Synchronized contractive movement of Amaurobius ferox spiderlings |
| |
Authors: | K W Kim |
| |
Institution: | (1) Division of Life Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, University of Incheon, Incheon, 406-840, Republic of Korea |
| |
Abstract: | During the post-matriphagy period, Amaurobius ferox spiderlings (Araneae, Amaurobiidae) show synchronous movement, contracting their bodies simultaneously. This paper describes
this behavior for the first time and identifies influencing factors. The spiderlings’ contractions triggered by web vibration
caused by intruders result in a strong pulsation of the whole web that a single individual would not be able to induce by
itself. Repetition of the contractions was synchronized among individuals (n = 60 clutches). The movement appeared on the first day after matriphagy. The proportion of participants was maximum on the
third day post-matriphagy, when on average 60.7% of the individuals were involved; thereafter the synchronicity progressively
decreased. The spiderling groups performed contractions at the highest frequency on the fourth day post-matriphagy, and stopped
contracting after the second molt. Experiments using mechanical stimuli produced by an electronic vibrator and a cricket’s
movement showed that the vibrational intensity of the external stimuli was positively correlated with the number of contractions
performed. Nestmate presence increased the number of contractions performed by individuals, and members of densely packed
groups showed more contractions per individual than those in less dense groups. Contractions appeared only during the period
when the mother was absent (after matriphagy, or when the mother was removed after the first molt of spiderlings and before
matriphagy), and the young were not yet capable of capturing prey. Contractions may function as an antipredatory behavior. |
| |
Keywords: | |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|