Vibratory Signalling in Two Spider Species with Contrasting Web Architectures
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Vibratory signalling in two spider species with contrasting web architectures by Samantha Vibert M.Sc., Université de Genève, 2002 B.Sc., Université de Genève, 2000 Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Biological Sciences Faculty of Science Samantha Vibert 2016 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY Summer 2016 Approval Name: Samantha Vibert Degree: Doctor of Philosophy (Biological Sciences) Title: Vibratory signalling in two spider species with contrasting web architectures Examining Committee: Chair: Michael Hart Professor Gerhard Gries Senior Supervisor Professor Bernard Roitberg Supervisor Professor Emeritus Robert G. Bennett Supervisor Research Associate Royal British Columbia Museum Staffan Lindgren Internal Examiner Professor Emeritus University of Northern British Columbia Damian O. Elias External Examiner Associate Professor Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management University of California, Berkeley Date Defended/Approved: August 15, 2016 ii Abstract Spiders provide a fascinating opportunity for the study of animal communication. Web- building spiders build their own signalling environments - the web is the medium that transmits vibrations from prey, predators and potential mates. However, we know little about how information is conveyed through different types of webs, or how spiders distinguish between different types of vibrations. In this thesis, I studied elements of vibratory communication in two species of spiders with contrasting web architecture: the western black widow, Latrodectus hesperus, which builds a tangle-web, and the hobo spider, Eratigena agrestis, which builds a funnel-web. In chapter 2, I document formerly undescribed life history traits of E. agrestis, and conclude that life history traits are robust to differential predator and competitor densities across two study sites in British Columbia. In chapter 3, I present hitherto lacking quantitative descriptions of courtship behaviours in L. hesperus, revealing that web reduction by males correlates with reduced female aggression, and that it may improve mating success of courting males. In chapter 4, I describe how vibration frequencies are transmitted through the webs of L. hesperus and E. agrestis. I found little difference in propagation efficiency between longitudinal and transverse vibrations and that in both species vibration transmission is more variable within webs than between webs, suggesting that specific frequencies play a minor role in signalling. In chapter 5, I tested whether male courtship produces vibratory signals that differ from prey cues. I analysed vibrations produced by courting males and by two types of prey (flies and crickets) on the webs of L. hesperus and E. agrestis, and also played back male and prey vibrations through the webs of L. hesperus. Male vibrations differ more from those of prey in L. hesperus than in E. agrestis. This finding supports the hypothesis that L. hesperus males, faced with aggressive females, produce vibrations that prevent them from being mistaken for prey. The low-amplitude vibrations caused by abdominal tremulations of L. hesperus males may be linked with lowered female aggression. Keywords: Araneae; courtship; vibration; communication; behaviour; ecology iii Dedication To Gwylim, partner in life and to Catherine, partner in science. iv Acknowledgements My heartfelt gratitude goes to the following people: My supervisor, Gerhard Gries – Your unwavering support, your scientific enthusiasm and your boundless optimism were all profoundly inspiring. Your faith that I should, could and would complete my degree was instrumental in helping me achieve this goal. Regine Gries – Thank you for your kindness and for making the lab a gentle, organized workplace. Bernie Roitberg – Thank you for your always insightful advice and for helping me broaden the scientific scope of my work. Robb Bennett – Thank you for introducing me to the exciting world of spider research. From mentor and colleague, you quickly became a friend. Your generosity and hospitality contributed greatly to my feeling at home here in Canada. Steve Takács – Thank you for sharing your technical expertise and for the many hours we spent trying to obtain recordings of spider courtship vibrations. My friends and colleagues from the lab: Gagandeep Hehar, Adela Danci, Eloise Rowland, Kevin Lam, Tom Cowan, Nathan Woodbury, Kelly Ablard, Sebastian Ibarra and Vroni Lambinet – Thank you for the chats, the thoughtful feedback and the help. Sean McCann – Thank you for all the conversations: I truly enjoy disagreeing with you! And of course, thank you for the wonderful photographs. Maxence Salomon – Thank you for being such a good friend. Catherine Scott – You have been a wonderful collaborator and friend, helping make my project better and a lot more fun! My thesis would not have been completed without your generous and expert support. v Table of Contents Approval .......................................................................................................................... ii Abstract .......................................................................................................................... iii Dedication ...................................................................................................................... iv Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................... v Table of Contents ........................................................................................................... vi List of Tables .................................................................................................................. ix List of Figures.................................................................................................................. x Chapter 1. Introduction ............................................................................................. 1 References ...................................................................................................................... 3 Chapter 2. Life history of the funnel-web spiders Eratigena agrestis and E. atrica (Araneae: Agelenidae) in the Pacific Northwest ..................... 5 2.1. Abstract .................................................................................................................. 5 2.2. Introduction ............................................................................................................. 6 2.3. Methods ................................................................................................................. 7 2.3.1. Study sites ................................................................................................. 7 2.3.2. Survey protocol.......................................................................................... 8 2.3.3. Variables measured ................................................................................... 8 2.4. Results ................................................................................................................. 10 2.5. Discussion ............................................................................................................ 12 2.5.1. Life cycles of E. agrestis vs. E. atrica ....................................................... 12 2.5.2. Life history traits of E. agrestis and E. atrica in ecologically contrasting populations ............................................................................ 13 2.5.3. Potential implications of group living ........................................................ 15 Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................... 16 References .................................................................................................................... 16 Chapter 3. Evidence that web reduction by western black widow males functions in sexual communication ..................................................... 27 3.1. Abstract ................................................................................................................ 27 3.2. Résumé ................................................................................................................ 27 3.3. Main text ............................................................................................................... 28 Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................... 33 References .................................................................................................................... 34 Chapter 4. Vibration transmission through sheet webs of hobo spiders (Eratigena agrestis) and tangle webs of western black widow spiders (Latrodectus hesperus) ........................................................... 38 4.1. Abstract ................................................................................................................ 38 4.2. Introduction ........................................................................................................... 39 4.3. Methods ............................................................................................................... 40 vi 4.3.1. Study spiders ........................................................................................... 40 4.3.2. General procedures ................................................................................