Asymmetry in spider orb webs: a result of physical constraints?

Herberstein, Marie E.; Heiling, Astrid M.

doi:10.1006/anbe.1999.1255

Cited by 60 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…In general orbweb spiders do not seem to improve their web-building skills with experience and show no major differences in web geometry throughout life (Pasquet et al, 2014), except that old spiders build webs that contain more errors (Anotaux et al, 2012). However, some minor differences are found in that older heavier, spiders build more vertically asymmetric webs, although this difference is likely caused by older spiders also being heavier (Herberstein and Heiling, 1999;Venner et al, 2013;Hesselberg, 2010;Nakata, 2010;Kuntner et al, 2010;Gregoric, 2013) and that early instar juveniles of species that as adults include a free sector often build webs without a free sector (Hesselberg, 2010). Although webbuilding behaviour in spiders appears to be innate, this does not mean that they do not show learning in other aspects.…”

Section: Learning and Memorymentioning

confidence: 78%

Exploration behaviour and behavioural flexibility in orb-web spiders: A review

Hesselberg

2015

Current Zoology

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Orb-web spiders and their webs constitute an ideal model system in which to study behavioural flexibility and spatial cognition in invertebrates due to the easily quantifiable nature of the orb web. A large number of studies demonstrate how spiders are able to modify the geometry of their webs in response to a range of different conditions including the ability to adapt their webs to spatial constraints. However, the mechanisms behind this impressive web-building flexibility in these cognitively limited animals remain poorly explored. One possible mechanism though may be spatial learning during the spiders' exploration of their immediate surroundings. This review discusses the importance of exploration behaviour, the reliance on simple behavioural rules, and the use of already laid threads as guidelines for web-building in orb-web spiders. The focus is on the spiders' ability to detect and adapt their webs to space limitations and other spatial disruptions. I will also review the few published studies on how spatial information is gathered during the exploration phase and discuss the possibility of the use of 'cognitive map'-like processes in spiders. Finally, the review provides suggestions for designing experimental studies to shed light on whether spiders gather metric information during the site exploration (cognitive map hypothesis) or rely on more simple binary information in combination with previously laid threads to build their webs (stigmergy hypothesis) [Current Zoology 61 (2): 313-327, 2015].

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Section: Learning and Memorymentioning

confidence: 78%

Exploration behaviour and behavioural flexibility in orb-web spiders: A review

Hesselberg

2015

Current Zoology

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“…Previous studies on 'typical' orb-webs have shown there is a tendency for larger spiders to build webs with larger lower sections (e.g. Herberstein and Heiling 1999). This is likely a response to gravity; spiders can move down the web faster than they can move up (Masters and Moffat 1983).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Elongated orb-webs of Australian ladder-web spiders (Araneidae: Telaprocera) and the significance of orb-web elongation

Harmer

2009

J Ethol

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“…Thus they may not be limited by the amount of food they can ingest. Nevertheless, weight gain through internal food storage is still costly as it interferes with locomotion (Herberstein and Heiling 1999). Despite physiological and behavioural adaptations to maximise food intake, spiders in general, and the genus Nephila specifically, experience limitations in food supply over time (Wise 1993).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Frequency, composition and variation in external food stores constructed by orb-web spiders: Nephila edulis and Nephila plumipes (Araneae : Araneoidea)

Griffiths¹,

Holwell²,

Herberstein³

et al. 2003

Aust. J. Zool.

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Few examples of food hoarding have been documented in spiders, yet two Australian species of orb-web spiders, Nephila edulis and N. plumipes, typically incorporate previously captured prey into the web. The effect of prey density and prey-encounter rate on the storage behaviour of adult female N. edulis was tested in the laboratory. Prey density had a significant effect on the propensity to construct external caches: when more food was available, food caches were larger than when the supply of prey was limited. Caching behaviour also differed with the rate of prey encounter, even though the total amount of food supplied was the same. When prey were encountered at constant rates, spiders allocated more food to external storage compared with random encounter rates. Finally, we tested the quality of different prey types for external or internal storage. N. edulis were fed with blow-flies or crickets, and these prey were stored in the web, discarded or totally consumed. Crickets were typically consumed or stored, while flies were more frequently discarded. Field observations of the storage behaviour in N. edulis and N. plumipes found surprising differences in the composition of the cache. While N. plumipes incorporated only animal material, N. edulis also utilised plant material, suggesting that the storage band in N. edulis has other, non-food-storing functions. Field experiments indicated that the presence or absence of external stores in the web of N. plumipes had no influence on mortality, weight gain, or the presence of Argyrodes kleptoparasites.

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Asymmetry in spider orb webs: a result of physical constraints?

Cited by 60 publications

References 21 publications

Exploration behaviour and behavioural flexibility in orb-web spiders: A review

Exploration behaviour and behavioural flexibility in orb-web spiders: A review

Elongated orb-webs of Australian ladder-web spiders (Araneidae: Telaprocera) and the significance of orb-web elongation

Frequency, composition and variation in external food stores constructed by orb-web spiders: Nephila edulis and Nephila plumipes (Araneae : Araneoidea)

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