Species cohesion despite extreme inbreeding in a social spider

Johannesen, Jens; Moritz, Robin F. A.; Simunek, Hagen; Seibt, Uta; Wickler, Wolfgang

doi:10.1111/j.1420-9101.2009.01721.x

Cited by 11 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…) and E (in South Africa, Johannesen et al. ), were found among our samples (GenBank KX363490, KX363491, KX363488, KX363489). All colonies at Spioenkop Reserve (14 colonies, 16 females, and 15 males) and Spioenkop Lodge (10 colonies, nine females, nine males) shared the same mtDNA haplotype, E1.1; all four mtDNA haplotypes were observed in the Weenen collection site (26 colonies, 67 females, 61 males).…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 65%

“…Resulting sequences were aligned with published sequences from S. dumicola (Johannesen et al. , ) in MEGA5 (Tamura et al. ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Dispersal of offspring is suppressed and the young mature within their natal colony. Population genetic studies of several social spider species have shown that mating occurs primarily among colony mates and that there is low genetic variation within colonies and across the species, compared with related solitary species (Lubin and Crozier 1985;Smith , 1987Roeloffs and Riechert 1988;Smith and Engel 1994;Smith and Hagen 1996;Johannesen et al 2009Johannesen et al , 2012Smith et al 2009;Settepani et al 2014). New colonies are initiated by division or budding of existing colonies, or by one or a few adult mated females dispersing by walking or ballooning.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Population genetic evidence for sex‐specific dispersal in an inbred social spider

Smith

Berger-Tal

et al. 2016

Ecology and Evolution

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Dispersal in most group‐living species ensures gene flow among groups, but in cooperative social spiders, juvenile dispersal is suppressed and colonies are highly inbred. It has been suggested that such inbred sociality is advantageous in the short term, but likely to lead to extinction or reduced speciation rates in the long run. In this situation, very low levels of dispersal and gene flow among colonies may have unusually important impacts on fitness and persistence of social spiders. We investigated sex‐specific differences in dispersal and gene flow among colonies, as reflected in the genetic structure within colonies and populations of the African social spider Stegodyphus dumicola Pocock, 1898 (Eresidae). We used DNA fingerprinting and mtDNA sequence data along with spatial mapping of colonies to compare male and female patterns of relatedness within and among colonies at three study sites. Samples were collected during and shortly after the mating season to detect sex‐specific dispersal. Distribution of mtDNA haplotypes was consistent with proliferation of social nests by budding and medium‐ to long‐distance dispersal by ballooning females. Analysis of molecular variance and spatial autocorrelation analyses of AFLPs showed high levels of genetic similarity within colonies, and STRUCTURE analyses revealed that the number of source populations contributing to colonies ranged from one to three. We also showed significant evidence of male dispersal among colonies at one site. These results support the hypothesis that in social spiders, genetic cohesion among populations is maintained by long‐distance dispersal of female colony founders. Genetic diversity within colonies is maintained by colony initiation by multiple dispersing females, and adult male dispersal over short distances. Male dispersal may be particularly important in maintaining gene flow among colonies in local populations.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 65%

“…Resulting sequences were aligned with published sequences from S. dumicola (Johannesen et al. , ) in MEGA5 (Tamura et al. ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Population genetic evidence for sex‐specific dispersal in an inbred social spider

Smith

Berger-Tal

et al. 2016

Ecology and Evolution

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“…Although there is evidence for long‐distance dispersal probably mediated by ballooning in Stegodyphus (Schneider et al. 2001; Johannesen et al. 2005, 2009a), another spider genus with multiple origins of sociality, such mechanism has not been documented for Anelosimus .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sociality level correlates with dispersal ability in spiders

et al. 2012

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Summary1. The evolution of sociality alters the genetic structure of populations, often leading to an increase in the level of inbreeding and a concomitant decrease in the ratio between the benefits and costs of dispersal. 2. The association between an absence of dispersal and sociality in spiders has so far been established indirectly from the age distribution of colonies, their genetic structure and their sex ratio. Using a functional and mechanistic approach, we investigated the dispersal tendencies and abilities of individuals of both sexes in species of spiders with different degrees of sociality. We predicted that dispersal tendencies and abilities would decrease when sociality increased. 3. In seven species of Anelosimus (Theridiidae), we tested whether there is a sharp transition between dispersing subsocial species and non-dispersing social ones, or whether dispersal ability decreases more gradually as level of sociality increases and whether both sexes are equally affected. Our assays measured the propensity and ability to bridge, a common aerial locomotion mode in spiders that is especially relevant during pre-mating dispersal. 4. We found that the tendency to disperse by bridging and, at least in males, the ability to disperse, significantly decrease as the level of sociality increases, and that this occurs without a pronounced threshold between subsocial and social species. Additionally, we detected a reduction of leg length relative to body size with increasing sociality and decreasing dispersal abilities in males, which may be mechanistically related to their reduced ability to bridge. 5. We propose that the loss of dispersal ability associated with the evolution of sociality in spiders, especially in males, could contribute to the maintenance of their inbred social systems by substantially increasing dispersal costs.

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“…The solitary species are typically found in small shrubs or low vegetation. To compile a data set for species distribution analyses, species records were collected from all available sources (publications, online databases and field records) [27,28,58,59] & references therein. Every Stegodyphus record obtained was georeferenced [60] to produce a spatial map of locality records for all species (Figure 1).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat productivity constrains the distribution of social spiders across continents – case study of the genus Stegodyphus

2013

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IntroductionSociality has evolved independently multiple times across the spider phylogeny, and despite wide taxonomic and geographical breadth the social species are characterized by a common geographical constrain to tropical and subtropical areas. Here we investigate the environmental factors that drive macro-ecological patterns in social and solitary species in a genus that shows a Mediterranean–Afro-Oriental distribution (Stegodyphus). Both selected drivers (productivity and seasonality) may affect the abundance of potential prey insects, but seasonality may further directly affect survival due to mortality caused by extreme climatic events. Based on a comprehensive dataset including information about the distribution of three independently derived social species and 13 solitary congeners we tested the hypotheses that the distribution of social Stegodyphus species relative to solitary congeners is: (1) restricted to habitats of high vegetation productivity and (2) constrained to areas with a stable climate (low precipitation seasonality).ResultsUsing spatial logistic regression modelling and information-theoretic model selection, we show that social species occur at higher vegetation productivity than solitary, while precipitation seasonality received limited support as a predictor of social spider occurrence. An analysis of insect biomass data across the Stegodyphus distribution range confirmed that vegetation productivity is positively correlated to potential insect prey biomass.ConclusionsHabitat productivity constrains the distribution of social spiders across continents compared to their solitary congeners, with group-living in spiders being restricted to areas with relatively high vegetation productivity and insect prey biomass. As known for other taxa, permanent sociality likely evolves in response to high predation pressure and imposes within-group competition for resources. Our results suggest that group living is contingent upon productive environmental conditions where elevated prey abundance meet the increased demand for food of social groups.

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Species cohesion despite extreme inbreeding in a social spider

Cited by 11 publications

References 33 publications

Population genetic evidence for sex‐specific dispersal in an inbred social spider

Population genetic evidence for sex‐specific dispersal in an inbred social spider

Sociality level correlates with dispersal ability in spiders

Habitat productivity constrains the distribution of social spiders across continents – case study of the genus Stegodyphus

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