Differential oxidative costs of locomotory and genital damage in an orb-weaving spider

AbstractIn animals that regularly experience tissue loss, physiological responses may have evolved to overcome the related costs. Changes in oxidative status may reflect such self-maintenance mechanisms. Here, we investigated how markers of oxidative status varied in female orb-weaving spiders (Larinia jeskovi) by mimicking two distinct types of tissue loss they may naturally encounter: damage to their locomotory system and damage to their external genital structure, as inflicted by males to females during copulation (external female genital mutilation). Damage to the locomotory system resulted in a significant shift in the oxidative status reflecting investment into self-maintenance. In contrast, the loss of the genital structure did not result in quantitative changes of oxidative markers. The lack of response to genital mutilation suggests that genital mutilation is physiologically not costly for female spiders. The cost incurred to females rather arises from genital mutilation preventing the females from remating with another male.

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Differential oxidative costs of locomotory and genital damage in an orb-weaving spider

Journal of Experimental Biology ◽

10.1242/jeb.219758 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 223 (21) ◽

pp. jeb219758

Author(s):

Pierick Mouginot ◽

Gabriele Uhl ◽

Nia Toshkova ◽

Michaël Beaulieu

Keyword(s):

Physiological Response ◽

Physiological Responses ◽

Oxidative Status ◽

Tissue Loss ◽

Significant Shift ◽

Genital Mutilation ◽

Oxidative Markers ◽

Genital Structure ◽

Quantitative Changes ◽

Female Genital

ABSTRACTIn animals that regularly experience tissue loss, physiological responses may have evolved to overcome the related costs. Changes in oxidative status may reflect such self-maintenance mechanisms. Here, we investigated how markers of oxidative status vary in female orb-weaving spiders (Larinia jeskovi) by mimicking two distinct types of tissue loss they may naturally encounter: damage to their locomotory system and damage to their external genital structure (scapus), as inflicted by males during copulation (external female genital mutilation). Damage to the locomotory system resulted in a significant shift in oxidative status, reflecting investment in self-maintenance. In contrast, the loss of the scapus did not result in quantitative changes of oxidative markers. This lack of a physiological response suggests negligible physiological costs of genital mutilation for female spiders. However, not being able to remate with other males might be costly for females.

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Negotiating Virtue

Studies in Religion/Sciences Religieuses ◽

10.1177/0008429813513234 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 43 (1) ◽

pp. 53-69

Author(s):

Amyn B. Sajoo

Keyword(s):

Virtue Ethics ◽

Critical Role ◽

End Of Life Decisions ◽

Genital Mutilation ◽

The Public ◽

The Core ◽

Biomedical Technologies ◽

The Individual ◽

The Cost ◽

Female Genital

Principlist modes of reasoning in bioethics – with autonomy at the core – resonate strongly with a legalism that dominates Muslim ethics, including the understanding of the shari’a. From abortion and organ donation/transplant to end-of-life decisions, both secular and Muslim bioethics generally apply “cardinal” principles in ways felt to be relatively objective and certain, though they may produce different outcomes. This article builds on recent critiques, notably that of virtue ethics, in drawing attention to the cost in sensitivity to context and the individual. The Aristotelian basis of virtue ethics has a venerable place in Islamic traditions – as does maslaha, the public good, which has long played a critical role in tempering formalism in the shari’a. In conjunction with the agent- and context-centred reasoning of virtue ethics, maslaha can contribute vitally to negotiating competing bioethical claims. It is also more inclusive than principlist legalism, given the latter’s traditionalist and patriarchal moorings. The shift is urgent amid the growing interface of religious and secular approaches to problems raised by biomedical technologies, and to biosocial issues such as female genital mutilation (FGM) and honour killings.

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