Morphological, behavioral and chemical defenses against natural enemies in Harvestmen (Arachnida)

• Grant number: 20/05158-5
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: November 01, 2020
• End date: April 30, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Morphology of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: Rodrigo Hirata Willemart
• Grantee: Rodrigo Hirata Willemart
• Host Institution: Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades (EACH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: David Sillam-Dussès ; Felipe Malheiros Gawryszewski ; José Roberto Machado Cunha da Silva ; Luis Fernando Garcia ; Marcos Ryotaro Hara ; Mariana Dutra Fogaça ; Miriam Sannomiya ; Pedro Ismael da Silva Junior ; Tiago Falótico

Abstract

Animal defenses are often studied as a coherent and functional group of mechanisms that work against multiple predators, but that is usually not the case. Not much is known on the possibility specific defensive mechanisms are used against specific predators and that distinct defensive mechanisms have distinct efficiencies against different predators. Another unexplored aspect is the importance of habituation and memory in anti-predatory behavior, that being extremely relevant for potentially showing the relevance of the ability of learning in prey evolution. Finally, knowledge on the possibility that cuticular chemicals and exocrine glands can play a role against pathogens. Harvestmen (Arachnida) allow to investigate all of these subjects that are of high zoological, ecological, evolutionary and mechanistic interests. We intend to study these topics under the umbrella of protection against natural enemies. We will use behavioral analyses, histology, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, proteomics, chemical and physical analyses and a meta-analysis. The project will be conducted in collaboration with 6 graduate students and 11 PhD researchers, of which three from outside Brazil. (AU)

Scientific publications

(4)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

RODRIGO H. WILLEMART. The evolution of the concept of sensory ecology and the influence of behavioral ecology. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências, v. 95, 2023-05-29. (20/05158-5)

SILVA, NORTON FELIPE DOS SANTOS; WILLEMART, RODRIGO HIRATA; DA SILVA, JOSE ROBERTO MACHADO CUNHA; DA SILVA JUNIOR, PEDRO ISMAEL. rotein Components of the Arthrodial Membrane Gland in a Neotropical Harvestman (Arachnida, Opiliones. ACS OMEGA, DEC 2021. (13/07467-1, 20/05158-5)

MURAYAMA, GABRIEL PIMENTA; BARBOSA, BRUNA; WILLEMART, RODRIGO HIRATA. Experimental approach to the dislodging effect and the mortality of a pesticide in the yellow scorpion Tityus serrulatus. PLoS One, v. 18, n. 7, p. 10-pg., 2023-07-27. (20/05158-5)

NORTON FELIPE DOS SANTOS SILVA; PEDRO LUIZ MAILHO-FONTANA; PEDRO ISMAEL DA SILVA-JUNIOR; JOSÉ ROBERTO MACHADO CUNHA DA SILVA; RODRIGO HIRATA WILLEMART. Morphology of the arthrodial membrane gland in a Neotropical harvester (Arachnida: Opiliones). Zoologia, v. 40, 2023-07-17. (13/07467-1, 20/05158-5)