The effect of food deprivation on aeronautic dispersal behaviour (ballooning) inErigone spp. spiders |
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| Authors: | G. S. Weyman K. D. Sunderland J. S. Fenlon |
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| Affiliation: | (1) Biology Department, Bassett Crescent East, University of Southampton, SO9 3TU Southampton, UK;(2) Horticulture Research International, Worthing Road, BN17 6LP Littlehampton, UK |
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| Abstract: | Adult male and femaleErigone spp. (Araneae: Linyphiidae) spiders were kept without food for several days. Groups of spiders were tested for aeronautic dispersal behaviour (ballooning) in the laboratory. The validity of the assessment method was tested. In comparison with satiated spiders, the starved group exhibited an increased tendency to engage in aeronautic dispersal behaviour. A consistent trend for increased dispersal behaviour was detected in three independent experiments. Implications for spiders in agro-ecosystems are discussed briefly. |
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| Keywords: | spider dispersal aeronautic behaviour ballooning starvation effects agro-ecosystems |
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