scholarly journals High-performance spider webs: integrating biomechanics, ecology and behaviour

2010 ◽  
Vol 8 (57) ◽  
pp. 457-471 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron M. T. Harmer ◽  
Todd A. Blackledge ◽  
Joshua S. Madin ◽  
Marie E. Herberstein
Keyword(s):  
High Performance ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Spider Webs ◽  
Spider Dragline Silk ◽  
Spider Web ◽  
Web Spider ◽  
Species Invasions ◽  
Synthetic Materials ◽  
Orb Web ◽  
Spider Silks

Spider silks exhibit remarkable properties, surpassing most natural and synthetic materials in both strength and toughness. Orb-web spider dragline silk is the focus of intense research by material scientists attempting to mimic these naturally produced fibres. However, biomechanical research on spider silks is often removed from the context of web ecology and spider foraging behaviour. Similarly, evolutionary and ecological research on spiders rarely considers the significance of silk properties. Here, we highlight the critical need to integrate biomechanical and ecological perspectives on spider silks to generate a better understanding of (i) how silk biomechanics and web architectures interacted to influence spider web evolution along different structural pathways, and (ii) how silks function in an ecological context, which may identify novel silk applications. An integrative, mechanistic approach to understanding silk and web function, as well as the selective pressures driving their evolution, will help uncover the potential impacts of environmental change and species invasions (of both spiders and prey) on spider success. Integrating these fields will also allow us to take advantage of the remarkable properties of spider silks, expanding the range of possible silk applications from single threads to two- and three-dimensional thread networks.

scholarly journals In situ three-dimensional spider web construction and mechanics

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (33) ◽  
pp. e2101296118
Author(s):  
Isabelle Su ◽  
Neosha Narayanan ◽  
Marcos A. Logrono ◽  
Kai Guo ◽  
Ally Bisshop ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Self Assembly ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Mechanical Performance ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Hierarchical Structures ◽  
Spider Webs ◽  
Spider Web ◽  
Web Geometry ◽  
Under Construction ◽  
The Web

Spiders are nature’s engineers that build lightweight and high-performance web architectures often several times their size and with very few supports; however, little is known about web mechanics and geometries throughout construction, especially for three-dimensional (3D) spider webs. In this work, we investigate the structure and mechanics for a Tidarren sisyphoides spider web at varying stages of construction. This is accomplished by imaging, modeling, and simulations throughout the web-building process to capture changes in the natural web geometry and the mechanical properties. We show that the foundation of the web geometry, strength, and functionality is created during the first 2 d of construction, after which the spider reinforces the existing network with limited expansion of the structure within the frame. A better understanding of the biological and mechanical performance of the 3D spider web under construction could inspire sustainable robust and resilient fiber networks, complex materials, structures, scaffolding, and self-assembly strategies for hierarchical structures and inspire additive manufacturing methods such as 3D printing as well as inspire artistic and architectural and engineering applications.

A natural history of web decorations in the St Andrew's Cross spider (Argiope keyserlingi)

2007 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dinesh Rao ◽  
Ken Cheng ◽  
Marie E. Herberstein
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Sustained Attention ◽  
Spider Webs ◽  
History Data ◽  
Web Spider ◽  
Exact Function ◽  
History Of ◽  
Argiope Keyserlingi ◽  
Orb Web ◽  
The Web

A long-running debate in the spider literature concerns the function of the extra silk decorations in some spider webs. These decorations are appended to the web and constitute a highly visible signal, which is inconsistent with the trend towards web invisibility. Despite the sustained attention of researchers, the exact function of these decorations is yet to be understood. While most studies have focussed on testing particular hypotheses, there has been a dearth of natural history data regarding web decorations in field conditions. In this study we present baseline data regarding the influence of seasonality, microhabitat characteristics and ecology on the presence of web decorations in an Australian orb web spider, Argiope keyserlingi. In particular, we show that there is preference among spiders to build their webs between bushes and to face the south-east, but this preference does not influence decoration building.

SILK MEDIATED DEFENSE BY AN ORB WEB SPIDER AGAINST PREDATORY MUD-DAUBER WASPS

Behaviour ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 138 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Todd Blackledge ◽  
John Wenzel
Keyword(s):  
Web Sites ◽  
Predation Pressure ◽  
Spider Webs ◽  
Web Spider ◽  
Orb Web ◽  
Argiope Trifasciata

AbstractStabilimenta are zigzag and spiral designs of seemingly conspicuous silk included at the centers of many spider webs. We examined the association of stabilimenta with the ability of spiders to defend themselves against predatory mud-dauber wasps. We found that Argiope trifasciata (Araneae, Araneidae) were significantly more likely to survive attacks by Chalybion caeruleum and Sceliphron caementarium (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae) when spiders included stabilimenta in webs. This association could not be explained by factors such as differences in sizes or conditions of spiders nor locations of webs. We suggest that stabilimenta may function to delay pursuit of spiders as they drop from webs by physically blocking wasps, camouflaging spiders or distracting attacking wasps. Stabilimenta may function in a role very similar to the retreats built by many other genera of spiders and appear to be an adaptation to reduce the predation pressure faced by spiders that have evolved foraging habits at highly exposed diurnal web sites.

scholarly journals Golden orb-weaving spider (Trichonephila clavipes) silk genes with sex-biased expression and atypical architectures

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra M Correa-Garhwal ◽  
Paul L Babb ◽  
Benjamin F Voight ◽  
Cheryl Y Hayashi
Keyword(s):  
High Performance ◽  
Repetitive Sequences ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Expression Studies ◽  
Evolutionarily Conserved ◽  
Silk Glands ◽  
Spl Genes ◽  
Orb Web ◽  
Gene Expression Studies ◽  
Spider Silks

Abstract Spider silks are renowned for their high-performance mechanical properties. Contributing to these properties are proteins encoded by the spidroin (spider fibroin) gene family. Spidroins have been discovered mostly through cDNA studies of females based on the presence of conserved terminal regions and a repetitive central region. Recently, genome sequencing of the golden orb-web weaver, Trichonephila clavipes, provided a complete picture of spidroin diversity. Here, we refine the annotation of T. clavipes spidroin genes including the reclassification of some as non-spidroins. We rename these non-spidroins as spidroin-like (SpL) genes because they have repetitive sequences and amino acid compositions like spidroins, but entirely lack the archetypal terminal domains of spidroins. Insight into the function of these spidroin and SpL genes was then examined through tissue- and sex-specific gene expression studies. Using qPCR, we show that some silk genes are upregulated in male silk glands compared to females, despite males producing less silk in general. We also find that an enigmatic spidroin that lacks a spidroin C-terminal domain is highly expressed in silk glands, suggesting that spidroins could assemble into fibers without a canonical terminal region. Further, we show that two SpL genes are expressed in silk glands, with one gene highly evolutionarily conserved across species, providing evidence that particular SpL genes are important to silk production. Together, these findings challenge long-standing paradigms regarding the evolutionary and functional significance of the proteins and conserved motifs essential for producing spider silks.

Three-dimensional spider-web architecture assembled from Na2Ti3O7 nanotubes as a high performance anode for a sodium-ion battery

2014 ◽  
Vol 50 (90) ◽  
pp. 14029-14032 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuping Zhang ◽  
Lin Guo ◽  
Shihe Yang
Keyword(s):  
High Performance ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Sodium Ion ◽  
Sodium Ion Battery ◽  
Spider Web ◽  
Web Architecture

Na inserted/extracted into/from spider web-like architectures assembled from Na2Ti3O7 nanotubes behave as natural spiders feeding on themselves.

scholarly journals Dynamic environments do not appear to constrain spider web building behaviour

2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom Mulder ◽  
Lucas Wilkins ◽  
Beth Mortimer ◽  
Fritz Vollrath
Keyword(s):  
Wind Loading ◽  
Spider Webs ◽  
Spider Web ◽  
Thread Tension ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Orb Web ◽  
Araneus Diadematus ◽  
Orb Web Spiders ◽  
Building Behaviour ◽  
Web Building

AbstractMany laboratory experiments demonstrate how orb-web spiders change the architecture of their webs in response to prey, surroundings and wind loading. The overall shape of the web and a range of other web parameters are determined by frame and anchor threads. In the wild, unlike the lab, the anchor threads are attached to branches and leaves that are not stationary but move, which affects the thread tension field. Here we experimentally test the effect of a moving support structure on the construction behaviour and web-parameters of the garden cross spider Araneus diadematus. We found no significant differences in building behaviour between rigid and moving anchors in total time spent and total distance covered nor in the percentage of the total time spent and distance covered to build the three major web components: radials, auxiliary and capture spirals. Moreover, measured key parameters of web-geometry were equally unaffected. These results call for re-evaluation of common understanding of spider webs as thread tensions are often considered to be a major factor guiding the spider during construction and web-operation.

scholarly journals Imaging and analysis of a three-dimensional spider web architecture

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (146) ◽  
pp. 20180193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabelle Su ◽  
Zhao Qin ◽  
Tomás Saraceno ◽  
Adrian Krell ◽  
Roland Mühlethaler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Response ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Hierarchical Structures ◽  
Material Design ◽  
Spider Web ◽  
Topological Features ◽  
Web Architecture ◽  
Orb Web ◽  
2D Images ◽  
3D Web

Spiders are abundantly found in nature and most ecosystems, making up more than 47 000 species. This ecological success is in part due to the exceptional mechanics of the spider web, with its strength, toughness, elasticity and robustness, which originate from its hierarchical structures all the way from sequence design to web architecture. It is a unique example in nature of high-performance material design. In particular, to survive in different environments, spiders have optimized and adapted their web architecture by providing housing, protection, and an efficient tool for catching prey. The most studied web in literature is the two-dimensional (2D) orb web, which is composed of radial and spiral threads. However, only 10% of spider species are orb-web weavers, and three-dimensional (3D) webs, such as funnel, sheet or cobwebs, are much more abundant in nature. The complex spatial network and microscale size of silk fibres are significant challenges towards determining the topology of 3D webs, and only a limited number of previous studies have attempted to quantify their structure and properties. Here, we focus on developing an innovative experimental method to directly capture the complete digital 3D spider web architecture with micron scale resolution. We built an automatic segmentation and scanning platform to obtain high-resolution 2D images of individual cross-sections of the web that were illuminated by a sheet laser. We then developed image processing algorithms to reconstruct the digital 3D fibrous network by analysing the 2D images. This digital network provides a model that contains all of the structural and topological features of the porous regions of a 3D web with high fidelity, and when combined with a mechanical model of silk materials, will allow us to directly simulate and predict the mechanical response of a realistic 3D web under mechanical loads. Our work provides a practical tool to capture the architecture of sophisticated 3D webs, and could lead to studies of the relation between architecture, material and biological functions for numerous 3D spider web applications.

scholarly journals Modelling temperature and humidity effects on web performance: implications for predicting orb-web spider (Argiope spp.) foraging under Australian climate change scenarios

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
S J Blamires ◽  
W I Sellers
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Climate Change Scenarios ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Spider Webs ◽  
Web Performance ◽  
Web Spider ◽  
Australian Climate ◽  
Temperature And Humidity ◽  
Orb Web

Lay Summary. How climate change impacts animal extended phenotypes (EPs) is poorly understood. We modelled how temperature and humidity affects the ability of spider webs to intercept prey. We found humidity had negative effects at the extremes. Temperature, however, likely interacts with humidity to affect web tension and prey retention.

Sonification of a 3-D Spider Web and Reconstitution for Musical Composition Using Granular Synthesis

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 43-59
Author(s):  
Isabelle Su ◽  
Zhao Qin ◽  
Tomás Saraceno ◽  
Ally Bisshop ◽  
Roland Mühlethaler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Spatial Location ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Processing Parameters ◽  
Musical Composition ◽  
Web Data ◽  
Spider Webs ◽  
Spider Web ◽  
Granular Synthesis ◽  
The Web

Abstract Three-dimensional spider webs feature highly intricate fiber architectures, which can be represented via 3-D scanning and modeling. To allow novel interpretations of the key features of a 3-D Cyrtophora citricola spider web, we translate complex 3-D data from the original web model into music, using data sonification. We map the spider web data to audio parameters such as pitch, amplitude, and envelope. Paired with a visual representation, the resulting audio allows a unique and holistic immersion into the web that can describe features of the 3-D architecture (fiber distance, lengths, connectivity, and overall porosity of the structure) as a function of spatial location in the web. Using granular synthesis, we further develop a method to extract musical building blocks from the sonified web, transforming the original representation of the web data into new musical compositions. We build a new virtual, interactive musical instrument in which the physical 3-D web data are used to generate new variations in sound through exploration of different spatial locations and grain-processing parameters. The transformation of sound from grains to musical arrangements (variations of melody, rhythm, harmony, chords, etc.) is analogous to the natural bottom–up processing of proteins, resembling the design of sequence and higher-level hierarchical protein material organization from elementary chemical building blocks. The tools documented here open possibilities for creating virtual instruments based on spider webs for live performances and art installations, suggesting new possibilities for immersion into spider web data, and for exploring similarities between protein folding, on the one hand, and assembly and musical expression, on the other.

scholarly journals Distinct spinning patterns gain differentiated loading tolerance of silk thread anchorages in spiders with different ecology

2017 ◽  
Vol 284 (1859) ◽  
pp. 20171124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonas O. Wolff ◽  
Arie van der Meijden ◽  
Marie E. Herberstein
Keyword(s):  
High Performance ◽  
Dimensional Space ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Silk Thread ◽  
Extrinsic Factors ◽  
Orb Web ◽  
Orb Web Spiders ◽  
Building Behaviour ◽  
And Function

Building behaviour in animals extends biological functions beyond bodies. Many studies have emphasized the role of behavioural programmes, physiology and extrinsic factors for the structure and function of buildings. Structure attachments associated with animal constructions offer yet unrealized research opportunities. Spiders build a variety of one- to three-dimensional structures from silk fibres. The evolution of economic web shapes as a key for ecological success in spiders has been related to the emergence of high performance silks and thread coating glues. However, the role of thread anchorages has been widely neglected in those models. Here, we show that orb-web (Araneidae) and hunting spiders (Sparassidae) use different silk application patterns that determine the structure and robustness of the joint in silk thread anchorages. Silk anchorages of orb-web spiders show a greater robustness against different loading situations, whereas the silk anchorages of hunting spiders have their highest pull-off resistance when loaded parallel to the substrate along the direction of dragline spinning. This suggests that the behavioural ‘printing' of silk into attachment discs along with spinneret morphology was a prerequisite for the evolution of extended silk use in a three-dimensional space. This highlights the ecological role of attachments in the evolution of animal architectures.

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