Influence of web traits, height, and daily periods of exposition on prey captured by orb-weaver spiders

Autor(es)

Xavier, Gabriel Maximo ^[1] ; Quero, Adilson ^[1] ; Moura, Rafael Rios ^{[1, 2]} ; Vieira, Camila ^[1] ; Meira, Felipe Andre ^[1] ; Gonzaga, Marcelo Oliveira ^[3]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Fed Uberlandia, Inst Biol, Posgrad Ecol & Conservacao Recursos Nat, Uberlandia, MG - Brazil

^[2] Univ Estado Minas Gerais, Dept Ciencias Agr & Nat, Nucleo Extensao & Pesquisa Ecol & Evolucao NEPEE, Ituiutaba, MG - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Uberlandia, Inst Biol, Campus Umuarama, Bloco 2D, BR-38400902 Uberlandia, MG - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Behavioural Processes; v. 193, DEC 2021.
• Citações Web of Science: 0

Resumo

Orb-webs show diversity in several traits, including silk types, architecture, physical properties, locale, and period of exposition. The investigation of how they determine the identity of intercepted prey is important to functional ecology and to the evaluation of trophic niche partitioning within communities. However, the influence of several of these variables on the composition of intercepted insects remains to be determined. In this study, we evaluated the effects of web architectural traits, height, and daily periods of exposition on the interception of different insects in terms of sizes, masses, and taxa. We conducted observations of prey intercepted by the orb webs of 16 sympatric spider species and artificial webs. We found that all orb webs mainly intercepted small and light insects, sharing the most abundant insect families found in the study area. However, spiders that show nocturnal activity, more radii in their webs, large and high webs captured heavier insects. Other orb-web traits, such as the density of capture threads did not influence the kind of intercepted insects. We discuss why some variables affected prey interceptions in terms of mass. Finally, we discuss the implications of these influential variables to functional ecology, niche differentiation, and how behavioral assessments can complete this investigation in future studies. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 17/14196-5 - Variações interpopulacionais no sistema de acasalamento e sucesso reprodutivo de Manogea porracea (Araneae, Araneidae), uma aranha com cuidado anfisexual
• Beneficiário: Rafael Rios Moura
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado