16022

The influence of prey on size, capture area and mesh height of the orb-web of the garden spider, Argiope aemula (Walckenaer, 1841) (Araneaea: Araneidae)

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Last updated: 03 Jan 2025

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Abstract

The orb-web garden spider Argiope aemula (Walckenaer, 1841) is a sit-and-wait predator.  It is argued that it can anticipate its future prey environment by detecting the presence of prey and adjusting their web building behavior accordingly. Therefore this study therefore investigates the influence of the different prey sizes and density of the capture area and mesh height of the webs constructed by the spider. In the laboratory, the spiders were given prey with different size and densities to determine their influence on the web architecture. Results show that spider individuals can increase or decrease the sizes of webs, capture area, and mesh height in response to prey size and density. Starved spiders constructed significantly larger webs than well-fed spiders.  In the absence of potential prey, the spiders constructed larger capture area. In the presence of small prey, spiders significantly constructed very narrow- meshed webs or tightly spaced capture spirals than the presence of larger prey but larger than in no prey regime. Similarly, the food deprived spiders spun small-spaced mesh height than well-fed spiders. The results of the present study demonstrate that spiders can manipulate their web architecture in response to different prey sizes and food availability (densities).

DOI

10.21608/eajbsz.2009.16022

Keywords

Argiope aemula (Walckenaer, 1841), stabilimentum, web size, web capture area, web mesh height

Authors

First Name

Liza

Last Name

Abrenica-Adamat

MiddleName

R. -

Affiliation

Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science and Mathematics, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, 9200 Iligan City, Philippines

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Orcid

-

First Name

Mark

Last Name

Torres

MiddleName

Anthony J.

Affiliation

Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science and Mathematics, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, 9200 Iligan City, Philippines

Email

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City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

Adelina

Last Name

Barrion

MiddleName

A.

Affiliation

Institute of Biological Sciences, U.P. Los Bańos Laguna, Philippines

Email

-

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

Aimee Lynn

Last Name

Dupo

MiddleName

B.

Affiliation

Institute of Biological Sciences, U.P. Los Bańos Laguna, Philippines

Email

-

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

Cesar

Last Name

Demayo

MiddleName

G.

Affiliation

Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science and Mathematics, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, 9200 Iligan City, Philippines

Email

-

City

-

Orcid

-

Volume

1

Article Issue

1

Related Issue

3423

Issue Date

2009-12-01

Receive Date

2018-10-06

Publish Date

2009-12-01

Page Start

65

Page End

71

Print ISSN

2090-0759

Online ISSN

2090-0821

Link

https://eajbsz.journals.ekb.eg/article_16022.html

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https://eajbsz.journals.ekb.eg/service?article_code=16022

Order

6

Type

Original Article

Type Code

672

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

Egyptian Academic Journal of Biological Sciences, B. Zoology

Publication Link

https://eajbsz.journals.ekb.eg/

MainTitle

The influence of prey on size, capture area and mesh height of the orb-web of the garden spider, Argiope aemula (Walckenaer, 1841) (Araneaea: Araneidae)

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Article

Created At

22 Jan 2023