Do seasonal changes in numbers of aerially dispersing spiders reflect population density on the ground or variation in ballooning motivation?

Weyman, Gabriel S.; Jepson, P. C.; Sunderland, K. D.

doi:10.1007/bf00329428

Cited by 43 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…These results also contradict the theory that aeronautic dispersal in agrobiont spiders is solely determined by the prevailing meteorological conditions during the life stage in which dispersal takes place (i.e., the dispersal window; ref. 39).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thermal conditions during juvenile development affect adult dispersal in a spider

Bonte

Travis

Clercq

et al. 2008

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

103

111

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Understanding the causes and consequences of dispersal is a prerequisite for the effective management of natural populations. Rather than treating dispersal as a fixed trait, it should be considered a plastic process that responds to both genetic and environmental conditions. Here, we consider how the ambient temperature experienced by juvenile Erigone atra, a spider inhabiting crop habitat, influences adult dispersal. This species exhibits 2 distinct forms of dispersal, ballooning (long distance) and rappelling (short distance). Using a half-sib design we raised individuals under 4 different temperature regimes and quantified the spiders' propensity to balloon and to rappel. Additionally, as an indicator of investment in settlement, we determined the size of the webs build by the spiders following dispersal. The optimal temperature regimes for reproduction and overall dispersal investment were 20°C and 25°C. Propensity to perform short-distance movements was lowest at 15°C, whereas for long-distance dispersal it was lowest at 30°C. Plasticity in dispersal was in the direction predicted on the basis of the risks associated with seasonal changes in habitat availability; long-distance ballooning occurred more frequently under cooler, spring-like conditions and short-distance rappelling under warmer, summer-like conditions. Based on these findings, we conclude that thermal conditions during development provide juvenile spiders with information about the environmental conditions they are likely to encounter as adults and that this information influences the spider's dispersal strategy. Climate change may result in suboptimal adult dispersal behavior, with potentially deleterious population level consequences.behavior ͉ body condition ͉ plasticity ͉ reaction norm ͉ silk T he movement of dispersing individuals or propagules may have important consequences for gene flow, the genetic cohesions of species, the global persistence of species in the face of local extinction, speciation, inbreeding depression, the evolution of sociality, and the evolution of life history traits (1-7). The dispersal phenotype is predominantly treated as a fixed property in theoretical studies dealing with dispersal evolution and its consequences for population persistence in changing environments (1). However, empirical work has demonstrated high levels of dispersal plasticity (1). This is as expected according to the hypothesis that unless variation in habitat quality is highly unpredictable or information acquisition is costly (1, 3), the most successful strategy over evolutionary time has been for individuals to make dispersal decisions based on information (8) obtained during their lifetime (i.e., for individuals to adopt a conditional strategy). There is mounting evidence that strong selection pressures emerging from global change (i.e., land use changes, climate change, species invasions, pollution) are influencing the evolution of dispersal rate and dispersal distance (1).Correlative and experimental studies have demonstrated rapid evo...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thermal conditions during juvenile development affect adult dispersal in a spider

Bonte

Travis

Clercq

et al. 2008

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

103

111

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Their strong tendency towards aerial dispersal by ballooning within disturbed habitats, such as those typical of agriculture, often result in linyphiid spiders being the first predatory group to arrive in cultivated areas (Weyman et al, 1995), and in these situations they are thought to limit the increases of pest populations before the arrival of more specific predators (Reichart and Lockley, 1984;Sunderland et al, 1986). Many studies have commented on the general distribution, life-cycle and behaviour of species from this spider family (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modelling populations of Erigone atra and E. dentipalpis (Araneae: Linyphiidae) across an agricultural gradient in Scotland

Downie¹,

Ribera²,

McCracken³

et al. 2000

Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment

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Linyphiid spiders are important generalist predators of insects in agricultural habitats. Their ability to rapidly disperse and colonise disturbed habitats makes them important as a natural form of pest control, often present before other predatory groups arrive. This paper examines the distribution of Erigone atra and E. dentipalpis, which are amongst the commonest linyphiid species to be found on agricultural land in Scotland. The habitat preferences of these species were assessed using abundance and proportion data from 71 independent sites sampled using pitfall traps over 2 years and a selection of repeat first-year sites sampled during the second year, incorporating a range of land-uses from extensive moorland, through grasslands to intensive arable fields. E. atra dominated in autumn sown crops, and E. dentipalpis dominated at the other end of the agricultural management spectrum in low-intensity grasslands. Both species were considered absent from upland and moorland habitats. Linear regression modelling was used to create a model which best estimated the variance in proportions of E. atra in the catch across the sites using a selection of vegetation, soil, management and landscape variables. This model was based on data from 58 sites where Erigone species were abundant and explained 66% of the variation in E. atra. The variables included were increasing vegetation biomass above 50 mm and increasing levels of mixed grazing (both positive), and a combination of increasing plant species richness and vegetation stem density (negative). The efficiency of the model was examined using data from 13 sites which were sampled in the subsequent year to assess the effects of no changes and changes in land-use on the proportions of the two species. Only two sites were considered inaccurate (more than 20% different from the model), suggesting a relatively high level of accuracy. Interaction between the two species was tested for and not found to explain the differences in proportion observed. Comparisons with other studies were carried out, showing similar trends in proportions and in some of the variables identified as important. The influence of specific variables on each species is described in light of possible allometric-type effects, and the importance of these species for conservation and pest control in agriculture is discussed. © 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. Downie et al. / Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 80 (2000) 15-28

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“…by quantifying the occurrence of series of stereotyped behaviours preceding take-off, termed tiptoe behaviour; Weyman 1993) at two spatial scales. The prevalence of this behaviour is a good precursor of effective aerial dispersal (Weyman et al 1995;D. Bonte, unpublished data), although we cannot separate inter-and intrapopulation dispersal, as this is determined by wind velocity (Bell et al 2005).…”

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confidence: 99%

Geographical variation in wolf spider dispersal behaviour is related to landscape structure

et al. 2006

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Theoretical studies suggest that mechanisms underlying habitat and population structure are important for shaping inter-and intraspecific variation in dispersal behaviour. Empirical evidence, especially in organisms living in spatially structured populations, however, is scarce. We investigated the relation between habitat configuration (patch size, connectivity) and dispersal by studying variation in tiptoe behaviour in the dune wolf spider, Pardosa monticola, under standardized laboratory conditions. Tiptoe behaviour prepares spiderlings for ballooning and can hence be considered as a precursor of aerial dispersal. The proportion of individuals that displayed tiptoe behaviour was highest in offspring from grasslands in a large dune landscape where habitat was continuously available, intermediate in offspring originating from a fragmented landscape, and lowest in offspring originating from a small and extremely isolated grassland patch. At the level of the fragmented landscape, variation was related to size and connectivity of four subpopulations. Both between and within landscapes, maternal condition had no effect on offspring dispersal. These results indicate that changes in habitat configuration from a large, connected landscape towards a small, fragmented one may lead to a decrease in dispersal rates, even at small spatial scales. Hence, behavioural traits narrowly linked to dispersal evolve towards less mobile phenotypes in small, isolated habitats, indicating high dispersal costs and low efficacy for gene flow in a spider species restricted to fragmented habitats.

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Do seasonal changes in numbers of aerially dispersing spiders reflect population density on the ground or variation in ballooning motivation?

Cited by 43 publications

References 14 publications

Thermal conditions during juvenile development affect adult dispersal in a spider

Thermal conditions during juvenile development affect adult dispersal in a spider

Modelling populations of Erigone atra and E. dentipalpis (Araneae: Linyphiidae) across an agricultural gradient in Scotland

Geographical variation in wolf spider dispersal behaviour is related to landscape structure

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