A phylogenetic analysis of the orb-weaving spider family Araneidae (Arachnida, Araneae)

Scharff, Nikolaj; Coddington, Jonathan A.

doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1997.tb01281.x

Cited by 256 publications

(413 citation statements)

References 67 publications

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“…These sequences encode multiple functionally distinct proteins: (i) Flag, forms orb-web capture spiral (26); (ii) MaSp, orb web radii, frame, and dragline (13,14); (iii) AcSp, sperm web, prey wrapping, and web decorations (9); and (iv) MiSp, temporary orb-web spiral (24). Also included were C termini of silks that cannot presently be assigned to a functional category (e.g., Within an ortholog group, evidence suggests that topology reflects species phylogeny: deinopoid TuSp1 C termini are united, and topology among the Latrodectus and araneid TuSp1 is consistent with expected phylogenetic relationships in these two groups (39,40). However, rather than grouping with the araneid TuSp1 C termini, Latrodectus TuSp1 unexpectedly appeared more closely related to the deinopoid sequences.…”

Section: Termini Phylogeny Confirms That Tusp1 Belongs To the Spidroinmentioning

confidence: 84%

“…cDNA repeats, suggesting that complete homogenization of variant repeat units does not necessarily accompany speciation events but will presumably occur given a sufficient period of reproductive isolation (36). Although repeats within a gene are not evolving independently, the branching order of repeat unit clades reflected higher-level phylogenetic relationships: (i) deinopoids are united (37); (ii) araneoids are united (38); (iii) a theridiid cluster depicts Steatoda as sister to Latrodectus (39); and (iv) the araneid cluster unites Argiope to the exclusion of Gea (40). The sequence conservation of these repeats across Deinopoidea and Araneoidea, taxa that diverged at least 125 million years ago (41), suggests the operation of strong functional constraints on TuSp1, possibly explaining its retention of phylogenetic signal.…”

Section: Homogeneity Of Intragenic Repeats Provides Evidence Of Concementioning

confidence: 99%

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Modular evolution of egg case silk genes across orb-weaving spider superfamilies

Garb

Hayashi

2005

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

110

132

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Spider silk proteins (fibroins) are renowned for their extraordinary mechanical properties and biomimetic potential. Despite extensive evolutionary, ecological, and industrial interest in these fibroins, only a fraction of the known silk types have been characterized at the molecular level. Here we report cDNA and genomic sequences of the fibroin TuSp1, which appears to be the major component of tubuliform gland silk, a fiber exclusively synthesized by female spiders for egg case construction. We obtained TuSp1 sequences from 12 spider species that represent the extremes of phylogenetic diversity within the Orbicularia (orb-weaver superfamilies, Araneoidea and Deinopoidea) and finer scale sampling within genera. TuSp1 encodes tandem arrays of an Ϸ200-aa-long repeat unit and individual repeats are readily aligned, even among species that diverged >125 million years ago. Analyses of these repeats across species reveal the strong influence of concerted evolution, resulting in intragenic homogenization. However, deinopoid TuSp1 repeats also contain insertions of coding, minisatellite-like sequences, an apparent result of replication slippage and nonreciprocal recombination. Phylogenetic analyses of 37 spider fibroin sequences support the monophyly of TuSp1 within the spider fibroin gene family, consistent with a single origin of this ortholog group. The diversity of taxa and silks examined here confirms that repetitive architecture is a general feature of this gene family. Moreover, we show that TuSp1 provides a clear example of modular evolution across a range of phylogenetic levels. concerted evolution ͉ fibroin ͉ gene family ͉ spider silk ͉ TuSp1

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Section: Termini Phylogeny Confirms That Tusp1 Belongs To the Spidroinmentioning

confidence: 84%

Section: Homogeneity Of Intragenic Repeats Provides Evidence Of Concementioning

confidence: 99%

Modular evolution of egg case silk genes across orb-weaving spider superfamilies

Garb

Hayashi

2005

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

110

132

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“…It is noteworthy that the two species, A. tasmaniensis and A. djuka, constitute the tasmaniensis-group in the cladistic analysis of Harms and Harvey (2009b), sister to all other Australomimetus species included in that analysis. Possession of 2° MiA has been considered the plesiomorphic condition for araneoids on phylogenetic grounds (Forster et al 1990, Scharff and Coddington 1997, Griswold et al 1998, which remains valid despite substantial changes proposed in higher-level spider phylogeny in recent years (Bond et al 2014, Fernández et al 2014, Garrison et al 2016, Wheeler et al 2016). The consistent occurrence of an apparent phylogenetic 2° MiA nubbin on the PMS of 1 st instars of A. djuka corroborates this view, clearly indicating the absence of 2° MiA in this species represents a secondary loss.…”

Section: Cylindrical Silk Gland (Cy) Spigotsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative study of spinning field development in two species of araneophagic spiders (Araneae, Mimetidae, Australomimetus)

Townley¹,

Harms²

2017

EvolSyst

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External studies of spider spinning fields allow us to make inferences about internal silk gland biology, including what happens to silk glands when the spider molts. Such studies often focus on adults, but juveniles can provide additional insight on spinning apparatus development and character polarity. Here we document and describe spinning fields at all stadia in two species of pirate spider (Mimetidae: Australomimetus spinosus, A. djuka). Pirate spiders nest within the ecribellate orb-building spiders (Araneoidea), but are vagrant, araneophagic members that do not build prey-capture webs. Correspondingly, they lack aggregate and flagelliform silk glands (AG, FL), specialized for forming prey-capture lines in araneoid orb webs. However, occasional possible vestiges of an AG or FL spigot, as observed in one juvenile A. spinosus specimen, are consistent with secondary loss of AG and FL. By comparing spigots from one stadium to tartipores from the next stadium, silk glands can be divided into those that are tartipore-accommodated (T-A), and thus functional during proecdysis, and those that are not (non-T-A). Though evidence was more extensive in A. spinosus, it was likely true for both species that the number of non-T-A piriform silk glands (PI) was constant (two pairs) through all stadia, while numbers of T-A PI rose incrementally. The two species differed in that A. spinosus had T-A minor ampullate and aciniform silk glands (MiA, AC) that were absent in A. djuka. First instars of A. djuka, however, appeared to retain vestiges of T-A MiA spigots, consistent with a plesiomorphic state in which T-A MiA (called secondary MiA) are present. T-A AC have not previously been observed in Australomimetus and the arrangement of their spigots on posterior lateral spinnerets was unlike that seen thus far in other mimetid genera. Though new AC and T-A PI apparently form throughout much of a spider's ontogeny, recurring spigot/tartipore arrangements indicated that AC and PI, after functioning during one stadium, were used again in each subsequent stadium (if non-T-A) or in alternate subsequent stadia (if T-A). In A. spinosus, sexual and geographic dimorphisms involving AC were noted. Cylindrical silk gland (CY) spigots were observed in mid-to-late juvenile, as well as adult, females of both species. Their use in juveniles, however, should not be assumed and only adult CY spigots had wide openings typical of mimetids. Neither species exhibited two pairs of modified PI spigots present in some adult male mimetids.

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“…According to Herberstein et al (1999), the attack behavior is influenced by both foraging history and type of prey. However, it is true both of orb weavers and theridiids that the form of the attack is known for so few orbiclularian genera that many other scenarios are possible (Scharff and Coddington 1997).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wrap attack of the spider Achaearanea tepidariorum (Araneae: Theridiidae) by preying on mealybugs Planococcus citri (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae)

Hajer¹,

Hrubá²

2006

J Ethol

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Predation by Achaearanea tepidariorum (Koch 1841) on mealybugs Planococcus citri (Risso 1813) is facilitated by the design of its web, which features a tangle of sticky gumfooted lines, and wrap attacks as well as the ability to handle the prey, whose body is covered with a waxy secretion, via silk. Crawling, i.e., wingless, mealybugs (in particular those in the nymphal stages and adult females and, to a lesser extent, winged males) are caught by means of the gumfooted lines, covered with globules of an adhesive secretion. The process of wrap attack and subsequent handling of the captured prey is a series of the following consecutive events: (1) confining and immobilising the mealybugs with sticky silk; (2) biting with chelicerae and paralyzing the prey with a toxin; (3) detaching the confined prey, attached to the tense threads, from the plant surface and catapulting it toward the central section of the web; (4) wrapping the catapulted prey in viscid silk emitted by the spinning apparatus; (5) transporting the wrapped prey to the central section of the web; (6) wrapping the prey in the central section of the web in nonsticky silk, whose tufts are present in this part of the web even before the attack; (7) filling the prey with digestive fluid; (8) sucking the prey empty; and (9) cleaning the chelicerae and mouth parts. The process of silk tuft wrapping was described for the first time. The described ability to hunt mealybugs implies the possibility of using A. tepidariorum spiders for biological control of these pests.

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A phylogenetic analysis of the orb-weaving spider family Araneidae (Arachnida, Araneae)

Cited by 256 publications

References 67 publications

Modular evolution of egg case silk genes across orb-weaving spider superfamilies

Modular evolution of egg case silk genes across orb-weaving spider superfamilies

Comparative study of spinning field development in two species of araneophagic spiders (Araneae, Mimetidae, Australomimetus)

Wrap attack of the spider Achaearanea tepidariorum (Araneae: Theridiidae) by preying on mealybugs Planococcus citri (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae)

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