should be more toxic to focal than to alternative prey, because it is composed of prey-specific toxins. Here we used spiders with three types of trophic specializations: specialists that were ant-eating, termite-eating and spider-eating. We compared the efficacy of prey capture of preferred and alternative prey (measured as paralysis latency) with that of related generalists and profiled the venom of the studied species using proteomic methods. We used 22 spider species: six myrmecophagous, two termitophagous, three araneophagous and 11 euryphagous generalist species belonging to different families. We found that ten of the eleven specialist species induced significantly shorter paralysis latency in preferred prey than in alternative prey. Generalists exhibited either similar efficiency on both prey types or slightly higher efficiency on preferred prey. Multivariate analysis of proteomic profiles (peptides and proteins) revealed significant differences between trophic specializations, particularly in peptides. Specialists appear to have venom composed of unique specific compounds as revealed by the multivariate ordination and indicator analysis. These components are likely prey-specific toxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stano Pekár
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Eva Líznarová
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ondřej Bočánek
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.,National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Zbyněk Zdráhal
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.,National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
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Diaz C, Tanikawa A, Miyashita T, Dhinojwala A, Blackledge TA. Silk structure rather than tensile mechanics explains web performance in the moth-specialized spider, Cyrtarachne. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART A, ECOLOGICAL AND INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 2018; 329:120-129. [PMID: 29992763 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2018] [Revised: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 06/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Orb webs intercept and retain prey so spiders may subdue them. Orb webs are composed of sticky, compliant spirals of capture silk spun across strong, stiff major ampullate silk threads. Interplay between differences in the mechanical properties of these silks is crucial for prey capture. Most orb webs depend upon insects contacting several radial and capture threads for successful retention. Moths, however, escape quickly from most orb webs due to the sacrificial scales covering their bodies. Cyrtarachne orb webs are unusual as they contain a reduced number of capture threads and moths stick unusually well to single threads. We aimed to determine how the tensile properties of the capture spiral and radial threads spun by Cyrtarachne operate in retention of moth prey. A NanoBionix UTM was used to quantify the material properties of flagelliform and major ampullate threads to test if Cyrtarachne's reduced web architecture is accompanied by improvements in tensile performance of its silk. Silk threads showed tensile properties typical of less-specialized orb-weavers, with the exception of high extensibility in radial threads. Radial thread diameters were 62.5% smaller than flagelliform threads, where commonly the two are roughly similar. We utilized our tensile data to create a finite element model of Cyrtarachne's web to investigate energy dissipation during prey impact. Large cross-sectional area of the flagelliform threads played a key role in enabling single capture threads to withstand prey impact. Rather than extraordinary silk, Cyrtarachne utilizes structural changes in the size and attachment of silk threads to facilitate web function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candido Diaz
- Department of Biology, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio
| | | | | | - Ali Dhinojwala
- Department of Polymer Science, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio
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38
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Phylogenetic analysis of trophic niche evolution reveals a latitudinal herbivory gradient in Clupeoidei (herrings, anchovies, and allies). Mol Phylogenet Evol 2018; 124:151-161. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2018.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2017] [Revised: 03/08/2018] [Accepted: 03/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Pompozzi G, Petráková L, Pekár S. Evolution of ant-eating specialization in the basal lineage of Zodariidae (Araneae): the trophic ecology of South American Leprolochus birabeni Mello-Leitão. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/bly034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Pompozzi
- Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas y Biomédicas del Sur (INBIOSUR), Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS)-CONICET, San Juan, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Lenka Petráková
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Stano Pekár
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská, Brno, Czech Republic
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40
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Perger R, Rubio GD. A wolf in sheep's clothing: The description of a fly resembling jumping spider of the genus Scoturius Simon, 1901 (Araneae: Salticidae: Huriini). PLoS One 2018; 13:e0190582. [PMID: 29364905 PMCID: PMC5783343 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0190582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2017] [Accepted: 12/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Fly resemblance in arthropods is much less common than e.g., resemblance to ants or wasps, and has been mainly observed in beetles. Putative fly mimicry in arachnids has been reported only from the jumping spider genus Saitis. However, recent literature has attributed the fly-resembling characteristics in Saitis to sexual signalling during courtship. The lack of observation of fly mimicry in spiders is not surprising as flies belong to the most important prey item group of spiders. In this study, a new fly-resembling species of the jumping spider tribe Huriini, Scoturius dipterioides sp. nov., from the pre-Andean Chiquitano forest at the Bolivian orocline is described and illustrated. The new species was tentatively placed into Scoturius because the epigynum has a single large elliptical opening. Scoturius dipterioides sp. nov. is distinguished from all other species of this tribe by a combination of following characteristics: epigynum with a large anterior elliptical atrium and initial portion of the copulation ducts dilated as a chamber (shared with Urupuyu); relatively joined copulation openings and short copulation ducts; kidney-shaped spermathecae, advanced at the atrium level. Several somatic features, two of them found exclusively in S. dipterioides sp. nov., increase the resemblance to flies. The Huriini are currently the only spider tribe that is suggested to feature fly mimics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Perger
- Colección Boliviana de Fauna, La Paz, Bolivia
- * E-mail:
| | - Gonzalo D. Rubio
- National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET), Experimental Station of Agriculture (EEA-INTA), Misiones, Argentina
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41
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Schwerdt L, Pompozzi G, de Villalobos AE, Pérez-Miles F. Trophic traits of Grammostola vachoni, a tarantula (Araneae : Theraphosidae) from Argentina. AUST J ZOOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1071/zo18034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
This is the first study about trophic traits of Grammostola vachoni, a threatened theraphosid spider endemic to the mountain systems of central Argentina. Four prey types were used in experiments: crickets, cockroaches, beetle larvae and adult beetles. Grammostola vachoni was observed to eat at a rate of about once every 11 days, with the mean total number of prey consumed per spider during the experimental period being 2.7. Latency to the first attack was similar for crickets, cockroaches and beetle larvae, but was shorter for adult beetles. Feeding time was significantly longer for crickets and beetle larvae. Mass gain was significantly different among prey types. Feeding effectiveness and ingestion rate were significantly higher for crickets. A significant positive correlation for feeding effectiveness and ingestion rate with prey mass and the initial spider mass was also found.
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42
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Townley MA, Harms D. Comparative study of spinning field development in two species of araneophagic spiders (Araneae, Mimetidae, Australomimetus). EVOLUTIONARY SYSTEMATICS 2017. [DOI: 10.3897/evolsyst.1.14765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
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Wolff JO, Řezáč M, Krejčí T, Gorb SN. Hunting with sticky tape: functional shift in silk glands of araneophagous ground spiders (Gnaphosidae). J Exp Biol 2017; 220:2250-2259. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.154682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2016] [Accepted: 04/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Foraging is one of the main evolutionary driving forces shaping the phenotype of organisms. In predators, a significant, though understudied, cost of foraging is the risk of being injured by struggling prey. Hunting spiders that feed on dangerous prey like ants or other spiders are an extreme example of dangerous feeding, risking their own life over a meal. Here, we describe an intriguing example of the use of attachment silk (piriform silk) for prey immobilization that comes with the costs of reduced silk anchorage function, increased piriform silk production and additional modifications of the extrusion structures (spigots) to prevent their clogging. We show that the piriform silk of gnaphosids is very stretchy and tough, which is an outstanding feat for a functional glue. This is gained by the combination of an elastic central fibre and a bi-layered glue coat consisting of aligned nanofibrils. This represents the first tensile test data on the ubiquitous piriform gland silk, adding an important puzzle piece to the mechanical catalogue of silken products in spiders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas O. Wolff
- Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Am Botanischen Garten 1–9, Kiel D-24118, Germany
- Behavioural Ecology, Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Milan Řezáč
- Biodiversity Lab, Crop Research Institute, Drnovská 507, Prague 6 – Ruzyně CZ-16106, Czechia
| | - Tomáš Krejčí
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 129, Prague 6 – Suchdol CZ-16521, Czechia
| | - Stanislav N. Gorb
- Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Am Botanischen Garten 1–9, Kiel D-24118, Germany
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Michálek O, Petráková L, Pekár S. Capture efficiency and trophic adaptations of a specialist and generalist predator: A comparison. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:2756-2766. [PMID: 28428866 PMCID: PMC5395461 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2016] [Revised: 01/19/2017] [Accepted: 01/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Specialist true predators are expected to exhibit higher capture efficiencies for the capture of larger and dangerous prey than generalist predators due to their possession of specialized morphological and behavioral adaptations. We used an araneophagous spider (Lampona murina) and a generalist spider (Drassodes lapidosus) as phylogenetically related model species and investigated their realized and fundamental trophic niches and their efficacy with respect to prey capture and prey handling. The trophic niche of both species confirmed that Lampona had a narrow trophic niche with a predominance of spider prey (including conspecifics), while the niche of Drassodes was wide, without any preference. DNA analysis of the gut contents of Lampona spiders collected in the field revealed that spiders form a significant part of its natural diet. Lampona captured significantly larger prey than itself and the prey captured by Drassodes. As concerns hunting strategy, Lampona grasped the prey with two pairs of legs possessing scopulae, whereas Drassodes immobilized prey with silk. Lampona possess forelegs equipped with scopulae and a thicker cuticle similar to other nonrelated araneophagous spiders. Lampona fed for a longer time and extracted more nutrients than Drassodes. We show that specialized behavioral and morphological adaptations altogether increase the hunting efficiency of specialists when compared to generalists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ondřej Michálek
- Department of Botany and Zoology Faculty of Science Masaryk University Brno Czech Republic
| | - Lenka Petráková
- 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
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45
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Miyashita T, Kasada M, Tanikawa A. Experimental evidence that high humidity is an essential cue for web building in Pasilobus spiders. BEHAVIOUR 2017. [DOI: 10.1163/1568539x-00003440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Spiders in the subfamily Cyrtarachninae, including bolas spiders, are moth specialists, and it has been suggested that these spiders initiate web-weaving under high humidity. Here we used Pasilobus hupingensis to experimentally test whether Cyrtarachninae spiders build webs exclusively under high humidity. The results showed that humidity, as well as temperature and prey feeding history, affected web-building probability, but humidity had a much stronger effect. Moreover, spiders never constructed webs at under <70% humidity. We suggest that a mechanical property in sticky materials derived from moth specialization; namely, unusually high, yet rapidly degrading stickiness, is likely to have promoted the evolution of plastic foraging behaviour that varies with humidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadashi Miyashita
- Laboratory of Biodiversity Science, School of Agriculture & Life Sciences, University of Tokyo, Yayoi 1-1-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Minoru Kasada
- Laboratory of Biodiversity Science, School of Agriculture & Life Sciences, University of Tokyo, Yayoi 1-1-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Akio Tanikawa
- Laboratory of Biodiversity Science, School of Agriculture & Life Sciences, University of Tokyo, Yayoi 1-1-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
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46
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Jackson RR, Deng C, Cross FR. Convergence between a mosquito-eating predator's natural diet and its prey-choice behaviour. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2016; 3:160584. [PMID: 28083103 PMCID: PMC5210685 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.160584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2016] [Accepted: 11/08/2016] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
On the basis of 1115 records of Evarcha culicivora feeding in the field, we can characterize this East African jumping spider (Salticidae) as being distinctively stenophagic. We can also, on the basis of laboratory prey-choice experiments, characterize E. culicivora as having a specialized prey-classification system and a hierarchy of innate preferences for various categories of mosquitoes and other arthropods. Prey from the field belonged to 10 arthropod orders, but 94.5% of the prey records were dipterans. Mosquitoes were the dominant prey (80.2% of the records), with the majority (82.9%) of the mosquitoes being females, and thereafter midges were the most common prey (9.2% of the records). Preference profiles that were determined from experiments showed strong convergence with natural diet in some, but not all, instances. In experiments, E. culicivora adults appeared to distinguish between six prey categories and juveniles between seven, with blood-carrying anopheline female mosquitoes being ranked highest in preference. For adults, this was followed by blood-carrying culicine female mosquitoes and then anopheline female mosquitoes not carrying blood, but these two preferences were reversed for juveniles. Moreover, for juveniles, but not for adults, anopheline male mosquitoes seem to be a distinct prey category ranked in preference after blood-carrying culicine females and, for both adults and juveniles, preference for midges is evident when the alternatives are not mosquitoes. These findings illustrate the importance of going beyond simply specifying preferred prey categories when characterizing predators as 'specialized' and a need to make clear conceptual distinctions between a predator's natural diet, the prey categories that are relevant to the predator, and the predator's prey-choicebehaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert R. Jackson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Thomas Odhiambo Campus, PO Box 30, Mbita Point, Kenya
| | - Chan Deng
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Thomas Odhiambo Campus, PO Box 30, Mbita Point, Kenya
| | - Fiona R. Cross
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Thomas Odhiambo Campus, PO Box 30, Mbita Point, Kenya
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Benavides LR, Giribet G, Hormiga G. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of “pirate spiders” (Araneae, Mimetidae) with the description of a new African genus and the first report of maternal care in the family. Cladistics 2016; 33:375-405. [DOI: 10.1111/cla.12174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/30/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ligia R. Benavides
- Department of Biological Sciences; The George Washington University; Washington DC 20052 USA
- Museum of Comparative Zoology & Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology; Harvard University; 26 Oxford Street Cambridge MA 02138 USA
| | - Gonzalo Giribet
- Museum of Comparative Zoology & Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology; Harvard University; 26 Oxford Street Cambridge MA 02138 USA
| | - Gustavo Hormiga
- Department of Biological Sciences; The George Washington University; Washington DC 20052 USA
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48
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Nahas L, Gonzaga MO, Del-Claro K. Wandering and web spiders feeding on the nectar from extrafloral nectaries in neotropical savanna. J Zool (1987) 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- L. Nahas
- Universidade Federal de Uberlândia; Uberlândia MG Brazil
| | - M. O. Gonzaga
- Instituto de Biologia; Universidade Federal de Uberlândia; Uberlândia MG Brazil
| | - K. Del-Claro
- Instituto de Biologia; Universidade Federal de Uberlândia; Uberlândia MG Brazil
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49
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Krehenwinkel H, Kennedy S, Pekár S, Gillespie RG. A cost‐efficient and simple protocol to enrich prey
DNA
from extractions of predatory arthropods for large‐scale gut content analysis by Illumina sequencing. Methods Ecol Evol 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.12647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Henrik Krehenwinkel
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management University of California Berkeley 130 Mulford Hall #3114 Berkeley CA 94720 USA
| | - Susan Kennedy
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management University of California Berkeley 130 Mulford Hall #3114 Berkeley CA 94720 USA
| | - Stano Pekár
- Department of Botany and Zoology Faculty of Science Masaryk University Kotlářská 2 Brno 61137 Czech Republic
| | - Rosemary G. Gillespie
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management University of California Berkeley 130 Mulford Hall #3114 Berkeley CA 94720 USA
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50
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Michalko R, Pekár S. Different hunting strategies of generalist predators result in functional differences. Oecologia 2016; 181:1187-97. [PMID: 27098662 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-016-3631-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2015] [Accepted: 04/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The morphological, physiological, and behavioural traits of organisms are often used as surrogates for actual ecological functions. However, differences in these traits do not necessarily lead to functional differences and/or can be context-dependent. Therefore, it is necessary to explicitly test whether the surrogates have general ecological relevance. To investigate the relationship between the hunting strategies of predators (i.e., how, where, and when they hunt) and their function, we used euryphagous spiders as a model group. We used published data on the diet composition of 76 spider species based on natural prey and laboratory prey acceptance experiments. We computed differences in the position and width of trophic niches among pairs of sympatrically occurring species. Pairs were made at different classification levels, ranked according to the dissimilarity in their hunting strategies: congeners, confamiliars (as phylogenetic proxies for similarity in hunting strategy), species from the same main class of hunting strategy, from the same supra-class, and from different supra-classes. As for niche position computed from the natural prey analyses, species from the same class differed less than species from different classes. A similar pattern was obtained from the laboratory studies, but the congeners differed less than the species from the same classes. Niche widths were most similar among congeners and dissimilar among species from different supra-classes. Functional differences among euryphagous spiders increased continuously with increasing difference in their hunting strategy. The relative frequency of hunting strategies within spider assemblages can, therefore, influence the food webs through hunting strategy-specific predator-prey interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radek Michalko
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37, Brno, Czech Republic. .,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 Sciences, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37, Brno, Czech Republic
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