Publications for Michael Thompson 2021 2020 2019
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Sexual Selection Research on Spiders: Progress and Biases
Biol. Rev. (2005), 80, pp. 363–385. f Cambridge Philosophical Society 363 doi:10.1017/S1464793104006700 Printed in the United Kingdom Sexual selection research on spiders: progress and biases Bernhard A. Huber* Zoological Research Institute and Museum Alexander Koenig, Adenauerallee 160, 53113 Bonn, Germany (Received 7 June 2004; revised 25 November 2004; accepted 29 November 2004) ABSTRACT The renaissance of interest in sexual selection during the last decades has fuelled an extraordinary increase of scientific papers on the subject in spiders. Research has focused both on the process of sexual selection itself, for example on the signals and various modalities involved, and on the patterns, that is the outcome of mate choice and competition depending on certain parameters. Sexual selection has most clearly been demonstrated in cases involving visual and acoustical signals but most spiders are myopic and mute, relying rather on vibrations, chemical and tactile stimuli. This review argues that research has been biased towards modalities that are relatively easily accessible to the human observer. Circumstantial and comparative evidence indicates that sexual selection working via substrate-borne vibrations and tactile as well as chemical stimuli may be common and widespread in spiders. Pattern-oriented research has focused on several phenomena for which spiders offer excellent model objects, like sexual size dimorphism, nuptial feeding, sexual cannibalism, and sperm competition. The accumulating evidence argues for a highly complex set of explanations for seemingly uniform patterns like size dimorphism and sexual cannibalism. Sexual selection appears involved as well as natural selection and mechanisms that are adaptive in other contexts only. Sperm competition has resulted in a plethora of morpho- logical and behavioural adaptations, and simplistic models like those linking reproductive morphology with behaviour and sperm priority patterns in a straightforward way are being replaced by complex models involving an array of parameters. -
A Taxonomical Study of the Japanese Spider Hitherto Misidentified with Argiope Keyserlingi (KARSCH, 1878) Or A, Aetherea (WALCKE
Acta arachnol., 43 (1): 33-36, June 30, 1994 A Taxonomical Study of the Japanese Spider Hitherto Misidentified with Argiope keyserlingi (KARSCH,1878) or A, aetherea (WALCKENAER,1841) Akio TANIKAWAI~ 谷 川 明 男1):ム シバ ミ コガ ネ グ モ の 分 類 学 的 検 討 Abstract The orb-web spider, Argiope aetheroides YIN et al., 1989, is recorded from Japan. The spiders of the species have been wrongly identified with Argiope keyserlingi (KARSCH, 1878) or Argiope aetherea (WALCKENAER,1841) by the previous Japanese authors. When LEvI (1983) revised the spiders of the genera Argiope, Gea and Neogea from the Western Pacific region including Japan, he examined 6 Japanese species : Argiope aemula (WALCKENAER,1841), A. boesenbergi LEVI,1983, A. amoena L. KOCH, 1878, A. bruennichii (SCOPOLI,1772), A. minuta KARSCH,1879, and A. ocula Fox, 1938. Moreover, a doubtful species of the genus is occurring in Japan, which has been identified either with A. keyserlingi (KARSCH,1878) (KISHIDA,1936;YAGINUMA, 1968, 1970, 1977; YAGINUMA& SHINKAI,1971) or with A. aetherea (WALCKENAER, 1841) (SHINKAI& TAKANO,1984, 1987; YAGINUMA,1986; YAGINUMAet al., 1990). In 1990, I collected female and male specimens of the species from Yakushima Island, Kagoshima Pref., Japan, and could confirm the fact that the features of these specimens did not agree with LEVI's (1983) redescriptions and figures of A. keyserlingi and A. aetherea. Then, many specimens of the species were offered by colleagues and collected by myself. After a careful examination of these materials, I came to the conclusion that the species was neither A. keyserlingi nor A. -
Zootoca Vivipara) in Central Europe: Reproductive Strategies and Natural Hybridization
SALAMANDRA 46(2) 73–82 Oviparous20 May and 2010 viviparousISSN Zootoca 0036–3375 vivipara in central Europe Identification of a contact zone between oviparous and viviparous common lizards (Zootoca vivipara) in central Europe: reproductive strategies and natural hybridization Dorothea Lindtke1,3 Werner Mayer2 & Wolfgang Böhme3 1) Ecology & Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 10, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland 2) Molecular Systematics, 1st Zoological Department, Museum of Natural History Vienna, Burgring 7, 1010 Vienna, Austria 3) Herpetology, Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, Adenauerallee 160, 53113 Bonn, Germany Corresponding author: Dorothea Lindtke, e-mail: [email protected] Manuscript received: 24 September 2009 Abstract. The European common lizard, Zootoca vivipara, is one of the very few reptile species with two reproductive modes, viz. viviparity and oviparity. Oviparity in this otherwise viviparous form has been known since 1927 for the allopat- ric Z. v. louislantzi. Only with the discovery of a second oviparous form, Z. v. carniolica, a parapatric occurrence of ovipa- rous and viviparous populations became conceivable. In this study, we (1) detect a contact zone where both forms meet, (2) find evidence for natural hybridization between both reproductive strains, and (3) compare the reproductive strategies of egg-layers and live-bearers independent from environmental interference. Thirty-seven gravid females were captured in a supposed contact zone in Carinthia, Austria, and maintained in the laboratory until oviposition or parturition. Clutch size, embryonic mortality and birth weight of the neonates were compared among the reproductively differentiated samples. Hybrids were identified by intermediate reproductive characteristics. Our results provide the first proof of a contact zone between live-bearing and egg-laying Z. -
Tarantulas and Social Spiders
Tarantulas and Social Spiders: A Tale of Sex and Silk by Jonathan Bull BSc (Hons) MSc ICL Thesis Presented to the Institute of Biology of The University of Nottingham in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy The University of Nottingham May 2012 DEDICATION To my parents… …because they both said to dedicate it to the other… I dedicate it to both ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First and foremost I would like to thank my supervisor Dr Sara Goodacre for her guidance and support. I am also hugely endebted to Dr Keith Spriggs who became my mentor in the field of RNA and without whom my understanding of the field would have been but a fraction of what it is now. Particular thanks go to Professor John Brookfield, an expert in the field of biological statistics and data retrieval. Likewise with Dr Susan Liddell for her proteomics assistance, a truly remarkable individual on par with Professor Brookfield in being able to simplify even the most complex techniques and analyses. Finally, I would really like to thank Janet Beccaloni for her time and resources at the Natural History Museum, London, permitting me access to the collections therein; ten years on and still a delight. Finally, amongst the greats, Alexander ‘Sasha’ Kondrashov… a true inspiration. I would also like to express my gratitude to those who, although may not have directly contributed, should not be forgotten due to their continued assistance and considerate nature: Dr Chris Wade (five straight hours of help was not uncommon!), Sue Buxton (direct to my bench creepy crawlies), Sheila Keeble (ventures and cleans where others dare not), Alice Young (read/checked my thesis and overcame her arachnophobia!) and all those in the Centre for Biomolecular Sciences. -
ASH Newsletter 45.Pub
THE AUSTRALIAN SOCIETY OF HERPETOLOGISTS INCORPORATED NEWSLETTER 45 2 3 History of Office Bearers Formation Committee (April 1964):- MJ Littlejohn (Convenor); State Reps IR Straughan (Qld), FJ Mitchell (SA), HG Cogger (NSW), G Storr (WA), RE Barwick (ACT), JW Warren (Vic), AK Lee (Editor). First AGM (23 August 1965):- President MJ Littlejohn, Vice-President NG Stephenson, Secretary-Treasurer AA Martin, Asst Secretary-Treasurer KJ Wilson, Ordinary Members FJ Mitchell and IR Straughan, Editor AK Lee. PRESIDENT:- MJ Littlejohn (1965-69); AK Lee (1969-70); HG Cogger (1971-73); J de Bavay (1974); H Heat- wole (1975-76); GC Grigg (1976-77); MJ Tyler (1978-79); GF Watson (1979-81); AA Martin (1981-82); RS Seymour (1982-83); R Shine (1983-84); GC Grigg (1984-86); J Coventry (1986-87); RE Barwick (1987-88); J Covacevich (1988-91); M Davies (1991-92); R Shine (1992-94); A Georges (1994-6); D Roberts (1996-98); M Bull (1998-9); R Swain (1999-2001); S Downes (2001-03); J Melville (2004-2005); J-M Hero (2005-2007); P Doherty (2007-2008); M Thompson (2008-2009); M Hutchinson (2009-) VICE-PRESIDENT:- NG Stephenson (1965-67); RE Barwick (1967-69); HG Cogger (1969-70); MJ Littlejohn (1971-72); MJ Tyler (1973); HG Cogger (1974); J de Bavay (1975-76); H Heatwole (1976-77); GC Grigg (1977 -79); MJ Tyler (1979-80); GF Watson (1981-82); AA Martin (1982-83); RS Seymour (1983-84); R Shine (1984- 86); GC Grigg (1986-87); J Coventry (1987-88); RE Barwick (1988-91); J Covacevich (1991-92); M Davies (1992-94); R Shine (1994-6); A Georges (1996-98); D Roberts (1998-99); M Bull(1999-2001); R Swain (2001- 2003); S Downes (2004-5); J Melville (2005-2007); J-M Hero (2007-2008); P Doherty (2008-2009); M Thomp- son (2009-) SECRETARY/TREASURER:- AA Martin (1965-67); GF Watson (1967-72); LA Moffatt (1973-75); J Caughley (1975-76); RWG Jenkins (1976-77); M Davies (1978-83); G Courtice (1983-87); J Wombey (1987-99); S Ke- ogh (1999-2003); N Mitchell (2004-5). -
First Report of Zootoca Vivipara (Lichtenstein, 1823) in Greece
Herpetology Notes, volume 12: 53-56 (2019) (published online on 10 January 2019) No one ever noticed: First report of Zootoca vivipara (Lichtenstein, 1823) in Greece Ilias Strachinis1,*, Korina M. Karagianni1, Martin Stanchev2, and Nikola Stanchev3 The Viviparous Lizard, Zootoca vivipara (Lichtenstein, declined and in some cases almost gone extinct (e.g. 1823), is a relatively small, ground-dwelling lizard lowland populations in Italy; Agasyan et al., 2010). The belonging to the family Lacertidae. It is the terrestrial current population trend is decreasing and the major reptile with the largest range in the world, extending threat that can occur locally is habitat loss resulting from Ireland in the west, to Japan (Hokkaido Islands) in from agricultural intensification, urbanization and the east, and from Bulgaria in the south to the Barents tourism facilities development (Agasyan et al., 2010). Sea in the north (Kupriyanova et al., 2017; Horreo et The species is protected under the Bern Convention al., 2018). As a highly cold-adapted species (Recknagel (Annex II) and listed on Annex IV of the European et al., 2018) the Viviparous Lizard can be found up to Union Habitat and Species Directive (Agasyan et al., 350km north of the Arctic Circle (Arnold and Ovenden, 2010). 2002) and up to 2900 m a.s.l. (Agasyan et al., 2010). It In the Balkans the species’ distribution appears occurs in a variety of habitats with rich vegetation and scattered (Fig. 1A) as the suitable habitats are mostly adequate humidity, however, in the south margin of its limited in higher altitudes, isolated by lowlands and river range it is restricted to high elevation open landscapes, valleys (Crnobrnja-Isailovic et al., 2015). -
Reproductionreview
REPRODUCTIONREVIEW The evolution of viviparity: molecular and genomic data from squamate reptiles advance understanding of live birth in amniotes James U Van Dyke, Matthew C Brandley and Michael B Thompson School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney, A08 Heydon-Laurence Building, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia Correspondence should be addressed to J U Van Dyke; Email: [email protected] Abstract Squamate reptiles (lizards and snakes) are an ideal model system for testing hypotheses regarding the evolution of viviparity (live birth) in amniote vertebrates. Viviparity has evolved over 100 times in squamates, resulting in major changes in reproductive physiology. At a minimum, all viviparous squamates exhibit placentae formed by the appositions of maternal and embryonic tissues, which are homologous in origin with the tissues that form the placenta in therian mammals. These placentae facilitate adhesion of the conceptus to the uterus as well as exchange of oxygen, carbon dioxide, water, sodium, and calcium. However, most viviparous squamates continue to rely on yolk for nearly all of their organic nutrition. In contrast, some species, which rely on the placenta for at least a portion of organic nutrition, exhibit complex placental specializations associated with the transport of amino acids and fatty acids. Some viviparous squamates also exhibit reduced immunocompetence during pregnancy, which could be the result of immunosuppression to protect developing embryos. Recent molecular studies using both candidate-gene and next-generation sequencing approaches have suggested that at least some of the genes and gene families underlying these phenomena play similar roles in the uterus and placenta of viviparous mammals and squamates. -
Uterine Epithelial Changes During Placentation in the Viviparous Skink Eulamprus Tympanum
JOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY 268:385–400 (2007) Uterine Epithelial Changes During Placentation in the Viviparous Skink Eulamprus tympanum Susan M. Adams,1,2* Sylvia Lui,2 Susan M. Jones,3 Michael B. Thompson,1 and Christopher R. Murphy2 1School of Biological Sciences and Wildlife Research Institute, The University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia 2School of Medical Sciences (Anatomy and Histology), The University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia 3Comparative Endocrinological Research Group, School of Zoology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia ABSTRACT We used scanning electron microscopy placental differentiation demonstrates a similarity dur- (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to ing gestation in the uterus between oviparous and describe the complete ontogeny of simple placentation simple placental viviparous squamates. J. Morphol. and the development of both the yolk sac placentae and 268:385–400, 2007. Ó 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. chorioallantoic placentae from nonreproductive through postparturition phases in the maternal uterine epithe- KEY WORDS: uterine epithelium; scanning electron lium of the Australian skink, Eulamprus tympanum.We microscopy; skink; plasma membrane transformation; chose E. tympanum, a species with a simple, noninva- placental morphology sive placenta, and which we know, has little net nutrient uptake during gestation to develop hypotheses about placental function and to identify any difference between Viviparity has numerous independent origins in the oviparous and viviparous conditions. Placental dif- vertebrates. Most of these lineages originate more ferentiation into the chorioallantoic placenta and yolk frequently in reptilian evolution than in any other sac placenta occurs from embryonic Stage 29; both pla- vertebrate (Blackburn, 1993; Smith and Shine, centae are simple structures without specialized features 1997). -
Lacertilia: Scincidae) with Complex Placentae
Herpetological Conservation and Biology 5(2):290-296. Symposium: Reptile Reproduction CALCIUM ATPASE LOCALIZATION IN THE UTERUS OF TWO SPECIES OF PSEUDEMOIA (LACERTILIA: SCINCIDAE) WITH COMPLEX PLACENTAE 1,3 2 1 JACQUIE F. HERBERT , CHRISTOPHER R. MURPHY AND MICHAEL B. THOMPSON 1School of Biological Sciences, The University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia 2School of Medical Sciences (Anatomy and Histology), The University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia 3 Correspondence, e-mail: [email protected] Abstract.—Loss of the eggshell in viviparous species represents the loss of a source of calcium for developing embryos. Calcium is a major requirement for developing embryos, raising the question of how calcium is transferred to the developing embryo in viviparous species. We characterized the calcium transport mechanism of viviparous lizards with complex placentae using indirect immunofluorescence to identify Ca2+ATPase pumps in the uterus of two closely related species of skinks, Pseudemoia spenceri and Pseudemoia entrecasteauxii, throughout pregnancy. Although Pseudemoia entrecasteauxii is significantly more placentotrophic than P. spenceri, localization of Ca2+ATPase pumps is broadly similar in both species. Shell glands are present in both species during vitellogenesis and early pregnancy; but they do not stain for Ca2+ ATPase pumps. From mid to late pregnancy, apical and basolateral immunofluorescent staining of Ca2+ ATPase pumps are present in the uterine epithelium in both the chorioallantoic (embryonic pole) and omphaloplacental (abembryonic pole) regions in both species. The glandular epithelial cells (shell glands) also stain in the uterus adjacent to the omphaloplacenta of P. spenceri from mid to late pregnancy but only during late pregnancy in P. -
Supporting Information
Electronic Supplementary Material (ESI) for ChemComm. This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2019 Supporting information DNP NMR Spectroscopy Reveals New Structures, Residues and Interactions in Wild Spider Silks Hamish C. Craiga, Sean J. Blamires*a, Marc-Antoine Sani,b Michael Kasumovic,aAditya Rawal,c and James M. Hook*c,d a School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Science, University of New South Wales, NSW, Australia 2052 b School of Chemistry, Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010 c Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre, and d School of Chemistry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, 2052 Figure S1: Schematic molecular model of spider MaSp2 silk showing the major structural regions: amorphous (blue) and crystalline (red), incorporating the proposed new structural findings. a R145 conformation of Arginine seen within L. hasseltii in proposed conformation assisting stabilisation of the amorphous region as a part of the b-spiral. b Difference in the length of hydrogen bonding seen between the interior (A)n region and surface (AG)n of crystallites within silk of N. plumipes. c Hydroxyproline and its added hydrogen bonding site taking the place of proline in the type II b turn responsible for the formation the b-spiral within the amorphous region of A. keyserlingi and L. hasseltii silk. Table S1. High Sensitivity Advanced Amino Acid Mass Spectrometry (AAA-MS) results showing the average relative mole percentage of the major amino acids within each species silk. (NB: different silk samples collected at tandem were used for this purpose to preserve the original samples used for DNP NMR analysis and to prevent any influence of the added AMUPol) * Hydroxyproline and Cysteic Acid co-elute in the High Sensitivity AAA-MS, approximately 60% of presented values are attributed to Hydroxyproline Figure S2. -
From Woodfordia 3-5 May 2019
SPIDERS FROM WOODFORDIA 3-5 MAY 2019 ROBERT WHYTE SPIDERS OF WOODFORDIA WOODFORDIA PLANTING FESTIVAL 3-5 MAY 2019 Planting Festival Introduction, materials, methods and results The Woodfordia Planting Festival in Spiders (order Araneae) have proven to be have evolved to utilise the terrestrial habitat Autumn every year is held on a property in highly rewarding in biodiversity studies1, niches where their food is found, some in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. being an important component in terres- quite specialist ways, becoming species, Woodfordia purchased the property in trial food webs, an indicator of insect meaning a population able and willing to 1994, to stage the annual Christmas, New diversity and abundance (their prey). reproduce viably in the wild. Year Woodford Folk Festival and to help In Australia spiders represent an Collecting methods were used in the regenerate the natural environment. understudied taxon, with many new species following sequence: During the 2018 Planting a new species waiting to be discovered and described. • careful visual study of bush, leaves, bark of crab spide nicknamed ‘Woodfordia’ was Science has so far described about 4,000 and ground, to see movement, spiders discovered (see cover photo). In 2019 species, only an quarter to one third of the suspended on silk, or spiders on any the BioDiscovery Project continued the actual species diversity. surface stocktake. Spiders thrive in good-quality habitat, • shaking foliage, causing spiders to fall On Saturday 4 May Robert Whyte’s where structural heterogeneity combines onto a white tray or cloth introductory talk was followed by a spider- with high diversity of animal, plant and • turning logs and rocks (returning them to quest and then an ID session in the Discovery fungi species. -
Diet and Reproductive Biology of the Viviparous Lizard Sceloporus
Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles Diet and Reproductive Biology of the Viviparous Lizard Sceloporus torquatus torquatus (Squamata: Phrynosomatidae) Author(s): Manuel Feria Ortiz, Adrián Nieto-Montes de Oca and Isaías H. Salgado Ugarte Reviewed work(s): Source: Journal of Herpetology, Vol. 35, No. 1 (Mar., 2001), pp. 104-112 Published by: Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1566029 . Accessed: 10/12/2012 13:41 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp . JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Journal of Herpetology. http://www.jstor.org This content downloaded by the authorized user from 192.168.52.76 on Mon, 10 Dec 2012 13:41:45 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions Journalof Herpetology,Vol. 35, No. 1, pp. 104-112,2001 Copyright2001 Society for the Studyof Amphibiansand Reptiles Diet and Reproductive Biology of the Viviparous Lizard Sceloporus torquatus torquatus (Squamata:Phrynosomatidae) MANUEL FERIAORTIZ,1 ADRIAN NIETO-MONTESDE OCA,2 AND ISAIASH. SALGADOUGARTE1 'Museo de Zoologia,Facultad de Estudios SuperioresZaragoza, Unizersidad Nacional Aut6nomade Mdxico,Batalla de 5 de mayos/n, Col.