Seasonal variations in body melanism and size of the wolf spider Pardosa astrigera (Araneae: Lycosidae) |
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| Authors: | Jinjian Yang Qijia Wu Rong Xiao Jupeng Zhao Jian Chen Xiaoguo Jiao |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Center for Behavioral Ecology & Evolution, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio‐Resources, College of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, China;2. Guangdong Entry‐Exit Inspection and Quarantine Technology Center, Guangzhou, China |
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| Abstract: | Variations in species morphology and life‐history traits strongly correlate with geographic and climatic characteristics. Most studies on morphological variations in animals focus on ectotherms distributed on a large geographic scale across latitudinal and/or altitudinal gradient. However, the morphological variations of spiders living in the same habitats across different seasons have not been reported. In this study, we used the wolf spider, Pardosa astrigera, as a model to determine seasonal differences in adult body size, melanism, fecundity, and egg diameter both in the overwintering and the first generation for 2010 and 2016. The results showed that in 2010, both females and males of the overwintering generation were significantly darker than the first generation. Moreover, the overwintering females were markedly larger and produced more and bigger eggs than the first generation in both 2010 and 2016. Considering the overwintering P. astrigera experiencing low temperature and/or desiccation stress, these results suggest that substantially darker and larger body of the overwintering generation is adaptive to adverse conditions. |
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| Keywords: | Bergmann's rule body melanism fecundity
Pardosa astrigera
phenotype plasticity seasonal variations |
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