Functional changes in web design along the ontogeny of two orb-weavers

Barrantes, Gilbert; Triana, Emilia; Sánchez-Quirós, Catalina

doi:10.1636/joa-s-16-026.1

Cited by 7 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Leucauge argyra increases the probability of prey interception (larger capture area), but Leucauge sp. seems to optimize stopping and retaining large prey, since webs of this species have more radii and spiral turns concentrated in a smaller web than L. argyra (Eberhard 2014;Barrantes et al 2017). In both species, the number of radii increases with body size, but with a steeper slope for L. argyra.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…than in L. argyra (Table 3). The main function of radii is to stop prey, and the function of the adhesive spiral is to retain prey; therefore, the probability of stopping, particularly large prey (Eberhard 2014), is expected to increase with the number of radii, and a large number of adhesive spiral turns would increase the probability of retaining prey (Eberhard 1990(Eberhard , 2014Zschokke 2000;Barrantes et al 2017). In this case, Leucauge sp.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Differences in web features between two sympatric Leucauge species (Araneae: Tetragnathidae) suggest a trade-off in prey capture strategy

Vargas-Gamboa

Barrantes

2021

The Journal of Arachnology

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The design of orb webs is affected by multiple abiotic (e.g., wind, available space), biotic (e.g., prey availability, predation), and species specific (e.g., spider size) factors. Thus, some features of each spider web are expected to reflect the combined effect of such factors. We compared the relationship of spider size and web inclination on the area of different sections of the orb web and other features (e.g., number or radii) between two sympatric Leucauge species (Leucauge sp., and L. argyra (Walckenaer, 1841), Tetragnathidae). Leucauge sp. was smaller and constructed smaller webs across a wider range of inclinations than L. argyra. Other features of the web, e.g., capture area, and hub area, but not the number of adhesive spiral turns and number of radii, were also larger in webs of L. argyra. The inclination was greater in webs of Leucauge sp., but the asymmetry of webs did not differ between species, though, it correlated negatively with the total area of the web of both species, as in other orb-weavers. The characteristics of each species' web suggest that L. argyra optimizes prey interception, while Leucauge sp. optimizes stopping and retention of large prey.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%