Repeatability but no short‐term plasticity in the web architecture of Latrodectus hesperus western black widow spiders (Araneae: Theridiidae)

Ethology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 126 (3) ◽  
pp. 313-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cory H. Thompson ◽  
Rafael L. Rodríguez ◽  
Clinton Sergi
Keyword(s):  
Black Widow ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Latrodectus Hesperus ◽  
Short Term Plasticity ◽  
Web Architecture ◽  
Black Widow Spiders ◽  
The Web

scholarly journals Chemical prey cues influence the urban microhabitat preferences of Western black widow spiders, Latrodectus hesperus

2011 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 449-453 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Johnson ◽  
Orenda Revis ◽  
J. Chadwick Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Black Widow ◽  
Latrodectus Hesperus ◽  
Microhabitat Preferences ◽  
Black Widow Spiders

Fine dining or fortress? Functional shifts in spider web architecture by the western black widow Latrodectus hesperus

2008 ◽  
Vol 76 (3) ◽  
pp. 823-829 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacquelyn M. Zevenbergen ◽  
Nicole K. Schneider ◽  
Todd A. Blackledge
Keyword(s):  
Black Widow ◽  
Latrodectus Hesperus ◽  
Spider Web ◽  
Web Architecture

Condition-dependent spider web architecture in the western black widow, Latrodectus hesperus

2007 ◽  
Vol 73 (5) ◽  
pp. 855-864 ◽  
Author(s):  
Todd A. Blackledge ◽  
Jacquelyn M. Zevenbergen
Keyword(s):  
Black Widow ◽  
Latrodectus Hesperus ◽  
Spider Web ◽  
Web Architecture

scholarly journals Game of webs: species and web structure influence contest outcome in black widow spiders

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cameron Jones ◽  
Lea Pollack ◽  
Nicholas DiRienzo
Keyword(s):  
Individual Variation ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Interspecific Interactions ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Black Widow ◽  
Trait Variation ◽  
Web Structure ◽  
Contest Outcome ◽  
Black Widow Spiders ◽  
The Web

Abstract Population-level trait variation within species plays an often-overlooked role in interspecific interactions. In this study, we compared among-individual variation in web phenotype and foraging behavior between native black widows (Latrodectus hesperus) and invasive brown widows (Latrodectus geometricus). We staged repeated contests whereby native widows defended their webs against intruders of both species to 1) investigate how trait variation mediates web contest outcome among native widows and 2) see whether widow behavior differs in response to an invasive spider. In only one trait, the average number of foraging lines, did black widows differ from brown widows. Black widow residents that built more structural lines were more likely to successfully defend their webs from conspecific intruders (i.e., be the sole spider remaining on the web postinteraction). This association between web structure and contest outcome did not exist in trials between black widows and invasive brown widows; however, in interspecific interactions, these same residents were more likely to have intruders remain on the web rather than drive them away. Surprisingly, brown widows did not usurp black widows. Brown widows were never observed signaling, yet black widow residents signaled equally to intruders of both species. Our results suggest that among-individual variation among native species can influence the response toward invasive competitors and outcome of these interactions.

Discrimination of airborne pheromones by mate-searching male western black widow spiders (Latrodectus hesperus): species- and population-specific responses

2004 ◽  
Vol 82 (7) ◽  
pp. 1027-1034 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael M Kasumovic ◽  
Maydianne C.B Andrade
Keyword(s):  
Biological Species ◽  
Species Discrimination ◽  
Black Widow ◽  
Mate Searching ◽  
Latrodectus Hesperus ◽  
Field Evidence ◽  
Geographical Populations ◽  
Black Widow Spiders ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Web Building

Males of many web-building spiders abandon their webs at maturity to search for a potential mate. Since wandering can be very risky, and females are often widely distributed, males should use any cues that might ensure rapid and accurate location of conspecific females. Although it has long been assumed that mate-searching male spiders locate females using species-specific airborne pheromones released from webs, few studies have experimentally examined this phenomenon in the field. Our results show that male western black widow spiders (Latrodectus hesperus Chamberlin and Ivie, 1935) are attracted to females' webs by an airborne cue released from the web, can distinguish between conspecific and heterospecific females, and can discriminate between webs produced by conspecific females from different geographical populations. The latter result demonstrates a partial premating block to fertilization between populations at the edges of the species range. Complementary interpopulation laboratory matings suggest that there may also be a postmating block to fertilization, as these copulations did not result in viable offspring. This study provides experimental field evidence of male attraction by airborne pheromones released from females' webs, shows the potential importance of these pheromones in species discrimination in black widow spiders, and suggests that northern and southern populations of L. hesperus may be incipient biological species.

Short term plasticity of the primary sensory cortex revealed by interventions contralateral to the stimulus in Median nerve SEP

2006 ◽  
Vol 37 (01) ◽  
Author(s):  
T Waberski ◽  
A Dieckhöfer ◽  
U Reminghorst ◽  
H Buchner ◽  
R Gobbelé
Keyword(s):  
Median Nerve ◽  
Sensory Cortex ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Short Term Plasticity ◽  
Primary Sensory Cortex

Frequency-Dependent Modulation of Short-Term Plasticity of GABAergic Synaptic Transmission

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-126
Author(s):  
Oksana P. Kolesnyk ◽  
Svetlana A. Fedulova ◽  
Mycola S. Veselovsky
Keyword(s):  
Synaptic Transmission ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Frequency Dependent ◽  
Short Term Plasticity ◽  
Gabaergic Synaptic Transmission
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