DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE REPORTS NUMBER 3, JULY 2, 2016
Program and Abstracts 20th International Congress of Arachnology
July 2–9, 2016, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado
Edited by Preface 1 Paula E. Cushing Welcome to the 20th International Congress of Arachnology! This congress is jointly hosted by the International Society of Arachnology, the American Arachnological Society, and the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. A total of 375 participants are in attendance representing 39 different countries. An additional 36 accompanying participants are taking advantage of Colorado’s scenery and charms. Of the registered participants 154 are students. This book contains the schedule of events, the scientific program, and the abstracts. In total, there will be five keynote addresses, nine formal sym- posia, 240 oral presentations (including symposium talks), and 129 poster presentations. The abstracts are arranged in alphabetical order by the surname of the presenting author. Above each abstract is an indication of the type of talk (i.e., keynote address, symposium talk, oral presentation, poster presentation. Student presentations that are part of the student competition are indicated with asterisks (*) in the abstract list and in the schedule. Speakers whose names are under- lined in the program are session moderators charged with keeping the session on time. Thanks to the following foundations and organizations for providing support for this meeting: ISA, AAS, DMNS, Kenneth King Foundation, Laudier Histology, Schlinger Foundation, Golden Chamber 1Department of Zoology of Commerce, Siri Publications, BioQuip, Cricket Science. Denver Museum of Nature & Science 2001 Colorado Boulevard On behalf of the Organizing Committee, Denver, Colorado 80205-5798, U.S.A. Welcome to Golden – Where the West Lives! [email protected] Paula E. Cushing Cushing 20th International Congress of Arachnology
CONTENTS Preface...... 1 Emergency Contact Information & Wireless ...... 3 Organizers and Committee Chairs ...... 3 Proceedings of the 20th International Congress of Arachnology (2016) and guest access to New Zealand Journal of Zoology ...... 4 General Information ...... 5 Oral Presentations ...... 5 Poster Presentations ...... 5 Student Awards ...... 5 Venue and Town ...... 5 Golden Ticket ...... 5 Vendors & Special Book Signing Event...... 5 Group & Committee Meetings ...... 5 Arachnid Collecting...... 5 Reprint Table ...... 6 Silent Auction ...... 6 Alcohol Rules & Laws ...... 6 Marijuana Laws ...... 6 Smoking in Golden ...... 6 Tubing in Clear Creek ...... 6 Hiking on South Table Mountain ...... 6 Social Events & Drink Tickets ...... 6 Russian Party ...... 7 Check-out Items for Dorm Residents ...... 7 Promotion for the Next ICA and AAS meetings ...... 7 Daily Schedule ...... 8 IUCN Workshop Thursday, June 30–Saturday, July 2 ...... 8 Registration and Welcome, Saturday, July 2 ...... 9 Sunday, July 3 ...... 10 Monday, July 4 ...... 13 Tuesday, July 5 ...... 16 Wednesday, July 6, Mid-Congress Excursions ...... 18 Thursday, July 7 ...... 19 Friday, July 8 ...... 21 Poster Session I, Sunday, July 3: List of Participants ...... 23 Poster Session II, Tuesday, July 5: List of Participants ...... 27 Arachnid FilmFest Program ...... 31 Accompanying People Agenda ...... 31 Post-Congress Excursion Agenda ...... 32 Abstracts (Alphabetical by Surname of Presenter) ...... 33 Attendees...... 209
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EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION & Student Competition Committee Chairs: WIRELESS Richard Bradley, The Ohio State University, USA Yael Lubin, Ben Gurion University, Israel Emergency Contact Information: Committee members: Police / Ambulance Emergency dial 911 J. Andrew Roberts, The Ohio State University – Newark, Meeting Host, Paula Cushing: USA (student travel grant) Mobile Phone: 303-246-8382 Sarah Stellwagen, postdoc Army Research Laboratory, Home Phone: 303-273-5707 USA (student travel grant) Courtney Scheskie, DMNS Office Manager and Assistant Rainer Foelix, Aarau, Switzerland (Laudier Grant) Meeting Coordinator: Peter Michalik, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität Greifswald, Mobile Phone: 864-642-7468 Germany (Laudier Grant) Patrick Casto, DMNS Volunteer and ICA Meeting volunteer: Elizabeth Jakobs, University of Massachusetts Amherst Mobile Phone: 303-596-6382 (non-student travel grant) Wireless: Maggie Hodge, Louisiana School for Math, Science, and When on campus, open your browser. Choose CSM Guest the Arts, USA (non-student travel grant) (not CSM Wireless). Enter your personal email address. Al Cady, Miami University, USA (student research grant) This will serve as your password to connect to the internet. Bruce Cutler, University of Kansas, USA (student research grant) Eileen Hebets, University of Nebraska, USA (HLMFAR) ORGANIZERS AND COMMITTEE CHAIRS Paul Selden, University of Kansas, USA (HLMFAR) Todd Blackledge, University of Akron, USA (HLMFAR) Organizing Committee: Thanks also to numerous colleagues serving as Paula E. Cushing, Denver Museum of Nature & Science judges for the Student Awards! Courtney Scheskie, Denver Museum of Nature & Science Patrick Casto, Denver Museum of Nature & Science Post-Congress Excursion Guides: Paula Cushing, DMNS, USA Program Committee: Paul and Maura Selden, University of Kansas, USA Linda Rayor, Cornell University Courtney Scheskie, DMNS, USA Ingi Agnarsson, University of Vermont Thanks also to officers of the ISA and AAS for their ICA Website Management: assistance. Peter Michalik, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität Greifswald, Thanks to the following DMNS staff and volunteers for Germany helping with the Congress: Ryan Bartlett, Kate Baughn, Heiko Metzner, psbrands GmbH, Germany Gary Baxley, Jack Brookhart, Lynne Carpenter, Tim Chaney, Travel Grant Committee Chairs: Mark Christopher, Cat Davis, Jessica Ellis, Debra Freeman, Mike Draney, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, USA David Footle, Mike Getty, Megan Gish, Karen Hall, Martin Heck, (AAS Student Travel Grant) Kathy Honda, Jennifer M. Jennings, Patsy Kelly, Eric Knutson, Damien Laudier, Laudier Histology, USA (Laudier Student Frank Krell, Efrain Leal, John Love, Jason Lucas, Gretchen K. Grants for Histological Research) Moritz-Hale, Tammy Ann Morris, Vicki Moyer, Gini Philipp, Karen Cangialosi, Keene State College, USA (Kenneth Rosine Ribelin, Nancy Roberts, Hilary Sachs, Steve Schilling, King and Schlinger Foundation Travel Grants for Nina Shilodon, Margo Stephenson, Jeff Stephenson, Chad Non-Students) Swiercinsky, Rick Teichler, Rebekah Thompson, Jill and John Weigel, Julie Whitman-Zai, Dennis Wojcicki.
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PROCEEDINGS OF THE 20TH INTERNA- a manuscript for submission. Congress manuscripts that TIONAL CONGRESS OF ARACHNOLOGY do not closely follow the Instructions to Authors may not (2016) be considered for publication. JOURNAL OF ARACHNOLOGY Authors who are not fluent in English are urged to have a native English speaker read, edit, and help revise The proceedings of the 20th International Congress of the manuscript prior to submission. Arachnology (ICA) will be published in 2017 in volume 45, number 2, of the Journal of Arachnology. Review. All Congress manuscripts will be reviewed in the The editors of the journal are pleased to invite same manner and with the same requirements for scien- submissions for the proceedings issue (details below). tific quality and content as are all other submissions to Note that, in addition to the usual research/data the Journal of Arachnology. papers, we also invite symposium organizers or participants to submit review papers keyed to the NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY topics in their symposia. New Zealand Journal of Zoology has graciously granted Open Access. All accepted ICA articles will be published free access to attendees of the ICA from 1–31 July 2016. as “immediate open access” papers, meaning that they To access this journal, go to: www.tandfonline.com/r/ will be openly downloadable from the JoA website upon NZ-Zoology publication, at no charge either to authors or to readers and without the need for a password.
Submissions. All submissions to the Journal of Arachnology are now made online at http://www.edito- rialmanager.com/arachno/default.aspx When submitting a manuscript for the proceedings, be sure to choose “ICA Paper” when asked to “Choose Article Type.”
Deadline. October 1, 2016. Manuscripts submitted after the October 1st deadline will be considered for later issues of the Journal.
Format. Regular Congress manuscripts should be no more than 15 manuscript pages in length (double spaced, 12-pt font), not including figures and tables. For manuscripts longer than 15 pages, authors must contact the Managing Editor prior to submission. Review papers may be longer than 15 pages at the discretion of the Editor-in- Chief/Managing Editor. Instructions to Authors are available at http://www. americanarachnology.org/JOA.html#instructions and should be followed closely when writing and assembling
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GENERAL INFORMATION Golden Ticket. The Golden Ticket in your welcome package is accepted in restaurants and stores with Oral Presentations. Each speaker (except plenary/ a Golden Ticket in the window. Do not scratch off the keynote speakers) will have 15 minutes total including magic window until you are ready to pay your bill. questions and discussion. We have two to three concur- Vendors & Special Book Signing Event. We are rent sessions. Speakers will be asked to step off the stage pleased to welcome BioQuip and Cricket Science as at the 15 minute mark in order for us to stay on schedule our guest vendors. Vendor tables will be in the Grand and allow audience members to attend talks in concur- Lobby of the Green Center July 3rd, 4th, and 5th. On July rent sessions. 4th from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. the following book authors Please prepare your presentation in MS Office will be at the BioQuip table to sign their books: Richard PowerPoint for Windows (preferably) and download it Bradley – Common Spiders of North America; Rainer to a USB memory stick. Presentation volunteers will be Foelix – Biology of Spiders; Heather Proctor – Mites: available to assist presenters to download presentations Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour; Justin Schmidt – no later than the break prior to their session. Earlier is The Sting of the Wild; and Richard Vetter – The Brown better. Recluse Spider. If you have your own copy of any Posters. Poster boards are situated in the Grand Lobby of these tomes, bring them to the meeting to get the of the Green Center. Posters should be no more than author’s signature and if you do not, BioQuip will have 4 ft x 4 ft (1.2 m x 1.2 m) in size. Poster presenters some copies of all these books available for purchase. may hang posters during the afternoon of July 3rd. Stop by the BioQuip table before heading over to the 4th Poster Session I presenters should be standing by their of July barbeque! posters no later than 7 p.m. July 3rd. Poster Session II Group & Committee Meetings. Please refer to the presenters should be standing by their posters no later schedule for the times and locations of the following than 7 p.m. July 5th. meetings: IUCN pre-congress workshop (June 30th– Student Awards. Awards for best student oral presen- July 2nd); Student Competition Judges meetings (July tations and best student poster presentations will be 3rd and 8th); dinner for those interested in morphology, given during the banquet the evening of July 8th at the histology, and fine structure organized by Damien Denver Museum of Nature & Science (DMNS). For both Laudier (July 3rd); AAS Executive Committee meeting oral and poster presentations, awards will be given in (July 3rd); students & early career social event (July the categories of Systematics, Ecology, & Biogeogra- 3rd); Journal of Arachnology Editors’ meeting (July phy; Morphology, Physiology, & Silk; and Behavior & 5th); AAS Business Meeting and promotion of the 2017 Ecology. AAS meeting in Mexico (July 7th); ISA Business Meeting and promotion of the 2019 ICA meeting in New Zealand Venue and Town. Maps of the Colorado School of Mines (July 8th). (CSM) campus and the town of Golden can be found in your welcome material. Most events will be held on the Arachnid Collecting. Permits are required to collect CSM campus except where noted in the program. The arachnids in County, State, and National Parks. No organizers encourage you to explore downtown Golden, permits are required to collect arachnids in National enjoy a stroll along the banks of Clear Creek, and sample Forests. Collecting is permitted in the high elevation the many restaurants and bars in town. During your free areas (Loveland Pass and Berthoud Pass) where mid- time, wander through the Pioneer “village” along Clear congress excursion participants will travel but is not Creek, see the exhibits at the Foothills Art Center, or go on permitted at Rocky Mountain Arsenal where those a Coors Brewery Tour. excursion participants will travel to see bison and
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wildlife. Meeting organizers will have some collect- in any way (smoking, eating, or vaping) is not allowed ing supplies, including alcohol, available during the in public places; use of pot on federal land (national excursions. parks, national forests) is still illegal; hotel owners can dictate rules for their own facility. Reprint Table. A reprint table will be set up in the Grand Lobby of the Green Center during the meeting. Reprints Smoking in Golden. The City of Golden passed a are free; however, donations are appreciated. Suggested smoke-free law in 2015 that prohibits smoking or donations are 25 cents US for regular reprints and 50 vaping on downtown area sidewalks and public rights cents - $2 for monographs. A donation jar will be on the of way on both sides of Washington Avenue between 10th reprint table. and 14th Streets, as well as both sides of 12th and 13th Streets between Arapahoe and Ford Streets, including Silent Auction. On July 7th, the Vendor Tables will be customer seating/service areas located on those public replaced with displays and bidding sheets of items for rights of way. sale during the silent auction. These items will remain on display in the Grand Lobby from 10 a.m. July 7th Tubing in Clear Creek. We will have a couple of until 1 p.m. July 8th. At 1 p.m., the silent auction items tubes and life jackets to borrow (for a $5 deposit) at will be packed up and moved to the Denver Museum of the Registration / Information Desk in the Grand Lobby Nature & Science. Silent Auction ends promptly at 6:00 for anyone interested in tubing on Clear Creek. You can p.m. at the DMNS. also rent tubes and life jackets in the Student Recre- ation Center. Remember that mountain streams are fast Alcohol Rules & Laws. Alcohol (the kind you drink) is moving and rocky. Please don’t drown (way too much prohibited in all University residence halls and adjacent paperwork!). public spaces. Open containers of alcohol are not permit- ted on public streets. Hiking on South Table Mountain. The hike up South Table Mountain (the mountain that the solifuge on the Marijuana Laws. The possession, use, manufacture, logo is standing on) takes about 30–40 minutes (one- or distribution of illicit drugs (including marijuana) in way). It is a fairly easy hike. You can access the trail by all University residence halls, public spaces, buildings walking down 19th Street towards the mountain. Beware and other facilities, is prohibited. No marijuana stores of rattlesnakes – they are abundant on the mountain are in Golden. If you want to take advantage of Colo- but they are not particularly aggressive and will rattle rado’s lenient pot laws, you will have to go to Denver in warning (usually). Please leave the rattlesnakes or areas outside Golden to find pot shops. And please alone and don’t get bitten (see parenthetical comment be aware that, according to Colorado law: you must be under tubing). 21 to buy, have, or use retail marijuana; it is a felony for anyone to give, sell or share marijuana with anyone Social Events & Drink Tickets. The four alcohol under 21; you must present a valid ID proving you are tickets received by each participant can be used for one 21 or older; Colorado residents can buy and possess alcoholic beverage at the socials on July 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or up to 1 ounce of marijuana at a time; adults with an 5th. Non-alcoholic beverages are free. The alcohol tickets out-of-state ID can purchase up to a quarter-ounce at may not be used for alcoholic beverages at the Russian a time; some stores may only allow cash purchase (no Party, at the Butterfly Pavilion, or at the DMNS banquet. credit cards); only licensed retailers can sell marijuana There will be cash bars at the Butterfly Pavilion and at products; adults 21 or older can give up to 1 ounce of the DMNS. If you use up all your red drink tickets we will marijuana to another adult but cannot sell it; having have a volunteer drink vendor on hand to sell you more more than one ounce of marijuana in your possession tickets ($5 US each) that you can exchange for a drink can result in legal charges and fines; using marijuana on July 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th.
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The following ICA social events are open to all Check-out Items for Dorm Residents. Dorm resi- participants and accompanying people. You do not need dents may borrow pots, pans, dishes, and utensils for a special ticket to attend the following events: July 2nd use in the dorm kitchens from the Registration/Infor- Welcome Social, July 3rd Poster Session Social, July 4th mation table in Green Center Lobby. Please borrow only BBQ and Fireworks, July 5th Poster Session Social, July 6th what you need during your stay and return items by the Russian Party (but see below), July 7th Butterfly Pavilion end of the week. Social, July 8th End-of-Congress Banquet at the Denver Promotion for the next ICA and AAS Meetings. Cor Museum of Nature & Science. Vink, host of the next ICA meeting in 2019, will give a Russian Party. In keeping with ICA and Arachnologi- talk about that meeting at the end of the ICA Business cal Congress traditions, we are sponsoring a Russian Meeting on July 8th in Ricketson Auditorium. The ICA Party. There will be a DJ and a dance floor! We ask that Business meeting will be from 17:00–18:00. The 2017 all participants bring an alcoholic beverage, a non- AAS meeting will be hosted by Fernando Alvarez Padilla alcoholic beverage, or food to share. If you come empty in Merida Yucatan, Mexico. Fernando will promote his handed, then please provide a $5 donation to offset meeting during the first 15 minutes of the AAS Business costs. You are absolutely not allowed to bring any food meeting to be held just before the Russian Party. infused with marijuana.
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DAILY SCHEDULE
Thursday, June 30 IUCN Workshop Group 1: Golden Visitor's Center Conference Room, 1010 Washington Ave. 9:00 Pedro Cardoso Introduction 10:00 Training 11:00 12:00 Lunch (included) 13:00 14:00 13:00–17:00 Training Continued 15:00 16:00
Friday, July 1 IUCN Workshop Group 1 & 2: Golden Visitor's Center Conference Room, 1010 Washington Ave. 9:00 10:00 9:00–12:00 Training - Group 1 11:00 12:00 Lunch (included) 13:00 14:00 13:00–17:00 Redlisting species - Groups 1 & 2 15:00 16:00
Saturday July 2 IUCN Workshop Group 1 & 2: Golden Visitor's Center Conference Room, 1010 Washington Ave. 9:00 10:00 9:00–12:00 Redlisting Continued 11:00 12:00 Lunch (included) 13:00 14:00 13:00–17:00 Redlisting & Summary 15:00 16:00 17:00 Welcome Social, Grand Lobby Green Center, Colorado School of Mines Campus
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Saturday, July 2 Registration and Welcome Social: Grand Lobby, Green Center, 1500 Illinois Street, Golden, Colorado on the Colorado School of Mines Campus
–
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acquisition, processing, and acquisition, Symposium: Visual information information Visual Symposium: Lunch on your own; Poster Presenters Judges Meeting your own; (lunch Lunch on hang posters Competition Student Grand Lobby; Emily SettonEmily Prashant Sharma Sunday, July 3 July Sunday, Symposium: Biology of Scorpions Alfredo Monod Lionel Edmundo Gonzalez Carlos Santibanez Skye Long
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Plesiophrictus Plesiophrictus
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Megan Sprovach Sprovach Megan David Footle Juakaly Mbumba Juakaly Draney L. Michael Greenstone Matt Hofmann Fabian Samu Ferenc Blick Theo Chotwong Wimolwan Ambalaparambil Sudhikumar nilagiriensis
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10 DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE REPORTS | No. 3, July 2, 2016 DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE REPORTS | No. 3, July 2, 2016 11 Cushing 20th International Congress of Arachnology :00: 20
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hylo enomi s an hylo enomi s
eneration systemati s systemati s eneration ultiple on er en es on er en es ultiple lo us mole ular analysis analysis mole ular lo us
rypti ele ational ele ational rypti ran e en emi har estmen har estmen en emi ran e
n ient io eo raphy in a in a io eo raphy n ient
hylo eneti relationships relationships hylo eneti
Aliatypus janus Aliatypus
e t
leisto ene eolo i al e ents e ents eolo i al leisto ene
ithin the nite tates nite the ithin f short f re –
– in a ontinental ra iation ontinental in a o iaeti ae from montane alifornia montane from o iaeti ae emesii ae: spi ers of trap oor multi a naminae : spi ers: trap oor i iopi of ustralasian e plor o ra iation from alifornia of istri ution shapin i ersifi ation sian on ast spi ers se mente primiti ely mar ins promise an pro lem spi ers: in phol i enus tarantula the of re ision ta onomi Aphonopelma in the onation ntr
: : : : : : : : : : : : :
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: : : : ntelli ent a hesi es: n esti atin resour e the stru ture an fun tion of humi ity ontests ith the am lypy i Phrynus longipes responsi e spi er a re ate lues : umi ity affe ts inse t pi erlin intera tions retention y spi er or e s on the roup e : so ial tyranny rules in Agelenopsis aperta : lue tarantulas an ale male ompetition an in rain o spi ers inspire ne olor an heli era morpholo y in e ealan te hnolo ies sheet e spi ers : omparison of ra line sil ssessment strate ies in lan morpholo y an sil enes in t o male male ontests of umpin spi ers spi ers : o sil ale polymorphism in properties e ol e urin a apti e ra iations ir asso iate mites ariformes: of a aiian spi ers sti mata : e no o enomes of rnamental oloration or ea in spi ers re eal the i ersity an asso iate assessment strate y in male male omple ity of spi er sil enes ontests of Siler semiglaucus umpin spi ers : – : us les hy rauli s an nalysis of spi er sil sprin s: perspe ti es on oint me hani s in stru tural aria ility usin small an i e ara hni lo omotion an le ray iffra tion : hree imensional roa spe ies omparati e analysis of the ara hni lo omotory system meta analysis of ey amino a i ensities an topi s an pro lems sil stru tural properties : hree imensional analysis il ene of the spi er lo omotory system first e pression profiles of male ersus female ans ers an solutions o ea in spi ers : he hemolymph pressure nto eneti shift pump of armore spi ers raneae to ar s stron er tou her sil of e uil in asmanian a e spi er
16 DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE REPORTS | No. 3, July 2, 2016 DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE REPORTS | No. 3, July 2, 2016 17 Cushing 20th International Congress of Arachnology : orpholo i al pi er sil oes not onstraints on sprint performan e as ri ers support the ro th of a teria of anti pre ator eha ior in s orpions : orpion tail stri es: a rans riptomi s i entifies tra e tory shape analysis ene repertoires un erlyin fun tional ifferentiation of spi er sil lan s : upan y trans riptomi lo omotor eha ior in Schizocosa ocreata: approa h to e plorin pseu os orpion preliminary analysis isuali ation in su terranean trait e olution : ar etin or es ape: ifferen es et en ump types in a umpin spi er : : he eautiful eha ior io eo raphy of an morpholo y of ho spi ers fin an ari ean rthropo s rasp sil lines : he effe ts of le hylo eo raphy an autotomy on the out ome of pre ator prey i ersifi ation of hthoni pseu os orpions intera tions in Pardosa valens in the a ifi orth est : inemati ssessment of onse uen es in lo omotor performan e teni i ae monophyly after autotomy in Prionostemma har estmen : treme stri in in Selenops i h phylo eneti utility of raneae: elenopi ae an ultra onser e element pro e set esi ne for ra hni a : epeate e olution of ultilo us phylo eny of po er amplifie pre atory stri es in trap a Bonnetina an relate tarantulas re eals spi ers raneae e ysmau henii ae e tensi e morpholo i al homoplasy : pi er feet e olution: pe ies is o ery in the il ara: multiple a uisitions of istal arti ulations in the urious ase of Conothele homolo ous lo ation : opula opulation pseu os opula an la tufts in enomi s an phylo eo raphy of Sclerobunus y alomorphae robustus from the : he ample e ist n e of pi ers : – – : : : – : – 16 DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE REPORTS | No. 3, July 2, 2016 DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE REPORTS | No. 3, July 2, 2016 17 Cushing 20th International Congress of Arachnology
meet meet uses promptly outsi e reen enter here uses promptly outsi e reen enter ill e t o uses for this trip: one to here ill e one us for this trip ou o elan ass the other to erthou ass must ha e your ti et : ou must ha e your ti et : ll i on ress ursions ill return no later than : : – an on meetin in e i o at meri an ountaineerin enter th t oss u itorium st : floor : – meri an ountaineerin enter th t onferen e : enter st floor rin al oholi or non al oholi e era es to share foo to share or : onation lease e ill pay if you spill re ine on the arpet e : rea y to an e
18 DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE REPORTS | No. 3, July 2, 2016 DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE REPORTS | No. 3, July 2, 2016 19 Cushing 20th International Congress of Arachnology : : : : hy are they so ial reliminary results of the la isti analysis of the enera of ro i omi ae imon raneae : o ha itat an retreat Marek Żabka alti i ae ra hni a: limitation influen e so iality in prolon e raneae of islan s off ustralia re isite su so ial huntsman spi ers : aternal fee in an e s hylo eny of Selenocosmia influen e ispersal in the olonial or crassipes heraphosi ae : om inin ea er Cyrtophora citricola morpholo y an enom : ro imate to ultimate: orpions erti ally inte rate resear h on e olution of of the enus Vaejovis: the me i anus roup a so iality in Anelosimus studiosus morpholo i al phylo eny ae o i ae : eystone in i i uals in he phylo eny spi er so ieties: some pros an ons of olf spi ers raneae: y osi ae : o ial net or s as a la isti analysis of metri of so iality in spi ers Neostasina ith omments on the phylo eny of parianthinae parassi ae : : n i i ual eha ioral hylo enomi s ifferen es influen e patterns of so ial histori al io eo raphy of the on anan intera tions an a terial transmission family ettali ae piliones: ynami s yphophthalmi : ro in lea s to fitness ole ular enefits an re u e ispersal in a olonial systemati s of the eotropi al or ea in spi er spi er enus Wagneriana ranei ae : han es in matin system olutional pattern of ith so iality lea s to eplete enomi the mimi mo el relationship in the enus i ersity at population an spe ies le el Myrmarachne raneae: alti i ae : ispersal lo al ensity ntan lin epen en e an population sta ility in so ial e olutionary relationships of i o spi ers spi er metapopulations Latrodectus : phylo eny re isite : nterspe ifi ompetition an enomi approa hes roup si e an ispersal in a so ial spi er resol e the phylo eny of r yro inae raneae: heri ii ae
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: plorin the relationship first lan e at the et een olle ti e personality eha ioral ouple enitalia of the har estmen plasti ity in arrin arthropo so ieties Phalangium opilio upnoi : ffi ien y of io eo raphi paternal are on e prote tion in the patterns of tlanti orest phol i spi ers har estman Poassa limbata: o females help raneae: hol i ae arin : plorin eha ior an ultiple oloni ations neuro hemistry in the polypheni spi er parallel e olution an a apti e ra iation of Anelosimus studiosus heri ii ae linyphii spi ers in the uan ern n e ar hipela o : : m lypy i s as a mo el onorin er ert e i: for e plorin lin s et een sensory systems tu ies on Phoroncidia an an inter is iplinary an eha ior pro e t ase on spi er io i ersity in ran eton ational ar : urro a option an n the tra of the olf: na i ation in the esert rasslan s orpion ystemati s of orth meri an spe ies Paruroctonus utahensis es ri e in the enus Lycosa : plorin the hemo urprisin sisters te tural familiarity hypothesis for s orpion amon the salti i s na i ation : et astin neuroanatomy: ossil spi ers an ensory stru ture mo ifi ations mat h an ient salt la es entral ner ous system in estment in the net astin spi er Deinopis spinosa
: eural responses to air orne ate r o i ian pure tones from the rains of umpin heli erate i ersity ne insi hts from fishin an net astin spi ers anito a onser at a erst tten : he effe ts of o topamine urmese am er ara hni s an serotonin on a olf spi er s matin io i ersity in a reta eous tropi al forest eha iors : eha ioral effe ts of ar o e ata o topamine a ross onte ts in the olf a urately i entify hi her spi er ta a spi er Pardosa milvina : : : – : :
20 DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE REPORTS | No. 3, July 2, 2016 DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE REPORTS | No. 3, July 2, 2016 21 Cushing 20th International Congress of Arachnology
: : : : e t eneration hat ma es males re se uen in for hi h throu hput assessment hot: mate hoi e in the pea o spi er of arthropo i ersity Maratus volans : api i ersifi ation of ale matin su ess spi ers on islan s omparati e an lo omotory performan e an meta oli rate population enomi inferen es in Argiope aurantia : e t eneration he i arre orl of se uen in of ut ontent to stu y ni he repro u tion in leio unine har estmen: the e olo y in spi ers e olution of matin eha ior : eneti mosai amon ti ity patterns an matin e olo i ally similar spe ies ithin an eha iors of an ar oreal tarantula: Avicularia a apti e ra iation of a aiian spi ers laeta : opulation eha ioral responses enomi s mito hon rial nu lear to aryin a ousti stimuli in the olf spi er is or an e in ran e e pan in Argiope Gladicosa gulosa bruennichi : nfluen e of e ual ate holamines on ir a ian rhythmi ity of eha ior an matin plu s as a tool of anti pre ator eha ior in or ea in matin hoi e in the or e spi er Leucauge spi ers acuminata : : nra elin the he oo the a an the heli erata tree of life: phylo enomi u ly he asso iation et een a romelia resolution of heli erate interrelationships an ant an a spi er ase on eep ta on samplin : enomi perspe ti es on the he natural history e olution of la i o an house spi er an thermal iolo y of an r ti enoms pseu os orpion
: ouse spi er enom an etreat site sil lan trans riptomes re eal a omple sele tion in t o spe ies of y slan trans riptional lan s ape s orpions from ri ona : f they oul only myrme ophili spi er ite you: enom omposition an poten y of from est e as ith is ussion of iolo y a y lon le spi er enom an ta onomy
20 DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE REPORTS | No. 3, July 2, 2016 DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE REPORTS | No. 3, July 2, 2016 21 Cushing 20th International Congress of Arachnology
: opulation enomi s Milan Řezáč a iation of Dysdera spi ers an eo raphi al partheno enesis in in the anary ar hipela o in lu e uni ue apanese har estmen piliones e olution of iet eneralists from spe ialists lerosomati ae : enom e olution in the enus Tetragnatha fa ilitates a apti e ra iation an mate re o nition
: : : – : – : – : – : : : – : :
22 DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE REPORTS | No. 3, July 2, 2016 DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE REPORTS | No. 3, July 2, 2016 23 Cushing 20th International Congress of Arachnology
hylo eny ith intro ression in Habronattus umpin spi ers re eale y trans riptomes alti i ae: armo hirina
hylo io eo raphy of t o ari ean o hyro erati enera: Theotima an Ochyrocera
er ie if a e spi ers in roatia years of resear h
Dolejš, Petr ranian spi ers raneae in the ational useum in ra ue e h epu li
pi ers of the Pardosa laura roup raneae: y osi ae in the ar ast ussia
lo al phylo eny an io eo raphy of r iopinae raneae: ranei ae
ails or hea s etae patterns an annuli in the female fla ellum of mi ro hips orpions ra hni a: hi omi a
e e or s of ar estmen ra hni a piliones from innesota
i ersity patterns of spi er ommunities in hite oa forests of the panish ational ar s
pe ies i ersity of Cybaeus kuramotoi roup y aei ae an e olution of matin plu s ith anta onisti oe olution
n the Neohahnia ernsti imon raneae: ahnii ae : re es ription an ne re or s
i arii ae family raneae in olom ia ne s spe ies an first re or s of Sicarius
he tree of life of the family ae o i ae orpiones one step short to esta lish a natural lassifi ation
ata ase of outh ast sian umpin spi ers
ystemati s an olution of le treuri ae imon
e ali ation an re ision of the enus Sadala imon raneae: parassi ae
ne enus of eotropi al spi ers of the family ro i omi ae imon raneae
22 DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE REPORTS | No. 3, July 2, 2016 DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE REPORTS | No. 3, July 2, 2016 23 Cushing 20th International Congress of Arachnology
l ore r , o e ision an phylo eneti pla ement of the enera Jalapyphantes an Selenyphantes raneae inyphii ae
re o t, to o es riptions of ne enera of the spi er family aponii ae ra hni a raneae an Tisentnops from ra il
le o ariation in total mer ury ontent amon riparian an non riparian olf spi ers
e e , ta le isotopes illuminate ni he e olo y in an a apti e ra iation of a aiian spi ers
Pott , e l e rophi as a es: he rian le of e omposition
t , r patio temporal ynami s of eneralist pre ators Tetragnatha an ipterans in e o frien ly pa y fiel s
r , o o ass fin in s of an un ommon spi er Prodidomus rufus: ime apsule of in oor spi er fauna from o erio
tto , Do o e uantifyin non onsumpti e effe ts of arthropo pre ators on a roe osystem pests
tańska, Marzena o input on entional farmin supports io i ersity of spi ers in eastern olan
, ere eather on itions affe t e elopmental e ision in a ommon olf spi er spe ies
e e er er, r pi ers from the olle tion in the useum of omparati e oolo y
r , r ermite eatin spi ers mmo eni ae: Ammoxenus : istri ution an oe isten e of rypti spe ies
o , amplin terrestrial spi ers: aluation of samplin proto ols an presentation of alternati e metho s
or, he physiolo i al asis for elaye e elopment in so ial huntsman spi ers: mpa ts on so iality
, el eha ior ri en ran e e pansion in the olonial tent e or ea er Cyrtophora citricola
ore , ler isplay ar hite ture a ross so ial onte ts in the am lypy i Paraphrynus laevifrons
o , oo ole of eon ate heli erae in male male ontest an female mate hoi e in the salti i enus Myrmarachne
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er, re a t or myth: o natural su stan es repel in asi e spi ers
t er, o l nti pre ator su mersion eha ior: a oe olutionary arms ra e et een t o spe ies of olf spi ers
el e , D ensory shifts follo in autotomy in the ol en r ea er spi ers Nephila clavipes
r , r el he importan e of tri ho othria in prey apture su ess in the s orpion Tityus serrulatus uthi ae
t tro , o turnal no more: o y on ition pre i ts iurnal fora in in the net astin spi er Deinopis subrufa
r , err ompetition an autotomy affe t sur i al an e elopment in ellar spi ers
l e o r e , et utotomi e Prionostemma har estmen ha e e ual matin su ess than inta t in i i uals
P ett, l he effe ts of ha itat on the a ti e spa e of t o olf spi ers
t le , el emale preferen e for male hemota tile ues in Pardosa milvina raneae y osi ae
tro, tl ast male paternity ias in Tetragnatha– oes intermatin inter al matter
oe er er, ll amiliarity re u es a ression ut also matin su ess for male Leiobunum aldrichi
e er, le er eha iors asso iate ith matin su ess in the olf spi er Gladicosa gulosa
tt , olto itness onse uen es of eo raphi ariation in mate hoi e in a olf spi er
l , re u strate hoi e y urro in males of Allocosa brasiliensis raneae y osi ae
oo , anos ale i rillar tta hment e i es for the ry hesion in the alti i pi er Plexippus setipes
er,D e omparison of in ase fi ati es for histo hemi al an histomorphometri analysis of ara hni tissues
er, er r Multiple convergent evolution of male sexual ‘head’ mo ifi ations in phol i spi ers
24 DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE REPORTS | No. 3, July 2, 2016 DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE REPORTS | No. 3, July 2, 2016 25 Cushing 20th International Congress of Arachnology
e, e r tructure and distri ution of different sensilla t pes in Argiope bruennichi raneae raneidae
oo anoscopic structure of the sil spinning spigots in the cri ellate spider Nurscia albofasciata
rot , r r ol Male chemosensor scopulae in egestriidae raneae morpholog and iological aspects in Ariadna Audouin species
rr le l l D e o irst report of a stridulator organ in Mastigoproctus giganteus ucas
, D rrell ternal apodemes in phalangodid harvestmen piliones
ett, l er e ot so touch after all ultrastructure of chemoreceptive tarsal sensilla in an armored harvestman rachnida piliones
, o e P lo Morpholog of setae in coxae and trochanters of spiders heraphosinae preliminar results
r er, r nfluence of e in pre detection a comparison of four tarantula species
lle , t nfluence of age and environmental enrichment on tarantula Grammostola pulchripes personalit
ott, t er e Male lac ido s decrease competition via e reduction
o e l , r ampling protocol and processing of or e spiders nsights to ards conservation strategies
o, o citi en scientists help scientists to do real scientific researches on rachnolog – spider surve in ai an
e , le er ne genus of the u famil opinae raneae aponiidae from eotropical region
r ol , ele on consumptive effects of a spider predator on plant penetration ehavior of virus vector leafhoppers
26 DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE REPORTS | No. 3, July 2, 2016 DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE REPORTS | No. 3, July 2, 2016 27 Cushing 20th International Congress of Arachnology
e , l Po ter e o e t e t e t o et t o o ter
Po ter Pre e ter e tle o Po ter r , Pr t
e o ro , r
er , ll Austropurcellia erl , ,
l , Peter
oo e , Peter
e, o Sinopoda
t , De or
r , el Ischnothyreus
t , tor Cantuaria in e ealand’s trapdoor spiders
l o , l e Chenistonia Proshermacha e o , el j Sphecozone
o to , D Mundochthonius
eo , o Idris
26 DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE REPORTS | No. 3, July 2, 2016 DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE REPORTS | No. 3, July 2, 2016 27 Cushing 20th International Congress of Arachnology
l , P r t o entin t e s tri e el rillina ro t e ind s re ion o a istan raneae alti idae
ol , te o olo o Argyroneta aquatica in a s all res r en e
, r o reatenin t e iant t e response o Vesubia jugorum to li ate an e
r r , r ersion toleran e a on riparian and non riparian spiders
o, D e slands in t e trees io eo rap i e ploration o epip te dwellin spiders
r tle , r i nal in t e noise se o lon ter spider data
t, e se o tarant las in traditional edi ine on t ree ontinents
t o , r i ersit and o nit str t re o ar oreal spiders raneae in rassland s r s ste s
, D pider denti i ation ield o rse at o t western esear tation o N ontri tes to pe ies e ords e , el op lation eneti tr t re o t e old pin pider Phidippus audax iden e or distin t or s
e r er e r pandin ar ro o e potential eo rap i o pan o t e in asi e Cyrtophora citricola raneidae in eri a , rle irst re ords and potential ran e o in asi e Badumna longinqua in o t ri a
l , sland ideo ts o t ie es and assassins io eo rap o ndian ean r rodinae spiders
ller, ere road spe tr in entor o a s all ari ean island
r , r el e ts o star ation on ora in e a ior in t e s orpion Tityus serrulatus t idae
e te , e e al di orp is in eno land anato in a se all stin in s orpion
l o, e lteration o predator e a ior o a eneralist predator e pos re to two inse ti ides
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o re , e Misbehaving on atrazine; an herbicide’s impact on Pardosa milvina raneae osidae
to er, re t e e e ts o dopa ine on atin e a iors o a wol spider
l ert, ole patial o nition in pin spiders ssess ent o pat len t to pre and anta e point
tre er, rt pider irt al realit set p to in esti ate is all ided e a ior in ntet ered ntin spiders
ller, ele e n esti atin t e e e ts o l o etine on anti predator e a ior o or wea er Larinioides cornutus raneidae
, D e ts o oldness on we de oration e a ior and ora in s ess
t , De or eo rap i str t re and ene low in a ran e e pandin o nal spider Cyrtophora citricola raneidae in srael , r ti lar o po nds in a s so ial spider wit in re o nition
o e, e o ial pol orp is in Anelosimus studiosus a lon it dinal o parison
l P re , r Scorpion’s sexual behavior: a remarkable performance o Megacormus gerstchi orpiones s orpiidae
Perett , l re o e el o pol n and asso iated reprod ti e osts in a nnel we l osid
err , le e ts o Wolbachia in e tion on a ression in a so iall pol orp i spider Anelosimus studiosus eridiidae De r o, le er e a toto in t e is in spider Dolomedes triton and its e e t on antipredator and lo o otor e a ior e e, o toto and s r a e in line intera ti el a e t o e ent in p ol id spiders
l Pere r , le t e ani al wor o wal in on le el and in lined s r a es in t e tarant la Eupalaestrus weijenberghi erap osidae er er , re pider or and n tion ora in ild orp olo and per or an e
le , o elations ips etween w ole or anis per or an e orp olo and e a io r in spiders
28 DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE REPORTS | No. 3, July 2, 2016 DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE REPORTS | No. 3, July 2, 2016 29 Cushing 20th International Congress of Arachnology
lett , t o he organization of the spider nervous s stem as revealed b dopamine immunolabeling
te o , P l rain structure of the umping spider Marpissa muscosa rachnida: Salticidae an arthropod ith extraordinar cognitive abilities el e , D reliminar description of defensive silk in Latrodectus hesperus
t , e ssembl and annotation of the mitochondrial genome of the Striped Scorpion Centruroides vittatus
e e t , elle uplication concerted evolution of MiSp encoding genes underlie material properties of minor ampullate silks o , e h logen ith introgression in Habronattus umping spiders revealed b transcriptomes Salticidae: armochirina , re o clade spiders possess the same suite of silk genes as orb eb eaving spiders
ole, e re haracterization of the enom roteome for the andering Spider Ctenus hibernalis raneae: tenidae
or , o est of the utilit of venom expressed genes for reconstructing taxonomic relationships using aplog ne spiders , el esolving deep relationships ithin umping spiders
l ert, el ene expression anal sis provides ne insights into the arachnid immune s stem
l , re mmunocompetence tests to determine burro digging costs in Allocosa brasiliensis raneae: cosidae
l o, r he fear of spiders: the effect of a single talk on school children
l e, r Sevent t o ne spider distribution records and four undescribed species from ndiana forests
e , o e Spider population response to spatial temporal variabilit in pre : ake M vatn celand
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r l e t Pro r e , l , er tor tle Pre e ter e Tetragnatha Mating ehavior nne anielson rancois : – : Mealtime for Liphistius oe arfel : – : ight egged iversit : Spiders inda a or : – : and heir in redators round Spiders in ingisile Mbo : – : and ut of the ab gids ler ore Matt ilkins : – : ehind the oor Marco saia ierluigi izzo : – : omage Sarah ariko riana am : – :
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Post Congress Excursion Agenda
Saturday, July 9 8:30 Depart CSM Campus–meet outside Green Center 10:30 Arrive Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument 12:45 Arrive Monarch Pass, Continental Divide: lunch, rest, photos 15:00 Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park 18:30 Montrose, Black Canyon Motel. Dinner on your own.
Sunday, July 10 8:30 Drive to Mesa Verde National Park 11:30 Arrive Mesa Verde. Bag lunch at the park. 15:30 Drive to Moab, Utah 17:30 Arrive Moab, River Canyon Lodge. Dinner on your own.
Monday, July 11 8:30 Drive to Arches National Park just outside Moab, Utah 10:30 Drive to Colorado National Monument, Colorado. Bag lunch on the way 14:30 Drive to Glenwood Springs 17:00 Dinner as group at The Pullman. 19:00 Free time, hot springs, overnight at Hotel Colorado
Tuesday, July 12 8:30 Drive to Denver 11:30 Arrive in Denver & begin drop off at hotels & airport
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ABSTRACTS may have diversified quickly and are systematically difficult. Spiders are massively abundant generalist Abstracts of keynote speakers are listed first in order of predators that are found in nearly every ecosystem presentation, followed by other abstracts in alphabetical on the planet and have persisted for over 380 million order by first author. Underlined indicates presenting years. In addition to tremendous species diversity and author, *indicates presentation in student competition. importance in terrestrial ecosystems, they are also Only students with an * are in the competition. known for their extraordinary biomaterials like silks and venoms. The group has long provided evolutionary PLENARY presentation–Sunday, July 3 models for studying complex mating and web spin- Trans-taxa: spiders that dress as ants ning behaviors, key innovation and adaptive radiation hypotheses, and has been inspiration for important Ximena Nelson theories like sexual selection by female choice. Past School of Biological Sciences, University of Canter- attempts to reconstruct spider phylogeny using stan- bury, Christchurch, New Zealand dard molecular markers have been unable to produce [email protected] a well-supported phylogenetic framework for the entire Batesian mimicry is a classic evolutionary phenom- order. I will discuss a number of current efforts, in enon whereby animals experience reduced predation collaboration with others, to further resolve spider as a consequence of their resemblance to noxious, phylogenetic relationships using transcriptome and dangerous or unpalatable animals. Jumping spiders other genomics-based data. These data provide consid- (Salticidae) are the largest family of spiders, and the erable insight into our understanding of web evolution, genus Myrmarachne, with over 220 species, is the rates of diversification across the order, and seemingly largest among the salticids. Myrmarachne are all indicate that major changes in spider classification are ant-like spiders and appear to be Batesian mimics, likely warranted. using both appearance and behaviour to enhance their resemblance to ants. The interactions of ants, Myrma- PLENARY presentation–Tuesday, July 5 rachne and non-ant-like salticids provide a framework Evolution of spider silk genes to thoroughly explore Batesian mimicry theory. In Cheryl Hayashi particular, I will discuss the effects of behavioural Department of Biology, University of California mimicry and costs associated with Batesian mimicry, Riverside, California, USA including species recognition and effects of sexual [email protected] selection. Keywords: mimicry, Salticidae, Myrmarachne, ant-like Spiders are unparalleled among arthropods for the many types of silks they spin. Silks are mostly protein PLENARY presentation–Monday, July 4 and this presentation will focus on the genes that Spider phylogenomics: untangling the encode the silk proteins. I will trace the history of spider tree of life advances made in characterizing spider silk genes, from the initial gene-by-gene cloning efforts to recent Jason Bond transcriptomic and genomic studies. The most well Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Alabama, USA known silk genes belong to a single gene family, the [email protected] spidroin gene family, and analyses have shown that Phylogenomic inference is transforming systematic biology spidroin gene evolution has been dramatically shaped by allowing systematists to confidently resolve many major by gene duplication, followed by episodes of divergence branches of the Tree of Life, even for ancient groups that and conservation. However, spidroins are not the entire
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story of spider silk, there are other silk proteins, and PLENARY presentation–Friday, July 8 they, too, are members of gene families. The evolution- How the brown recluse got its bite: evolu- ary diversification of serial homologs, whether they are tionary assembly of spider venoms morphological (silk glands, spigots, spinnerets, etc.) or Greta Binford molecular (silk genes, iterated amino acid sequence Lewis & Clark College, Portland, Oregon, USA motifs), is a major theme in understanding spider silk [email protected] production. Venoms are complex phenotypes with a large and diverse PLENARY presentation–Thursday, July 7 set of interacting molecular components. Spider venoms Evolution of paternal care in harvestmen: have particularly deep evolutionary histories, and are devoted fathers or selfish lovers? strikingly complex. We have much to learn about the structure of variability in venoms and factors that influ- Glauco Machado ence major evolutionary changes in venom function. I Departamento de Ecologia, Universidade de São will discuss ongoing work to understand how spiders in Paulo, Brazil the family Sicariidae, including the brown recluse, evolved [email protected] their unique venoms that have toxins that are insecticidal Exclusive paternal care is probably the rarest form and cause dermonecrosis in mammals (sphingomyelinase of post-zygotic parental investment in nature. This D toxins in the SicTox gene family). In the context of behavior is known to have independently evolved the biology and evolutionary history of these animals, I in 16 arthropod lineages, nine of them belong- will discuss our improving understanding of the timing ing to the small order Opiliones, which comprises and circumstance of the evolutionary recruitment of the nearly 6,500 species. Thus, harvestmen offer unique SicTox lineage for insecticidal venom function. I will also opportunities to test hypotheses on the evolution of present comparative venomic data that integrates HiSeq exclusive paternal. In this talk, I will first review the transcriptomes of venom glands, and Orbitrap proteomic theoretical background on sex roles and parental care, analyses that characterize gene families contributing to contrasting classical views with the most recent math- venom protetomes. This will include comparative analyses ematical models. Then, I will present a series of studies of evolutionary dynamics of these gene family lineages. conducted by my research group using Neotropical har- Our dataset includes sampling across representatives vestmen as study systems. Using both field observations of diverse sicariids with common ancestry spanning ~ and experiments, we contrasted predictions from differ- 10–100 million years, and a range of non-sicariid hap- ent theoretical models and evaluated costs and benefits logyne spiders including three taxa in their sister lineage of paternal care. Our findings indicate that paternal (Drymusa, Periogops, and Scytodes) and other haplogy- care increases males’ attractiveness to females. More- nes including pholcids and plectreurids. over, we show that paternal care confers high benefits to the offspring when compared to relatively low costs Student - oral presentation to the males in terms of decreasing survival and The mechanisms of chemical communica- foraging rates. To conclude, I will integrate the avail- tion in Tetragnatha spiders able information for harvestmen and other arthropod species in order to derive general conclusions on the *Seira Ashley Adams1, Rosemary Gillespie1, Gabriele Uhl2 evolution of paternal care. 1Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Keywords: paternal care, sexual selection, costs and Management University of California, Berkeley, 130 benefits, Opiliones, sex roles. Mulford Hall #3114, Berkeley, CA 94720-3114, USA; 2Department of General and Systematic Zoology,
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Zoological Institute and Museum, Ernst Moritz Arndt for medicine and industry. To investigate spider-silk genes University of Greifswald, Anklamer Str. 20, D-17489 (i.e. spidroins) systematically, we constructed the first Greifswald, Germany annotated genomes for orb-weaving spiders: the golden [email protected] orb-weaver (Nephila clavipes), and Darwin’s bark spider (Caerostris darwini). Our results yield an unprecedented The mechanisms by which reproductive isolation evolves diversity of spidroins, most of which we were able to and is maintained is central to understanding fundamental characterize in detail (full-length reconstruction) for the processes of evolution. Chemical cues are one of the most first time. We also find an impressive diversity in the basic ancient and widespread modalities of communication, yet construction blocks of silks including hundreds of unique their importance in species recognition and reproductive repeated coding motifs and cassettes, and reveal patterns of isolation remains largely unknown. My work will focus on shared motifs and unique cassettes that may underlie the the role of chemical communication in reproductive isola- observed differences in biomechanical properties among tion and speciation within the Tetragnatha spider family different silks. We associate spidroin sequences with silk where visual and auditory cues appear to play little or gland expression challenging some long-held assump- no role in species recognition during mating. tions, e.g., that differentiated silk glands extrude spidroins Keywords: chemical communication, pheromones, sexual exclusive to one silk class. We additionally find evidence of behavior, Tetragnatha spiders, species recognition an alternatively spliced spidroin, a spidroin expressed only in venom glands, evolutionary mechanisms for spidroin Oral presentation diversification, and non-spidroins genes highly expressed De novo genomes of orb-weaving spiders in silk glands as candidates involved in silk production. reveal the diversity and complexity of Keywords: silk, genomics, transcriptomics spidroins Oral presentation Ingi Agnarsson1, Paul L. Babb2,3, Nicholas F. Hairy kisses, mating plugs and Lahens2,4, David N. Nicholson1,2, Eun Ji Kim2,4, Linden female choice in Leucauge (Araneae: Higgins1, John B. Hogenesch2,4, Matjaž Kuntner5, Tetragnathidae) Benjamin F. Voight2,3,4 1Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Anita Aisenberg1, Gilbert Barrantes2, William G. Burlington, VT 05405, USA; 2Department of Systems Eberhard2,3 Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, 1Laboratorio de Etología, Ecología y Evolución, Insti- Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Penn- tuto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, sylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; 3Department Avenida Italia 3318 CP 11600, Montevideo, Uruguay; of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine at the Uni- 2Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, versity of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Ciudad Universitaria, Costa Rica; 3Smithsonian Tropi- 4Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, cal Research Institute, Museum of Natural Science. Perelman School of Medicine at the University of [email protected] Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; 5EZ Lab, Though many studies have documented rapid male Institute of Biology at Research Centre of the Slovenian genital divergence, few have tested how these differences Academy of Sciences and Arts, Ljubljana, Slovenia. between close-related species correlate with their sexual [email protected] behavior. Leucauge genus includes more than 100 species Spider silks are the toughest known biomaterials, yet but courtship and copulatory behavior has been described are lightweight, extensible, and virtually invisible to the in detail only for L. mariana and L. argyra. The two immune system, and thus have revolutionary potential species show differences in courtship and copulatory
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patterns, and frequencies of sexual cannibalism. Both L. origin (fine sand males: 20 coarse sand versus 10 fine mariana and L. argyra females can have mating plugs, sand, p=0.02; coarse sand males: 23 coarse sand versus but in L. mariana they are composed by substances seven fine sand, p=0.001). Fine sand males that con- transferred by both sexes, while in L. argyra they are pro- structed in coarse sand showed longer burrow compared duced only by females. Furthermore, in this last species with coarse grain males that preferred that substrate mating plugs function as mortal traps for males. In both (U=147.5, p=0.04). General digging patterns were similar, Leucauge female decision of plug production is linked to but occurrences (mean±SD, fine sand: 25.70±26.30, male pre-copulatory and copulatory courtship. Both sexes coarse sand: 50.70±39.09; U=21.5, p=0.03 and durations in L. argyra show unusual derived genital structures of resting behavior (351.21±200.35 sec, coarse sand: that could have evolved under sexual selection. In this 728.35±382.32 sec; U=21.0, p=0.03 were higher in coarse presentation we will compare genital morphology and sand. Digging in coarse sand would be faster and less ener- sexual behavior in L. mariana and L. argyra, discussing getically demanding than in fine sand. the differences under sexual selection hypotheses. We will Keywords: granulometry, burrow, fine sand, coarse sand also expose recent studies on cryptic female choice in L. mariana and suggest fertile areas for future research. Student - poster presentation Keywords: sexual selection, cryptic female choice, Inmunocompetence tests to determine genital plugs, copulatory courtship burrow-digging costs in Allocosa brasil- iensis (Araneae, Lycosidae) Student–Poster presentation A. Albín1,2, M. Simó2, A. Aisenberg1, L. Calbacho-Rosa3 Substrate choice by burrowing males of 1Laboratorio de Etología, Ecología y Evolución, Insti- Allocosa brasiliensis (Araneae, Lycosidae) tuto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, *A. Albín1,2, M. Simó2, A. Aisenberg1 Montevideo, Uruguay; 2Sección Entomología, Facultad 1Laboratorio de Etología, Ecología y Evolución, Insti- de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, tuto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Uruguay; 3Laboratorio de Biología Reproductiva y Montevideo, Uruguay; 2Sección Entomología, Facultad Evolución, Cátedra de Diversidad Animal I, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Uruguay Nacional de Córdoba, CONICET, Argentina [email protected] [email protected] The burrowing spider A. brasiliensis inhabits beaches with Allocosa brasiliensis inhabits sandy coastal areas in different granulometry in Uruguay, characteristics that Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. Males build burrows in could affect burrow dimensions and excavation energy the sand, and females prefer to mate with those males costs. Males construct longer burrows than females, and presenting longest burrows. In some species of spiders burrow length is under female selection. We analyzed there is a trade-off between characters, in the history of A. brasiliensis male digging preferences between coarse life and immune functions. Our objective was to deter- or fine sand, and compared digging behaviors in the two mine if male digging behavior affected immune response substrates. We collected A. brasiliensis males at a fine- in A. brasiliensis. We compared the immune response sand beach (San José de Carrasco, Canelones), and a of digging males vs. non-digging males (control), and coarse-sand beach (Paso del Molino, Lavalleja). Spiders immune function was estimated through lytic activity were placed for 48 hours in glass terraria with fine-grain (LA). LA was expressed as changes in optical density (with sand in one half of the terrarium, and coarse sand in the decreasing readings of optical density, higher LA). We did remaining half (n=30 males from each substrate). Males not find significant differences in optical density between preferred digging in coarse sand, independently of their the two groups, though results were close to significance
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limit (digging males: 0.33±0.09, n=14, non-digging males would result in wide variation in their reproductive males: 0.42±0.16, n=10; p=0.08). We are increasing success. Receptive inhibiting substances rather than the sample sizes to confirm whether male burrow digging sperm itself may be acting during pattern 1, but active implies an energetic cost in this species, or if it is exclu- female reduction in the amount of ejaculate that reaches sively performed by males with good body condition, for her spermathecae most probably help to reduce her reluc- whom digging causes no impact in immune responses. tance to remating. Keywords: lytic activity, immune functions, trade-off, Keywords: copulatory patterns, cryptic female choice, burrows sexual behavior, wolf spiders
Oral presentation Poster presentation Complex mating, high male sperm effort The fear of spiders: the effect of a single and strong female control in a wolf spider talk on school children Maria J. Albo, Fernando G. Costa Maria J. Albo1, Laura Montes de Oca1 and Ignacio Laboratorio de Etología, Ecología y Evolución, Insti- Estevan2 tuto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable. 1Laboratorio de Etología, Ecología y Evolución, Instituto Montevideo, Uruguay de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable (IIBCE), [email protected] Montevideo, Uruguay; 2Instituto de Fundamentos y Métodos en Psicología, Facultad de Psicología, Universi- Post-copulatory sexual selection is often expected in poly- dad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay androus species and it is especially promising to study in [email protected] species with complex mating patterns. In the wolf spider Schizocosa malitiosa males perform two different consec- Loved and feared, spiders have been always mysterious utive copulatory patterns, which are characterized mainly animals for human societies. The majority of species are by different number of pedipalp insertions. The full mating harmless, but probably due to their venom they are gener- last 100 min, 80% of total insertions occur in pattern 1 and ally feared and disliked in many cultures. However, spiders 20% in pattern 2. Both patterns produce similar number of use the venom to capture prey or defend themselves offspring, but pattern 1 induce higher female reluctance from predators, while only 1% are fatally dangerous for to remating than pattern 2. By interrupting matings after humans. In this project we were interested in examining pattern 1 and then offering the male a second female, children’s knowledge and attitudes about spiders as well which received only pattern 2, we investigated if the as in measuring the impact of our talks on their point complex copulatory patterns are related to male sperm of view and behavior. We surveyed 172 children from 9 investment and sperm storage by females. We hypothesized school groups (10 and 11 years old) visiting the Institute that males strategically allocate the sperm during pattern (IIBCE) in 2015. We performed a multiple choice survey 1 causing female reluctance. Second, by mating males before any knowledge was given, including identification with recently thawed, dead females we tested the possible of native animals (particularly arachnids), whether they active roles of females in sperm storage. Our findings show are afraid or not to spiders, if they like them or not, and that males transfer in total 71% of the sperm available in what is their reaction if they spot one nearby. Afterwards, their pedipalps, being higher but not significant in pattern we divided them in two groups: children receiving a talk 1 than pattern 2. Females drastically reduced the amount about spiders and other arachnids (spider group), chil- of sperm stored in their spermathecae and such control is dren receiving a talk in another topic (control group). stronger in pattern 1 compared to pattern 2. We propose The same survey was repeated 30 days later at school by that cryptic female choice is a main factor driving male their own teacher. We compared pre and post-responses sperm effort, and differences in copulatory patterns among both within and between treatment groups. The results
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indicated that before any talks: 65% of the children did and functionality of spigots present on each spinneret not know about native harvestmen, 45% were afraid of for every instar in each species. SEM imaging and spigot spiders, 65% disliked them and 62% ran away or killed mapping are currently underway. Tengella perfuga are them in an encounter. Significantly more children learned cribellate and possess a triad of spigots (modified spigot about harvestmen in the spider group (40%). We did not with flankers) on the PLS which may be homologous to find differences in comparisons using the other param- the PLS triad (aggregate and flagelliform spigots) in arane- eters. These findings remark how meaningful a single talk oids, while H. carolinensis and D. tenebrosus do not. These can be in children’s learning, but also indicate the need data, along with published datasets within Araneoidea and of a much deeper educational work to demystify false con- Lycosoidea, and an unpublished Phyxelida tangenensis cepts about spiders and nature in general. (Simon & Fage) dataset (Carlson & Griswold) will be used Keywords: children education, fear, survey, spiders in comparative phylogenetic analyses, using the Lycosoidea phylogeny (Polotow et al.) to explore silk use evolution. Student - oral presentation Keywords: cribellum, spinnerets, modified spigot, silk Comparative spigot ontogeny and mor- use evolution phology across the Lycosoidea Student - Poster Presentation *Rachael Alfaro Documenting the subtribe Aelurillina Division of Arthropods Museum of Southwestern from the Hindu Kush region of Pakistan Biology, Arthropods 1, University of New Mexico, (Araneae: Salticidae) MSC03 2020, Albuquerque, NM, 87131-0001 [email protected] Pir Asmat Ali1,2, Wayne P. Maddison1,3, Muhammad Zahid2 1Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Adult spigot morphology has provided useful taxonomic Vancouver, Canada; 2Department of Zoology, Islamia characters in many morphological datasets in spider College University, Peshawar, Pakistan; 3Department of systematics; however, the ontogeny of silk spigots is very Botany and the Beaty Biodiversity Museum, University under-studied across spider taxa. Silk spigot numbers and of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada active glands change at varying stages throughout the spider [email protected] life cycle. Recent phylogenomics studies have confirmed the paraphyly of the Orbiculariae and suggest that orb weaving The subtribe Aelurillina includes 262 species of jumping cribellate spiders are sister to the highly diverse RTA clade, spider (family Salticidae) in 11 genera worldwide, with all not the sticky silk orb weavers (Araneoidea). The majority of but one distributed in Africa and Eurasia. We provide the spiders within the RTA clade, including lycosoids, have lost first report of species in the group from Pakistan, and in the use of silk as a foraging tool, and some have retained fact one of the few reports of any salticids in Pakistan. In the cribellum. Given this paradigm shift in spider systemat- recent collecting in the Khyber Pakhtunkwa, Northern area ics, it is important to look for homologous spigot structures and Federally Administrative Tribles Areas (F.A.T.A.) of Paki- between orb weavers and lycosoids during development. stan we have discovered at least 6 species of aelurillines, in Here, I describe the spigot ontogeny for three species: varied habitats but mostly on stony ground of lower bare Tengella perfuga Dahl, and for the first time, Dolomedes Hindu Kush mountains. The species found include Aeluril- tenebrosus (Hentz) and Hogna carolinensis (Walckenaer). lus cf. logunovi Azarkina, 2004, Aelurillus sp., Langona cf. Lab colonies were established and specimens collected from bhutanica Proszynski, 1978, Langona cf. pallida Proszyn- every instar. Spinnerets from each spider (2nd instar to adult) ski, 1993, Phegra cf. bresnieri (Lucas, 1846), and a species were dissected and prepared for SEM imaging by critical of Stenaelurillus new to science. Further studies are needed point drying, mounting and sputter-coating the specimen in to determine the species identifications precisely. gold. SEM images were used to determine the quantity, type Keywords: Jumping spiders, Salticidae, taxonomy, Pakistan
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Student - oral presentation Keywords: spider silk, silk properties, biomechanics, Do silk properties evolve during adaptive adhesion, adaptive radiation radiations of Hawaiian spiders? Oral presentation *Angela M. Alicea-Serrano1, Dharamdeep Jain2, Ali Cyberdiversity of Araneomorphae in Mexico Dhinojwala2, Todd A. Blackledge1 1Department of Biology, University of Akron, Ohio, Fernando Alvarez-Padilla USA; 2Department of Polymer Science, University of Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Facultad de Akron, Ohio, USA Ciencias, Biologia Comparada, Lab. Aracnologia. 3000 [email protected] Av. Universidad, Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico CP 04510 [email protected] Web architecture evolved rapidly during adaptive radia- tion of Hawaiian Tetragnatha, with a divergence of web The Order Araneae has approximately 46,000 described forms in the same island but repeated convergence of web species, most of them included in Araneomorphae, and forms on different islands. But, whether silk properties this number is estimated to represent between one-half to also evolve during adaptive radiations remains a mystery. one-fifth of the total. The spider fauna of tropical and sub- In this study we tested for diversification in silk properties. tropical regions has been poorly studied and is expected We predicted a relationship between silk properties and the to contain most of the new species. In Mexico about 2,500 performance of webs, where differences in web architecture species have been recorded in various catalogs, but this selects for changes in silk tensile strength, extensibility represents only a fraction of the total. Three ideas are and toughness, and glue adhesive forces. As silk density discussed to expedite the documentation of Mexican spider decrease in the webs of some species, we expected that diversity: the use of collecting protocols that allow some toughness for major ampullate and capture spiral silk will type of analysis, making the morphological and genomic increase as compensation. Adhesion forces on the other information of these morphospecies easily accessible to hand is expected to increase with web size since bigger the spider community and lending the specimens to spe- spiders produce bigger glue droplets. Orb webs from three cialist for formal species description. The theoretical bases species were collected at two sites in the archipelago. Tet- for these ideas come from The New Taxonomy book and ragnatha hawaiensis was found in Upper Waiakea Forest the Cyberdiversity initiatives with spiders and ants. Reserve, Hawai’i and T. stelarobusta, T. trituberculata Keywords: faunistics, New Taxonomy, diversity and T. hawaiensis were found at Waikamoi Nature Conser- vancy Preserve, Maui. Major ampullate and capture spiral Oral presentation silk were obtained directly from orb webs and tensile and Population structure of Plesiophrictus adhesion tests were performed using a Nano Bionix test nilagiriensis (Araneae, Mygalomorphae, system. Since salts present in the glue determine in part Theraphosidae) in the Western Ghats of India adhesion forces, solution state NMR was done and salt Sudhikumar Ambalaparambil composition of glues was assessed. Preliminary results Department of Zoology, Centre for Animal Taxonomy showed higher adhesion forces of glue and higher tough- and Ecology, Christ College, Irinjalakuda, Kerala, India ness for T. trituberculata, the species with the lowest [email protected] amount of capture spiral silk in its web. However further analysis is still needed to draw conclusions from this data. This study is an attempt to characterize the population Results of this study will help us see if spider silk material structure of an endemic burrowing spider Plesiophrictus properties are coupled to its architectures, which is impor- nilagiriensis (Araneae, Mygalomorphae, Theraphosidae) tant for understanding spider diversification, and may aid distributed along the Western Ghats, one of the biodiver- in the development of new “green” biomaterials. sity hotspots of the world, based on mitochondrial DNA
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sequence data. DNA extraction, amplification and data tested the hypothesis that the increased insertion number analysis was conducted as per standard procedures. realized through copulatory silk wrapping increases (a) Among the five mtDNA haplotypes identified, three haplo- the quantity of sperm transferred and (b) fertilization types were present in both Central WG and Northern WG success. To accomplish this we directly quantified the and two were present in Southern WG. The neighbour- amount of sperm in male pedipalps (i.e. the male sperm joining tree of the five haplotypes identified two distinct storage organ) before and after mating, and quantified clades of haplotypes: clade 1 and clade 2. Estimates of fertilization success when males were capable of obtain- gene flow show that there is little exchange between SWG ing one versus two insertions within a mating. Pisaurina and other part of the Western Ghats, compared to mira exhibits a unique mating behavior that may reflect exchange among population within NWG and CWG an evolutionary history of conflicting reproductive strate- regions. The resulted MP tree showing two monophyletic gies between males and females. We hope this study will groups: one SWG group and CWG-NWG combined. The begin to shed fundamental insights into the co-evolution- consideration of local population differentiation is impor- ary dynamics between the distinct sexes. tant in deciding how to conserve a fragmented population. Keywords: Pisauridae, sexual conflict, sexual selection, Most measures of local distinctiveness will predominantly mating systems, sperm competition reflect genetic variation between populations. Such varia- tion can be regarded as indicating a departure from an Student - oral presentation ideal panmictic system, although it may reflect long-term Rapid diversification of spiders on islands evolutionary processes as well as recent disturbance. - insights from comparative and popula- Keywords: Western Ghats, biodiversity hotspot, popula- tion genomic inferences tion structure *Ellie Armstrong1, Stefan Prost2, Rosemary Gillespie3, Dmitri Petrov1 Student - oral presentation 1Stanford University Department of Biology 371 Serra Assessing fitness benefits of increased St. Stanford, CA 94305-5020; 2University of California, sperm transfer in the copulatory silk wrap- Berkeley Department of Environmental Science, ping nursery web spider, Pisaurina mira Policy, & Management, 130 Mulford Hall #3114, *Alissa Anderson, Eileen Hebets Berkeley, CA 94720; 3University of California, Berkeley University of Nebraska - Lincoln, School of Biological Department of Integrative Biology, 4098 Valley Life Sciences, 325 Manter Hall, Lincoln, NE, 68588 Sciences Building (VLSB) Berkeley, CA 94720-3140 [email protected] [email protected] Male fitness is largely dictated by his ability to fertilize Understanding the underpinnings of population diver- eggs and there is a plethora of male adaptations associ- gence and the early stages of species formation is one of ated with increasing fertilization success. In the nursery the new frontiers in evolutionary biology and has been web spider, Pisaurina mira, males restrain females enabled by next-generation genomics. However, the prior to and during copulation by wrapping them with application of next-generation tools to arthropod systems silk. Previous research demonstrates that copulatory silk can be difficult, as the characteristics of these genomes wrapping reduces a male’s chance of being sexually can- are relatively unknown. To address questions of early nibalized, and increases the number of sperm transfer population divergence in spiders, we have applied several opportunities (termed insertions) that a male can achieve different methods, including ddRAD sequencing, de-novo within a mating. While avoiding cannibalism provides an whole genome sequencing and assembly, and low-cover- obvious survival benefit to males, the impact of insertion age re-sequencing of several of the spider lineages based number on male fitness remains unknown. This study in the Hawaiian Islands. Although relatively few spider
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families have colonized the Hawaiian Islands, several of in these islands, most of them are insular endemisms these groups have diversified rapidly into large radia- and about half of them are linyphiids. Linyphiidae have tions with diverse ecologies compared to their mainland independently colonized Juan Fernández multiple times counterparts. The first study examined the early diversifi- and include no less than 14 species of the Neotropical cation of Hawaiian representatives of the genus Ariamnes genus Laminacauda and two of Neomaso, all of them (Theridiidae), a lineage with approximately 20 described are single island endemics. In addition, there are three species endemic to the islands. We investigated the popu- linyphiid genera endemic to this archipelago. To date, lation dynamics of spider populations on the islands of little if any data on the distribution and natural history Hawaii, Molokai, and Maui in order to gain insight into of native linyphiids was available. We have recently how colonization and admixture play roles in population conducted new collections on the archipelago that have differentiation. We use several novel tools previously not revealed that while the continental species of Lamina- used on populations and species with short divergence cauda and Neomaso are rather uniform both in somatic times. The second study makes use of whole-genome morphology and in the foraging webs (small sheet sequencing and low-coverage methods to investigate the webs on the ground), some endemics exhibit morpho- basis of repeated ecomorph evolution in the adaptive logical features and life history traits that are very rare radiation of Hawaiian Tetragnatha (Tetragnathiidae). or unknown in any other linyphiids, including gigantism, Here, we present whole genome assemblies comparing the massive chelicerae or elongated legs. Some species may use of different sequencing techniques. Future work will have even abandoned web-building. Moreover, some of sequence additional genomes in order to answer ques- these rare phenotypic traits seem to have evolved multiple tions regarding the adaptive evolution of the spiders and times independently within the Juan Fernández islands. their general genomic architecture. The taxonomic revision of museum collections and the Keywords: genomics, adaptive radiation newly collected specimens have allowed us to discover new species, complete descriptions and uncover new synony- Oral presentation mies. A multi-locus genetic analysis of the endemic species Multiple colonizations, parallel evolu- confirms the multiple colorizations, even within the same tion and adaptive radiation of linyphiid genus, and the morphology based species boundaries, and spiders in the Juan Fernández archipelago further reveals that the Laminacauda species from Rob- inson Crusoe underwent rapid local diversification. Miquel A. Arnedo1, Gustavo Hormiga2 Keywords: adaptive radiation, ecological shift, biogeog- 1Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and raphy, phylogeny, systematics, speciation Environmental Sciences and Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Avinguda Diagonal 643, 08071 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Poster presentation 2Department of Biological Sciences, The George Wash- Diversity patterns of spider communi- ington University, Washington, D.C. 20052, USA ties in white oak forests of the Spanish [email protected] National Parks We report on the colonization and diversification of Miquel A. Arnedo1, Marc Domènech-Andreu1, Luis Carlos linyphiid spiders in the oceanic archipelago of Juan Crespo1, Pedro Cardoso2, Jordi Moya-Laraño3, Carles Ribera1 Fernández. This subtropical volcanic archipelago is 1Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and located in the southeastern Pacific, about 667 km west Environmental Sciences and Biodiversity Research of continental Chile and comprises three islands ranging institute (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Av. from 2.2 to 50 sq. km in size and from six to one million Diagonal 643 - 08028, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; years in age. About fifty spider species occur naturally 2Finnish Museum of Natural History, University
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of Helsinki, PO Box 17, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; Student - Poster Presentation 3Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, The organization of the spider nervous system Estación Experimenta de Zonas Áridas (EEZA, CSIC), as revealed by dopamine immunolabeling Carretera de Sacramento, s/n. La Cañada de San *Anthony Auletta, Mara C.P. Rue, Cynthia M. Harley, Urbano, 04120, Almería, Spain Karen A. Mesce [email protected] University of Minnesota Department of Entomology, 219 Hodson Hall, 1980 Folwell Avenue, Saint Paul, Arthropods fill an unparalleled variety of ecological niches Minnesota, 55108 and functional roles providing an excellent model to assess [email protected] biodiversity and detect ecosystem perturbations at fine tem- poral and spatial scales. Nevertheless, because of their high Spiders (Arthropoda: Araneae) display remarkably diverse abundance and diversity but poor taxonomic knowledge, they and sophisticated behaviors despite possessing fewer than have been rarely included in monitoring and conservation 100,000 neurons. This numerical simplicity makes spiders programs. Here we propose to circumvent limitations in the excellent model systems for understanding the evolution study of arthropod diversity by combining rapid biodiversity of behavioral complexity and the neural mechanisms assessment protocols with DNA barcoding tools. Spiders are that underlie it; however, little research has been done on among the most diverse and ubiquitous arthropod groups arachnid neurobiology. To address this gap, we utilized and play a key role in ecosystem functioning as one of the immunocytochemical techniques to characterize the most diverse and abundant predators in terrestrial habi- distribution of dopamine (DA) in the central nervous tats. In this contribution, we will present preliminary data system (CNS) of the Floridian wolf spider Hogna lenta on the biodiversity patterns of spider communities in the (Lycosidae). DA is a universally important modulator white-oak forests of the Spanish Network of National Parks. of many complex behaviors across animal taxa, and our White oak woods are among the most representative Iberian study is the first to examine its distribution. We found that forests, show high levels of endemicity, are of conservation DA was globally expressed throughout the central but not concern, and their evolutionary history in the peninsula the peripheral nervous system of H. lenta. In the so-called is relatively well-known. Spiders were collected using the supraesophageal mass, we found that DA was particularly COBRA 50 protocol, a semi-quantitative inventorying concentrated in the first and second optic neuropils (ON1 protocol that standardizes collecting effort and efficiently and ON2) of all eight eyes, indicating that DA plays a combines different collecting methods, conducted during critical role in modulating visual processing. DA was also both daylight and night. We conducted a total of 384 hours found throughout multiple layers of the arcuate body and of sampling in 16 1-ha plots distributed across six Spanish the bridge of what has been termed the mushroom body, National Parks, spanning approximately 1000 km across both sites of higher order sensorimotor integration. We both a latitudinal and a longitudinal gradient. We collected also observed large dopaminergic neurons in the abdomi- approximately 20,700 specimens, representing 40 families, nal neuromeres, which appear to project anteriorly to the 185 genera and 384 species. Among the specimens, we discov- supraesophageal mass via large plurisegmental tracts. In ered 13 putative new species and 11 additional new records addition to these findings, our immunolabeling revealed for the Iberian Peninsula. Species richness ranged from 40 distinct divisions in the leg and abdominal neuromeres, to 100 species. We further generated a DNA barcode library which may reflect ancestral segmentation of the nervous of the identified species to facilitate automatic identification system. Taken together, these findings reveal that DA is for future monitoring programs, and provide phylogenetic widespread in the spider CNS and underscores the impor- information for inferring phylogenetic diversity patterns tant modulatory functions of DA in spiders. Keywords: bioinventorying, DNA barcodes, species rich- Keywords: Lycosidae, Hogna, dopamine, neurobiology, ness, replacement, gradients behavior, immunocytochemistry, physiology
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Oral presentation Spiders (Araneae) owe their ecological success as keystone Why are they social? predators in large part to their usage of silk. Orb-web and cobweb weaving spiders possess seven morphologically Leticia Avilés distinct gland types, each synthesizing a task-specific fiber Department of Zoology and Biodiversity Research or glue. The spectacular properties of these proteinaceous Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC spider silks, including draglines with tensile strength V6T 1Z4, Canada rivaling steel and capture spiral filaments that can extend [email protected] threefold, make them prime targets for the development of All spider species that exhibit cooperative web build- biomimetic materials through recombinant technology. ing, prey capture, feeding, and brood care, build dense Spider silk synthesis also is a model system to study the tri-dimensional webs. We argue that it is the interaction evolution of tissue-specific gene expression and the role between such webs with particular environmental factors of gene duplication in functional novelty. For instance, that explains where species with different levels of social- the spidroin gene family encodes structural constituents ity occur. Reviewing research carried out in the genus of fibers and diversification of spidroin family members is Anelosimus, we show that large social colonies can only associated with new fiber functions. Using deep sequenc- form in areas where an abundance of large insects allows ing of mRNA, we profiled transcript abundance in each of the spiders to overcome a scaling challenge of their tri- the seven silk gland types, along with three non-silk gland dimensional webs. The absence of subsocial or solitary tissues, for three cobweb weaving species. We identified the Anelosimus in the lowland rainforest, on the other hand, transcripts in each species that are significantly more abun- may be due to the presence in this environment of strong dant in particular silk glands than non-silk gland tissues. rains and high rates of predation, which we demonstrate Gene expression patterns were consistent among all three to be important for web quality and colony survival with species, likely reflecting coordinated functions of subsets of a transplant experiment. Thus, somewhat surprisingly, it glands. Evolutionary analyses based on expression levels of appears that the primary driver of sociality in spiders in homologous transcripts and phylogenetic reconstruction of this genus may be colonizing environments where solitary individual gene families demonstrated broad conservation living may not be possible, with accessing large insects of expression patterns and suggested that when changes in being a necessary, but secondary benefit of group living. expression pattern do occur, they do not have to be coupled Keywords: social spiders, groups living, prey capture, to gene duplication. Our study is a landmark in understand- scaling ing spider silk gland specialization, and more generally, the evolution of tissue-specific transcriptomes. Oral presentation Keywords: spider silk, genetics, molecular evolution, Transcriptomics identifies gene repertoires tissue-specific expression underlying functional differentiation of cob-weaving spider silk glands Student - Oral presentation Complicate or simplify sex? The evolution Nadia A. Ayoub1, Thomas H. Clarke1,2, Jessica E. Garb3, of genitalia in Gnaphosidae spiders Robert Haney3, Cheryl Y. Hayashi3 1Washington and Lee University, Department of Biology, Guilherme H.F. Azevedo1,2, Charles E. Griswold3, 204 West Washington Street, Lexington, VA 24450, USA; Adalberto J. Santos1 2University of California, Riverside, Department of 1Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológi- Biology, Riverside, CA, USA; 3University of Massachu- cas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Av. Antônio setts, Lowell, Department of Biology, Lowell, MA, USA Carlos, 6627, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil; [email protected] 2Pós-graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Federal de
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Minas Gerais; 3California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Student - oral presentation Concourse Drive, San Francisco, CA, 94118, USA Phylogenomics and historical biogeogra- [email protected] phy of the Gondwanan family Pettalidae (Opiliones: Cyphophthalmi) Spiders may be good models for studying genitalia diversity and evolution given their peculiar copulatory *Caitlin Baker1, Sarah Boyer2, Gonzalo Giribet1 mechanism, with male external copulatory apparatus 1Museum of Comparative Zoology and Department located in palps. Gnaphosidae are remarkable in having of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard species with simple bipartite palps, with tripartite palps University, 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, and a few elements, and species with several structures USA; 2Biology Department, Macalester College, 1600 on tripartite palp. Some palpal homology studies suggest Grand Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55105, USA intermediate palp complexity as ancestral condition for [email protected] the family from which both more complex and simpler palp would have evolved, but with trend to sclerites fusion. Historical biogeographers have long looked for groups However, those hypotheses were never tested with phyloge- of organisms that retain signals of Gondwanan vicari- netic background, since no Gnaphosidae phylogeny was ance–that is, taxa with distributions across multiple available until recently. Regarding female genitalia, both formerly contiguous southern hemisphere landmasses, the epigynum and vulva range from simple to complex, and that are old enough to predate the breakup of the but there is no information on its evolution. Thus, despite former supercontinent. One such group is the mite the great diversity of Gnaphosidae, patterns of genital harvestman family Pettalidae (Opiliones: Cyphoph- evolution and mechanisms involved in copulatory organ thalmi), which has members in Chile, South Africa, diversification in the family are barely known. The aim Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Western and Eastern Australia, of this study was to contribute to the understanding of and New Zealand. While a four-locus phylogeny previ- genital evolution through the exploration of macroevo- ously demonstrated the monophyly of the family and lutionary patterns related to copulatory organ diversity in each genus, relationships between the genera proved to Gnaphosidae. More specifically, the evolutionary trend in be recalcitrant. To address this, we sequenced densely complexity and predictions about genital evolution were sampled transcriptomes of members of all genera for tested using phylogenetic comparative methods. A matrix which molecular grade samples were available (9 of 10 of 336 morphological characters scored for 99 taxa was described genera) and performed phylogenomic analy- used to estimate the gnaphosid phylogeny. We sampled 35 ses on the mRNA dataset. We conducted maximum female and 57 male characters to explore genital evolu- likelihood and Bayesian inference on matrices of dif- tion, based on phylogenetic trees obtained. A bipartite ferent gene occupancy (>95%, 159 orthologs; >75%, palp with intermediate complexity was found to be the 1111 orthologs; >50%, 3196 orthologs) to account plesiomorphic condition, but there was no trend toward for the effects of missing data. Finally, we dated the simplification or increasing complexity. The same inter- tree using Paleozoic and Mesozoic Opiliones fossils as mediate complexity with no trend was found for females. calibration, as well as the Xiphosura-Arachnida split. Additionally, we discovered that complexity of female Our tree resolves key aspects of the pettalid phylogeny, and male copulatory organs did not coevolve. Additional and we will discuss our findings regarding the timing information on copulatory behavior of gnaphosids might and order of cladogenetic events as they relate to the contribute to the understanding of genital evolution. breakup of Gondwana. Keywords: genital evolution, cryptic female choice, Keywords: phylogenomics, gondwana, biogeography, genital morphology, complexity, sexual selection, Opiliones, systematics, vicariance systematics
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Student - oral presentation Student - poster presentation Species delimitation of the orchard-spider Submersion tolerance among riparian and Leucauge venusta (Araneae, Tetragnathi- non-riparian spiders dae) in North America *Tara Barbarich, Hailey Shannon, Derek Wilson, *Jesus A. Ballesteros, Gustavo Hormiga Matthew Persons The George Washington University, Department of Bio- Susquehanna University, 514 University Avenue, logical Sciences, 2029 G ST, NW, Bell 302 Washington Selinsgrove, PA, 17870 D. C. 20052 [email protected] [email protected] Terrestrial arthropods that inhabit dynamic boundaries The North American orchard-spider, Leucauge venusta, between terrestrial and lotic systems are under constant is one of the most abundant and widespread species of risk of flooding. Many spiders may have evolved behav- orb-weavers in the Americas. Records of this species ioral, physiological, or morphological adaptations to cope range from Southern Canada to Brazil. Of the 172 cur- with flooding either through avoidance or submersion tol- rently described species in the genus Leucauge, only erance. Mechanisms for coping with periodic flooding have two are known to occur in the US, where L. venusta is important implications for predicting species composition, broadly distributed and L. argyra is restricted to the recolonization, and resilience against flood-related distur- subtropical parts in Florida. Preliminary analyses based bance for riparian arthropod communities. We examined on the barcoding region of the mitochondrial Cyto- submersion tolerance of spiders by taxon and microhabi- chrome Oxidase subunit I (COI) gene, reveal a deep gap tat. We compared web-building and cursorial, riparian and between “northern” and “southern” populations of L. non-riparian, and ground-dwelling versus more arboreal venusta in the US. Specimens from southern populations species. We submerged individual spiders for three hours (Florida) group with specimens collected in Brazil. This in distilled water and recorded survival, activity level biogeographic pattern is particularly surprising given the immediately after removal, and activity level eight hours absence of obvious barriers to dispersal. Morphologically, after removal (N=1,154). During trials we noted spiders individuals from these southern and northern popula- that were in hypoxic comas versus those that formed puta- tions are indistinguishable, and the possibility of a tive plastrons (breathing bubbles) during submersion. We cryptic species has important implications for nomencla- found large differences in submergence tolerance by taxon ture because L. venusta is the type species of the genus and habitat. Web-building spiders and vegetation dwelling Leucauge. We examine the phylogeographic structure cursorial spiders showed poor survival post-submersion, and test the species boundaries of L. venusta using mito- even those that live on overhanging vegetation along chondrial and nuclear genes from specimens collected rivers and streams. Most ground-dwelling cursorial spiders in Central and South America and a dense sampling including wolf spiders and fishing spiders showed no of North-American populations across known biogeo- negative effects of submersion and most were active the graphic barriers such as the Appalachian Mountains and entire time of submergence. We also found significant dif- the Mississippi River. Leucauge includes more than 170 ferences in submersion tolerance between populations of described species but its taxonomy is very poorly under- wolf spiders of the same species within the riparian zone stood. Untangling the identity of its type species of the compared to populations from other habitats, suggesting genus is an important step toward understanding the population-level local adaptation to flooding. Population- diversity and evolution of orchard-spiders. level differences in submersion tolerance indicate that Keywords: phylogeography, spiders, population genetics, riparian ground spiders likely persist during flood events coalescence, taxonomy rather than being recolonized by new spider populations. Keywords: flooding submergence, riparian, cursorial
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Student - oral presentation The genus Mastigoproctus contains 15 species, and there Consequences of prey nutrient content for are no reports of stridulatory organs for any of them. nutrient cycling by a wolf spider (Hogna Viquez & Armas (2005) described the genus Valeriopho- carolinensis) nus and reported the stridulatory organ as a diagnostic character. This character was subsequently mentioned *Cody L. Barnes, Shawn M. Wilder or used for this genus in other publications. In this work Department of Integrative Biology Oklahoma State Uni- we revised specimens of different localities of Mastigo- versity 501 Life Sciences West Stillwater, OK 74078, USA proctus giganteus deposited in the National Collection [email protected] of Arachnids (CNAN) in the UNAM and we observed and The flow of nutrients through ecosystems is affected by recorded the presence of a stridulatory organ in all both biotic and abiotic factors. Resources flow through specimens. The stridulatory structures are in the same organisms via ingestion, assimilation, allocation, and position in Mastigoproctus as they are in Valeriophonus, excretion pathways. The currency of resource conversion namely the inner face of the pedipalp coxa and the ectal in consumers has traditionally been defined within ener- face of the chelicera, but they are structurally different. getic, elemental, and nutrition frameworks. Yet, multiple SEM images of the stridulatory organ of three subspecies frameworks may need to be integrated to study resource of M. giganteus are presented, including notes on the flows as macronutrients are converted to inorganic nutri- behavior and use of the stridulatory organ. ents by consumers. In the present study, we examined how Keywords: Thelyphonida, stridulation, SEM, behaviour variation in the macronutrient content of prey affected resource ingestion, egestion, excretion, and silk production Student - oral presentation in a large wolf spider (Hogna carolinensis). Our early Phylogenetic pattern of sex pheromone findings suggest that macronutrients available for spider discrimination in widow spiders assimilation and deposition to ecosystems were related to *Luciana Baruffaldi, Charmaine Condy, Nathan Lovejoy, the content within prey consumed. Further research will be Maydianne Andrade critical for developing a broader understanding of resource Integrative Behaviour & Neuroscience Group Depart- withdrawal and recycling by spiders and other consumers. ment of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University Keywords: foraging frameworks, nutrient cycling, of Toronto, Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, resource deposition, wolf spider Scarborough, ON M1C 1A4, Canada [email protected] Student - poster presentation First report of a stridulatory organ in Most theory regarding signal diversification predicts Mastigoproctus giganteus Lucas, 1835 sympatry will favour significant divergence in signal struc- ture or receiver response between closely related species, *Diego A. Barrales-Alcalá, O. Francke-Ballvé, C. Viquez whereas signals that do not affect the risk of interbreeding Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional will slowly accumulate differences over evolutionary time. Autónoma de México, Tercer circuito exterior s/ We studied functional divergence in contact pheromones numero Col. Ciudad Universitaria Del. Coyoacan, CP in black widow spiders (Latrodectus); a genus of 30 04510, Ciudad de México, México species with worldwide distribution. Here we focus on [email protected] six species (L. geometricus, L. mirabilis, L hasselti, L. The current knowledge of the morphology of whipscor- hesperus, L. mactans and L. variolus) from different pions is basic, and its study has been neglected. There clades and biogeographic regions, with no recent history are few publications that deal in depth not only with this of sympatry. We test the hypothesis that divergence in sex topic, but also in almost everything related to the order. pheromones and mate recognition will be best predicted by
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phylogenetic distance in Latrodectus spiders. Among these are expected on the X chromosomes, so-called faster-X evo- spiders, females release cuticular and/or silk-based sex lution. Also, since populations carry more autosomes than pheromones (chemical signals) that can be detected as air- X chromosomes less diversity is predicted on X chromo- borne volatiles (attracting males) or as contact chemicals somes; if everything being equal, 75% of the autosomes. (initiating courtship). We quantified 1) male responses However, both substitution patterns and diversity levels may to conspecific and heterospecific females and their sex be influenced by life-history and ecological factors such as pheromones using a bioassay of male searching activity sex ratio bias and population size fluctuations. Here we use on methanol extracts of females’ silk; and 2) male court- transcriptome and RAD sequencing to explore the substitu- ship and mating success when on the webs of females. We tion patterns and diversity levels of X chromosomes and compared male responses in light of the phylogeny, and as autosomes in two Stegodyphus species (S. mimosarum and a function of estimated genetic distance between species. S. africanus) with contrasting sex ratio and population Consistent with our hypothesis 1) male L. geometricus, dynamics. We found evidence of faster-X evolution in both the most distantly related of our focal species, respond species. Furthermore, we found that mutation rates are only to silk extracts from conspecifics; whereas males higher on autosomes, consistent with more cell-divisions in from the other species also responded to extracts from male gametes than female gametes. X to A diversity levels more closely related heterospecific species, however, 2) were highly similar among the two species suggesting that males of all species initiate courtship and attempt to mate female bias and population size fluctuations in S. mimosa- when heterospecific females are present. Thus some males rum have similar but oppositely directed effects. discriminate silk chemicals of more distantly related het- Keywords: faster-X evolution, X chromosomes, popula- erospecifics, but intact silk and/or females eliminate this tion genetics, social spider effect. Keywords: Latrodectus species, sex pheromones, genetic Student - oral presentation distance, male discrimination Increased temperature alters beetle behavior to increase predator effects and Oral presentation decrease herbivory X chromosomes evolution in Stegodyphus *Orsolya Beleznai1, Jamin Dreyer2, Mark Williams2, spiders Ferenc Samu1, James D. Harwood2 Jesper Bechsgaard1, Mads Fristrup Schou1, Bram 1Zoology Department, Plant Protection Institute, Vanthournout1, Frederik Hendrickx2,3, Bjarne Knudsen4, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy Virginia Settepani1, Mikkel Heide Schierup1,5, Trine Bilde1 of Sciences, 26-30 Nagykovácsi Road, HU-1029, Buda- 1Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, 8000 pest, Hungary; 2Department of Entomology, University Aarhus C, Denmark; 2Royal Belgian Institute of Natural of Kentucky, S-225 Agricultural Science Center North, Sciences, Brussels, Belgium; 3Terrestrial Ecology Unit KY 40546-0091 Lexington, Kentucky, USA (TEREC), Biology Department, Ghent University, Gent, [email protected] Belgium; 4Qiagen; 5Bioinformatics Research Center Predators can limit the abundance and/or activity levels (BiRC), Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark of their prey, and the magnitudes of these effects are [email protected] contingent on predator and prey traits that may change Substitution patterns (between species) and diversity with environmental conditions. Aberrant thermal regimes (within species) of spider X chromosomes is predicted to could disrupt pest (herbivore prey) suppression through differ from autosome evolution due to their hemizygous asymmetric effects, i.e. heat-sensitive predator vs. heat-tol- state in males. If new beneficial mutations on average are erant prey. To explore the potential effects of warming on recessive or partially recessive more adaptive substitutions suppressing pests and controlling herbivory in a vegetable
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crop, we performed a laboratory experiment exposing process can be monitored by Electrical Penetration Graph an important pest species to two spider predator species (EPG) method. Predators can reduce population size of prey at different temperatures. First, we assessed the thermal by consuming them. However, non-consumptive effects tolerance (critical thermal maxima or CTM) of the (NCEs)–like predator presence - may also decrease prey cucumber beetle (Diabrotica undecimpunctata) pest, fitness, e.g., by triggering physiological and behavioral wolf spider (Hogna helluo) predator, and nursery web changes in prey animals, including escape behavior and spider (Pisaurina mira) predator. Cucumber beetles and lowered feeding duration. NCEs were observed in two series of wolf spiders were equally heat tolerant (CTM > 40 C), but experiments, where we used Psammotettix alienus (Cicadel- nursery web spiders had relatively limited heat tolerance lidae) as a leafhopper prey and the spider Tibellus oblongus (CTM = 34 C). Inside mesocosms, three beetles fed on (Philodromidae) as a predator. First, we made an EPG setup squash plants for seven hours alone or in the presence of to record leafhopper penetration behavior in the presence of a single spider predator of either species at ambient (22 C) the predator. Second, we made microcoms experiments, where or warmed (38 C) temperature. Beetle feeding increased spiders were unable to catch leafhoppers, but leafhoppers with temperature, and while wolf spiders were always could sense spider presence. The EPG results showed that leaf- effective predators, nursery web spiders were relatively less hoppers responded to predation risk by extending the duration lethal at high temperature. Compared to the non-predator of the mesophyll penetration phase, and also increasing its control, neither spider species reduced herbivory at recurrence, while the phloem ingestion phase was postponed, ambient temperature. However, at warm temperature both appearing later in the feeding sequence than in the control species of spiders reduced herbivory with evidence of a group. In mesocoms experiments we counted the number dominant non-consumptive effect. Our experiments high- of penetrations where salivary sheaths ended up in sieve light the contingent nature of predator-prey interactions elements, and penetrations where salivary sheaths ended up and suggest that non-consumptive effects should not be in mesophyll tissues after 24 hours. In full agreement with ignored when assessing the impact of temperature change. the EPG studies, these results showed that in the presence of Keywords: predator-prey interactions, temperature spiders leafhoppers made penetrations to mesophyll tissues stress, cucumber beetle in higher numbers than in the control group. Our novel method to use EPG for the study of NCEs gave the opportunity Student - poster presentation to make detailed, time-explicit observations on the feeding Non-consumptive effects of a spider behaviour of leafhoppers when exposed to predators and predator on plant penetration behavior of showed that predators, like T. oblongus, can contribute to virus vector leafhoppers biological control of plant pathogen vectors by their NCEs. Keywords: leafhopper, spider, electrical penetration Orsolya Beleznai1, Gergely Tholt1, Botond Pertics2, graph (EPG) technique, non-consumptive effects Ferenc Samu1 1Zoology Department, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Student - oral presentation Sciences, 26-30 Nagykovácsi Road, H-1029, Budapest, Phylogeny, systematics and natural history Hungary; 2Szent István University, Faculty of Veterinary of pirate spiders (Araneae, Mimetidae) Science, 2 István street, H-1078, Budapest, Hungary *Ligia Rosario Benavides Silva1,2, Gonzalo Giribet2, [email protected] Gustavo Hormiga1 To combat plant viruses, a readily available option is to 1Department of Biological Sciences, The George suppress their insect vectors. Leafhoppers feed on plant sap Washington University Washington, D.C. 20052, USA; by penetrating their mouthparts into the plant while they 2Museum of Comparative Zoology & Department can transmit plant pathogens into them. This penetration of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard
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University, 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA Victoria, British Columbia, V8W 9W2, Canada [email protected] [email protected] The spider family Mimetidae, commonly referred to as In 2006, the Royal British Columbia Museum began system- “pirate spiders” due to their aggressive mimicry behav- atically documenting the full diversity of British Columbia’s ior, has world-wide distribution, with the highest species spider fauna. Museum specimens and literature records diversity in Central and tropical South America. Although were used to update an existing checklist and identify poorly Mimetidae were thought to be exclusively araneophagic, sampled habitats in British Columbia. Annual field surveys mimetids can be kleptoparasitic on the webs of other of spiders, primarily targeting alpine and subalpine habitats, spiders and can also feed upon other arthropods. The family began in 2008 and have resulted in a large number of speci- includes 158 described species and 13 genera. Currently, the mens added to the collection including many new provincial, relationships among genera within the family are poorly national, and Nearctic records as well as numerous unde- understood. To date, phylogenetic analyses have been scribed species. Databased spider specimens have increased limited to morphological characters and outgroup sampling from nearly 4300 in 2008 to about 9000 in 2016. Data from has lacked many key taxa. Here we present the results of the many specimens, however, remain unrecorded and cur- first molecular analysis of the family sampling 92 mimetid rently (2016) the museum collection houses approximately terminals and 119 outgroup taxa from 12 families. With 18000 vials estimated to contain over 90000 specimens. this data set we aimed to (1) test the monophyly of the The number of species recorded in British Columbia has family, (2) test the monophyly of mimetid genera, and (3) climbed from 570 in 1988 to more than 850. Over 70 of the examine the relationships among genera. Using data from new records are Canadian or Nearctic firsts. The progress of six standard molecular markers we estimated the phylogeny this work has attracted regional, national, and international of Mimetidae using parsimony, maximum likelihood, and attention resulting in donations of important voucher speci- Bayesian inference methods. Across analyses our results mens and other spider material; collaborative research with show broad consensus for the following relationships: other scientists on spider ecology, taxonomy, systematics, Gelanor is monophyletic and sister to the rest of the family. and faunistics; and recognition of British Columbia as an Ero is monophyletic and sister to a lineage that includes important area of Nearctic spider diversity. a new genus described elsewhere (previously Mimetus), Keywords: collections, curation, alpine, Beringia, Australomimetus and Mimetus. However the placement collaboration of different clades of Mimetus (Neotropical, Indomalayan, North American, Malagasy) varies under different methods Oral presentation of analysis with our current mimetid sample. Using the Changes in mating system with the evolution molecular phylogeny as a guide, we identify potential mor- of sociality leads to depleted genomic diver- phological synapomorphies for all mimetid genera. We also sity at both population and species level present new natural history data demonstrating that at least Trine Bilde1, Virginia Settepani1, Mads F. Schou1, some mimetids use maternal care for eggs and offspring. Michelle Greve2, Lena Grinsted3, Jesper Bechsgaard1 Keywords: Molecular systematics, morphology, pirate 1Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Ny spiders, maternal care Munkegade 116, building 1540, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark; 2Department of Plant Science, University of Oral presentation Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, South Africa; Documenting diversity: surveying British 3School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, John Columbia’s spider fauna Maynard Smith Building, Brighton BN1 9QG, UK Robb Bennett, Claudia Copley, Darren Copley [email protected] Royal British Columbia Museum, 675 Belleville Street
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The evolution of sociality in animals is frequently associated 2Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523- with a shift from outcrossing to inbreeding. This suggests 1177, USA that short-term benefits outweigh costs of inbreeding. Over [email protected] evolutionary time, inbreeding populations experience a severe reduction in effective population size increasing the Lateral eyes in Arachnida are presumed plesiomorphic. rate of genetic drift and accelerating loss of genetic diversity. Photosensitive areas without lenses placed laterally on This process predicts reduced evolutionary potential and ele- the prosoma were recorded for various arachnid orders vated extinction risk. Empirical evidence for the evolutionary (e.g. Ricinulei, Scorpiones, Shizomida) and their homol- dead end hypothesis comes mainly from phylogenetic analy- ogy with lateral eyes are generally assumed. The presence ses; quantitative estimates of genome-wide diversity in of lateral eyespots in the anterolateral propeltidial lobes species with contrasting mating systems are scarce. We of Solifugae (solifuges, sunspiders, false spiders) are tested the combined effects of sociality and mating system often overlooked and even their basic external mor- on genome wide diversity using a comparative RAD sequenc- phology is little known. This is notwithstanding their ing approach. Our analysis included multiple populations potential importance within the Arachnida towards of each of three independent sister-species pairs of social interordinal, and within the Solifugae towards intraor- inbreeding and subsocial outcrossing Stegodyphus spiders dinal, phylogenetic relationships. In this study, eyespots and a subsocial outgroup. Genetic diversity in the social were examined in representative of major Solifugae taxa. species was extraordinarily low: heterozygosity and within Eyespots were generally easily distinguishable either in population genetic diversity were 6–10 fold lower in inbreed- lateral view, ventral view, or both. Broad trends in eyespot ing compared to outcrossing species, and demographic configuration were found at family level, especially modelling revealed a tenfold reduction in effective popula- regarding number and relative placement, but also to an tion size of inbreeding populations. Species-wide genetic extend in shape, size and reflectiveness. diversity depends on population divergence and viability of Keywords: comparative morphology, homology, photo- genetic lineages. Population genomic patterns were con- sensitive, lateral eyes sistent with high lineage turnover, which homogenizes the genetic structure that builds up between inbreeding popula- Poster presentation tions, ultimately depleting genetic diversity at the species Termite-eating spiders (Ammoxenidae: level. Indeed, species-wide genetic diversity of social species Ammoxenus): distribution and coexistence was 5-8 times lower than that of subsocial species, and of cryptic species amongst the lowest estimated for any species. This severe loss of genome-wide diversity is likely to affect all social inbreed- Tharina L. Bird1,2, Christopher Bird3, John Irish4, ing species, limiting their evolutionary potential as predicted A.S. Dippenaar-Schoeman5 by the evolutionary dead end hypothesis. 1Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Keywords: mating systems, inbreeding, comparative pop- Botswana International University of Science and ulation genomics, sociality, social spiders, Stegodyphus Technology (BIUST), Private Bag 16, Palapye, Botswana; 2Department of Arachnology, National Museum of Namibia, P.O. Box 1203/ Robert Mugabe Av. 59, Windhoek, Namibia; Oral presentation 3Geospace International, P.O. Box 7782, Lynnwood Ridge, Obscure features of Solifugae: compara- 0040, South Africa; 4Namibia Biodiversity Database, tive morphology of the lateral eyespots biodiversity.org.na, Windhoek, Namibia; 5Biosystematics: Tharina L. Bird1,2, Sierra Little2 Arachnology, ARC–Plant Protection Research Institute, 1Botswana International University of Science and Private Bag X134, Queenswood, 0121, South Africa Technology (BIUST), P/Bag 16, Palapye, Botswana; [email protected]
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Niche theory and the principle of competitive exclusion Aires, Argentina; 3Department of Biology, University dictate that species which occupy the same niche, e.g., use of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA the same resource and occupy the same habitat in the same [email protected] manner, cannot coexist. Spiders belonging to the southern African genus Ammoxenus (Araneae, Ammoxenidae) are The Caribbean island system is a region of high biological specialists, feeding exclusively on termites. Up to four diversity. The islands are home to much unknown arach- Ammoxenus species were found to coexist in sympatry. These nid diversity that has evolved in the context of complex species are cryptic, and can be separated only by the struc- biogeographical histories of the islands and associated ture of the palp and epigyne, sometimes only very slightly so. land masses. This study analyzes patterns of diversity in Collection data indicate that these spiders utilize the same the family Ochyroceratidae, a relatively uncharacter- termite food source in a seemingly identical manner in space ized group in the Caribbean. Sampling is centered on and time. One plausible explanation for the high levels of two genera: Theotima, a smaller, parthenogenic genus, sympatry in these spiders could be that the abundance of the and Ochyrocera, a non-parthenogenic genus. Though termite food source mitigate competition, resulting in little there is minimal documented evidence of their dispersal to no niche partitioning, in accord with ecological neutral capabilities, both genera are small, leaf-litter dwelling theory model predictions. Conversely, given that the spiders spiders with biologies consistent with poor dispersers. We hide in the small, soft soil mounds made by the termites, use phylogenetic analyses to comparatively assess genetic which allow them to correlate their activity patterns with structure and biogeographic pattern of these two genera. that of termites, the limiting resource could be microhabitat Phylogenies use two mitochondrial genes (COI and 16s) (termite mounds) availability, which might have driven and two nuclear genes (28s and H3) with representation niche partitioning. Field observations on behavior and of a total of 200 individuals collected from across the microhabitat use are needed to establish possible cryptic Caribbean islands and southern Mexico. Both genera niche partitioning. For example, anecdotal evidence in the display high levels of genetic depth, however patterns literature indicate differences in post-capture termite process- of relatedness in Ocherocera reflect more island-, and ing. This could have implications for differential predatory region-level genetic structure than Theotima. These pat- pressures. Even if evidence for niche partitioning is found, terns suggest the possibility of higher dispersal rates in however, it would only partially explain the distribution Theotima relative to Ochyrocera. Genetic structure of COI patterns seen in Ammoxenus. Our aim is to provide pos- suggests approximately 29 distinct genetic lineages within sible explanations, including the still contentious sympatric our sampled taxa, greatly expanding the sampling beyond speciation that could be further investigated to explain the 16 known species within the region. distribution and the level of sympatry seen in these spiders. Keywords: Ochyroceratidae, biogeography, biodiversity Keywords: biogeography, competitive exclusion, niche hotspot partitioning, sympatric speciation Oral presentation Student - poster presentation Intelligent adhesives: the structure and Biogeography of two Caribbean ochyroc- function of humidity responsive spider eratid genera: Theotima and Ochyrocera aggregate glues
*Sasha Bishop1, Greta Binford1, Abel Pérez-González2, Todd A. Blackledge1, Matjaz Gregoric2, Angela M. Ingi Agnarsson3 Alicea-Serrano1, Dharamdeep Jain3, Gaurav Amarpuri3, 1Department of Biology, Lewis & Clark College, Brent D. Opell4, Ali Dhinojwala3 Portland, OR, USA; 2División Aracnología, Museo 1Department of Biology, The University of Akron, Akron Argentino de Ciencias Naturales - CONICET, Buenos OH 44325-3908, USA; 2Institute of Biology, Scientific
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Research Centre, Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, becoming evident that a more complete elucidation of the Novi trg 2, P.O. Box 306, SI-1001 Ljubljana, Slovenia; molecular mechanism behind the property variations of 3Department of Polymer Science, The University of Akron, spider MA silk lies in understanding the evolution of spider Akron OH 44325-3909, USA; 4Department of Biological silk performance. Small-angle X-ray diffraction imaging Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg Virginia 24061, USA of silks produces an amorphous ring and equatorial [email protected] streak allowing identification of the structure of the fiber along its meridian. Accordingly, it has been successfully The evolution of viscid aggregate glues is associated with used to elucidate the structure of the amorphous region. the radiation of orb-weaving spiders. Aggregate glue Wide angle X-ray diffraction on the other hand is useful forms the sticky droplets on prey capture threads and is for determining the size, alignment and orientation of a composite of viscoelastic glycoproteins and organic crystalline structures. A combination of both small and salts. While the glycoproteins are the primary adhesive, wide-angled diffraction is essential for gaining a thorough the salts absorb atmospheric water, thereby plasticizing insight into the structures of spider silk proteins. Because the threads, and directly solvate the proteins, helping most of the work correlating protein structure with the glycoproteins to spread across surfaces. The high mechanical performance has thus far concentrated on the extensibility of the droplets allows them to extend in a high performing silks of web building spiders, we do not “suspension bridge” system that also recruits adhesion understand the processes facilitating variations in silk per- across the entire thread’s length. Here, we explore how formance at molecular scales across the spider phylogeny. I each of these elements is responds responsive to humid- have performed experiments manipulating the diet of dif- ity and results in the capture threads of diverse species ferent spiders and examined the crystalline and amorphous of spiders function optimally at different humidities. We structures of the silk proteins using small and wide angle argue that the chemical composition of the organic salts X-ray scattering and found a combination of crystalline is a highly evolvable mechanism that “tunes” orb function and amorphous features synergistically induce variations to particular microhabitats, and that this principle can be in protein strength and extensibility. Moreover, the mecha- exploited in the design of synthetic smart adhesives. nisms of structural variability seem to be consistent across Keywords: adhesion, aggregate, biomechanics, biomate- different spiders. Future research will use SAXS/WAXS rials, orb web, prey capture, viscid silk analyses to examine the protein structures in the silks of a wider range of web building and non-web building spiders. Oral presentation Keywords: silk, nano-structures, X-ray diffraction properties Analysis of spider silk structural variability using small and wide-angle X-ray diffraction Oral presentation Spiders in sloping blockfield habitats in the Sean J. Blamires Fichtel Mountains (NE Bavaria, Germany) Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, The Uni- Theo Blick1, Michael-Andreas Fritze2 versity of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia 1Callistus - Gemeinschaft für Zoologische & Ökologische [email protected] Untersuchungen, Heidloh 8, 95503 Hummeltal, Germany; 2Dahlienstr. 15, 95488 Eckersdorf, Germany Spider major ampullate (MA) silk is nature’s toughest [email protected] material. Attempts to synthesise silk-like fibers have so far been unsuccessful. One reason for this is that the structures Motivated by the research on stony debris (talus) habitats and properties of MA silk are variable across environments. of the spider and invertebrate fauna by Ruzicka (Czech The high strength and extensibility in MA silk is a product Republic) and Molenda (Germany/Belgium to Italy), we of its protein arrangements and tertiary structures. It is obtained funding for research on these special habitats
52 DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE REPORTS | No. 3, July 2, 2016 20th International Congress of Arachnology in the Fichtel Mountains (Upper Franconia, NE Bavaria, of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, University Germany). The mountains are of Variscan origin (380-280 of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108, USA; 3Depart- my old) and the rocks are mainly Granite. The sloping ment of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard blockfields contain mainly large rocks (>1m). Knowing of University, 26 Oxford St., Cambridge, MA 02138, USA single species specialized on such habitats from the region [email protected] (Clubiona alpicola, Sitticus saxicola, Acantholycosa How did Pleistocene glacial cycling affect the diversity of norvegica, Choleva lederiana), we expected to find more rainforest life? Over the past several decades, biologists specialists and at more sites. A pre-study confirmed this have tested the hypothesis that forest contraction and estimation. A variety of sites was selected, with the focus fragmentation drove speciation in rainforest animals, on the natural sloping blockfields (felsenmeer). But we concluding that in most cases species-level divergences also included artificial sites (from mining) as well as rocky predate the Pleistocene. More recently, focus has turned sites and adjacent forested or grassland sites. The altitude to the role of Pleistocene refugia in preserving lineages, range was from 560m to 1050m, with most sites between effectively acting as “museums” of biodiversity. We tested 800 to 1040m. Besides the spiders, some beetle-groups, this model in a lineage of tiny dispersal-limited mite harvestmen, pseudoscorpions, and snow flies (Chionea) harvestmen (Opiliones, Cyphophthalmi) distributed are determined to species level. Several spider species spe- throughout in the rainforests of the Australian wet tropics. cialized on talus habitats were found, also several species We generated a model of habitat suitability for the genus which live only at higher elevations. Mostly the typical talus Austropurcellia and projected it onto paleoclimate data spiders live also in other habitats in the Alps over 2000m. layers dating back to the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). One species (Bathyphantes eumenis buchari) is not We compared the power of present-day and past distribu- known from the Alps and has its origin in stony (riparian) tion of suitable climatic conditions to predict present-day habitats in Siberia and the Arctic. Together with some other distribution of diversity across subregions of the Wet species, it is judged to be a glacial relict (peri- or postgla- Tropics. We found that the distribution of suitable climatic cial). These species are all endangered by current climate conditions during the LGM is the best predictor of both change. A classification of the recorded spider species and number of species and phylogenetic diversity in our study coenoses was made according to various parameters: total system, outperforming current distribution of suitable cli- distribution, threatened status in Germany, frequency in matic conditions. This finding is consistent with a model Germany, stenotopy, naturalness of its preferred habitats. in which historical refugia have played a significant role These data confirm the specialness of the talus habitats, in establishing present-day biogeographic patterns. even compared with adjacent rocky and other sites. Keywords: biogeography, Opiliones, phylogeny, species Keywords: spiders, Germany, mountains, blockfield, richness specialists Oral presentation Oral presentation On the track of the wolf: systematics of Historical refugia have shaped biogeogra- North American species described in the phy of dispersal-limited mite harvestmen genus Lycosa (Opiliones, Cyphophthalmi) from the Allen Brady, Lauren Fogg Australian wet tropics Department of Biology, Hope College, Holland, MI 49423 Sarah L. Boyer1, Tricia M. Markle2, Caitlin M. Baker3, [email protected] Amy M. Luxbacher2, Ken H. Kozak2 1Biology Department, Macalester College, 1600 Grand A brief synopsis of continuing research focused upon the Avenue, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55105, USA; 2Department systematic relationships of North American species of
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wolf spiders originally described in the genus Lycosa will often unpredictable aerial paths, and clumsy landings be presented. In this summary the morphological charac- in escape jumps. We suspect that the gains in speed and teristics that were used to establish the genera Gladicosa, unpredictability are so important to predator evasion Rabidosa and Tigrosa will be illustrated. The same char- that a high degree of physical robustness has evolved acteristics are being utilized to establish the new genus in these spiders to allow them to withstand unwieldy Lentacosa, composed largely of North American species landings. Finally, although we carefully calibrated the originally placed in the genera Lycosa and Hogna. The targeted jump setup to mimic distances that spiders would genera Gladicosa Brady, 1980, Rabidosa Roewer, 1954 and naturally jump, we found that spiders were unable to Tigrosa Brady, 2012 have been shown to be distinct from attain a distance that they could otherwise easily attain the largely Mediterranean distributed Lycosa, exemplified in an untargeted jump. We explore accuracy at different by Lycosa tarantula (Simon) and Hogna, exemplified distances and speculate as to why distances on targeted by Hogna radiata (Latreille). Eleven species are repre- jumps are so much shorter. sentatives of the new genus Lentacosa which is primarily Keywords: jump, salticid, locomotion, jumping spider concentrated in the southeastern United States. Members of this genus can be distinguished by a combination of Poster presentation characters including the color pattern on the dorsum of Signal in the noise: use of long-term the cephalothorax, a solid black venter on the abdomen, spider data and the structure of the male and female genitalia, distin- Sandra Brantley guishing them from Lycosa and Hogna. Illustrations will Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New be utilized to demonstrate these defining characters. Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131-0001, USA Keywords: systematics, Lycosidae, Lycosa, Hogna, North [email protected] America, Herb Levi symposium As is true for most predators, spiders tend to be rare at Student - oral presentation the species level, making ecological analyses difficult. Targeting or escape: differences between However, even with low numbers, long-term data can jump types in a jumping spider increase our ability to see patterns associated with abiotic and biotic factors. At Bandelier National Monument in *Erin E. Brandt, Neil Chan, Damian O. Elias the Jemez Mountains of northern New Mexico, I have University of California, Berkeley Department of been working with ground-dwelling spiders since 1997, ESPM 130 Mulford Hall Berkeley, CA 94720, USA documenting habitat affinities and species composition [email protected] changes over time. Because the southwestern US is pre- Jumping is a mode of locomotion convergently evolved dicted to become warmer and drier with climate change, in many arthropod taxa. Although well-studied in insects forested areas are expected to decline while areas domi- such as grasshoppers, less study has been conducted in nated by shrubs and small trees are expected to increase. spider jumping. In particular, jumping spiders (Araneae: Here I compared lycosid spiders between a ponderosa Salticidae) use jumping as a primary means of locomo- pine (PP) forest and more open pinyon-juniper (PJ) tion and utilize a very different jumping mechanism from woodland, asking if the spiders are specific to a given other animals. In this experiment, we used Habronattus habitat or season and what that may mean for future conjunctus, a desert-dwelling jumping spider, to investi- climate-related changes. Spiders were collected in pitfall gate how jumping differed between escaping from danger traps 4 times/year, providing both seasonal and annual and attempting to reach a specific endpoint. We found that relative abundance data. Lycosid taxa included Alopecosa spiders spend more time preparing for targeted jumps and kochi, 6 Pardosa spp., Schizocosa mccooki, and Varacosa attain relatively lower velocities. We also noted imprecise, gosiuta. Periods of high abundance varied with taxon:
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Alopecosa (PJ, April), Schizocosa (PJ, June and August), scorpions to a small area containing a man-made burrow Pardosa (PP, June and August), and Varacosa (PP, April within a larger, sand-filled arena. We then removed the and October). MDS based on taxon and abundance barrier and monitored activity in the entire arena for six showed good separation of the two habitats (MDS 1), days. During days 1–3 post burrow adoption, the propor- and of abundance levels correlated with precipitation tion of animals that returned to or remained inside the (MDS 2). These lycosid species show strong habitat fidel- burrow increased from 63% to 89%. During days 4–6, the ity, suggesting that if the PP habitat becomes more like scorpions were presented with two additional burrows in PJ as is predicted, Pardosa and Varacosa species will the large arena. Fidelity to the originally adopted burrow likely decline. Alopecosa occurred mostly in the spring; a subsequently decreased to 52%, 32% and 47% during these warmer climate may also reduce its numbers. Schizocosa three days. While some animals returned to their burrows is the only species likely to continue in its current pat- during darkness, most animals returned after initiation of terns of high summer abundance in PJ woodland. daylight. After roaming the arena, some animals appeared Keywords: climate change, ecology, community struc- to efficiently navigate to their home burrow, while others ture, Lycosidae engaged in systematic searching behaviors. Our assay should allow for testing hypotheses about specific naviga- Oral presentation tional mechanisms. Burrow adoption and navigation in the desert Keywords: pectines, homing, burrow, fidelity grassland scorpion, Paruroctonus utahensis Poster presentation Brad P. Brayfield, Douglas D. Gaffin Descriptions of two new genera of the spider Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, family Caponiidae (Arachnida, Araneae) and Norman, OK, USA 73019 an update of Tisentnops from Brazil [email protected] A. D. Brescovit, A. Sánchez-Ruiz Animals have many navigation tools, including path Laboratório Especial de Coleções Zoológicas, Instituto integration, polarized light detection, optic flow tracking, Butantan, Av. Vital Brasil, 1500, Butantã, São Paulo, magnetoreception, and others. Unlocking the physiological São Paulo, Brazil, 05503-900 mechanisms of navigation has been difficult because many [email protected] acclaimed navigators (such as bees and butterflies) are too small for researchers to monitor their neural activity. We New members of the spider family Caponiidae from Brazil think that sand scorpions make good models to study navi- are presented. We described two new Brazilian species of gation. They are long-lived, are easily maintained in the Tisentnops (T. mineiro sp. n. and T. onix sp. n.), a genus laboratory, are accessible to electrophysiological record- known only from its damaged type species. These two new ings, and fluoresce under UV light. Most importantly, they species allowed us to complete the information on the home to burrows and are easily tracked by video. Scorpions morphology of the genus, and also allowed us to extend its also have ground-directed organs called pectines with distribution range and know a little more about its natural dense fields of peg-shaped sensilla that possess chemo- and history. Additionally, two new non-nopinae Brazilian mechano-sensitive neurons. We hypothesize that scorpions genera are proposed: Nasutonops gen. n. including three use their pectines to sense the chemical and/or textural new species from northwestern of Brazil and Carajas gen. aspects of the substrate around their burrows and use n., known only from the type species from North of Brazil. this information to get home. Testing this chemo-textural Both new genera are non-nopinae that have tarsi entire, familiarity hypothesis requires an efficient homing rather than sub-segmented. Among all these findings, we assay; here we report the development of such an assay. are describing the first known blind caponiids in the world: To encourage burrow adoption, we confined individual Tisentnops mineiro sp. n. from State of Minas Gerais and
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Carajas paraua sp. n. from State of Pará, both are Brazil- evolution of venom peptides, including the derivation of ian species found only in caves, and lack eyes completely. novel venom gene families. Given the unusual mating Another amazing finding, are the new species of Nasuto- behavior (cheliceral locking) in many tetragnathids, nops gen. n. which are characterized by the presence of a these dimorphic venom components may play a role in projected clypeal horn, unique among caponiids. mate recognition while other components have evolved in Keywords: Taxonomy, new species, haplogynae, new response to dietary niche partitioning. Here we present the genus, Neotropical region current state of our ongoing tetragnathid venom research. Keywords: venom, sexual selection, mate recognition, adap- Oral presentation tive radiation, transcriptome, proteomics, gene expression Venom evolution in the genus Tetragnatha facilitates adaptive radiation and mate Oral presentation recognition Retreat site selection in two species of Sky Island scorpions from Arizona Michael S. Brewer1, Emily Bulger2, Pamala Zobel- Thropp3, Greta Binford3, Rosemary G. Gillespie2 Christopher A. Brown1, Jamie E. Becker2 1Department of Biology, East Carolina University, 1Department of Biology, Box 5063, Tennessee Tech Greenville, North Carolina, USA; 2Department of Envi- University, Cookeville, TN 38501 USA; 2Department of ronmental Science, Policy, and Management, University Biological Sciences, 217 Life Sciences Bldg., Bowling of California, Berkeley, California, USA; 3Department of Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, USA Biology, Lewis & Clark College, Portland, OR, USA [email protected] [email protected] The Sky Island Mountains of Arizona and New Mexico Venoms are considered a key innovation that allowed harbor a number of species of small scorpions in the ecological diversification in a number of lineages includ- genus Vaejovis. As is the case for many scorpions, little is ing snakes, anguimorph and iguanian lizards, and cone known about the ecology or behavior of these species. In snails. Venoms are complex cocktails of bioactive com- the present study, we examined size and thermal charac- pounds with high target specificity and serve multiple teristics of retreats (rocks) for two Sky Island Vaejovis functions. Commonly, venom serves a role in predation scorpions: V. electrum from the Pinaleno Mountains and and defense but can be involved in intraspecific conflict V. cashi from the Chiricahua Mountains. For both species, and mate recognition. Sexual dimorphisms have been we measured the size of rocks selected as retreat sites as well observed in the venoms of several taxa, indicating a as the size range of representative rocks in the habitat. We potential role in mate recognition. This sets up a possible also recorded thermal profiles under rocks that were used by dual role of venoms in both ecological divergence and scorpions and those that were not used. In the laboratory, mate choice that could influence reproductive isolation of we examined thermal preferences of gravid and non-gravid populations through local adaptation. Though disparities females from each species, using a thermal gradient. Both V. in venoms between sexes can sometimes be explained by electrum and V. cashi were found under rocks that were sig- differences in feeding behavior, evidence also suggests that nificantly larger and thicker than the average rock size for venom can play a role in intraspecific communication. that habitat. Although the mean temperature under these Our work on Tetragnatha venoms, namely transcrip- selected rocks did not differ from the mean temperature tomics and proteomics, shows most species display sexual found under rocks unoccupied by scorpions, both the range dimorphisms; males express high molecular mass venom and the variance in temperature were lower under rocks components that are present at much lower levels or occupied by scorpions. Vaejovis electrum selected larger absent in females. Additionally, a Hawaiian clade has rocks than did V. cashi, although this may be due to the fact undergone an adaptive radiation with concomitant that the Pinaleno site had rocks of a larger mean size from
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which to choose. In laboratory trials, non-gravid females Oral presentation from each species did not differ in thermal preference; Population genomics and geographical however, gravid V. electrum selected higher temperatures parthenogenesis in Japanese harvestmen than did gravid V. cashi. For neither species did we find a (Opiliones, Sclerosomatidae) significant difference between thermal preference of gravid Mercedes Burns1, Marshal Hedin1, Nobuo Tsurusaki2 and non-gravid females. These results suggest that scorpi- 1Life Sciences North 206 San Diego State University ons actively select among available rock retreat sites, and 5500 Campanile Drive San Diego, CA 92182, USA; that this choice may be influenced by a requirement for a 2Tottori University Faculty of Regional Sciences 680- more stable thermal regime. It also suggests that this choice 8550 Tottori Prefecture, Tottori, Japan is not influenced by a female’s reproductive state. [email protected] Keywords: scorpion ecology, Sky Islands, Vaejovis electrum, Vaejovis cashi, thermal ecology Geographical parthenogenesis refers to the common association of widely dispersed asexual populations Oral presentation with more narrowly distributed sexual populations. The natural history and thermal biology Some research supports the adaptive advantages of of an Arctic pseudoscorpion temporary or facultative asexuality as a colonization strategy. Other work points to a non-adaptive rationale Christopher M. Buddle1, Susan E Anthony2, Brent J Sinclair2 for the association of asexuality to habitat margins, 1McGill University, Department of Natural Resource because parthenogens frequently display hybrid ances- Sciences, 21,111 Lakeshore Rd, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, try, genome duplications often precede parthenogenetic Quebec, H9X 3V9, Canada; 2Western University, ability, and admixture of sexuals and asexuals within Department of Biology, London, Ontario, Canada populations is expected to be rare. We explore these [email protected] competing hypotheses in two Japanese species of har- The pseudoscorpion, Wyochernes asiasticus (Pseudo- vestmen, Leiobunum manubriatum and Leiobunum scorpiones, Chernetidae), is found in parts of north-west globosum. Reproduction in these species proceeds North America, including above the Arctic Circle, but also with or without male fertilization, and female-biased in Siberia and other regions in Asia: it is presumably a localities are common in high-latitude and elevation Beringian species, found primarily in regions that were habitat margins. Using next-generation sequence unglaciated during the last glacial maximum in North data, we compared genetic distance and differentiation America. Data on the species biology, collected over many between females collected at high and low latitude years, illustrates its range in the Yukon Territory, and and elevation in order to evaluate genetic indicators fundamental knowledge about its life history is presented: of adaptation in specimens from marginal habitat. larger females tend to have higher fecundity, and females Preliminary molecular data recapitulates latitudinal have an average of 10.5 eggs per brood sac. The species structuring of localities sampled, but both species is always found under rocks near rivers that flood fre- display single lineages comprised of individuals from quently. Studies on the species thermal biology suggest geographically-distant populations. Ongoing cytological it is a freeze-avoidant species, and immersion in water and mito-nuclear discordance work will serve to eluci- shows the species is able to hold oxygenated air around date reproductive mode and potential gene flow to these its body and remain alive after submersion of up to 17 putative populations. days. Despite many years of study, this small, charming Keywords: population genomics, geographical parthe- arachnid continues to hold many mysteries. nogenesis, mitonuclear discordance, Opiliones Keywords: Pseudoscorpiones, natural history, thermal biology, biogeography, life history adaptation, Arctic
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Student - oral presentation The Pacific Northwest is home to many described species Molecular systematics of the Neotropical of laniatorean harvestmen (Arachnida, Opiliones). Due orb-weaving spider genus Wagneriana to their limited dispersal and habitat specialization, the F.O.P.-Cambridge, 1904 (Araneae, diversity within this order is probably underestimated. Araneidae) Limited dispersal and habitat specialization can lead to conserved morphology and possible cryptic species. *Jimmy Cabra-García, Ricardo Pinto-da-Rocha Harvestmen in the subfamily Briggsinae exemplify this Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Uni- pattern, with all taxa limited to moist coastal forests and/ versidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-090, Brazil or lava tube habitats. The Briggsinae were described by [email protected] Thomas Briggs in 1971 and includes two genera, Briggsus Although the taxonomy of the orb-weaving spider family (five species) and Isolachus (one species). Preliminary Araneidae is relatively well settled, due to Dr. Herbert Levi’s molecular studies also indicate the inclusion of a third revisions, the monophyly of most genera was not rigorously genus within the subfamily, Speleonychia (one species). tested and the phylogenetic relationships among them are Molecular phylogenetic and species delimitation analyses not well supported, hampering evolutionary research. Using were conducted for Isolachus and Briggsus. Multivariate a combination of three mtDNA and six nuDNA loci, we cluster analyses of morphometric data were used to gen- provide the first species-level phylogeny of the Neotropical erate different species hypothesis. In addition, qualitative orb-weaving spider genus Wagneriana including 70% of its somatic and genitalic male characters were used in the described species. Our results do not support the monophyly discovery phase. Species trees were reconstructed using of the genus since the type species of Acanthepeira (A. multispecies coalescent-based methods implemented in stellata) falls inside a well supported Wagneriana clade. *BEAST. Putative species were then validated using Bayes Within Wagneriana several monophyletic groups are Factor Delimitation. DNA sequence data from six genes recovered with high support values. Some morphological delimited seven species in Briggsus and confirms the characters that Levi (1991 used in the identification key of placement of Speleonychia within the Briggsidae. New Wagneriana species seem to be putative synapomorphies. species were described using molecules and morphology. This study shows partial results of an ongoing research Keywords: Opiliones, Laniatores, systematics, species project and our conclusions should be considered as pre- delimitation liminary. More thorough taxon sampling, specially within the subfamily Araneinae, and detailed study of morpho- Oral presentation logical characters will allow us to propose a more rigorous Spiders in grazed pastures: comparisons hypothesis considering the total evidence approach. between rotational vs. conventional grazing Keywords: systematics, molecular phylogenetics, Alan B. Cady1, Tim Bankroff2, Jonathan Coddington3 taxonomy, Araneae, Araneidae 1Department of Biology, Miami University, Middletown, OH 45042, USA; 2688 Main Street, Hingham, MA 02043, USA; Student - oral presentation 3Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20013, USA Integrative species delimitation in the har- [email protected] vestman subfamily Briggsinae (Opiliones, Understanding arthropod community structures and Laniatores) dynamics associated with different grazers and grazing *Allan Cabrero, Marshal Hedin deferment schedules may provide a metric allowing iden- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, tification of sustainable grazing regimes. Sampling the San Diego, CA, USA arthropod and spider communities inhabiting a rotational [email protected] grazing schedule versus conventional grazing provided an
58 DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE REPORTS | No. 3, July 2, 2016 20th International Congress of Arachnology opportunity to identify indicators of a ‘healthy’ and sus- Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, tainable pasture. Spiders in pastures at Polyface Farms Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA (Swope, VA) under high-intensity, low-frequency rotational [email protected] grazing, and three immediately adjacent continuously The Caribbean biogeography project (CarBio) is begin- (conventionally) grazed pastures were collected in 0.25m2 ning to reveal the vast biodiversity of arachnids in the areas employing an intense two-stage suction-sampling region. Whip-spiders are a good example, as shown in system of the vegetation and substrate. The most abundant the first molecular phylogeny ofPhrynus from Puerto spider families in the pastures were Linyphiidae, Lycosidae, Rico and Dominican Republic which discovered numer- Thomisidae, Araneidae, Salticidae, Clubionidae, Tetragnath- ous overlooked ‘cryptic’ species. Our work expands upon idae, and Oxyopidae; the linyphiids were most abundant. this phylogeny with samples from the remaining Greater Although spider abundances significantly decreased after Antilles as well as several of the Lesser Antilles, and the initial rotational grazing event, their numbers, diversity, Caribbean coasts of the Americas. We present prelimi- and evenness one day after grazing were still greater than nary results based on DNA barcoding with Cytochrome C in conventionally grazed pastures. Araneid, salticid, and Oxidase Subunit I for 402 specimens representing eight clubionid proportions were most impacted after rotational species from two genera of Phrynidae: Paraphrynus and grazing. The overall proportional representations of major Phrynus. Among the eight named species, we identify 40 spider taxa in rotationally grazed pastures changed after clades separated by 5% or more sequence divergence. None grazing, and resembled conventionally grazed areas. While of the densely sampled nominal species is monospecific, spider abundances doubled post-grazing, spider number and many are non-monophyletic. Phrynus longipes, decreased during this same time period in conventionally rather than representing a widespread species, is found grazed pastures. Discriminant analysis using spider genera to be a paraphyletic assemblage of multiple single-island reveals a clear separation of the rotationally grazed pastures endemics, while Phrynus marginemaculatus is identified (both pre- and post-grazing), from the conventionally as a monophyletic complex of at least five putative species. grazed pastures. Differences in vegetation structure and Short range endemism characterizes all groups both on soil compaction between pastures under rotational grazing islands and the mainland, with genetic variation showing versus conventional grazing may explain observed differ- strong geographic structure. In addition we see evidence ences in the spider communities. With further sampling and of multiple colonization events to the Caribbean islands analyses, pasture health may be assessed in the future by and subsequent radiation of multiple lineages within determining spider community structure. islands. Clade divergences are structured by geologic Keywords: spider communities, rotational grazing, com- barriers within islands, notably among cave systems, in munity dynamics, succession, pastures support of the “islands within islands” hypothesis. Keywords: Amblypygi, barcoding, Caribbean, biodiver- Student - poster presentation sity, cryptic radiation Characterization of cryptic diversity of Phrynidae in the Caribbean based on DNA Student - oral presentation barcoding Systematic revision of genus Crassicrus *Laura Caicedo-Quiroga1, Laura May-Collado1, Giselle Veve1, Reichling & West, 1996 (Araneae: Greta Binford2, Jonathan Coddington3, Ingi Agnarsson1,3 Theraphosidae) 1University of Vermont, Department of Biology, 109 Car- *Daniela T. Candia-Ramírez1,2, Oscar F. Francke2 rigan Drive, Burlington, VT 05405-0086, United States; 1Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacio- 2Lewis & Clark College, Department of Biology, Portland nal Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 3000, Oregon. 0615 SW Palatine Hill Rd; 3Department of CP 04510, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México, México;
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2Colección Nacional de Arácnidos (CNAN), Módulo Poster presentation D, planta baja, Departamento de Zoología, Instituto The physiological basis for delayed de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de development in social huntsman spiders: México, Ciudad Universitaria, 3er circuito interior, Impacts on sociality Apto. Postal 70-153, CP 04510, Coyoacán, Ciudad de Marissa G. Cardillo, Linda S. Rayor México, México Department of Entomology, Cornell University, [email protected] Ithaca, NY 14853, USA [email protected] Since its description in 1996, the genus Crassicrus Reichling & West, 1996 had not been included in any Are there physiological traits that facilitate social- phylogenetic analysis and the relationships between ity in spiders? Perhaps! Prolonged sociality with has this genus and other Theraphosinae genera remain been found in three sparassid species within the unclear. According to a previous taxonomic revision, it monophyletic clade Deleninae, Delena cancerides, D. is possible that Crassicrus is phylogenetically related lapidicola, and D. melanochelis. These group-living to some South American genera that share some char- huntsman spiders develop differently from all other acters of the morphology of the male palpal bulb of known solitary delenine spiders–and, to our knowledge, the male, so we considered very important to perform spiders in all other families. Like other spiders, hunts- a systematic revision of the genus to confirm this. man spiders remain in the egg sac during their 1st With the revision of material deposited in Colección instar. After emergence followed by molting, 2nd instar Nacional de Arácnidos of Instituto de Biología, UNAM, spiderlings of 26+ solitary huntsman species actively Mexico, and the American Museum of Natural History, forage. In contrast, 2nd instar spiderlings of all three New York, USA, a morphological data matrix was built social huntsman are non-feeding and retain 1st instar consisting of 16 taxa (five of the ingroup and 11 of out- characteristics: abundant abdominal yolk, shorter group) and 85 characters, which 71 were binary and 14 legs, and fewer sensory hairs. Only in the 3rd instar do multistate. The phylogenetic analysis was made using the social species morphologically resemble huntsman the parsimony criterion and the outgroup principle to spiders and begin to eat. To determine the physiological probe the monophyly of the genus adding new species. basis of these ontogenetic differences, we compared dif- The analysis was conducted with equal weights and it ferences in maternal investment (egg size, clutch size, was performed through the method of exact searches and chemical composition of yolk), standard metabolic with implicit enumeration in the computational rates, and development time of the three social species program TNT. In the analysis one most parsimoni- and five solitary species within deleninae. Our results ous tree (L= 176, Ci= 0.55, Ri= 0.69) was obtained. show that social species have larger eggs with more The genus Crassicrus proved to be paraphyletic, so yolk, spend a longer period of time as non-feeders in it was confined to include six species, the type species 1st and 2nd instars, and maintain low metabolic rates C. lamanai Reichling & West, 1996, four species during their non-feeding instars, all of which enable the previously described and also Aphonopelma stoicum social spiderlings to remain non-feeding. We discuss the (Chamberlin, 1925). The monophyly of the genus implications of (1) how the timing of molting may be Crassicrus resulted supported by six synapomorphies precipitated by the depletion of energy and (2) devel- and high values of Jackknife (98) and Bremer (6). A opmental heterochrony on the evolution of sociality in new diagnosis of C. stoicum n. comb. was elaborated. spiders. Keywords: systematics, morphology, taxonomy, Araneae, Keywords: sociality, metabolism, development, Mygalomorphae, Theraphosidae physiology
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Oral presentation package for the semi-automated production of IUCN-com- The sampled Red List Index of spiders pliant results and a unique way of publishing peer-reviewed assessments through the Biodiversity Data Journal. Pedro Cardoso1,2, Sérgio Henriques2,3, Sini Seppälä1,2, Keywords: conservation assessment, endangered species, Michael L. Draney2,4, Alastair T. Gibbons2,5, Sarah Kariko2,6, extinction risk, IUCN, population trends, threats Jagoba Malumbres-Olarte2,7, Marc Milne2,8, Cor Vink2,9, Paula Cushing2,10 Oral presentation 1Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Morphological constraints on sprint Helsinki, Finland; 2Spider & Scorpion Specialist Group, performance as drivers of anti-predator Species Survival Commission, International Union behavior in scorpions for the Conservation of Nature, Gland, Switzerland; 3Institute of Zoology; University College London, Brad Carlson UK; 4University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Green Bay, 301 W Wabash Ave, Wabash College, Crawfordsville, Wisconsin, USA; 5School of Life Sciences, University of IN 47933, USA Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom; 6Museum [email protected] of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cam- Optimal defensive strategies depend on the ability to bridge, Massachusetts, USA; 7Center for Macroecology, perform different anti-predator behaviors. Variation in such Evolution and Climate, Natural History Museum performance may result from morphological differences, of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; such as between sexes (for which reproduction may select 8University of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, USA; 9Can- for sexually dimorphic morphology) or among species (for terbury Museum, Christchurch, New Zealand; 10Denver which morphology may evolve for species-specific activi- Museum of Nature & Science, Denver, Colorado, USA ties). I explored this in scorpions by examining sex and [email protected] species differences in morphology, sprint performance (i.e., The IUCN Spider & Scorpion Specialist Group (SSSG) pro- escape ability) and propensity to attack predators. First, in motes the assessment of extinction risk of arachnid species Centruroides vittatus scorpions, females were more likely worldwide. All assessments follow the IUCN redlisting to sting and stung at faster rates, and were slower sprinters. criteria and guidelines by quantifying extent of occur- Female C. vittatus were relatively heavier than males, and rence (EOO), area of occupancy (AOO), habitat decline, heavier bodies were correlated with reduced sprint speed population trends, fragmentation, and extent of threats. By and increased stinging rates. This suggests that the heavier randomly selecting a given number of species for assess- bodies of females (due to reproduction) reduce sprinting ment, the Sampled Red List Index (SRLI) allows perceiving ability and that aggression towards predators is increased general trends, threats and needed conservation actions for to compensate. The longer legs of males further improved entire groups from local to global scales without the need sprinting performance. In a second study, I used modified to assess every single known species. One-hundred and fifty assays with six species of scorpions. There was significant species of spiders were selected from the global checklist variation among species and sexes in size-adjusted mass for a first attempt at the global SRLI. Prior to this congress, and leg length. Intriguingly, relatively heavier bodies were a team of experts gathered and assessed many of these associated with relatively longer legs, suggesting mor- species. Distribution maps were produced, and EOO, AOO phological compensation for the costs of increased body and threats quantified whenever information was available weight. Species and sexes also differed in relative sprint and it is now possible to have a rough idea on the status speed, but overall size (rather than relative weight), leg of the group as a whole. However, this is only a start and length, and gravidity were the only morphological drivers new tools are planned to facilitate and promote the assess- of variation in sprinting performance. Species also varied ment of many more species, including the release of an R in aggression, but there was no evidence this was related to
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sprint performance. This work shows that while defensive Northeastern, four in Southeastern and five in Southern strategies may be sensitive to morphological traits, the Brazil. The mean geographic distribution area of Phol- relationship is complex and inconsistent when considering cidae species throughout the Atlantic Forest is spatially multiple traits, different sexes, and different species. autocorrelated, with widely distributed species clustered in Keywords: antipredator behavior, scorpions, locomotor three areas, and narrowly distributed species clustered in performance, aggression, phenotypic integration three other areas; both types occur throughout the entire biome. The known absolute geographic distribution area of Pholcidae species from the Atlantic Forest is smaller Student - oral presentation than that of species from the Amazon Forest. However, the Biogeographic patterns of Atlantic Forest relative within biomes geographic distribution area is sta- pholcid spiders (Araneae: Pholcidae) tistically similar. This analysis might be biased due to the Leonardo S. Carvalho1,2, Ubirajara de Oliveira3, lack of sampling in the Amazon Forest. These preliminary Bernhard A. Huber4, Adalberto J. Santos3 data suggest a complex distribution pattern of AF pholcid 1Campus Amílcar Ferreira Sobral, Universidade spiders, which will be further investigated regarding its Federal do Piauí, BR 343, KM 3.5, Bairro Meladão, phylogenetic beta diversity and beta diversity partition CEP 64800-000, Floriano, PI, Brazil; 2Pós-Graduacão Keywords: endemism; diversity; Brazil; species richness; em Zoologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, species composition; spider; biogeography Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; 3Departamento de Zoo- logia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Student - poster presentation Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antonio Carlos, n. Revision of Sinopoda (Araneae, Sparas- 6627, CEP 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil; sidae) of Korea 4Alexander Koenig Research Museum of Zoology, Adenauerallee 160, 53113 Bonn, Germany *Junho Chae [email protected] 74-1, Dosol-ro 267, beon-gil, Seo-gu, Daejeon, Korea [email protected] The Brazilian Atlantic Forest (AF) is one of the World’s most species-rich ecosystems, but also notoriously Until now, study on Korean huntsman spiders, such as endangered and still in need of large-scale studies for genus Sinopoda, have mostly focused on describing a many groups of organisms. For Pholcidae spiders, the physical variations and morphological mutation, disregard- AF is characterized by high local species-richness and ing taxonomical differences within each species. As a result, species endemism. Aiming to propose areas of endemism taxonomic diversity among this genus is being simplified in of the AF Pholcidae spiders and to investigate the species South Korea. The author has studied about this genus and composition variation throughout the AF, we gathered the especially classified some new species from existing species of information on specimens collected in 48 AF localities, Korea. S. nocturnus sp. nov., S. vitrana sp. nov., S. jeju sp. together with literature data and museum records. This nov., S. kimbyeongwooi sp. nov., S. hakgasanenesis sp, nov., database includes 2,744 records of 263 pholcid species S. magnus sp. nov., S. keojedoensis sp. nov., S. littus sp. nov., from all over Brazil (144 described and 119 undescribed and S. rubidius sp. nov. are newly discovered from various species), 183 of them endemic to the AF. A geographical fields of Korea. Jäger & Ono (2002) considered S. stellatops interpolation of endemism suggests the existence of eight to exist in Korea, and yet, each of the specimens have differ- main areas of endemism, with three in Northeastern, ent male palp and female epigyne. Thus I conclude none of three in Southeastern and two in Southern Brazil. An them are accurately matched with holotype of S. stellatops empirical Bayesian kriging of the species composition and that the existence of this species in Korea is questioned. followed by a cluster analysis based on likelihood reveals Keywords: Sparassidae, Sinopoda, Heteropoda, Microm- 15 areas with different pholcid species composition: six in mata, taxonomy, Korean arachnology
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Student - poster presentation Lesser Antilles and a recent ‘reverse colonization’ from From Gondwana to GAARlandia: biogeog- Cuba to North America. Our results reveal greater species raphy of ogre-faced spiders (Deinopidae) diversity than is captured by current taxonomy, including mirrors geologic history radiations within islands previously not known to have Deinopis. Ogre-faced spiders are an old lineage of relatively *Lisa Chamberland1, Greta Binford2, Anne McHugh1, poor dispersers whose phylogeny reflects global and local Sarah Kechejian1, Ann E. Howard1, Jonathan Coddington3, vicariance with rare dispersal events. Jason E. Bond4, Christopher A. Hamilton4, Mark Harvey5, Keywords: Deinopis, ogre-faced spider, biogeography, Matjaž Kuntner3,6, Ingi Agnarsson1,3 GAARlandia, Gondwana, vicariance, dispersal, 1Department of Biology, University of Vermont, 109 Car- phylogeography rigan Drive, Burlington, VT 05401, USA; 2Department of Biology, Lewis & Clark College, 0615 SW Palatine Student - oral presentation Hill Road, Portland, OR 97219, USA; 3Department of The joint effect of predator and prey Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, personality on foraging strategy but not Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012, success rate USA; 4Department of Biological Sciences and Auburn University Museum of Natural History, Auburn Univer- *Chia-chen Chang1, Huey Yee Teo1, Y. Norma-Rashid2. sity, Auburn, AL 36849, USA; 5Department of Terrestrial Daiqin Li1 Invertebrates, Western Australian Museum, Locked Bag 1Department of Biological Science, National University 49, Welshpool DC, Western Australia 6986, Australia; of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, 117543, Singapore; 6Institute of Biology, Scientific Research Centre, Slove- 2Ecology and Biodiversity Programme, University of nian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Novi trg 2, P.O. Box Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 306, SI-1001, Ljubljana, Slovenia [email protected] [email protected] Consistent inter-individual differences in behavior (i.e. Island biogeography continues to debate the relative personality) of predators or prey alone is known to importance of dispersal versus vicariance. Old lineages influence species interactions, but how personality and that do not readily cross oceanic barriers are especially intra-individual variability (IIV) of both predators and important because they can reflect ancient and recent as prey jointly influence the foraging success of predators well as global and local geological events. This multilocus still remains largely unexplored. Here, we addressed this phylogeny and biogeographical analysis of ogre-faced using a spider-eating jumping spider, Portia labiata spiders (Deinopidae) tests the importance of vicariance (Salticidae) as a predator and a jumping spider Cosmo- events during the ancient breakup of Gondwana and the phasis umbratica as prey. We examined the personalities formation of present-day Caribbean islands. These data of both P. labiata and C. umbratica in the laboratory and support vicariance and Gondwanan history as the best used their behavioral variation as predictors of foraging overall explanations of deinopid biogeographic patterns. behavior. We found a joint effect of the predator and In particular the 100 mya split between the Old and New prey personalities on foraging strategy (i.e., number of World deinopid clades probably reflects the geological attacks before capturing prey), but not on the time taken separation of Africa and America. Although a single, to capture prey and the prey- capture success rate. Bolder earlier dispersal to the proto-Antillean islands is possible, predators were able to capture prey when encountered the Greater Antilles were most likely colonized from South bold prey with fewer attempts than when encountered America via the GAARlandia land bridge. Deinopis rarely shy prey. Boldness IIV of predators predicted the success disperse overwater, but our results indicate dispersal events of prey capture: more consistently bold predators were from Africa to Madagascar, from South America to the more likely to capture the prey. However, boldness IIV
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of prey correlated with the time taken to catch the prey: Oral presentation more consistent bold prey survived longer. This study Comparison of dragline silk gland mor- highlights 1) the importance of the joint effect of both phology and silk genes in two spiders predator and prey personality on their interactions; and Crystal Chaw1, Peter Arensburger2, Marjorie Wimmer1, 2) the intra-individual variability (IIV) also plays a part Liliana Alaniz1, Cheryl Y. Hayashi1 in a predator’s foraging success and prey survivorship. 1Department of Biology, University of California, Keywords: boldness, intra-individual variability, Riverside. Riverside, CA 92521 USA; 2California State jumping spider, predation Polytechnic University, Pomona. Pomona, CA 91768 USA [email protected] Student - oral presentation Investigating resource contests with the Spiders spin an exceptional diversity of functionally amblypygid Phrynus longipes distinct silks, including silks for adhesion, egg-case construction, and prey capture. An individual spider can *Kenneth Chapin produce multiple task-specific silks from specialized UCLA, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology abdominal glands. Among araneomorph (true spiders) 621 Charles E. Young Drive, East Los Angeles, CA 90095- species, silk glands can be grouped by morphology and 7246, USA production of a unique silk type. For example, the Enteleg- [email protected] ynae have major ampullate silk glands, which are named Behavioral researchers using Amblypygi have noted for their size and ampule-shape. Major ampullate glands the regularity at which species engage in agonistic produce the proteins for dragline silk, and the glands can interactions. Despite this, why agonistic interactions be subdivided into three regions with different functions occur and how they are resolved is unknown. I con- and cell types. The Haplogynae also have ampule-shaped ducted paired interactions of the amblypygid Phrynus glands that produce dragline silk proteins, but whether longipes in Puerto Rico to understand the dynamics of the glands have differentiated regions is unknown. Major agonistic interactions. Through a series of analyses, I ampullate gland spigots are defined by their location on found that agonistic interactions are territory contests the anterior lateral spinneret, and the number of major common across the demographic range of the species. ampullate silk gland spigots among entelegyne and haplo- Further, I decoded the strategy that opponents use to gyne lineages suggests a complicated evolutionary history negotiate contests, and used resource contests to explain of major ampullate gland gains and losses. Functionally, the peculiar pattern of cannibalism that this species ampullate glands from entelegyne and haplogyne spiders exhibits. I used these results to build an evolutionary manufacture dragline silk proteins but as with the spigot simulation model of contest strategies, with novel pre- evidence, the relationships of ampullate silk proteins sug- dictions for the evolution of unintuitive contest tactics. gests a complicated evolutionary history with multiple Further, I identified variation in contests and other origins. Here, we study ampullate silk glands from the behavioral phenotypes across cave and surface popula- entelegyne Latrodectus hesperus and the haplogyne tions. Last, I discuss current work on understanding Holocnemus pluchei. Using histology and immunohis- the genetic mechanisms that maintain this behavioral tochemistry, we investigate the cells of L. hesperus major variation across environments. This research broadens ampullate and H. pluchei ampullate glands. We expect theory of resource contest evolution and behavioral that these glands will have three regions with different cell variation by investigating phenomena in a non-model types, suggesting that the cellular structure of dragline study system. silk glands is homologous and conserved. We also identify Keywords: behavioral ecology, territoriality, resource H. pluchei silk protein genes using deep sequencing and contests, Amblypygi, population genetics determine their relationship to other silk genes.
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Keywords: black widow, cellar spider, dragline, major size dimorphism. These findings reveal a complicated ampullate silk glands, morphology, silk proteins, spider silk nature of genital evolution in spiders, and do not unequiv- ocally point towards sexual selection as its main driver. Oral presentation Keywords: Argiope, sexual selection, genital size evolution, Do all spider genital components respond sexual size dimorphism, sexual genital size dimorphism to sexual selection? Poster presentation Ren-Chung Cheng1, Matjaž Kuntner1,2 Global phylogeny and biogeography of 1Institute of Biology, Scientific Research Centre of Slove- Argiopinae (Araneae: Araneidae) nian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Ljubljana, Slovenia; 2Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural Ren-Chung Cheng1, Ingi Agnarsson2,3, I-Min Tso4, History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA Matjaž Kuntner1,2 [email protected] 1Institute of Biology, Scientific Research Centre of Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Ljubljana, Genital evolution in animals with internal fertilization Slovenia; 2Department of Entomology, National is thought to be under sexual selection and correlated Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, between the sexes. Prior studies on selected spiders, Washington, DC, USA; 3Department of Biology, Uni- for example, demonstrated that both male and female versity of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA; 4Department genital sizes exhibit low allometric slopes, which indicates of Life Science, Tunghai University, TaiChung, Taiwan that their evolution is driven by cryptic female choice. [email protected] However, it is unclear whether such pattern also holds at inter-specific levels. Furthermore, it may be possible that The araneid subfamily Argiopinae currently includes genital components respond independently to selection. three genera: Argiope, Gea and Neogea totaling 100 A recent comparative study in nephilid spiders showed species. Renowned for pronounced sexual dimorphism, that different parts of male genitalia, i.e., intromittent unusual mating behaviors, and web decorations, among and non-intromittent organ, may be under different other traits, argiopines have been subjected to a wealth evolutionary pressures. While sexual selection may play evolutionary research. Nevertheless, their systematics an important role in male intromittent genital size evo- and biogeography remain unresolved. We present an lution, the size evolution of non-intromittent part may updated time-calibrated phylogeny using three nuclear relate to the selection pressures that act on male body size. and three mitochondrial genes for 64 out of 100 argiopine Because our understanding of the independent evolution species, and use it to clarify argiopine systematics and to of different genital components is very preliminary, more reconstruct their biogeographical history. Our analyses comparative research on genital evolution is needed. Here, support a major subdivision of this 40 million year old we report on comparative tests of these hypotheses in a clade into Neogea + A. trifaciata + lobed shaped Argiope female-biased sexually size dimorphic spider clade, genus from Africa and Americas on one hand and A. bruennichi Argiope. We first examined allometric patterns and evolu- + A. aurantia + Gea + all other Old World Argiope, on tionary rates of body and genital sizes, then investigated the other. Phylogenetic evidence refutes the monophyly size evolution of different genital components. Finally, we of current genera and rather suggests all are best placed explored the relationship between sexual size and genital in Argiope. However, a new argiopine genus will accom- size dimorphism. Our preliminary analyses failed to detect modate an unusual species of Argiope. Estimations of any negative allometry in either male or female genital ancestral areas suggest Indomalaya + America (or alter- size evolution, discovered that male genital size was only natively, Indomalaya) as argiopine origin, from where correlated to female external but not internal genital size, they dispersed to Africa, Australasia and Western Palearctic and found no relationship between sexual size and genital around 20 to 30 million years ago. Around 10 to 20 million
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years ago, argiopines dispersed repeatedly to Madagascar, Student- poster presentation Eastern Palearctic and Australasia, but such long distance Behavior-driven range expansion in the dispersal events were rarer in the recent 10 million years, a colonial tentweb orbweaver, Cyrtophora time of extensive within continent diversification. citricola Keywords: Argiopinae, biogeography, Argiope, Gea, Angela Chuang, Susan E. Riechert Neogea Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA Oral presentation [email protected] The diversity of long-jawed spiders (Tet- ragnathidae) in Thailand Given the drastic ecological and economic costs of biologi- cal invasions, identifying population traits and underlying Wimolwan Chotwong, Charuwat Taekul mechanisms of colonization success is crucial to under- Entomology and Zoology Division, Plant Protection standing range expansion processes. The range expansion Research and Development Office, Department of of a species is dependent on individuals dispersing beyond Agriculture, Chatuchak, Bangkok, Thailand current range limits at the leading edge. The spatial sorting [email protected] hypothesis predicts that, like frontrunners of a race, phe- Spiders are considered one of the effective predators, notypes linked with higher dispersal tendencies will tend attacking several small animal especially insect pests. to accumulate at the leading edge of an expanding range. This predator is typically found in many places, e.g., This hypothesis provides an alternative explanation for paddy field, orchards, forests, and agricultural planta- landscape-level phenotypic distributions besides local adap- tions. The genus Tetragnatha is the most important tation and is particularly relevant for dynamic populations predatory spider in paddy fields. Despite the fact that such as invasions. In this study, the range expansion of the this spider plays a vital role in the control of Nepho- invasive colonial tentweb orbweaver, Cyrtophora citricola, tettix virescens, the potential insect pest in paddy is used to test the spatial sorting hypothesis on behavioral field, none of these studies have been conducted in traits linked to dispersal tendency. Spiders were collected Thailand. The distribution survey and collecting were across their invasive range in Florida and assayed both in implemented in 18 provinces across the country from field and laboratory settings for putative traits of boldness, October 2011-September 2014. The identification and aggression, activity, and exploratory tendency. Preliminary taxonomic study were carried out under microscope analyses suggest that a behavioral cline exists at the range- and specimens were preserved in the 75% ethanol. The level, with bolder spiders found preferentially at the leading result revealed that 15 species in five genera were found edge of this invasion. This provides evidence of behavior as including Dyschiriognatha dentata, Leucauge celebe- a driving factor of range expansions. siana, L. decorata, L. tessellata, Opadometa grata, Keywords: animal personality, Araneidae, biological Orsinome vethi, Tetragnatha ceylonica, T. hasselti, invasion, boldness T. javana, T. mandibulata, T. maxillosa, T. nitens, T. vermiformis, Tylorida striata and T. ventralis. The Student - oral presentation spider local database was also established at Depart- Diversity, mapping and ecological aspects ment of Agriculture (DOA), Thailand. The results can be of cave spiders from Brazil (Arachnida, extrapolated to the integrated pest management (IPM) Araneae) strategy as well as biological control program to control insect pests in Thailand in the long run. *Igor Cizauskas¹,², A. D. Brescovit¹ Keywords: long-jawed spider, Tetragnathidae, diversity, ¹Laboratório Especial de Coleções Zoológicas do Insti- Thailand tuto Butantan. Av. Vital Brasil, 1500. 05503-900.
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São Paulo, SP, Brazil; ²Instituto de Biociências da 00928; 2Department of Environmental Science, Universidade de São Paulo. R. do Matão. 05508-090 Policy and Management, University of California– - Butantã, SãoPaulo SP, Brazil Berkeley, 94720 Berkeley, California, USA. [email protected] [email protected] The diversity of spiders that occurs in caves in Brazil By studying sexual behavior in animals, biologists can is poorly known. Little is known about the diversity of understand how particular morphological and behav- species and their distribution and, ecological aspects as ioral traits have evolved. Furthermore, the importance behavioral characteristics (e.g., maternal behavior, the of certain defensive strategies associated with mating webs architecture) and the relationship of these species can be addressed, for its impact on reproductive success. with the cave environment are even less studied. In this Autotomy –the voluntary releasing of legs– is a common study, we intend to map the diversity of spiders in caves in strategy used as an anti-predator defense mechanism different karst regions in Brazil, as well as to record and among arachnids. Although it may ensure immediate analyse ecological characteristics of these species. Our survival, it may convey long-term costs in courtship and study is based on a data-bank (still being update, 2009–) individual fitness. This would be especially relevant for with information from more than 3,100 caves, based on arachnids with behaviorally complex courtship that involve standardized sampling. So far, we identified 35,674 adult using their legs. For instance, some species of Sclerosoma- spiders from 51 families distributed in 391 spp. Among tidae harvestmen interact by doing leg-wrappings during these, 43 species, distributed in the families Ochyroc- courtship, which is known to be crucial for the male’s eratidae, Tetrablemmidae, Oonopidae, Prodidomidae, mating success. Many species of Sclerosomatidae have Symphytognathidae, Caponiidae, Hahniidae, Corinnidae, high frequency of autotomy. For example, in a currently Pholcidae, Ctenidae, Microstigmatidae, Dipluridae and undescribed species of Prionostemma in the Neotropical Theraphosidae, have characteristics that indicate prefer- rainforests of Costa Rica we observed that 61% of individu- ence or isolation in the hypogean environment. This als, including males and females, were missing at least one information has been ordered and will be presented in leg. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that leg condi- an analysis of guilds. We also evaluated the richness and tion (intact or autotomized) had an effect on the sexual abundance of species and related it with environmental behavior and consequently, mating success particularly of variables (e.g., different lithologies). Among the results males, when compared to females. We conducted 144 lab related to the ecology, species that carry their egg-sacs mating trials using either autotomized males or females, with them seem to be particularly abundant in caves com- or both. Overall, we found no major differences in court- munities. All information of distribution, taxonomy and ship behavior nor mating success between autotomized and ecology of cave species of Brazil are being organized to be intact individuals (mating success average 38 ± 3%). We available on a website still under construction. also found a similar pattern for mating interactions when Keywords: cave spiders, mapping, diversity and behavior compared with field observations. We also described for the first time in Neotropical harvestmen the details of the mating behavior. Compared to temperate zone Sclerosoma- Student - poster presentation tidae, Prionostemma sp. males did not wrap the females’ Autotomized Prionostemma harvestmen legs with their own. These findings suggest that autotomy have equal mating success than intact does not interfere with mating success, potentially explain- individuals ing why it is so prevalent in in this genus. However, this *Leticia Classen-Rodriguez1, Ignacio Escalante2 mechanism remains to be studied. 1Department of Environmental Science, University Keywords: Opiliones, sexual behavior, mating success, of Puerto Rico–Rio Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico, daddy-longlegs, Neotropical harvestmen
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Oral presentation CIBIO-InBIO (Research Centre in Biodiversity and DNA barcode data accurately identify Genetic Resources), Vila do Conde, Portugal higher spider taxa [email protected] Jonathan A. Coddington1, Ingi Agnarsson1,5, Ren-Chung Whole-organism movement provides insights into how Cheng2, Klemen Čandek2, Amy Driskell1, Holger Frick3, animals perform ecologically vital tasks. In scorpions Matjaž Gregorič2 , Rok Kostanjšek4, Christian Kropf3, there is a unique biomechanical challenge: the meta- Matthew Kweskin1, Tjaša Lokovšek2, Miha Pipan2,6, Nina soma (the “tail”, a continuation of the body rather than Vidergar2, Matjaž Kuntner1,2 a true tail) when used defensively, is capable of reaching 1National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian speeds up to 2 m/s, shifting the center of mass position Institution, Washington, DC, USA; 2EZ Lab, Institute abruptly and requiring large reaction forces; it can also of Biology at Research Centre of the Slovenian represent 25% of the total body weight. In this work, we Academy of Sciences and Arts, Ljubljana, Slovenia; quantified performance differences from 179 defensive 3Department of Invertebrates, Natural History strikes produced by 23 individuals. Using high-speed Museum Bern, Switzerland; 4Department of Biology, videography, we calculated anatomical and kinematic University of Ljubljana, Slovenia; 5Department of variables as well as the 3D shapes from the stinging tra- Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA; jectories. Scorpion morphology and kinematic variables 6Currently at: Department of Biochemistry, University exhibited a significant association across species after of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1GA, United Kingdom taking phylogeny into account. Moreover, the multivari- [email protected] ate association between traits indicate that not only shape and kinematic variables are correlated but also that open Most spider species are undescribed. Can DNA barcodes (unfolded) trajectories present higher velocities. In other accurately assign an unidentified species to genus or words, this indicates that certain strike trajectory shapes family? We built a carefully chosen test library of CO1 allow for faster strikes than others. Understanding how sequences from 49 families, 313 genera, and 816 species the scorpion defensive system operates can provide new of spiders to assess the accuracy of genus and family- additions to stability under perturbation models. level assignment. We BLASTed each sequence against Keywords: scorpions, trajectory shape, defensive strike, the entire library and retained the top ten hits (PIdent, comparative kinematics, functional morphology range 75-100%). Generic identifications were accurate (less than 5% errors) at PIdent > 95 and families at Student - poster presentation PIdent ≥ 91. More species/genus and genera/family in Characterization of the Venom Proteome the library increases accuracy: above five genera per for the Wandering Spider, Ctenus hibernalis family and fifteen species per genus all higher taxon (Aranea, Ctenidae) identifications were correct. The quality of the underly- *T. Jeffrey Cole1, Patrick A. Buszka1, Ronald N. Hunsinger1, ing database is important; many outliers in our dataset James A. Mobley2, Robert A. Hataway1 could be attributed to taxonomic and/or sequencing 1Department of Biological and Environmental errors in BOLD and GenBank. Science, Samford University, Birmingham, AL 35229-2234; 2Department of Surgery, University of Student - oral presentation Alabama-Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294-0113 Scorpion tail strikes: a trajectory shape [email protected] analysis Spider venom is a rich multicomponent mixture of neu- *Pedro Coelho, Antigoni Kaliontzopoulou, Mykola rotoxic polypeptides. The venom of a small percentage Rasko, Arie van der Meijden of the currently classified spiders has been categorized.
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We constructed proteomic data from crude venom of the analyses were completed using Bayesian (MrBayes and wandering spider Ctenus hibernalis using HPLC paired BEAST) approaches. The widow genus, Latrodectus, was with LTQ XL ion MS, to determine what venom proteins recovered as monophyletic (PP=1.0), and we confirm the are expressed in this species. We found 1,238 proteins previously-identified mactans and geometricus clades that closely matched the sequences of other venom (PP=1.0). Within the mactans clade we recover species proteins of several species of spiders. Our results suggest relationships that differ from previous hypotheses. For that the venom proteins of C. hibernalis contain example, the clade including the South American widows is several proteins with conserved structures similar to sister to the clade including the Israeli widows, rather than other species. Future work will further characterize the to the clade of species from North America. In addition, L. sequences of the proteins that did not have any matches dahli (not previously included) is sister to the mactans within the database in order to further understand the clade in all analyses (PP=1.0). Our results show cryptic proteomic makeup of the venom of this species. diversity within the widely-distributed western black widows Keywords: venom, ctenidae, proteomics (L. hesperus) and suggest a L. hesperus species complex. This well-supported phylogenetic hypothesis for the genus Student - oral presentation is an important new tool for comparative analyses of traits Untangling evolutionary relationships of of interest to applied and fundamental researchers. widow spiders (Latrodectus, Theridiidae, Keywords: macroevolution, molecular phylogeny, cryptic Araneae): Latrodectus phylogeny revisited species *Charmaine E. Condy1, 2, Jeremy A. Miller3, Jessica E. Student - oral presentation Garb4, Maydianne C. B. Andrade1, 2, Nathan R. Lovejoy1, 2 Scorpions of the genus Vaejovis C. L. 1Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Koch, 1836: the mexicanus group, a University of Toronto, ON, Canada; 2Department of morphological phylogeny (Scorpiones: Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarbor- Vaejovidae) ough, ON, Canada; 3Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, The Netherlands; 4Department of Biological *Gerardo A. Contreras-Félix, Oscar F. Francke Science, University of Massachusetts Lowell, MA, USA Colección Nacional de Arácnidos(CNAN), Instituto de [email protected] Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad de México, México The widow spiders (Latrodectus Walckenaer, 1805) are [email protected] feared by the general public due to their neurotoxic venom and tendency to live near human habitations, but The genus Vaejovis has been on a huge debate over its are valuable models for comparative study. Latrodectus diagnosis and the species included in it; since the phy- species have been the focus of research on venom and logeny proposed from Soleglad and Fet (2008) where silk evolution, behaviour, ecophysiology, plasticity, and they put in 28 species. Later, González-Santillán and invasion biology, but comparative studies are challenging Prendini (2013) in a revision on the family Syntro- because the group is taxonomically problematic. A previ- pinae take several of the traditional species included ous phylogenetic analysis based on a single gene and 60% in this genus to be included in several of the genera of the 31 currently recognized species failed to fully resolve described in this work; this puts into question the species-level phylogenetic relationships. Here we present a monophily of the genus Vaejovis, the species groups new analysis utilizing ~200 Latrodectus specimens from within and the species included. This analysis, on basis 28 species (90% of valid species), and 20 outgroup taxa, of morphological information, define the monophyly based on data from two mitochondrial (COI and 16S) and of the groups within this genus and characters that four nuclear (18S, 28S, H3 and ALTX) genes. Phylogenetic support this hypothesis; it also proves the validity of
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several characters proposed as the setae present on Student - oral presentation the legs on this genera, setae on the metasomal keels, Silk gene expression profiles of male hemispermatophore structures and trichobothria on the versus female cob-weaving spiders pedipalp, additionally presents new characters as the *Sandra M. Correa-Garhwal1, R. Crystal Chaw1, Thomas vesicular glands and the subaculear serrations (LAS) on H. Clarke III1,2, Nadia A. Ayoub2, Cheryl Y. Hayashi1 a phylogenetic analysis. 1Department of Biology, University of California, Keywords: high lands, systematics, speciation, ende- Riverside, CA 9252, USA; 2Department of Biology, Wash- mism, biodiversity ington and Lee University, Lexington, VA 24450, USA [email protected] Student - poster presentation Display architecture across social contexts Spiders have multiple types of silk glands that are specialized in the amblypygid Paraphrynus laevifrons to produce an array of task-specific silks. Studies have shown that spider silks are largely composed of proteins encoded by *Tyler B. Corey, Eileen A. Hebets members of the spidroin gene family. Most of these studies School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebrasca- have been conducted on females; thus, little is known about Lincoln, 323 Manter Hall, Lincoln NE 68588, USA silk production by males. To shed light on silk use by male [email protected] spiders, we compared silk gene expression profiles of mature Using a likely similar toolset for signal production and males and females from three cobweb-weaving species signal perception, conspecific animals communicate (Theridiidae). We de novo assembled male-specific as with each other across social contexts. In amblypygids well as species-specific (male and female) transcriptomes (Class Arachnida, Order Amblypygi), previously studied for Latrodectus hesperus, Latrodectus geometricus, and species have been shown to use distinct ritualized Steatoda grossa. Based on the presence of silk spigots in displays in intra– and intersexual interactions. In this both sexes, we expected gene expression for aciniform (domi- ongoing study, we explore how selection for effective nant component of prey-wrapping silk), major ampullate intraspecific communication across contexts might (dragline silk), minor ampullate (web construction silk), facilitate and/or constrain signaling system architec- and pyriform (attachment disc silk) spidroins in males and ture. Specifically, we examine, describe, quantify, and females. Furthermore, we did not expect males to express silk compare the behavioral repertoire of Paraphrynus protein genes associated with egg-case and aggregate glue laevifrons in intra- and interspecific contexts to assess production. Because males desert their prey-capture webs display similarities/differences. Preliminary results and become cursorial to search for mates, we expected males suggest that adult males and females use distinct to have a higher expression of major ampullate spidroin types of antenniform leg vibrations (ALV) in intra- genes than other silk genes. Our expression profiling results sexual interactions, and that sex-specific ALVs are also show that both sexes express aciniform, major ampullate, employed in intersexual interactions. ALVs used by male minor ampullate, and pyriform spidroin genes, as predicted. P. laeivfrons are additionally compared to signaling The most highly expressed silk genes in females of all species systems in other known amblypygid species. An assess- were tubuliform, major ampullate, and aggregate spidroins. ment of juvenile interactions thus far reveals no similar Counter to expectation, we found that the most highly behaviors, suggesting that the form of these displays expressed silk genes in Latrodectus males were the may change over ontogeny in these relatively long-lived minor ampullate spidroins. In Steatoda males, however, arachnids. major ampullate spidroins had the highest expression. Keywords: Amblypygi, communication, signal evolution, These findings suggest that Latrodectus males use more social context minor ampullate silk than Steatoda males. Keywords: differential gene expression, male spiders
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Student - Oral presentation Oral presentation Straightening out the pseudoscorpion Genetic mosaic among ecologically similar backbone species within an adaptive radiation of Hawaiian spiders Julia G. Cosgrove1, Mark S Harvey2, Gonzalo Giribet1 1Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Darko D. Cotoras1,7, Michael S. Brewer2, Ke Bi3,4, Stefan 26 Oxford St, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA; 2Western Prost1, David R. Lindberg1,5, Rosemary G. Gillespie6 Australian Museum, Locked Bag 49, Welshpool DC, WA 1Department of Integrative Biology, University of Cali- 6986, Australia fornia, 3060 Valley Life Sciences Building, Berkeley, CA [email protected] 94720-3140, USA; 2Department of Biology, East Carolina University, 1000 E 5th St., Greenville, NC 27858-4353, Over the last century there have been four main USA; 3Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, 3101 Valley Life hypotheses proposed regarding the classification of Sciences Building, University of California, Berkeley, CA groups within the arachnid order Pseudoscorpiones: 94720-3160, USA; 4Computational Genomics Resource Chamberlin, 1931; Beier, 1932; Muchmore, 1982; and Laboratory (CGRL), California Institute for Quantitative Harvey, 1992. While these classification schemes are Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, CA primarily concordant, especially in contrast to the 94720-3102, USA; 5Museum of Paleontology, University multitude of ideas proposed in the 19th century, the of California, 1101 Valley Life Sciences Building, placement of a few particular groups continues to Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; 6Department of Environmental be debated, notably the superfamily Feaelloidea and Science, University of California, 137 Mulford Hall, families Cheiridiidae, Pseudochiridiidae, and Sterno- Berkeley, CA 94720-3114, USA; 7Current affiliation: phoridae. Recently, molecular data have begun to shed Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Univer- new light on our understanding of pseudoscorpion sity of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064 phylogenetics, however relationships between some key USA; Department of Entomology Center for Comparative families and superfamilies remain unresolved. We have Genomics, California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music generated de novo transcriptomic data from 23 species Concourse Drive, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA representing 18 of the 26 currently recognized families [email protected] in order to infer the pseudoscorpion phylogeny using a variety of phylogenetic inference methods and models of The interplay between isolation and time in the ini- evolution. This data will also be used to estimate diver- tiation of adaptive radiation is central to understanding gence times within Pseudoscorpiones and to compare the dynamics of rapid diversification events. The chrono- rates of molecular evolution between lineages. We will sequence of the Hawaiian Islands provides an ideal system discuss our findings as well as the implications of a to explore this fundamental process. Here, we focus on well-resolved and dated pseudoscorpion phylogeny that a radiation of long jawed spiders, genus Tetragnatha, to will provide the necessary backbone from which we can examine the genetic signatures of early events of speciation. investigate the evolution of morphological characters Specifically we investigated how ecologically similar species including silk and venom, as well as mating and disper- have differentiated genetically in the course of an adap- sal behaviors. tive radiation. Using a transcriptome-based exon capture Keywords: phylogenomics, pseudoscorpiones, systematics, approach, we examined relationships between populations divergence dating of three closely related species (T. brevignatha, T. waika- moi and T. macracantha) from the youngest of islands of the Hawaiian chain, Lana’i, Maui and Big Island. The data shows that the originally described three species could be separated in at least five genetic clades. A key finding is that
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T. waikamoi, is widespread across East Maui, while the Oral presentation other species (juxtaposed with T. waikamoi) are localized Extreme striking in Selenops (Araneae: and more closely related to populations on other volcanoes. Selenopidae) Regardless the phylogenetic proximity there is no evidence Sarah Crews of hybridization between these species. This result adds a California Academy of Sciences, Dept. of Entomology, 55 new layer of complexity to recent allopatric speciation Music Concourse Drive, San Francisco, CA, 94118, USA events in the context of an adaptive radiation. [email protected] Keywords: Tetragnatha, ecomorph, exon capture, phylogeography, speciation Many predators attack prey by ambushing, the success of which largely depends on high speed. However, given the Student - oral presentation tradeoff between speed and maneuverability, ambush strikes Broad species comparative meta-analysis are typically constrained within a specific angular range of key amino acid densities and silk struc- and thus not adapted for attacking prey from an unlimited tural properties range of direction. This research shows that flattie spiders (Selenopidae) are capable of performing rapid strike *Hamish Craig1, Dakota Piorkowski2, Michael Kasumovic1, maneuvers to capture prey approaching from an uncon- Sean Blamires1, Shinichi Nakagawa1 strained range of direction, exhibiting one of the greatest 1School of BEES The University of New South Wales UNSW rotational movements in animals. Additionally, radially Sydney, NSW 2052 Australia; 2No. 181, Section 3, Taic- aligned, long laterigrade legs act as a modularized system hung Port Road, Taichung City 40704, Taiwan, R.O.C. covering a wide range of direction, and each leg can readily [email protected] drive the striking movement towards the prey. In particular, The presence and density of key amino acids (Alanine, legs function as planar manipulators to direct the rapid Glycine, Glutamine, Serine, and Proline) is posited to turn-and-reach body motion. Using a generalized mechani- provide spider silk with its distinctive properties of both cal model, how controlled manipulation of long segmented strength and extensibility. Various hypotheses exist to legs enables rapid, efficient generation of body translation explain the role of each amino acid in forming the dis- and rotation is revealed. Thus, leg manipulability can tinctive properties and to outline a working molecular enhance maneuverability in multi-legged locomotion. model of spider silk. Despite all these studies, we still Keywords: biomechanics, flatties, locomotion, ambush have a poor understanding of how the different amino predation acids interact to provide different silk properties across different species. The main objective of this study was to Student - oral presentation determine the relative importance of amino acid compo- Phylogenetic analysis of Stygnopsidae sition and spinning processes in determining spider silk (Opiliones), based on three molecular properties. We performed a meta-analysis comparing the markers and morphology amino acid composition, modulus, extensibility, strength and overall toughness of silk of 77 spider species (phy- *Jesús Alberto Cruz-López1,2, Oscar Francke Ballvé2 logenetically controlled) from 64 papers sampled from 1Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad 1,680 publications. I will focus on discussing the relative Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad importance of the various major amino acids on the 3000, C.P. 04510, Coyoacán, Mexico City, Mexico; material properties of spider silk and discuss the role of 2Colección Nacional de Arácnidos, Departamento de spinning processes in the final properties of the silk. Zoología, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Keywords: silk, amino acid, mechanical properties, Autónoma de México. Mexico City, Mexico. meta-analysis [email protected]
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Due to the relative highest diversity of the family Styg- diversity in Late Ordovician (Richmondian) restricted nopsidae (Grassatores: Gonyleptoidea), its unknown shallow marine environments of central Laurentia. relationships and the increasing taxonomic works in the Biotic assemblages from the William Lake (Grand Rapids last years, we performed a phylogenetic analysis concern- Uplands; Williston Basin) and Airport Cove (Churchill area; ing this family. We produced four datasets: three molecular Hudson Bay Basin) sites both contain representatives of markers, partial ribosomal 28S, mitochondrial ribosomal the early xiphosurid horseshoe crab Lunataspis aurora, 16S, mitochondrial protein-encoding Cytochrome c including juvenile individuals revealing allometric growth oxidase subunit I (COI), and 72 morphological characters. of the prosomal shield and telson. Elements of unusual new With these data, we performed three different phylogenetic eurypterid taxa have so far been identified from William analyses: Bayesian Inference with molecular data, and Lake. It possesses a puzzling chimera-like combination Bayesian and Maximum Likelihood using combined data. of exoskeletal characters, including a novel swimming In our results we recovered the monophyly of Stygnopsi- paddle morphology, setting it apart from all other described dae, with two major clades within the family, considered forms. The William Lake section, in addition, includes the and diagnosed as two subfamilies: Stygnopsinae and a new first Ordovician record of a sea spider - the only known subfamily assignment. According to the results and due fossil occurrence of the rare and bizarre Pycnogonida in to the polyphyly of Hoplobunus and Paramitraceras, the rocks of demonstrable shallow-water origin. Fragmentary following genera were redefined: Stygnopsis, Hoplobunus remains of other non-biomineralizing arthropods found and Serrobunus stat. rev., also we detected a new genus at both sites hint that other chelicerate groups, such as the to allocate Hoplobunus spinooculorum. Additonally, the ‘synziphosurines’ and chasmataspidids, may be present. following taxonomic changes are proposed: Serrobunus These discoveries provide a unique window into the early queretarius, Stygnopsis apoalensis, Stygnopsis mexicana radiation of the chelicerate arthropods and suggest that and Stygnopsis oaxacensis new combinations. Finally, we Ordovician marginal marine habitats may have been the discuss the evolution of male genitalia and the importance setting for much of their initial diversification. of some homoplastic characters. Keywords: fossils, marine, evolution Keywords: Laniatores, taxonomy, new subfamily, homo- plastic, male genitalia Oral presentation Dual function of male genitalia in Tetrag- Oral presentation natha–sperm removal and sperm transfer Late Ordovician chelicerate diversity - new Anne Danielson-Francois, Yevhen Drobot insights from Manitoba Konservat-Lagerstätten University of Michigan - Dearborn, Department of Michael B. Cuggy1, David M. Rudkin2, Graham A. Young3 Natural Sciences, 4901 Evergreen Road, Dearborn, 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of MI 48128, USA Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2, Canada; [email protected] 2Department of Natural History (Paleobiology), Royal Male long jawed orb weavers of the genus Tetragnatha Ontario Museum, 100 Queen’s Park, Toronto, ON M5S have several unusual pedipalp structures. The most strik- 2C6, Canada; 3The Manitoba Museum, 190 Rupert ing is the elegant corkscrew-like spiral of the conductor, Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3B 0N2, Canada which guides the sperm releasing embolus to its final [email protected] destination. We have demonstrated that this structure, Two recently discovered Konservat-Lagerstätte deposits in in concert with other features, removes stored rival male central and northern Manitoba are yielding many exciting sperm and biases paternity towards the last male in the new fossils. Some of these provide a compelling (and often species Tetragnatha elongata (Walckenaer, 1841). In confounding) record of emerging chelicerate arthropod addition to removing stored rival sperm, male T. elongata
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scrape their pedipalps across the female’s genitalia and supposedly ‘lesser’ degree of morphological and behavioral inflate hematodochae without embolus insertion at specialization in trapdoor spiders. To appreciate the func- certain periods during mating. These types of behaviors tional specializations in trapdoor spider morphology and have been previously classified as “flubs”. Here we describe behavior (and to correct some common misconceptions) a functional purpose of these behaviors: removing sticky the Aristotelian question ‘what for?’ is asked to provide the masses of rival sperm that have been partially or entirely necessary background knowledge for hypothesis building drilled out of the female but remain stuck to her ventral and further research. This Aristotelian question will be surface or to the conductor itself. In summary, T. elongata discussed with respect to the functional morphology of the males bias paternity in their favor by removing internal chelicerae and pedicel in burrow construction and of the amorphous mating plugs composed of rival male sperm. appendages in prey handling and locomotion. Keywords: Sexual selection, sperm competition Keywords: functional morphology, evolutionary stasis
Oral presentation Student - poster presentation An Aristotelian view on trapdoor spiders Leg autotomy in the fishing spider Dolomedes triton and its effect on antipredator and Arthur Decae locomotor behavior M. Smallegangehof 25, 4331WC Middelburg, The Netherlands. Alexander E. DeMarco1, Carl N. Keiser2, Thomas C. [email protected] Jones1, Jonathan N. Pruitt1,3 1Department of Biological Sciences, East Tennessee Within the order Araneae, Mygolomorphae are gener- State University, PO Box 70300 Johnson City, TN ally considered a ‘lesser’ branch of the (spider) tree of 37614, USA; 2University of Pittsburgh, Department life. In comparison with their putative sister clade the of Biological Sciences, 204 Clapp Hall, 4249 Fifth Araneomorphae, Mygalomorphae are less diverse, less Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA; 3Department of common, less derived, less complex, less visible and cer- Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of tainly less well-known. Recent work however shows that California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106 Mygalomorphae are much more common and diverse [email protected] than previously perceived. Most of the new knowledge on mygalomorph spiders is morphologically or molecularly Phenotypic plasticity, the ability of an organism to alter based and obtained from the studies of collected and pre- its phenotype in the face of different stressors, is a phe- served specimens. Knowledge of the living mygalomorph nomenon that is widespread throughout nature. Plasticity spiders is very limited. This is particularly true for the in behavioral syndromes (animal personalities), a topic numerous fossorial mygalomorphs that may loosely be that is steadily increasing in interest within animal indicated as trapdoor spiders. Trapdoor spiders appear to behavior, falls under this umbrella and can have sig- show a remarkable evolutionary conservatism expressed nificant implications for an organism in terms of overall in their habits and general anatomy. Molecular work has fitness. The six-spotted fishing spider, Dolomedes triton shown that trapdoor spiders not only appear to be ancient, (Araneae, Pisauridae) is an intriguing model for study- but actually are ancient in the sense that species ages have ing antipredator behavior (boldness) across different been estimated to exceed 30 million years. Such times for contexts, due to predation pressures from both terrestrial species survival indicate that trapdoor spiders make perfect and aquatic sources. Like most spiders, D. triton is able models for studies of morphological stasis that will con- to autotomize a limb in order to escape from a preda- tribute to the ongoing debate concerning tempo and mode tor or remove itself from another situation that could in evolution. The long term survival of species furthermore cause significant harm or death. This project aims to suggests a high level of adaptation that questions the test the hypotheses that when an individual D. triton
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autotomizes a limb, its boldness will decrease in concert is significantly stronger in the morning than in the after- with a decrease in sprint speed. To test this, the boldness, noon. Although E. culicivora is known to be attracted to latency to attack prey and sprint speed across three differ- mate, plant and human odour, we found was no significant ent substrates will be measured for individual D. triton diel pattern in response to mate, plant or human odour before and after the autotomy of one leg, which will be and no significant diel pattern in inclination to mate. standardized across all individuals. Some individuals with These findings suggest that E. culicivora has an innate one autotomized leg will subsequently have a second leg activity pattern specific to predation, this being a pattern removed, which will serve to test a further hypothesis that that should facilitate encounters with its preferred prey. boldness is a syndrome of sprint speed and will continue Keywords: specialization, predation, Evarcha culicivora, to decrease, until a point, as legs are removed. This Anopheles gambiae experiment could provide significant insight into how an awareness of physical ability can affect an individual’s Student - oral presentation behavior within a varying number of ecological contexts. Population genomics and phylogeography Keywords: autotomy, boldness, fishing spider, behavior of Sclerobunus robustus from the south- western United States Student - oral presentation Adaptive timing of predatory activity by a *Shahan Derkarabetian1, 2, Mercedes Burns1, James mosquito-specialist predator Starrett1, Marshal Hedin1 1Department of Biology, San Diego State University, *Chan Deng1,2, Robert R. Jackson1,2 San Diego, California 92182-4614, USA; 2Department 1School of Biological Sciences, University of Canter- of Biology, University of California Riverside, River- bury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand; side, California 92521, USA 2International Centre of Insect Physiology and [email protected] Ecology (ICIPE), Thomas Odhiambo Campus, P.O. Box 30, Mbita Point 40305, Kenya The integration of ecological niche modeling into phylo- [email protected] geographic analyses has allowed for identification and Evarcha culicivora is a mosquito-specialist salticid testing of potential refugia under a hypothesis-based spider from East Africa that feeds indirectly on vertebrate framework. In this study we focus on a montane-restricted blood by actively choosing blood-carrying mosquitoes cryophilic harvestman, Sclerobunus robustus, distributed as preferred prey and by actively choosing Anopheles as throughout the heterogeneous Southern Rocky Mountains preferred mosquitoes. We consider whether specialization and Intermontane Plateau (SRMIP) of southwestern by this predator is also expressed in the timing of preda- North America. We identified hypothetical refugia using tory activity. Our data from field sampling and from ecological niche models (ENMs) across three time periods, systematically observing E. culicivora under semi-field corroborated these refugia with population genetic conditions show that predation tends to be concentrated methods using RAD-loci data acquired with double-digest in the early morning hours, this being when night-feeding RAD-seq, and conducted population level phylogenetic and anthropophilic anopheline mosquitoes tend to be resting divergence dating analyses. ENMs identify two large tem- while they digest blood meals acquired during the night. porally persistent regions in the mid-latitude highlands. In experiments using living prey and other experiments Genetic patterns support these two hypothesized refugia using lures made from dead prey, E. culicivora was sig- with higher genetic diversity within refugial populations nificantly more responsive to prey and significantly more and evidence for range expansion in populations found inclined to choose its preferred prey in the morning than outside of hypothesized refugia. Phylogenetic analyses in the afternoon. We also show that response to prey odour identify five to six genetically divergent, geographically
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cohesive clades of S. robustus. Divergence dating analyses colonizing capabilities of spiders make them excellent suggest that these separate refugia date to the Pliocene candidates for testing these hypotheses and future studies and that divergence between clades predates the late Pleis- in spiders should incorporate molecular methods to gain tocene glacial cycles, while diversification within clades insight about the evolutionary processes that govern species was likely driven by these cycles. delimitation and species hybridization. Keywords: sky islands, southwestern United States, Keywords: phylogeography, population genomics, mito- landscape genomics, isolation by environment, refugial nuclear discordance persistence, ddRAD-seq Student - oral presentation Student - oral presentation Dispersal, local density dependence, Population genomics and mitochondrial- and population stability in social spider nuclear discordance in range expanding metapopulations populations of Argiope bruennichi *Suzana Diniz¹, João Vasconcellos Neto¹, Leticia Avilés² *Abhilesh Dhawanjewar1, Henrik Krehenwinkel2 ¹Departamento de Biologia Animal, Universidade 1School of Biological Sciences, University of Estadual de Campinas, Caixa Postal 6109, CEP Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA; 2Department for 13083-970, Campinas, SP, Brazil; ²University of Environmental Sciences, Policy and Management, British Columbia #2370-6270 University Blvd. University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada. [email protected] [email protected] In the past decade, molecular markers have been increas- In subdivided populations, local population stability may ingly employed to test various phylogeographic hypotheses. depend on dispersal occurring to prevent overcrowding While resolving the geographic histories of many taxa, and resource depletion. Social spider colonies constitute these methods can also be used to study the behavior of relatively isolated local populations forming part of a genetic markers such as mtDNA. Populations of Argiope metapopulation. In the more highly social species, greater bruennichi have exhibited poleward range expansion into intrinsic rates of growth and lower dispersal tendencies may Northern Europe in the past century. Mitochondrial and result in boom and bust colony and patch dynamics, whereas Nuclear genome-wide analyses of the range-expanding pop- local populations may be more stable in the less social ulations reveal the role of genomic admixture in enabling species with greater tendencies to disperse. We recorded the invasive populations to adapt to novel climatic conditions. growth, dispersal, and stability of two co-occuring social These analyses also reveal an interesting difference between Anelosimus spiders at Serra do Japi, Brazil. We found that the mitochondrial and nuclear markers. While regions of in the transitional A. jabaquara per capita fitness was not the nuclear genome freely introgress between populations, affected by colony size, whereas in the more highly social A. mitochondrial genomes show high levels of structure dubiosus per capita fitness was maximum at intermediate between populations suggesting limited mitochondrial colony sizes, but below replacement value in small and large introgression. While various hypotheses such as sex-biased colonies. The more highly social species thus exhibited both dispersal could lead to this apparent pattern, we propose positive (Allee effect) and negative density dependence; the the role of mitochondrial-nuclear incompatibilities in less social, did not. Dispersal and extinction were inversely producing this discordance. These incompatibilities could correlated across species: the transitional A. jabaquara had serve as targets for selection and further pave the way for consistently higher dispersal, but lower extinction rates, speciation. Such discordant patterns are most commonly whereas the social A. dubiosus had the opposite pattern. observed in populations undergoing hybridization fol- These results are consistent with the hypothesis of dispersal lowed by a period of geographical isolation. The proficient as a stabilizing factor in local population dynamics.
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Keywords: Anelosimus, group size, metapopulation, plasticity: when condition increased, restricted spiders built population persistence, sociality safer webs, but ad lib spiders reduced their aggression. Keywords: developmental plasticity, web structure, Oral presentation foraging behavior Developmental experience shapes life history, behavior, and web structure of Poster presentation black widows Iranian spiders (Araneae) in the National Museum in Prague (Czech Republic) Nicholas DiRienzo1, Pierre-Oliver Montiglio2 1University of Arizona, PO Box 210088, Tucson, AZ, Petr Dolejš 85721, USA; 2McGill University, 1205 Dr Penfield Department of Zoology, National Museum–Natural Avenue, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1B1, Canada History Museum, Cirkusová 1740, CZ–193 00, Praha [email protected] 9–Horní Počernice, Czech Republic [email protected] Developmental experience is known to affect life history and behavior, yet rarely, these are studied in together. As a Most of the Iranian arachnids in the collection of the result it is still unclear whether developmental experience National Museum in Prague (NMP) were collected during affects behavior through changes in life history, or inde- three Czechoslovak-Iranian entomological expeditions pendently of it. Furthermore, the effect of developmental organized by the NMP in 1970’s. The spider material was experience on life history and behavior may be affected by collected by Bohumil Pražan at 18 Iranian localities during individual condition during adulthood. Thus, it is critical the third expedition (26 March–12 August 1977) and to tease apart developmental from condition-dependent includes 217 specimens of spiders belonging to 50 species effects. Here we manipulated food abundance during devel- from 21 families: Atypidae, Dipluridae, Nemesiidae, Sicari- opment in the western black widow spider, Latrodectus idae, Eresidae, Oecobiidae, Theridiidae, Tetragnathidae, hesperus, by rearing spiders on either a restricted or ad lib Araneidae, Lycosidae, Pisauridae, Oxyopidae, Agelenidae, diet. We separated developmental from condition-depen- Dictynidae, Clubionidae, Zodariidae, Gnaphosidae, Sparas- dent effects by assaying adult foraging behavior (tendency sidae, Philodromidae, Thomisidae, and Salticidae. Among to attack a prey cue) and web structure multiple times them, eight species are new to the spider fauna of Iran: under different levels of satiation. Our results indicate that Atypus muralis Bertkau, 1890, Steatoda bipunctata Lin- spiders reared under food restriction matured slower and naeus, 1758, Arctosa similis Schenkel, 1938, Wadicosa at a smaller size than spiders reared in ad lib conditions. commoventa Zyuzin, 1985, Zodariidae sp., Trachyzelotes We found that restricted spiders were more aggressive jaxartensis (Kroneberg, 1875), Thomisus albohirtus Simon, towards prey and built webs structured for foraging, while 1884, and Thomisus unidentatus Dippenaar-Schoeman & ad lib spiders were less aggressive and built safer webs. The van Harten, 2007. Older material deposited in the NMP amount of individual variation in behavior and web struc- is represented by a single Lycosa singoriensis (Laxmann, ture varied with developmental treatment. Spiders reared 1770) female collected by L. Král in 1944 in Karaj. on a restricted diet exhibited consistent individual variation Recent material, unfortunately, comprises only two sub- in all aspects of foraging behavior and web structure, while adult lycosid and sparassid females collected by P. Kabátek spiders reared on an ad lib diet exhibited consistent indi- in October 1998. All arachnologists are invited to cooperate vidual variation in aggression and web weight only. Thus, and study material deposited in the NMP. This work was developmental experience affected the average life history, financially supported by Ministry of Culture of the Czech behavior, and web structure of spiders, but also shaped the Republic (DKRVO 2016/15, National Museum, 00023272). amount of phenotypic variation observed among individu- Keywords: collection, expeditions, faunistics, Iran, new als. Finally, developmental treatment affected adult trait records
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Student - oral presentation We used a Rapid Assessment Protocol to acquire compa- Fossil spiders and ancient salt lakes rable samples of ground-accessible spider assemblages from eight Panamanian rainforest sites during Sep- *Matthew R. Downen, Paul A Selden tember and October, 2008. Our objectives are to obtain Department of Geology, The University of Kansas, species-level data on clade Araneoidea in Neotropical 1475 Jayhawk Blvd Lindley Hall Room 120, Law- rainforests; provide descriptions of the assemblages from rence, KS 66045 four low elevation (70–135 m) and four high elevation [email protected] (1181–2326 m) sites; and to determine what differences Fossil spiders are relatively abundant in lacustrine depos- among sites are detectable using this Rapid Assessment its. This talk examines the diversity of spiders from several data. 72 person-hours of sampling time yielded 309 lacustrine deposits, and the information they provide adult araneoids (4.3/hour) belonging to 111 morpho- about paleoenvironments. Fossil spiders from the Green species (56% determined to known species) in 9 families. River Formation of Colorado (Eocene) include specimens 75% of species were found at only one of the eight sites, from the families Uloboridae, Hersiliidae, Selenopidae, and only six species were found in both low and high and Thomisidae that have recently been described. The elevation sites. No species were found from more than Florissant Formation (Eocene) has a similarly diverse half (four) of the sites. Theridiidae comprised nearly fauna with several families represented including Lycosi- half of the adult Araneoids and 38.7% of the species. It dae, Tetragnathidae, Thomisidae, and Gnaphosidae. Few was the numerically dominant family except at the two fossils from the Crato Formation (Cretaceous) have been highest sites, which were dominated by Tetragnathidae. formally described but include mygalomorphs, araneids, Tetragnathidae species richness was greater at higher nephilids, and an exquisite palpimanid. The diversity from elevation sites, whereas Theridiidae and Mysmenidae these three deposits represents various life modes and richness was greater at low elevation sites. Inter-site habitats. Recently, it has been demonstrated that the leg species similarity (Bray-Curtis) was largely a function flexure of spiders may serve as a proxy for the paleosalin- of distance, but family-level similarity was uncorrelated ity of ancient lakes. The typical pose of fossil spiders from with distance and is likely ecologically meaningful. Our the Crato Formation, for example, is legs tightly curled data was useful for describing the assemblages, but most under the body, and is suggestive of hypersalinity. Fossil site pairs were not statistically distinguishable in rich- spiders from each of the three deposits were examined and ness or Simpson’s diversity. Richness estimators yielded compared to modern spiders drowned in varying salinities. highly variable estimates, suggesting that more data is Keywords: Araneae, taphonomy, paleontology, paleoen- necessary for robust richness estimation. vironments, lacustrine Keywords: rapid assessment protocol, Neotropics, rain- forest, elevation, Araneoidea, biodiversity, faunistics Oral presentation Oral presentation Comparing araneoid biodiversity between The beautiful behavior and morphology of high and low elevation Panamanian rain- how spiders find and grasp silk lines forest sites William G. Eberhard Michael L. Draney1, Petra Sierwald2 Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Biologia, U. 1Department of Natural & Applied Sciences, Univer- C. R. Ciudad Universitaria, Costa Rica sity of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Green Bay, Wisconsin, [email protected] USA; 2Division of Insects, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois, USA The morphology and behavior of the tarsi and claws are [email protected] crucial in allowing spiders to find, grasp securely, and
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release lines as they move in their webs. Some crucial wide fields of view. The combined inputs of these eyes create aspects of tarsal morphology were elegantly documented a visual field where colors and fine patterns of male displays long ago by E. Nielsen. Several recent advances on the can only be perceived by a female if the male is in front of behavioral side have been made possible by video recordings her. We recorded relative positions and orientations of both of behavior. The spider’s legs routinely follow each other in actors throughout courtship to evaluate how consistently various behavioral contexts, thus economizing on the male displays are aligned with the female principal field of exploratory behavior needed by more posterior legs to locate view, and who is responsible. Males always oriented their new lines. The short-distance searching movements made displays toward the female. When females were free to move, by a following leg are asymmetrical (prolateral for legs I male displays were only consistently aligned with female and II, retrolateral for legs III and IV), and these orienta- color vision during the short range phase. When female tions are appropriate to allow their asymmetrically placed position was fixed, signal alignment consistently occurred median claws and serrate accessory setae to contact and during both courtship phases, and maximal alignment grasp the lines that they encounter. And the tarsus itself (or, during the short range phase occurred for a greater propor- less likely its claw) is routinely twisted on its longitudinal tion of time. This suggests that normal female movements axis to bring the median claw into a position perpendicu- may reduce communication efficacy. In addition, when lar to the line, thus allowing the claw to clamp even those tethered females were rotated to face away, males rarely lines that are parallel to the spider’s longitudinal axis. repositioned themselves to re-align their display. Thus, Keywords: behavior, functional morphology, web spiders although signal alignment is a function of both sexes, males may rely on females for effective communication. Student - oral presentation Keywords: communication efficacy, courtship signaling, Control of signal alignment during the signaling behavior, Salticidae dynamic courtship display of a salticid Oral presentation *Sebastian A. Echeverri, Nathan I. Morehouse, Daniel B. Revision of Misumessus (Araneae: Thomis- Zurek idae), with observations on crab spider Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pitts- epigynal hoods burgh, 4249 5th Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA [email protected] G. B. Edwards Florida State Collection of Arthropods, 1911 SW 34th Signals are often directional, meaning that they are best Street Gainesville, FL 32608 USA perceived from certain angles. Likewise, sensory systems [email protected] often have directional biases. Thus, alignment of directional signals and directional sensors may often be critical for The previously monotypic genus Misumessus, type species effective communication. However, we know little about M. oblongus (Keyserling, 1880), is found to consist of how animals establish and maintain alignment during at least seven species distributed throughout most of signaling. We analyzed the dynamic courtship dances of the North America, all of Central America, Bermuda, and the jumping spider Habronattus pyrrithrix to better under- Greater and Lesser Antilles. Species are distinguished in stand how often alignment is achieved, and who is primarily the males primarily by the position of the embolus base responsible (i.e. male, female, or both). In this species, and the length of the filamentous end of the embolus, courtship consists of distinct long- and short-range phases. with the embolus curling around the tegulum more than Males produce a forward-facing visual display that includes 360 degrees. In the females, differences are more subtle, color, pattern, and movement. Females view this display but length and shape of the median epigynal piece, and with two types of eyes: color sensitive principal eyes with differences in face morphology detail, can distinguish narrow fields of view, and colorblind secondary eyes with them. In addition, four of the species have other distinctive
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somatic features that make them easily identifiable. The back to the Sierra Nevada, then back to Coast Ranges. In median epigynal piece, sometimes identified as a median both the Sierra Nevada and Coast Ranges, distantly-related septum, is better considered a scape, as its posterior end is parapatric lineages essentially never occur in sympatry. separated from and directed away from the main part of CCA reveals that in both the Coast Ranges and the Sierra the epigyne. Furthermore, the scape has a minute “hood” Nevada, distant phylogenetic relatives evolve convergent at its posterior end, very similar in appearance to that of morphologies. Our evidence shows that Calicina is clearly Misumenops F.O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1900, which sug- dispersal-limited, with an ancient biogeographic history gests that the two genera are related, contrary to previously that provides unique insight into the complex geologic published opinions. The epigynal “hood” of thomisids is evolution of California since the mid-Paleogene. considered misnamed, as it engages the retrolateral tibial Keywords: BioGeoBEARS, California, historical biogeog- apophysis (RTA), and is renamed the “coupling pocket” raphy, multispecies coalescent, short-range endemism, to conform with other RTA clade members. A hood is con- vicariance sidered to be an epigynal outgrowth that partly encloses a depression that engages a structure on the palpal bulb Student - Oral presentation rather than the palpal tibia. Behavioral response to environmental and Keywords: Thomisidae, Misumessus, taxonomy, new dietary heavy metals by Pardosa milvina species, biogeography *Lucas Erickson1, Ann Rypstra2, Mary Gardiner3, James Harwood4 Student - Oral presentation 1Department of Biology, Miami University, Oxford, From the mountains to the coast and back OH, USA, 45056; 2Department of Biology, Miami again: ancient biogeography in a radia- University, Hamilton, OH, USA, 45011; 3Department tion of short-range endemic harvestmen of Entomology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, from California USA, 43210; 4Department of Entomology, University Kristen Emata, Hedin Marshal of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA, 40546 5500 Campanile Drive San Diego, CA 92128 [email protected] [email protected] Heavy metal contamination driven by anthropogenic activ- The harvestmen genus Calicina is represented by 25 short- ity is a widespread environmental issue due to the myriad range endemic species occurring in the western Sierra harms heavy metals cause. Due to the persistence of heavy Nevada, Transverse and Coast Ranges of California. Our metals in the environment, growing human population, principal aim was to reconstruct the temporal and spatial and increasing industrialization of third world countries, biogeographic history of this arachnid lineage. We inferred concerns about heavy metals are projected to increase for a time-calibrated species tree for 21 of 25 described the foreseeable future. Heavy metal contamination in the Calicina species using multiple genes and multilocus soil can have a large influence on epigeal invertebrate coalescent-based methods. This species tree was used as a communities but little is know how it may influence the framework for algorithmic biogeographic and divergence behavior of these animals that spend their lives closely time analyses, and a phylogenetic canonical correlation associated with the soil. Indeed these invertebrates are analysis (CCA) was used to examine the relationship exposed to heavy metals through contact and by contami- between morphological evolution and environmental vari- nation of their food source. While heavy metal uptake has ables. Species tree and biogeographic analyses indicate been characterized in many herbivores and detritivores, that high-elevation Sierran taxa are early-diverging in there has been less work done on investigating how Calicina, with subsequent biogeographic ‘‘criss-crossing” invertebrate predators respond to heavy metal contamina- of lineages from the Sierra Nevada to the Coast Ranges, tion. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that exposure
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to soil contaminated with heavy metals would affect the changes in locomotor performance while running on a survival and foraging behavior of the wolf spider Pardosa horizontal track over time using high speed video. We milvina. Our experiment decoupled environmental found an immediate decrease in the kinematics of running exposure and dietary uptake. In a full factorial design we (velocity, acceleration, sinuosity of the trajectory, and housed animals on contaminated or uncontaminated soil stride length), as well as an increase in duty factor after and fed them collembolans that had been reared on each autotomy. However, harvestmen did not recover initial soil type. Exposure to contaminated soils reduced survival performance after a 14-day period. Interestingly, one third especially for males. Both soil type and prey type affected of autotomized individuals performed different types of prey consumption, but effects varied over time and between gaits (“pronking”, “bobbing”, or running), which seldom sexes. This study indicates a complex interaction between occurred in intact individuals. Our findings suggest that, environmental and dietary contamination on behavioral along with kinematic, autotomy might impose prevail- responses for the wolf spider P. milvina and underscores ing challenges in the energetic balance and survival of the need for more studies of the manner in which anthro- harvestmen. Compensation seems not to be occurring at pogenic factors influence natural food webs. least in their general pattern of locomotion. Overall, this Keywords: behavioral ecology, heavy metals, toxicity, project outlines the potentially non-reversible locomotor Collembola consequences in harvestmen imposed by environmental damage. Future work could focus on behavioral plasticity Student - oral presentation or shifts in habitat use that harvestmen might use to alle- Kinematic consequences in locomotor per- viate the exposure to predators. formance after autotomy in Prionostemma Keywords: autotomy, biomechanics, daddy long-legs harvestmen harvestmen, running *Ignacio Escalante, Marc A. Badger, Damian O. Elias Student - Poster presentation University of California, Berkeley, 130 Mulford Hall. Sensory shifts following autotomy in the Berkeley, CA 94720 USA golden orb-weaver spiders (Nephila clavipes) [email protected] Ignacio Escalante1, Virginia Settepani2, David R. Nelsen3 Animals face predictable challenges throughout their life- 1Department of Environmental Sciences, Policy, and times. For instance, predation attempts are ubiquitous, and Management. University of California - Berkeley, 130 likely drive the evolution of adaptations to avoid predators. Mulford Hall. Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; 2Department Some animals voluntarily release legs (autotomy) during of Biological Sciences, Aarhus University Ny Mukeg- predation attempts. While autotomy may secure immedi- ade 114-116 Building 1535, Office 216. 8000 Aarhus ate survival, animals can face long term consequences of C, Denmark; 3PO Box 370, Department of Biology limb loss, particularly in locomotor performance. Given and Allied health, Southern Adventist University, Col- this, strategies to compensate for damage are expected, for legedale TN 37315 USA example making biomechanical adjustments in a running [email protected] gait. We studied this in harvestmen (Opiliones) because autotomy is frequent and regeneration does not occur. Arachnids possess many of their sensory organs on their We examined an undescribed species of Prionostemma appendages. However, the voluntary release of an append- (Sclerosomatidae) in the Costa Rican rainforest to test age (“autotomy”) is a frequently used anti-predator the hypothesis that compensation after losing legs occurs strategy. Consequently, loss of an appendage could result with changes in biomechanical kinematics of running in reduced locomotion, sensory abilities, especially over time. By controlling the time since autotomy and the relevant for prey (or predator) detection, location, and number, type and asymmetry of legs lost, we quantified capture ability. Any reduction in prey capture or predator
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avoidance, will result in energy loss, and a probable reduc- dispersal and vicariance were then tested under an assort- tion in fecundity or possible injuries and death. Here we ment of constraints based on various geologic scenarios. investigate the incidence of autotomy in Nephila clavipes In elucidating the historic patterns and processes that have in the tropical rainforest of Costa Rica. Additionally, in a led to the present day diversity of the Caribbean biodiversity repeated measures design, we test for behavioral plasticity hotspot, we hope to inform future conservation efforts. of simulated prey capture events before and after induced Keywords: Caribbean, biogeography, phylogeography, autotomy (of one leg I) using a combination of MANOVA islands, vicariance, dispersal and behavioral sequence data. We found that 18 of 59 spiders observed at La Selva Biological Station had one or Student - Poster presentation more legs missing (~31%) in the field, with leg II being Resolving deep relationships within the most frequently lost. We also found that N. clavipes jumping spiders altered their resting body position following autotomy, Samuel C. Evans1, Wayne P. Maddison1,2, Christopher changing the angle of legs I (on the intact side), and legs Hamilton3, Jason Bond4, Alan R. Lemmon5, Emily II, and III on the autotomized side relative to the prosomal Moriarty Lemmon6 midline. In addition, autotomy appeared to significantly 1Department of Zoology, Biodiversity Research Centre, hinder the spider’s ability to detect prey, with the odds of University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, reaction being 7.8x less following leg loss. Taken together, Canada; 2Department of Botany & Beaty Biodiversity N. clavipes demonstrated marked behavioral plasticity Museum, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, following autotomy in order to compensate for the loss of BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; 3Florida Museum of Natural sensory perception organs during prey capture. History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; 4Depart- Keywords: autotomy, Nephila, behavioral plasticity ment of Biology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849; 5Department of Scientific Computing, Florida Oral presentation State University, Tallahassee, FL; 6Department of Bio- Biogeography of Caribbean arthropods logical Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL Lauren A. Esposito, Sarah C. Crews [email protected] California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Recent advances in cost-effectiveness of genome-wide Drive, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA sequencing has made feasible addressing long-standing [email protected] questions of deep relationships among major spider groups. For the past 50 years the Caribbean has been a bastion for Within the 5800-plus species of jumping spiders (Araneae: research on island biogeography. None the less, unifying Salticidae), we have yet to resolve relationships among patterns of biogeography for the region have remained basal lineages, we lack confident support of some large elusive. A complex geologic history and the close proxim- clades within the salticines, and we are still unable to ity to major continental landmasses have resulted in a rich discern placement of groups such as the agoriines and biodiversity, but one that is relatively understudied for ter- eupoines. Therefore, we used anchored enrichment (AE) restrial arthropods. This study synthesizes, for the first time, sequencing to obtain hundreds of unlinked “anchor” every published dataset on terrestrial Caribbean arthropods regions throughout the genomes of 32 salticid species and providing clarity into the mode and tempo of Caribbean one philodromid outgroup, yielding a dataset of over 90 kb diversification, clarifying the driving historical orcesf that and 400 loci. Our resulting maximum-likelihood phylogeny have resulted in the incredibly diverse fauna present confidently supports the Hisponinae as sister to the Saltici- in the region today. Molecular datasets from insects and nae, reinforces the monophyly of the Saltafresia, succeeds arachnids were used to generate time calibrated phyloge- in placing the agoriines within the Saltafresia, and netic hypotheses of relationships. Various hypotheses of resolves many relationships among the amycoids. We are
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supplementing this AE dataset with previously published and Opilioacarida, and a substantially expanded taxonomic transcriptome data from representatives of the Dionycha coverage, especially for orders such as Pseudoscorpiones, and other RTA-clade members, to further resolve basal Schizomida and Amblypygi. For this, we analyzed close to salticid relationships and explore which dionychan families seventy transcriptomes of chelicerates and constructed an are plausible sister groups to the salticids. We hope to not array of data sets to independently optimize gene number, only improve the resolution of deep relationships among gene occupancy, phylogenetic informativeness, or gene con- these taxa, but also gain a general understanding of how servation and analyzed them using different phylogenetic these different methods of genome-wide sequencing can be methods and evolutionary models. In this contribution, we integrated in phylogenetic analyses. will discuss our findings in the context of previous phyloge- netic hypotheses and explore the diversification timing Oral presentation of one of the oldest arthropod groups with a fossil record Unraveling the Chelicerata tree of life: extending back to the Cambrian. phylogenomic resolution of chelicerate inter- Keywords: Chelicerata, transcriptomics, systematics, relationships based on deep taxon sampling phylogenomics Rosa Fernández1, Caitlin Baker1, Julia Cosgrove1, Student - oral presentation Prashant Sharma2, Gonzalo Giribet1 Volatile chemical communication in female 1Museum of Comparative Zoology & Department of Latrodectus sp. Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard Uni- versity. 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge MA, USA 02128; Andreas Fischer1, Manfred Ayasse1, Maydianne Andrade2 2Department of Zoology, The University of Wisconsin 1Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation - Madison. 250 N Mills St, Madison, WI, USA 53706 Genomics University of Ulm, Germany 2Integrative [email protected] Behaviour & Neuroscience Group University of Toronto Scarborough, Canada Chelicerates constitute the second largest branch of the [email protected] arthropod tree of life and include several iconic lineages, such as spiders, scorpions, harvestmen or horseshoe crabs. Volatile chemical communication allows information For decades, scientific endeavors aiming to resolve the transfer over long distances, and is important at many internal phylogeny of chelicerates have resulted in discrep- stages of spiders’ life cycles. Volatile chemicals are impor- ant hypotheses, with different authors proposing discordant tant for attracting mating partners, and this has been topologies based both on molecules and morphology. While well-studied. Although this communication pathway is considerable effort has been paid to resolve the relation- likely also important for choosing nesting sites, we know ships within several chelicerate orders, the backbone of very little about the use of this type of information in the chelicerate tree of life remains unsettled, with several decision-making about web building sites. In this study, studies showing strong systemic conflicts in phylogenetic we tested the reaction of adult females to volatile cues of signal even after exhaustive analysis of several thousand other females in two widow spiders (Latrodectus hasselti orthologous genes. The open questions about how the main and L. hesperus). Other studies have shown that males groups of chelicerates are related limit how we interpret can detect the feeding status, behavioral type and maturity the timing of the diversification of this major component of potential mates based on volatiles, so we assumed this of the arthropod biota. Building upon previous efforts same information would be available to adult females. We based on transcriptome sequencing, we contribute to this performed dual choice olfactory experiments in y-tubes in discussion by presenting a large injection of novel Illumina which we exposed adult virgin L. hesperus or L. hasselti transcriptome data for virtually all chelicerate lineages, females to controls (empty tubes) and a variety of volatile including previously unsampled orders such as Palpigradi stimuli whose source (females) varied in terms of feeding
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status (well-fed or poorly fed); behavioural type (bold or oil, with each stimulus compared to an empty control. We shy) and maturity level (juvenile or adult). In this para- found that neither species discriminated lemon oil from digm, we eliminated visual or tactile cues, and so isolate controls, but both A. diadematus and L. geometricus the effect of volatiles. To characterize differences between avoid chestnut and peppermint oil. Thus, we have verified chemical cues from different stimulus females, we also col- two of the three most popular spider repellent myths. We lected headspace samples (air surrounding the stimulus) complement this with an analysis of the ‘headspace’ of each of each spider stimulus group (N=15) and compared them substance using gas chromatographic detection coupled with gas chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopy with mass spectroscopy to identify the airborne chemicals (GCMS). We found that L. hesperus avoid subadult and that might trigger this response and could be the basis of adult congeners, while L. hasselti reacted only to adult a synthetic repellent. Although A. diadematus is little ones. Both species also responded differentially to well- more than a nuisance in locations where it is invasive, L. fed compared to food-restricted females, but there was no geometricus is neurotoxic and anthropophilic, so an effec- evidence the females react to the behavioral type of other tive repellent would be beneficial. Future work will focus on females. Future work will examine female web establish- why the identified chemicals are repellent to female spiders, ment patterns and examine how these discrimination trials and the phylogenetic distribution of this response. relate to free-ranging behaviour. Keywords: pest control, repellence, behavioral ecology Keywords: chemical communication, female-female- interaction, behavioral biology Poster presentation Sicariidae family (Araneae) in Colombia, Student - poster presentation new species and first records of Sicarius Fact or myth: do natural substances repel Eduardo D. Flórez1, Miguel E. Gutiérrez2, Franklyn Cala1, invasive spiders? Ingi Agnarsson3, Cecilia V. Cantor4 *Andreas Fischer1, Manfred Ayasse1, Maydianne Andrade2 1Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional 1Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia; 2Facultad de Ciencias Genomics University of Ulm, Germany; 2Integrative Básicas, Universidad de la Guajira, Colombia; Behaviour & Neuroscience Group, University of 3Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Bur- Toronto Scarborough, Canada lington VT, USA; 4Grupo Colombiano de Aracnología, [email protected] Bogotá, Colombia; [email protected] Arachnophobia is one of the most common irrational fears The genus Loxosceles Heineken & Lowe, 1832, commonly of the general public and some people invest considerable known as “brown” or “violin” spiders, currently includes money and effort to avoid spiders. We searched the internet 107 species distributed in the subtropical areas and tropics and identified the three most popular natural substances of Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and America. Species of recommended as spider repellents (chestnuts, peppermint this genus may live in both natural habitats (under rocks, oil and lemon zest oil). We tested whether these substances trunks, inside tree holes and caves) and inside houses. were avoided by adult females of two invasive spider Only two species of Loxosceles have been registered species: Araneus diadematus (European, invasive in North for Colombia: Loxosceles lutea Keyserling, 1877 and America) and Latrodectus geometricus (cosmopolitan Loxosceles rufipes (Lucas 1834). In addition, the genus distribution). We used a dual-choice paradigm in which Sicarius Walckenaer, 1847 (six-eyed sand spiders) cur- free-walking females were released in one arm of a glass rently includes 25 species found in the xeric environments y-tube apparatus connected to an air pump. We tested the of southern Africa and South and Central America, mostly response of free-walking females to airborne chemicals in deserts and seasonally dry tropical forests. In the most released from whole chestnut, peppermint oil or lemon recent study of Sicarius in South America, Magalhães
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et al. 2013 described Sicarius cariri, S. diadorim, S. then deposited around the burrow entrance. ornatus, and designated a neotype of Sicarius tropicus Keywords: functional morphology, desert spider, burrow (Mello-Leitão, 1936). We present a new Colombian Lox- construction, microscopy, sand transport osceles species that we include in the laeta species group due to the male’s sub-oval palpal bulb, elongated embolus Oral presentation longer than the bulb’s diameter, swollen palpal tibia at Male mating success, locomotory per- least two times longer than the tarsus. The female’s blunt formance, and metabolic rate in Argiope seminal receptacle lacks any globular lobes at the tip. We aurantia provide new records for L. lutea and L. rufipes, and we Matthias Foellmer1, Maria Modanu2, Courtney describe the first species of Sicarius know from Colombia. Mondoux3, Maydianne Andrade4 Keywords: Neotropics, Sicarius, Loxosceles, tropical dry 1Department of Biology, Adelphi University, Garden forest, cave City, NY, USA; 2Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA; Oral presentation 3Department of Environmental and Life Sciences, How can desert spiders dig their burrows Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada; in dry sand dunes? 4Department of Biological Sciences, University of Rainer F. Foelix1, Ingo Rechenberg2 Toronto Scarborough, Ontario, Canada 1Neue Kantonsschule Aarau Zelgli, CH-5000 Aarau, [email protected] Switzerland; 2TU Berlin Bionik Ackerstr. 71-76, The relevance of male morphological attributes, such D-13355 Berlin, Germany; [email protected] as body size and relative limb length, for efficiently Two desert-living spiders, a sparassid (Cebrennus) and locating sexually receptive females and for prevailing a lycosid (Evippa), were studied with respect to their in competition with other males over access to females burrow construction. Both spiders face the problem of has been the focus of much recent research, especially how to transport dry sand and how to achieve a stable in species with pronounced female-biased sexual size vertical tube. Cebrennus has many specialized bristles dimorphism (SSD). Nevertheless, results have been on palps and chelicerae which together form a carrying inconsistent and a number of studies have failed to find basket. Small balls of sand grains are accumulated below relationships between morphology and fitness proxies, and then carried to the burrow entrance, where they such as climbing speed. Here we focus on a so-far are quickly dispersed. The lycosid (Evippa) has no such neglected phenotypic attribute, resting metabolic rate bristles and shows a different method for carrying sand: (RMR), and investigate its importance for males in the using a few sticky threads from the spinnerets it glues the contexts of mating and locomotion in the orb-weaver loose sand grains together, then grasps them with palps Argiope auranti, a species which exhibits extreme and legs and carries them to the outside. Both spiders SSD. We performed three experiments: 1) In staged stabilize the developing tube on the inside by repeatedly mating trials, two size-matched males competed to adding silk rings, while digging down. Although both mate with a female. Males with higher RMR performed spiders live in the same environment (desert Erg Chebbi, longer courtships, which translated into higher mating Morocco), they use quite different methods to carry sand. success. 2) In climbing trials, males with higher RMR We conclude that this is due to convergent evolution. achieved higher maximum running speeds on a verti- Interestingly, certain desert ants also carry sand grains cally mounted rod, and RMR was more important than with specialized bristles on their mouthparts, in a struc- morphology for explaining running speed. 3) In endur- ture known as a psammophore. However, these ants dig ance trials, RMR had no effect on the distance which in moist sand, which easily forms discrete balls; these are males could run continuously, while average speed was
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negatively related to distance run. We conclude that interacted with elevation to produce more complex pat- the metabolic “machinery” is important for the overall terns during the dry season. There was no significant performance of males, independent of morphology, and nestedness. Replacement accounted for 60–70 % of beta discuss these results in the context of body size evolu- diversity between sites, and elevational distance decay tion in highly dimorphic spider species. in beta diversity was the result of increased turnover Keywords: sexual selection, sexual size dimorphism, on the western aspect and increased species loss on the performance traits eastern aspect. Standardized patterns suggest that there are no effect of season on beta diversity except for a Oral presentation decreased rate of distance decay during the dry season The effect of elevation and time on moun- on the western aspect. Large-scale predictors of spider tain spider diversity: a view of two aspects alpha diversity explained a small amount of variation in the Cederberg Mountains of South Africa in spider diversity, pointing to the importance of local and stochastic processes. Regional turnover of spider S.H. Foord1, A.S. Dippenaar-Schoeman2,3 diversity is mainly the result of niche processes, point- 1Department of Zoology, Chair in Biodiversity Value ing to localized adaptation of taxa, this is supported by and Change, University of Venda, Private Bag the lack of nestedness in assemblages. X5050, Thohoyandou, 0950, South Africa; 2ARC-Plant Keywords: α-diversity, Araneae, β-diversity, Cape Floris- Protection Research Institute, Private Bag X134, tic Region, epigeal, long-term Queenswood, Pretoria, 0121, South Africa; 3Depart- ment of Zoology and Entomology, University of Student - oral presentation Pretoria, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa Biodiversity survey of solifuge species [email protected] within Big Bend National Park, Texas Our aim was to test if long-term patterns in α and β (Arachnida, Solifugae) diversity along an elevational transect on two aspects *David Footle of a mountain are consistent through time using 1200 Perry St., Denver, CO 80204 spiders as model organisms, quantify the role of eleva- [email protected] tion, time (seasonal and inter-annual) in explaining these patterns and partition the relative contribution Solifuges (Arachnida, Solifugae) are a wide ranging arach- of nestedness, species turnover and species loss in nid found in xeric and arid areas across the globe. Despite richness in explaining these diversity patterns. The nearly 1,100 species of Solifugae having thus far been transect is across the Cederberg mountains in the Cape described within the 12 recognized families, there exists a Floristic Kingdom, South Africa and constitutes 17 sites lack of basic ecological and natural history data; in addition with an elevational range of 1900 m on two aspects to much left to be learned about behavior, as well morphol- of the mountain (east and west) spider assemblages ogy and physiology. A wide ranged biodiversity survey of were sampled biannually (wet and dry seasons) over solifuges within the protected area of Big Bend National six years. Four replicates per site, each consisting of a Park (BBNP), Texas was conducted over two field seasons. 5 × 2 pitfall grid, were sampled for five days sessions. The goal of the study was to collect initial biodiversity and GLMM α- and β diversity (Jaccard dissimilarity βjac biogeographical data with which to build upon for solifuge and its partitioned components (βjtu and βjne)) was research within the full range of the Chihuahuan Desert eco- used to model the effects of elevation and season on system. Wet pitfall traps- filled with propylene glycol-based these two indices respectively. Spider alpha diversity anti-freeze were set up in arrays as the primary collection had a hump-shaped pattern on the western aspect method. Seventeen species were found from the two North and U-shaped on the eastern aspect. However, season American families Eremobatidae and Ammotrechidae, with
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over 1,000 identifiable solifuge specimens collected. Series Oral presentation of juvenile specimens collected can offer the potential of Exploring the chemo-textural familiarity further insight into some species’ life history. As well, diffi- hypothesis for scorpion navigation culty found in identification work of some species speaks to a Douglas D. Gaffin, Brad P. Brayfield potential need of future taxonomic revisions being necessary. Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, Keywords: solifugae; solifuge; camel spider; biodiversity; Norman, OK 73019, USA survey; Big Bend National Park; Texas [email protected] Oral presentation The navigation by scene familiarity hypothesis provides The bizarre world of reproduction in broad explanatory power for how bees and ants navigate leiobunine harvestmen: the evolution of from hive to distant food sources and back with brains mating behavior the size of a pepper speck. The premise is that the visual world is decomposed into pixelated matrices of informa- Kasey Fowler-Finn tion that are stored and readdressed as the insects retrace Saint Louis University, 1324 Lacelede Ave, Saint learned routes. Innate behaviors in these insects (including Louis, MO 63110, USA learning walks/flights and path integration) provide the [email protected] important goal-directed views to allow the initial retracing Mating behavior and associated traits are very quickly- (i.e., the insect must learn the scene while moving toward evolving aspects of phenotype in animals, and often highly the goal since everything looks different while moving divergent among closely-related species. I study North away). Scorpion navigation may use a similar premise, American leiobunine harvestmen, commonly known as with the chemical and textural features of the environment “daddy longlegs” (Opiliones: Sclerosomatidae). This group substituting for visual input. The pectines of scorpions exhibits amazingly diverse, often bizarre, and largely support dense matrices of about 10,000 chemo- and undescribed mating behavior. During mating, males mechano-sensitive units called peg sensilla, each contain- secure females in face-to-face ‘embraces’ by hooking their ing at least 10 energetically expensive sensory neurons. We pedipalps behind the sensory legs of the female. I provide have long wondered why pectines have so many pegs and the first detailed descriptions and quantitative compari- associated neurons. We chose desert grassland scorpions son of these mating interactions across several species of (Paruroctonus utahensis) to test the chemo-textural leiobunine harvestmen. All species studied exhibited familiarity hypothesis because they emerge onto the sand distinct pre-, peri-, and post-copulatory stages of mating from their home burrows at night to pursue insect prey interactions. However, species differed dramatically in how and somehow find their way back to their burrows. We have long each stage and the overall mating interaction lasted, preliminary evidence of learning walks and path integra- levels of aggression, duration of copulation, and likeli- tion in these animals. In addition, given the measured hood of multiple mating and re-mating. Many species also resolution of peg sensilla, sufficient information exists in exhibited species-specific behavior, most notably including: sand’s texture to enable scorpions to retrace previously sensory leg biting, violent shaking, and stroking the female. experienced paths with little to no chance of confusion. We Finally, the morphological traits that determine mating are developing behavioral and electrophysiological tests success varied markedly among species. The high diversity to explore the possibility that these animals are using a in mating behavior and variation in the traits determining chemo-textural familiarity approach to relocate their home mating success suggests complex changes in selection have burrows and that pectinal complexity reflects the informa- contributed to diversification of mating behavior. tion content of the animals’ environment. Keywords: mating behavior, species comparison, Opiliones, Keywords: behavior, electrophysiology, homing, sensory Sclerosomatidae
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Student - Oral presentation Museum, Department of General and Systematic Decoration-building behavior in an orb- Zoology, Anklamerstr. 20, 17489 Greifswald, Germany weaving spider, Cyclosa octotuberculata [email protected] Wenjin Gan1, Daiqin Li2 Chemical communication through volatile or contact 1College of Plant Sciences & Technology of Huazhong pheromones is an important means of spiders, e.g., to Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China; attract and find mating partners and to assess their 2Department of Biological Sciences, National University reproductive status. Assumed receptors for olfaction are of Singapore, 117543, Singapore s-shaped and blunt tipped sensilla with characteristi- [email protected] cally striated surfaces and terminal pores. As yet, only one electrophysiological analysis demonstrated that Many orb-weaving spiders add silk bands, silk tufts, egg these sensilla perceive contact pheromones. The percep- sacs, prey remains or plant detritus so called ‘web decora- tion of volatile pheromones has not been tested yet and tions’ to their webs. Much attention has been paid to the it remains to be analyzed if sensilla on different body functional significance of decorations and to silk decora- parts differ in structure and function. To this aim we tions built mostly by a single genus, Argiope. By contrast, mapped the distribution of the chemosensory sensilla few studies have been conducted to investigate other types on legs and pedipalps of Argiope bruennichi males of web decorations spun by other groups of orb-weaving and females. It is known that male A. bruennichi are spiders and the materials and behavior used for decorating attracted by a volatile sex pheromone only emitted by webs. Here, using Cyclosa octotuberculata, an orb-weaving virgin females. We explored the fine structure of tip- spider that often decorates its web with prey remains, plant pore sensilla on tarsi of legs of A. bruennichi males detritus or egg sacs called detritus decorations, as a model by means of Transmission Electron Microscopy. Our system, we investigated what cues Cyclosa spiders use to results show that the sensilla possess a thick hair shaft choose decoration materials with different color, texture, and a double-lumen divided in three canals. More than odor, size or weight. We also examined perception of differ- ten dendrites are surrounded by a dendritic sheath. ent decoration materials (different colors, texture and size The cuticular hair shaft shows breakthroughs on the or weights) in eyes of predators. We found that the cues innermost cuticular sheath which may indicate that used by Cylcosa for choosing decorating materials were molecules can be transported from the outside to the their capability and limits of webs other than visual cues, innermost canal and not only through the tip-pore. The sensation experienced through touch and odor when vision next step is to compare ultrastructural traits of these is limited. Results also showed that predators preferred sensilla from different body regions. webs decorated with white and mix color detritus to webs Keywords: chemical communication, TEM, ultrastructure, decorated by the other detritus made up of different colors. tip-pore sensilla, Araneidae We concluded that materials chosen by Cyclosa spiders to decorate their webs may attract or deter predators. Student - Poster presentation Keywords: web decorations, detritus, spider, Cyclosa Structure and distribution of different octotuberculata, orb web sensilla types in Argiope bruennichi (Araneae, Araneidae) Student - oral presentation Ultrastructure of chemosensory sensilla in Anne-Sarah Ganske, Gabriele Uhl Argiope bruennichi (Araneae, Araneidae) University of Greifswald Zoological Institute and Museum Department of General and Systematic *Anne-Sarah Ganske, Carsten H.G. Müller, Gabriele Uhl Zoology, Anklamerstr. 20, 17489 Greifswald, Germany University of Greifswald, Zoological Institute and [email protected]
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Spiders use various sensory modes to interact with other Artrópodes, Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades, individuals on an inter- and intraspecific level, and with Universidade de Sao Paulo, Rua Arlindo Bettio, 1000, their environment or to get kinesthetic information. Ermelino Matarazzo, Sao Paulo, SP 03828-000, Brazil; Accordingly, the sensilla that perceive these signals can be 2Programa de Pos-Graduaço em Zoologia, Instituto de mechano-, hygro-, thermo- or chemosensilla. Some sensilla Biociências, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Rua do Matao, types, i.e., trichobothria, tarsal organs or slit sense organs, 321, Travessa 14, Sao Paulo, SP 05508-090, Brazil; are well known in spiders regarding to their morphology 3Department of Zoology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and fine structure, physiology and function. Their quantity 430 Lincoln Drive, Madison, WI, USA; 4Zoological Institute and distribution is assumed to be species specific and can be and Museum, Department of General and Systematic used as taxonomic character. We investigated the structure, Zoology, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt Universität Greifswald, quantity and distribution of tip-pore sensilla, trichobothria, Loitzer Str. 26, D-17489 Greifswald, Germany. 5Museum slit sense organs and tarsal organs on all walking legs and of Comparative Zoology and Department of Organismic pedipalps of Argiope bruennichi females by means of Scan- and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cam- ning Electron Microscopy. We chose A. bruennichi since this bridge, MA 02138, USA; 6Programa de Pos-Graduaço em species has been intensively studied as to its mating strate- Ecologia e Evoluço, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, gies including the pheromone involved in mate attraction. Campus Diadema, Rua Professor Artur Riedel, 275, We show that A. bruennichi females possess all mentioned Jardim Eldorado, Diadema, SP 09972-270, Brazil sensilla types on all legs and pedipalps. Tip-pore sensilla [email protected] that are suspected to be chemosensory organs never occur on the coxae and trochanter of the walking legs, but they Most harvestman species are dependent on high humidity are common on the metatarsi and tarsi. The mechanosensi- levels and amenable temperatures for homeostasis. While tive trichobothria are distributed on the distal part of the they are known to actively choose environments with these tibiae and on the metatarsi. Lyriform organs are always conditions, no hygro/thermoreceptor has yet been identi- located next to the joints on the basal part of a segment, fied in the group. Using scanning electron microscopy mainly on ventral and lateral sides, whereas single slit sen- (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy, we investi- silla are distributed on all segments mainly in rows. All tarsi gated the fine morphology of two hair sensillar types of the possess a tarsal organ on the dorsal side. Apart from provid- armored harvestman Heteromitobates discolor (Lania- ing a survey of sensory structures, our data pave the ground tores, Gonyleptidae): sensillum basiconicum (Sb) and for electrophysiological studies and ultrastructural analysis apical-hood sensillum (Ahs). With SEM, we investigated of sensory organs and may lead to a better understand- their phylogenetic distribution in all four suborders: sam- ing of the sensory ecology of spiders. pling 43 Laniatores (in 30 families), three Dyspnoi, two Keywords: sensory structures, tip-pore sensillum, tricho- Eupnoi and five Cyphophthalmi. Both structures occur in bothrium, slit sense organ, tarsal organ, Araneidae, SEM small numbers on the body (Sb: 36 units; Ahs: four units) and are distributed on the distal parts of the legs. The Sb Student - oral presentation is innervated by 3-4 dendrites and has a sagittal slit that Widespread putative hygro-thermorecep- results in a shaft with two flaps, which probably allows tors in harvestmen (Arachnida, Opiliones): evaporation of receptor lymph. The Ahs is innervated by an everted tarsal organ? two bundles of three dendrites and has two pore-like struc- tures on its tip. Ahs and a pair of Sb form a triad on the *Guilherme Gainett1,2, Nathália Fernandes1, Ricardo Pinto- distal-most parts of tarsomeres I and II, being highly con- da-Rocha2, Prashant Sharma3, Peter Michalik4, Carsten H. served in Laniatores, present in Dyspnoi and Eupnoi and G. Müller4, Gonzalo Giribet5, Rodrigo H. Willemart1,2,6 absent in Cyphophthalmi. Cuticular structure, putative 1Laboratório de Ecologia Sensorial e Comportamento de evaporation of receptor lymph and innervation support a
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hygro/thermoreceptive function for Sb, but the function of (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy, we Ahs remains unclear. We discuss the specific morphological investigated tarsal sensilla on the distal tarsomeres (DT) characteristics in support of these functional inferences, of all pairs of legs of Heteromitobates discolor (Laniato- the adequacy of the evaporation system of Sb to specific res, Gonyleptidae) and surveyed (SEM) the sensilla on DT hygroreception mechanisms and a putative homology of I and II of species from all main lineages in the suborder the triad to the pit-like tarsal organ of other arachnids. Laniatores (17 families).The DT I and II of H. discolor Keywords: sensilla basiconic, hygroreception, transmis- are equipped with wall-pored falciform hairs (two types), sion electron microscopy, sensory biology wall-pored sensilla chaetica (two types) and tip-pored sensilla chaetica, while DT III and IV are mainly covered Student - Poster presentation in trichomes (non-sensory) and tip-pored sensilla chae- Not so touchy after all: ultrastructure of tica. Ultrastructure supports an olfactory function for all chemoreceptive tarsal sensilla in an armored wall-pored sensilla and a dual gustatory/touch function harvestman (Arachnida: Opiliones) and evi- for tip-pored sensilla chaetica. Wall-pored sensilla occur dence of olfaction in 17 families of Laniatores in all Laniatores investigated, demonstrating the wide- spread occurrence in the suborder and highlighting the Guilherme Gainett1,2, Peter Michalik3, Carsten H. G. importance of both legs I and II as the sensory appendages Müller3, Gonzalo Giribet4, Giovanni Talarico5, Rodrigo of laniatorean harvestmen. Our results provide the first Willemart H.1, 2, 6 morphological evidence of olfactory receptors in Laniatores 1Laboratório de Ecologia Sensorial e Comportamento de (2/3 of Opiliones species) and suggest that olfaction is more Artrópodes, Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades, important for harvestmen than previously thought. Universidade de Sao Paulo, Rua Arlindo Bettio, 1000, Keywords: olfaction; Goniosomatinae, wall pores; Ermelino Matarazzo, Sao Paulo, SP 03828-000, Brazil; sensory morphology, chemoreceptors 2Programa de Pos-Graduaço em Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Rua do Oral presentation Matao, 321, Travessa 14, Sao Paulo, SP 05508-090, Genomic perspectives on the evolution of Brazil; 3Zoological Institute and Museum, Department black widow and house spider venoms of General and Systematic Zoology, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt Universität Greifswald, Loitzer Str. 26, D-17489 Greif- Jessica Garb1, Kerry Gendreau1,2, Robert Haney1, Evelyn swald, Germany. 4Museum of Comparative Zoology and Schwager1 Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, 1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Massachusetts Lowell, 198 Riverside Street, Lowell, MA 5Department of Forensic Toxicology, Institute of Legal 01854; 2Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Medicine, University of Greifswald, Kuhstrasse 30, 17489 Tech, Biocomplexity Institute, Blacksburg, VA 24061 USA Greifswald, Germany; 6Programa de Pos-Graduaço em [email protected] Ecologia e Evoluço, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, Venom production is a defining feature of spiders that Campus Diadema, Rua Professor Artur Riedel, 275, enables their predatory lifestyle. As venoms are secretions Jardim Eldorado, Diadema, SP 09972-270, Brazil. largely composed of toxic proteins and peptides, these mol- [email protected] ecules provide a relatively direct link between ecologically Harvestmen (Arachnida, Opiliones) are especially depen- important genes and their functional roles, and makes evo- dent on chemical sensing, often being regarded as touchy lutionary studies of venom production especially suitable animals. Information on harvestmen sensilla is scarce for genomic investigation. This presentation will provide an when compared with other arachnid orders, and even more update on recent advances in spider genomics for under- so when concerning internal morphology. Using scanning standing the evolution of theridiid venoms. Specifically,
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we have investigated the diversity, expression and evolu- typically live semi-sedentary lives with an affiliation for xeric tion of genes encoding venom proteins from the common habitats across the New World. The family is considerably house spider (Parasteatoda tepidariorum) genome that well represented in the fossil record with four fossils to date was made available through the i5k (5000 arthropod and comprises 30 extant species (and one subspecies) genomes) initiative. We analyzed the house spider genome that are split into two genera: Plectreurys Simon, 1893 and in conjunction with high throughput gene expression data Kibramoa Chamberlin, 1924. Since Gertsch’s revision of from RNA-Seq libraries made from venom glands as well as the family (1958), plectreurids have not been meticulously other tissues and proteomic data to determine this species’ studied (despite a handful of species descriptions) and much venom composition. These results were considered with regarding plectreurid evolution remains an enigma. Since recent transcriptomic and proteomic analyses of venom plectreurids are an old group, with ample time to accumu- composition in the Western black widow spider (Latrodec- late diversity, it is likely that the family’s diversity is grossly tus hesperus), which has revealed common features and underestimated. In order to address questions of diversity, major differences between these species in terms of venom the purpose of this study is to assess the extent of diversity protein diversity and abundance. We also investigated the in three widespread species (K. guapa, K. suprenans, and K. phylogenetic distribution and expression of latrotoxins madrona) of Kibramoa that are described from the Califor- and latrodectins, two protein families that are particularly nia Floristic Province (CFP)—a biodiversity hotspot. abundant in Latrodectus venoms, as well as their homo- Keywords: systematics, California Floristic Province, logs within and across genomes. This revealed contrasting haplogynes, living fossil mechanisms of venom gene family evolution and suggests that changes in gene expression may in part explain the Student - oral presentation extreme toxicity of black widow venom to vertebrates. Given Investigating species boundaries in a the distant relationship of P. tepidariorum and L. hesperus trapdoor spider complex using anchored within the large family Theridiidae, this work significantly hybrid enrichment advances knowledge of spider venom diversity and provides an evolutionary framework for identifying the key molecu- *Nicole L. Garrison1, Chris A. Hamilton2, Vera Opatova1, lar features that make black widow venom medically Jason E. Bond1 hazardous. 1Auburn University, 101 Rouse Life Sciences, AL Keywords: venom, evolution, genomics, transcriptomics, 36849, USA; 2Florida Museum of Natural History, Latrodectus University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA [email protected] Student - Poster presentation Systematics and Evolution of Plectreuridae High-throughput sequencing methods increasingly Simon, 1893 provide high quality, low cost markers for investigat- ing speciation patterns in non-model systems. We use Erika Garcia, Charles Griswold anchored hybrid enrichment (AE), a high throughput Department of Entomology, California Academy of genomic sequence capture method, to recover over 400 Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Dr., San Francisco, CA phylogenetically informative loci for a trapdoor spider 94118, USA. species complex (Aptostichus atomarius complex, CA). [email protected] Independent species discovery methods–multi-locus, The spider family Plectreuridae Simon, 1893 is one of population level phylogenetic analyses and SNP cluster- the oldest of spider lineages, suggested to have radiated as ing methods–were combined with validation approaches early as the Middle Jurassic (~165 MYA). These eight-eyed (BPP, BFD) to evaluate alternative species delimitation haplogyne spiders represent a small relictual group that hypotheses in this morphologically homogeneous group of
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spiders. Cryptic speciation and genomic divergence levels Poster presentation were explored in an integrative framework, using existing Spatial cognition in jumping spiders: genomic resources and newly sequenced AE markers. Assessment of path length to prey and Keywords: next-generation sequencing, anchored vantage point enrichment, species delimitation, population genomics Cole Gilbert, Madeleine Q. Perkins Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Oral presentation Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA Visual scanning by the principal eyes of [email protected] freely moving jumping spiders Jumping spiders (Salticidae) of several species, Cole Gilbert1, Madeleine Q. Perkins1, Daniel B. Zurek2 including Portia spp. (Spartaeinae) and Phidippus 1Department of Entomology, Cornell University, spp. (Dendryphantinae), have been demonstrated to Ithaca, NY, USA; 2Department of Biological Sciences, be able to plan routes to prey that they cannot jump University of Pittsburg, Pittsburg, PA, USA directly on or walk straight toward. Salticid visual [email protected] acuity is very good and such situations must often The lenses of arthropod eyes are fixed to the exoskeleton. occur in nature as the spiders forage among shrub- Thus, to change their direction of gaze to view objects bery, recognize acceptable prey and then calculate a of interest with the high acuity region of the retina, the route through the vegetation to reduce the separation animal must re-orient its eye stalk, head, or entire body. and bring the spider to a vantage point from which The principal eyes (AM) of jumping spiders (Salticidae) it can jump on to its prey. In laboratory experiments perform high acuity inspection and spectral analysis of with spiders of several species in the genus Phidippus, objects. Unlike the condition in spiders of almost all other we examined two aspects of the potential spatial cog- families, salticid AM retinas are attached to three pairs of nitive planning that a jumping spider might employ muscles that can move the retina horizontally, vertically, when approaching prey. We used a binary choice and torsionally to change the gaze direction through the protocol to test whether spiders prefer to take the fixed lens. We have filmed (60fps) and quantified these shorter versus longer path to prey when both lead to retinal movements in the horizontal plane as transparent prey. We tested a range of path disparities from 15%, spiders (Thiodina sp.) walked freely in a blank arena, which was a linear difference of 3.4cm, to 75%, which tracked a small (4.5o) horizontally moving (24o/s), high was a linear difference of 16.7cm. At smaller dispari- contrast target with retinal and body movements, and ties spiders did not significantly choose the shorter or inspected a scaffolding to select an escape route from the longer path, but as disparities increased the probabil- arena. Retinal scanning movements occur independently ity of a spider choosing the shorter path increased. In or synchronously in the two eyes. Retinal movements may a second experiment, we offered the spiders a choice of occur while the spider walks, but occur more frequently two equidistant paths both leading to the prey, but one when stopped. The angular range of gaze movement is terminated above the prey and the other terminated at greater in the ipsilateral direction than into the contra- a similar separation below the prey. The majority of lateral visual field. Consequently, when a moving target spiders chose the elevated path that would allow them approaches in the spider’s peripheral visual field, the ipsi- to jump down on the prey. lateral retina begins tracking the target first. As it passes Keywords: vision, predatory behavior, route planning, into the contralateral field of view the other retina begins lab experiment to follow the target more closely. When this retina reaches the end of its movement range, a body turn may occur. Keywords: vision, predatory behavior, lab experiment
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Student - oral presentation University of Cincinnati, P.O. Box 210006, Cincin- Immune stress and sexual signal- nati, OH 45221, USA ing in the wolf spider (Schizocosa [email protected] ocreata) Animals across a wide variety of species, including both *Rachel Gilbert, George W. Uetz vertebrates and invertebrates, have evolved effective innate University of Cincinnati, P.O. Box 210006, Cincin- immune systems to fight off parasites and pathogens. nati, OH 45221, USA While much is known about vertebrate and insect immune [email protected] systems, there is far less known about arachnids. Recent genomic evidence has shown that arachnid immune Having an effective immune system can be very costly, some- systems lack several integral components of insect immune times at the expense of other important life history traits, systems, which suggests that there may be some novel including reproduction. This tradeoff can be exaggerated mechanisms of innate immunity that can be learned in males of species that have costly sexual signaling, where from a functional study of the genes involved in arachnid condition-dependent components of the signaling system immunity. We used the wolf spider Schizocosa ocreata to reflect the health status of the bearer. It is therefore vital for examine the immune response at the transcriptomic level, a male to be able to adequately balance the costs of activat- in order to evaluate changes in gene expression that occur ing the immune system successfully while also expressing during infection at different developmental stages. Previous high quality sexual signals. We examined whether static studies in this species have shown that there is a measur- condition-dependent components of sexual signaling in adult able immune response after experimental infection with a males of the brush-legged wolf spider Schizocosa ocreata are bacterial pathogen, and that the infection can be cleared indicative of health status (immune stress response), and rapidly. After sequencing and assembling over 300 million whether female preference for these traits could be influenced reads, we found 49,316 unique protein-coding contigs, with by male or female infection. After infecting adult males with over 1,000 genes being differentially expressed in infected a bacterial pathogen, females were found to avoid chemical males compared to controls. As expected, many of these cues from an infected male. However, the vibratory and visual genes are related to transcription, peptide synthesis, and signaling modalities were not influenced by infection. As a cellular adhesion and recognition. This study will provide result, females did not discriminate against infected males in not only a reference transcriptome for this well-studied a live mating context, and as a result, were infected through species, but also the first functional evaluation of an arach- the sexual transfer of the pathogen from males during copu- nid immune system at the transcriptomic level. lation. These results indicate that not all signaling modalities Keywords: Transcriptomics, gene expression, immunity, in this multimodal sexual signaling system are honest indi- Schizocosa ocreata cators of active infection, and while females appear to be able to tell whether a male is infected based on chemical cues, Oral presentation they do not always avoid mating with infected males. Diversity vs. disparity: contrasting Keywords: immune function, sexual selection, courtship, patterns of adaptive radiation among Schizocosa ocreata Hawaiian spiders Student - Poster presentation Rosemary Gillespie Gene expression analysis provides new University of California, Berkeley, CA 94708, USA insights into the arachnid immune system [email protected] Rachel Gilbert, Emily Jennings, Joshua Benoit, Ecological and evolutionary processes interact syn- George W. Uetz ergistically to determine biodiversity patterns. The
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Hawaiian Islands are particularly useful for examining specialized visual systems and colorful ornaments. the ecological-evolutionary nexus because they display Surprisingly however, virtually no experimental work an age chronology that allows analysis of communi- has examined the importance of color as females select ties that are just starting to establish, to more mature, among potential mates. We conducted experiments on the allowing insights into how early ecological processes give exceptionally colorful peacock spider, Maratus volans, to way to longer term processes of adaptation and species investigate the role of both visual and vibratory courtship diversification. Focusing on different lineages of spiders, signals. By manipulating the visual and vibratory sensory I use the island chronosequence to examine the interplay environments, we tested whether long wavelength and/ between ecological affinities and genetic differentiation or vibratory signals were critical for male mating success. in fostering diversification. I highlight the importance of Our results suggest that red ornaments are relatively more fusion and fission in fostering diversification; variability important than vibratory signals for successful mating. We upon which selection can act; and selection and genetic discuss the evolution of red coloration in peacock spiders drift in generating diversity. I use genetic and genomic and complex multimodal signaling across the group. tools to understand microevolutionary change in differ- Keywords: sexual selection, jumping spider, multi-modal, ent lineages of spiders. I couple these data with ecological visual communication, color vision metrics across the chronosequence to uncover community dynamics. Different spider lineages show different rates Oral Presentation and patterns of differentiation. One lineage shows “non- The Opiliones Tree of Life: resolution of harvest- adaptive” radiation, with multiple species in allopatry and men relationships through transcriptomics reflects diversity increasing with island age. Another lineage shows ancient regionalization of Pangea and multiple early diversification into different ecologically defined instances of temperate Gondwanan vicariance taxa, and subsequent general progression down the island Gonzalo Giribet1, Rosa Fernández1, Ana L. M. chain of each species; here, species numbers are high even Tourinho1,2, Prashant Sharma3 on the youngest island, and seem to level off quickly on 1Museum of Comparative Zoology, Department of the older islands. Other lineages show repeated evolution Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard of similar ecomorphs within islands; here, species numbers University, 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachu- increase early in the radiation, and then decrease. This setts, USAmerica; 2Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da work highlights the interplay between rates of ecological Amazônia, Coordenação de Biodiversidade (CBIO), and genetic differentiation in shaping biodiversity. Avenida André Araújo, 2936, Aleixo, CEP 69011-970, Keywords: evolution, ecology, biodiversity, island bioge- Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil; 3Department of Zoology, ography, phylogeography, community ecology University of Wisconsin-Madison, 352 Birge Hall, 430 Lincoln Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA Student - Oral presentation [email protected] What makes males red-hot: mate choice in the peacock spider, Maratus volans Opiliones are iconic arachnids with an ancient origin and a diversity that reflects ancient biogeographical patterns. Madeline Girard1, Damian Elias1, Michael Kasumovic2 Due to interest in their diversity, ecology, evolution and 11130 Mulford Hall, University of California Berke- biogeography, their relationships have been thoroughly ley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; 2Ecology and Evolution studied using morphology and PCR-based approaches Research Center, University of New South Wales, NSW to systematics. More recently, two studies utilized tran- 2052, Australia scriptomics-based phylogenomics to explore their basal [email protected] relationships and diversification, but sampling was limiting Jumping spiders have long been renowned for their for understanding more recent evolutionary patterns, as
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they lacked good taxon representation at the family level. Gippsicola Hogg, 1900 and Citharoceps Chamberlin, 1924. Here we analyzed a set of the 14 existing transcriptomes Segestriidae is part of the Dysderoidea clade, together with 44 additional ones, representing 82% of the extant with Dysderidae, Orsolobidae and Oonopidae. Later familial diversity in Opiliones. Our phylogenetic analy- cladistic analysis involving Segestriidae focused only on ses, including a set of data matrices with different gene the Dysderoidea clade and the relationships among its occupancy and evolutionary rates and using a multitude families. We present the first results on the phylogeny of of methods correcting for a diversity of factors in phyloge- Segestriidae genera, also including representatives of the nomic data matrices, provide a robust and stable Opiliones currently synonymized ones, aiming to test the hypothesis tree of life, where most families are precisely placed. Our of monophyly of the family and its genera. The data matrix dating analyses and biogeographic analyses using alterna- was build based on the codification of 119 morphological tive calibration points, methods, and analytical parameters characters in 41 terminals belonging to Segestriidae, the provide well-resolved divergences, consistent with two main other Dysderoidea families, and Caponiidae as the root. scenarios. A pattern of Temperate Gondwanan groups split- The analysis was performed by TNT 1.1 under parsimony ting first from the rest of the taxa (Laurasia and Tropical and equal weights. We retrieved two most-parsimonious Gondwana), before the breakup of Pangea, suggests ancient trees with 206 steps (CI = 69; RI = 88), with the strict regionalization in Pangea. Other groups however show a consensus collapsing only one branch (207 steps; CI = more recent split between Laurasian and Gondwanan taxa, 69; RI = 88). The results show Segestriidae as a mono- roughly coincident with the time of Pangean breakup, and phyletic clade, sister group of (Orsolobidae (Oonopidae + thus being consistent with a hypothesis of Pangean vicari- Dysderidae)), differing from previous resolutions of the ance. The integration of recent fossil taxa and au currant Dysderoidea clade. Within Segestriidae, we can identify geological reconstructions with broad taxonomic sampling two subfamilies: Segestriinae Simon, 1893, comprising the of extant harvestmen demonstrates the broad utility of paraphyletic Segestria, Gippsicola and Segestriinae AFR sp. Opiliones lineages as models for examining ancient biogeo- 1, and Ariadninae Wunderlich, 2004, composed by Ariadna graphic processes. (lato and strictu sensu), Citharoceps, and a clade with Keywords: Opiliones, systematics, transcriptomics, Ariadninae AFR sp. 1, Ariadninae AFR sp. 2 and Ariadninae phylogenomics, biogeography AME sp. 1, representing a possible new genus. This study will continue with the future addition of more Segestriidae Student - oral presentation terminals, aiming to achieve a better resolution, mainly on A light in the end of the “funnel”: the Ariadninae clade. preliminary results on the phylogeny of Keywords: cladistics, Haplogynae, morphology, systematics Segestriidae (Araneae, Synspermiata, Dysderoidea) Student - poster presentation André Marsola Giroti1, 2, Antonio Domingos Brescovit1 Male chemosensory scopulae in Segestri- 1Laboratório Especial de Coleções Zoológicas, Instituto idae (Araneae): morphology and biological Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900, São aspects in Ariadna Audouin species Paulo, Brazil; 2Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto *André Marsola Giroti1,2, Antonio Domingos Brescovit1 de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do 1Laboratório Especial de Coleções Zoológicas, Instituto Matão, trav. 14, 101, 05508-090, São Paulo, Brazil Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900, São [email protected] Paulo, Brazil; 2Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto Currently, Segestriidae Simon, 1893 is composed by four de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do taxonomically valid genera which comprises 120 described Matão, trav. 14, 101, 05508-090, São Paulo, Brazil. species: Segestria Latreille, 1804, Ariadna Audouin, 1826, [email protected]
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Chemoreception in spiders is well known to play an Hamilton, Ohio, USA important sensitive role, mainly in the detection of prey [email protected] quality and conspecific recognition for potential mates. Chemical signals play an important role in evoking The chemosensory setae are responsible for the contact appropriate behaviors in many arthropod species. chemoreception and are distinguished from other setae While many come from natural sources such as feces by having a curved morphology, a steeper insertion angle, and other excreta, anthropogenic chemicals could and an opening near the tip. They are usually found on potentially cause a response or disrupt other cues. the tip of the legs, in the dorsal region of the cymbium, Atrazine is not overly toxic to arthropods in general, and tarsus of female palp. Previous studies described a but there is little information regarding its impact on concentration of chemosensory setae located in the ventral their behavior. Pardosa milvina (Araneae, Lycosidae) region of Liphistius Schiödte, 1849 and Idiops Perty, 1833 is a predatory wolf spider commonly found in agro- males, a feature that brings out the inference of possible ecosystems where application of atrazine is prevalent. female pheromone recognition for a potential mate choice. This species is known to use both air- and substrate- In this study, we present an accurate examination of these borne cues to locate mates and prey, minimize risk of modified setae in males of eight Ariadna species, A. corti- predation, and to differentiate sex and mating history. cola, A. maxima, A. araucana, A. boliviana, A. isthmica, The aim of this study was to investigate the effects a Ariadna sp. 1 (AUS), Ariadna sp. 2 (AFR-CONT), Ariadna commercial formulation of an atrazine based herbicide sp. 3 (AFR-MAD), describing its morphology, and bringing has on the behavior and activity of Pardosa milvina. up its possible importance to Ariadna biology. We detected Multiple metrics of spider activity were documented in five morphologically different types of chemosensory setae two types of arenas; they were lined with filter paper forming scopulae, type a–e, only in mature males. The treated with either herbicide or water. The activities occurrence ranges from species to species: in A. corticola, were combined using Principal Component Analysis. A. maxima, and A. araucana, it appears on the cymbium The first two components were significantly impacted and tarsi I–IV, whereas in A. boliviana, A. isthmica, by sex. Males traveled further, faster, and spent more Ariadna sp. 1 (AUS), Ariadna sp. 2 (AFR-CONT), Ariadna time mobile than females. The presence of atrazine sp. 3 (AFR-MAD) it only appears on the tarsi (and some- significantly influenced the activities that were captured times metatarsi) I–IV. The results presented here are the by the second principal component. The exposure to first record of chemosensory scopula on tarsi and metatarsi herbicide decreased the distance that spiders traveled of an Haplogynae spider. The occurrence of the chemosen- and their velocity, while it increased the frequency with sory scopula only on adult males of Ariadna can strongly which they changed their mobility state. These data suggest a female sex pheromone reception function, as suggest that males are more active than females, and described for Liphistius and Idiops, and maybe a possible that atrazine alters the behavior of these spiders and relation with the tube-dwelling behavior, shared by those therefore could have impacts on mating, foraging, and genera. Financial support: FAPESP. survival. Keywords: Haplogynae, sensory organs, pheromones Keywords: Pardosa, atrazine, info-disruption, agroecosystem Student - poster presentation Misbehaving on atrazine; an herbicide’s Student - oral presentation impact on Pardosa milvina (Araneae, Assessment of Ctenizidae monophyly Lycosidae) *Rebecca L. Godwin, Vera Opatova, Christopher A. Jake A. Godfrey1, Ann L. Rypstra2 Hamilton, Jason E. Bond 1Department of Biology, Miami University, Oxford, 101 Life Sciences Building, Auburn University, AL Ohio, USA; 2Department of Biology, Miami University, 36849, USA; [email protected]
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Comprising the tarantulas, purse web spiders, trapdoor Colombia; 5Departamento de Zoología, Centro Orien- spiders, and their kin, mygalomorphs have long been tal de Ecosistemas y Biodiversidad, Enramadas 601 a source of intrigue and frustration for many arach- esquina Barnada, Santiago de Cuba; 6Universidad El nologists. Many groups remain problematic in terms Bosque, Av. Cra 9 No. 131A-02, Bogotá, Colombia of their systematics. Ctenizidae is one such family. At [email protected] present, the nine ctenizid genera (Bothriocyrtum, Cteniza, Conothele, Cyclocosmia, Cyrtocarenum, Spiders are among the most abundant and diverse Hebestatis, Latouchia, Stasimopus, and Ummidia) group of Arthropoda after insects. Due to their wide remain in a state of phylogenetic uncertainty with distribution, relatively well-known taxonomy and respect to their placement, though it seems clear that other biological characteristics, spiders may be useful the family is not monophyletic and warrants closer for ecological studies, including biodiversity conserva- inspection using modern molecular phylogenetic tion and management strategies. In this study, we approaches. We used anchored hybrid enrichment (AE), sampled spiders in three different types of vegetation which is a high-throughput, probe-based genomics including forest, coffee plantations and pastures, in technique that can capture hundreds of phylogeneti- two differentiated vegetative strata (aerial and lower), cally informative nuclear loci. Using an AE probe set in three localities of an important productive and specifically designed for Araneae and a combination of conservation area in Cundinamarca, Colombia. We supermatrix and gene tree/species tree approaches we propose an improved methodology for sample col- constructed a molecular phylogeny of the Ctenizidae lection in the field and taxonomical identification along with a number of groups which have histori- that includes immature and adult specimens with the cally fallen among the ctenizid taxa in previous studies aim to guarantee better use of collected material. We (Idiopidae, Actinopodidae, Euctenicidae, and Migidae). present a diversity analysis of two orb-web families, Keywords: phylogenetics, systematics, ctenizidae, Araneidae and Tetragnathidae, which includes richness Anchored Enrichment estimates, rarefaction curves and species similarity for the three localities. We found differences in richness Student - Poster Presentation and diversity among the studied localities and types of Sampling protocol and processing of vegetation. We registered strong statistical difference in orb-web spiders. Insights towards conser- spider density between both strata. We collected a total vation strategies of 2052 specimens organized in 61 species: Araneidae (46 spp) and Tetragnathidae (15 spp). We found five Luz Adriana Gómez Galvis1, Alexander Sabogal new record species for Colombia: Eustala scutigera, González2, Cecilia Stephania Cantor-Vaca1 , Natalia Leucauge acuminata, L. moerens, L. longimana and Herreño Castellanos3, Sergio Andres Torres4, Franklin L. funebris. Concurrently, we recorded five endemic Cala-Riquelme5, Nini Johanna Beltran-Martin1, Diego species: Hypognatha coyo, Mangora barba, Micra- Alejandro Medina Gaitán6, Eduardo Flórez Daza1 thena decorata, Chrysometa calima and C. carmelo. 1Instituto de Ciencias Naturales. Universidad Nacio- To appreciate the potential usage of this type of studies nal de Colombia. Carrera 45 No. 26-85, Bogotá, for conservational purposes we present some insights Colombia; 2Centro Internacional de Física CIF, that could contribute to the ongoing discussions and Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Manuel Ancizar efforts concerning landscape conservation under the Building. Office 2047, Cra. 45 No. 26-85, Bogotá, current environmental challenges in the Colombian Colombia; 3Universidad Incca de Colombia, Cra. 13 territory. No. 24-15, Bogotá, Colombia; 4Universidad Militar Keywords: Araneidae, biodiversity conservation, spider Nueva Granada, Kilometro 2 Vía Cajicá-Zipaquira, diversity, Tetragnathidae
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Student - Oral presentation Student - Poster presentation Centruroides as a model to understand Effects of dense taxon sampling, implied the origin and evolution of venoms weighting and indels on total evidence analyses of subfamily Syntropinae (Scor- Edmundo González-Santillán, Alfredo Herrera-Estrella piones, Vaejovidae) Laboratorio Nacional de Genómica para la Bio- diversidad, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Edmundo González-Santillán1, Lorenzo Prendini2 Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Km 1Laboratorio Nacional de Genómica para la 9.6 Libramiento Norte Carretera León, C.P. 36821, Biodiversidad, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Irapuato, Guanajuato, México. Avanzados del IPN, Guanajuato, México; 2Division of [email protected] Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA The genus Centruroides is the second most diverse [email protected] among North American buthids with Mexican species representing ca. 40 % of the diversity and 15 medically A total evidence phylogeny of the North American vaejovid important species. The taxonomy of the genus remains scorpion subfamily Syntropinae, based on dense taxon contentious and there is scarce information on its phy- sampling, is presented. Comprising 462 terminals logeny. Three species groups are recognized in Mexico, and 4273 aligned nucleotides of the mitochondrial 12S, approximately corresponding to three out of four 16S and COI genes and the nuclear 18S and 28S genes, 45 monophyletic clades recognized by Esposito (2011): 1) continuous, and 206 discrete morphological characters, the striped group where all medically and some harm- this is the largest matrix ever assembled for scorpions. The less species are grouped, 2) the non-striped group, analysis was rooted on Smeringurus grandis and other and 3) the Thorelli-like group. Important aspects of taxa representing the main clades of the family Vaejovidae. Centruroides toxin biochemistry, pharmacology and Using parsimony in the program TNT, the effect of several diversity have been discovered in recent years. However, parameters on the matrix was compared with a previ- there has been little attention in integrating this infor- ously published matrix for the subfamily, comprising 145 mation with other disciplines such ecology, population terminal taxa. Both matrices were analyzed with equal genetics and epidemiology, especially to investigate the weights and implied weights with different values of the evolutionary mode and tempo of toxicity in scorpions. concavity constant (k = 3, 10, 15, 30, 60, 100, 110). The Several competing hypotheses on the origin of toxic- effect of indels used as missing data or as a fifth state was ity at the molecular level have been proposed but they also investigated. Tree topologies were compared and sym- have not been validated by other disciplines. The most metric resampling and relative Bremer support calculated, appealing hypothesis is that arthropod defensins and for each analysis. Denser sampling and differing values the most potent and lethal gated ionic channel inhibi- of the concavity constant values both influence the topology tor toxin family share a common ancestor. We contend and support. The monophyly of taxa was more frequently that addressing the origin of toxicity requires simulta- recovered and support values slightly greater in the analysis neous consideration of ecological backdrop, population with denser sampling. More monophyletic groups were genetics, behavior, and prey/predator biology. We are retrieved when indels were analyzed as a fifth state than as also convinced that epidemiology could potentially missing data. In summary, adding an approximately four- reciprocally illuminate the evolution of toxicity in fold increase in the density of taxon sampling, resulted in a scorpion and scorpionism, a worldwide health problem more consistent topology, with increased support. The benefit recognized by WHO. of analyzing gaps as a fifth state was also demonstrated. Keywords: Scorpiones, toxic peptides, origin and evolu- Keywords: Total evidence, Syntropinae, taxon sampling, tion, multidisciplinary, transcriptome implied weights, monophyly, support, indels
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Oral presentation Poster presentation Spiders attending sentinel egg masses Morphology of setae on coxae and prefer landscapes comprising native not trochanters of spiders Theraphosinae: exotic plants preliminary results Matthew H. Greenstone1, Richard T. Olsen 2, Mark E. Payton3, Jose Paulo Leite Guadanucci, Arthur Galleti Lima Mary L. Cornelius1 UNESP Rio Claro, Instituto de Biociências, Depar- 1USDA-ARS Invasive Insect Biocontrol and Behavior tamento de Zoologia, Av 24A, 1515, Bela Vista, Rio Laboratory, 10300 Baltimore Ave., Beltsville, MD Claro, São Paulo, Brazil 20705, USA; 2USDA-ARS US National Arboretum, [email protected] 3501 New York Ave., NE, Washington, DC 20002, Theraphosidae spiders, known as tarantulas, present USA; 3Department of Statistics, 301 MSCS Building a homogeneous morphology. They have a diversity of Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 20705, USA cuticular structures, such as stridulating, sensory and [email protected] adhesive setae that are used for systematics purposes. Many There is heightened interest in effects that the prov- genera of Theraphosinae are diagnosed by the presence of enance of plants in the landscape has on animals stridulating apparatus, which can be formed by distinct inhabiting them. There is an increasing body of types of setae. These structures have never been examined research on insect herbivores, but less attention has in a comparative approach in the subfamily. We aim to been paid to arthropod natural enemies. This question describe, using SEM images, the diversity of setae, located is of great interest for designers of urban ornamental on coxae and trochanters of theraphosinae spiders, as landscapes, which tend to be mosaics of native and well as propose a terminology regarding the morphologic exotic plants. Many commonly grown exotic woody variants. The presence of stridulating setae on prolateral plants were missing from eastern North America for face of coxae I and II in spiders of the genus Lasiodora millions of years prior to the arrival of Europeans. is documented. These stridulating setae are character- We present the hypothesis that due to the lack of ized by a smooth base, mid region sparsely covered with a recent co-evolutionary history with these plants, thin and long barbs and a spiniform apex. We found the native natural enemies will be less well able to utilize same plumose setae in the close related genera Vitalius, the resources–architectural features and nutritional Nhandu, Proshapalopus, Pterinopelma. These setae supplements–provided by exotic plants than they will were recorded on all coxae and trochanters, and they are those of native plants, and hence will be less numerous more numerous in males and on the front legs. Unlike of and diverse in landscapes dominated by exotic plants. the plumose setae of the group above, spiders of the clade To test the hypothesis, we designed a replicated experi- Acanthoscurria+Cyrtopholis, possess a stridulating clavi- ment comprising 0.08 Ha plots planted to congeners of form setae, characterized by having a bulky appearance, 16 genera of woody plants from either Eurasia or North a smooth base, wide mid region densely barbed and a spi- America. Spiders attending egg masses of the brown niform apex. Moreover, in some species of Acanthoscurria marmorated stink bug, Halyamorpha halys, emplaced (A. paulensis, A. natalensis and A. juruenicola) we also on leaves of a subset of plant species known to be recorded the stridulating plumose setae, similar to those in attacked by this pest, were statistically less abundant in Lasiodora and closely related genera. Note that in Acan- the exotic plots, supporting the hypothesis. thoscurria these setae occur only on the front legs and Keywords: Anyphaenidae, predation, salticidae, urban are more numerous in males. Other theraphosine genera ornamental landscapes were examined and only covering body setae were found. Some other genera for which a stridulating apparatus has been reported, such as Pamphobeteus, Grammostola,
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Theraphosa, Phormictopus, Hemirrhagus, will be exam- Theraphosidae+Barychelidae, (7) filiform, and (8) clavate ined towards a better knowledge of stridulating setae types trichobothria, both inserted in a distinct bothrium, (9 and for the whole subfamily. 10) sensory setae, recognized by the diagonal marks and Keywords: stridulating, tarantula, Theraphoside, distinguished in two types: one of them is usually very long Mygalomorphae with a tapering apex, present on both sexes and all sur- faces of the tarsi (as well as other parts of the spider body), Oral presentation and another type of sensory setae is exclusive of males, Evolution of tarsal structures in located on the ventral surface of the tarsi. Regarding these Mygalomorphae last three setae (7-9), the distribution and density through- out the legs and families are phylogenetically informative. Jose Paulo Leite Guadanucci1, Juliana Paneczko Jurgilas1, Along with other features such as tegumentary texture and Rafael Prezzi Indicatti2, Laura Tavares Miglio3 tarsal organ, we defined 13 new morphological charac- 1Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências ters, some with strong phylogenetic signal. de Rio Claro, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Keywords: Mygalomorphae, scopula, seta, phylogeny, Avenida 24A n.1515, CEP 13506-900, Rio Claro, SP, morphology, tarsus Brazil; 2Laboratório Especial de Coleções Zoológicas, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil, 1500, CEP Student - poster presentation 05503-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil; 3Museu Paraense Spider form and function: foraging guild, Emilio Goeldi, Laboratório de Aracnologia, Avenida morphology and performance Perimetral, 1901, CEP 66077-830, Belém, PA, Brazil [email protected] *Andrea Haberkern1, David Gray2 1CSUN, 22054 Wyandotte St., Canoga Park, CA 91303; Mygalomorphae comprise a monophyletic group that 2CSUN, Department of Biology, 18111 Nordhoff St., includes trapdoor spiders, funnel web spiders, tarantu- #CR327 Northridge, CA 91330 las. They are considered a primitive group as they retain [email protected] several plesiomorphic spider features. In the present work, we studied the tarsi of representatives of all 16 myga- Spiders are often the most abundant and diverse predators lomorph families under Scanning Electron Microscope in terrestrial ecosystems. They employ a variety of hunting (SEM) and recorded each distinct cuticular structure strategies in different environments. We are examining found. We recorded 10 distinct types of setae: (1) stri- ecomorphology of spiders to better understand which traits ated setae, characterized by longitudinal marks and are adaptive in each environment. When variation in traits with varying amounts of barbs, found in all families and leads to increase in spider performance, those individuals Lisphistiomorphae; (2) covering setae, located only on with advantageous morphologies may have differential lateral faces of tarsi and distinguished from the other types reproductive success, leading to natural selection on mor- by the bent base and varying texture among the distinct phology. Here we examine the adaptive morphology of families, recorded in all Crassitarsae and some Dipluridae; 23 families within several clades of Araneomorphs to test two kinds of adhesive setae, (3) claws tufts, synapomor- two main objectives: (1) Use morphological measures and phic of Theraphosidae+Barychelidae, and (4) scopula, multivariate statistics (i.e. DFA) to attempt to distinguish common to all Crassitarsae, plus Euctenizoidina and some among spider foraging guilds based on morphology. (2) Dipluridae, (5) apical tarsus setae, similar to adhesive Test the association between organismal performance setae, but differ by the long and thin apex, are present in and morphology of traits indicative of guild member- all families in varying densities, (6) epitrichobothrial ship. Spiders within the same foraging guild have similar setae, short, with many small barbs and always located morphologies, independent of phylogenetic relatedness. interspersed with trichobothria, synapomorphic of Morphology was more varied among foraging guilds. We
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used burst speed as a performance measure to determine if areas with soft sand, are critical for the effective capture unrelated taxa of spiders within the same functional group of termite prey and subsequent digging to feed. A pitfall perform in a similar way, thus elucidating how morphol- survey in grassland showed that A. amphalodes activity ogy helps shape the fitness landscape of spiders. Results density was strongly correlated to that of Hodotermes suggest that performance is similar within functional mossambicus, but not to Trinervitermes trinervoides. groups, therefore, revealing convergence among guilds. Although narrowly associated with H. mossambicus as Keywords: morphology, ecomorphology, performance, prey, A. amphalodes also utilize sand mounds of other guilds, ecology organisms, including ants and moles, for retreat construc- tion. Recent studies using next generation sequencing Oral presentation showed that 99.8% of sequences extracted from the guts of Biology, behaviour and physiological A. amphalodes belonged to H. mossambicus termites; this adaptations of the termitophagous spider in spite of the presence of other termites (Odontotermes genus Ammoxenus sp. and T. trinervoides) and arthropods in the study area. Juveniles had a significantly greater diversity of prey Charles R. Haddad1, Stano Pekár2, Anna S. Dippenaar- sequences than adults, although both males and females Schoeman3,4, Lenka Petráková2, Marek Brabec5, Eva continued to feed on H. mossambicus as adults. Analysis Líznarová2, Lenka Sentenská2, William O.C. Symondson6 of venom protein profiles shows that A. amphalodes pos- 1Department of Zoology & Entomology, University sesses a much more limited number of proteins when of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9301, South Africa; compared to euryphagous spiders, providing evidence 2Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of supporting a stenophagous diet on termites. We briefly Sciences, Masaryk University, Kotlárská 2, 611 37 describe several future studies that will investigate other Brno, Czech Republic; 3Biosystematics: Arachnology, aspects of Ammoxenus biology to support the evolution of ARC–Plant Protection Research Institute, Private Bag stenophagy in this group of termitophagous predators. X134, Queenswood 0121, South Africa; 4Department of Keywords: Diet, termite, stenophagy, burrowing, feeding, Zoology & Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria phenology, NGS 0001, South Africa 5Department of Nonlinear Model- ling, Institute of Computer Science, The Czech Academy Poster presentation of Sciences, Pod Vodarenskou vezi 2, Praha 8, 182 First records and potential range of inva- 07 Prague, Czech Republic; 6Cardiff School of Biosci- sive Badumna longinqua in South Africa ences, Cardiff University, Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3AX, United Kingdom Charles R. Haddad1, Cor J. Vink2,3 [email protected] 1Department of Zoology & Entomology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; 2Canterbury The spider genus Ammoxenus (Araneae: Ammoxenidae) Museum, Christchurch, New Zealand 3Department of is endemic to southern Africa. Research since the 1970s Ecology, Lincoln University, New Zealand has shown these spiders to feed on termites, although [email protected] their degree of dietary specialization has, until recently, been unconfirmed. Ammoxenus are often very common Badumna longinqua (Araneae: Desidae) is a web- in grassland and savanna habitats in South Africa where building spider indigenous to eastern and southern harvester termites are locally abundant. Ammoxenus have Australia, but has been introduced to several countries various morphological and behavioural adaptations to in South America, as well as the U.S.A. (California and feeding on termites, including rastellate chelicerae, pseu- Hawaii), Germany, Japan and New Zealand. In this study dosegmented tarsi, and high speed running and digging we review the occurrence of the species from South behaviour. The presence of a sandy substrate, particularly Africa, from which it was recently recorded for the first
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time in 2010, based on recently collected specimens Madrean Pine-Oak Woodlands). By conducting the most and photographic records. The species has only been comprehensive sampling of a single theraphosid genus recorded from the southern coastal areas (Eastern and to date, this research significantly broadens the scope of Western Cape Provinces) and from the central Free prior molecular and morphological investigations, finally State Province to date, with the vast majority of records bringing a modern understanding of species delimita- associated with synanthropic urban habitats. However, a tion in this dynamic and charismatic group of spiders. predictive model shows that the latter localities are very Keywords: biodiversity, phylogenomics, molecular unsuitable for establishment, which we explain on the systematics, DNA taxonomy, spider taxonomy basis of climatic conditions, while the southern coastal areas represent highly suitable habitat. Oral presentation Keywords: Introduced, Australia, synanthropic, MAXENT, House spider venom and silk gland distribution transcriptomes reveal a complex tran- scriptional landscape Student - oral presentation Robert A. Haney, Evelyn E. Schwager, Jessica E. Garb Phylogenomics and taxonomic revision of Department of Biological Sciences, University of Mas- the tarantula genus Aphonopelma within sachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA 01854, USA the United States [email protected] *Chris A. Hamilton1, Brent E. Hendrixson2, Jason E. The venom and silk glands of spiders are both ecologi- Bond1 cally critical, being involved in prey capture and predator 1Department of Biological Sciences and Auburn defense, and a key factor in the evolutionary success of University Museum of Natural History, Auburn spiders. The application of high-throughput technolo- University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA; 2Department of gies can have an important role in understanding the Biology, Millsaps College, Jackson, MS 39210, USA maintenance and function of these tissues, by character- [email protected] izing their transcriptomes, including the prevalence of This systematic study documents the taxonomy, diver- alternative splicing of transcripts. While the proportion of sity, and distribution of the tarantula spider genus loci with alternatively spliced transcripts and the number Aphonopelma Pocock, 1901 within the United States. of transcripts produced varies among taxa, detailed By employing phylogenomic, morphological, and geo- estimates from arachnids are generally lacking. Alterna- spatial data, we evaluated all 55 nominal species in the tive splicing augments proteome complexity through United States to examine the evolutionary history of the production of many different mRNAs (and coding Aphonopelma and the group’s taxonomy by implementing regions) from pre-mRNAs derived from individual gene an integrative approach to species delimitation. Based on loci. The production of alternatively spliced transcripts our analyses, we now recognize only 29 distinct species in can play a role in development, disease, and response to the United States. We proposed 33 new synonymies, seven stress, as well as in defining tissue specific functions. We nomina dubia, and 14 new species. Based on Anchored have leveraged deep RNA-Seq data to identify transcripts Enrichment phylogenomic data (581 loci, 334,436bp), our expressed in the venom and silk glands of the Common species tree delimits five major lineages: a monotypic group House Spider (Parasteatoda tepidariorum), and to confined to California, a western group, an eastern group, a identify thousands of novel splice variants of transcripts. group primarily distributed in high-elevation areas, and a These new forms greatly expand the catalog of such group that comprises several miniaturized species. Multiple variants in P. tepidariorum, and reveal a complex tran- species are distributed throughout two biodiversity hotspots scriptional landscape, with variation in 5’ and 3’ splice in the United States (i.e., California Floristic Province and sites, skipped exons and retained introns, as well as more
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complex features. These findings suggest the potential for this clade. The second analysis recovered three major alternative splicing to have a critical role in the mainte- clades using mitochondrial (12S and 16S ribosomal RNA, nance and operation of venom and silk glands. and CO1 and nuclear (18S and 28S ribosomal RNA, and Keywords: venom, silk, gene expression, transcriptome, Histone 3 sequence data. The first clade comprised the alternative splicing, Parasteatoda taxa previously included in the Teylini (Teyl, Pseudoteyl and Namea), as well as Merredinia and Chenistonia. Oral presentation The second clade included species of Kwonkan, Swolnpes Phylogenetic relationships of the Australian and Yilgarnia, as well as the anomalous Aname turrig- open-holed trapdoor spiders (Nemesiidae: era. The third clade comprised the highly diverse genus Anaminae): a multi-locus molecular analy- Aname and a new genus. The results of the study are used sis resolves generic classification to stabilize the generic classification. The New Zealand exemplars of Stanwellia analyzed for this study are nested Mark S. Harvey1,2, Mark A. Castalanelli1, Mia J. Hillyer1, deeply within the taxa from Australia, strongly suggesting Barbara York Main2, Robert J. Raven3, Michael G. Rix4,3, that their presence in New Zealand is the result of trans- Cor J. Vink5 and Joel A. Huey1,2 oceanic dispersal, not continental vicariance. 1Department of Terrestrial Zoology, Western Austra- Keywords: systematics, molecular phylogenetics, bioge- lian Museum, Locked Bag 49, Welshpool DC, Western ography, generic relationships, Gondwana Australia 6986, Australia; 2School of Animal Biology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Poster presentation Australia 6009, Australia; 3Queensland Museum, PO The genus Chenistonia (Mygalomorphae: Box 3300, South Brisbane, Queensland 4101, Aus- Nemesiidae) in southern Australia and tralia. 4Australian Centre for Evolutionary Biology revalidation of the genus Proshermacha and Biodiversity, School of Biological Sciences, The Simon, 1908 University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia; 5Canterbury Museum, Rolleston Mark S. Harvey, Joel Huey, Mia Hillyer, Julianne Waldock# Avenue, Christchurch 8013, New Zealand. Department of Terrestrial Zoology, Western Australian [email protected] Museum, Locked Bag 49, Welshpool Delivery Centre, Western Australia, W.A. 6986, Australia. #Not an The spiders of the mygalomorph family Nemesiidae occur author of the work in many different parts of the world. Past morphological [email protected] and molecular studies suggest the family is not monophy- letic and that the subfamily classification is unstable. The Recent molecular investigations of the mygalomorph family most diverse nemesiid group in the Australasian region, Nemesiidae in Western Australia have clarified the generic the subfamily Anaminae, is currently represented by 12 status of a number of known species including species of valid genera, but the status of some, such as Chenistonia, Aname L. Koch, 1872 and Chenistonia Hogg, 1901. The limits has vacillated in different taxonomic treatments. Using and composition of the genus Chenistonia has changed over a wide selection of specimens from Australia and New the past three decades, either as a synonym of Aname, or as Zealand, we evaluate the relationships of the Australasian a distinct genus. A multi-gene analysis of the relationships of members of Anaminae using two different analyses. a wide range of Australasian nemesiids has clarified the status The first added several new 18S and 28S ribosomal RNA of Chenistonia which is found to be very distinct from Aname. and Elongation Factor 1 gamma (EF-1ɣ) sequences to a Furthermore, the sister group to true Chenistonia–those previously published dataset; the resulting tree showed species with a short embolus on the male pedipalp–is a group that most Australasian Anaminae formed a monophyletic of species with a long embolus that deserves to be recognized group, but that the genus Stanwellia failed to group with at the generic level, for which the name Proshermacha
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Simon, 1908 is available. We also sequenced numerous Lincoln, NE 68588, USA; 2Department of Psychology, specimens of Proshermacha and 20 distinct genetic lin- Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH eages were detected. These lineages mostly correspond with 43403, USA; 3Department of Neuroscience, University morphological differences, and we therefore interpret them of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; 4Department of as distinct species. Their disjunct distributions display obvious Biological sciences, Bowling Green State University, patterning across southern Australia, ranging from the high Bowling Green, OH 43403, USA rainfall south coast in to the transitional drier regions. [email protected] Keywords: Nemesiidae; southern Australia; molecular; Our working knowledge of the relationship between brain morphology; species distribution; rainfall patterns structures, sensory integration, and complex behavior is surprisingly limited. Navigation, as a behavioral context, Student - poster presentation is particularly well-suited for providing insights into these Quantifying non-consumptive effects of relationships as it is arguably a tangible manifestation of arthropod predators on agroecosystem pests higher cognitive ability. Traditional studies of navigation, *Domonique Hatton, Susan Riechert however, have focused predominantly on a small subset of 569 Dabney Hall, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, taxa that inhabit rather simple environments. Modernizing TN 37996-1610, USA navigation research requires the identification of model [email protected] species that display successful navigation in a structurally complex environment, possess higher-order processing Fear Ecology is an understudied subset of predator-prey centers putatively capable of multisensory processing, and population dynamics. We have yet to quantitatively assess are amenable to sophisticated behavioral and neural assays. the indirect and non-consumptive effects predators have We propose that amblypygids offer just such a system. on their prey. Diverse assemblages of spiders can act as Recent field research using the amblypygid Phrynus buffers that limit the initial exponential growth of given pseudoparvulus has documented successful homing prey populations in agroecosystems. As prey mitigate preda- behavior of displaced individuals in heterogeneous trop- tion risk through the manifestation of adaptive traits, such ical rainforest understories. Manipulations of the sensory as predator avoidance behaviors, there will be negative costs systems of displaced individuals suggest a reliance on olfac- associated with these traits. Non-consumptive effects involve tory cues and putative visual cues. Earlier work additionally the assumption that prey cease foraging as a mechanism to provided evidence that amblypygids are capable of learning avoid predators. Active avoidance minimally results in lost tactile cues, raising the possibility of mechanoreception foraging time, can induce physiological stress, and may have being important in nocturnal navigation as well. This talk significant effects on the generation turnover time of crop will summarize the current state of knowledge regarding pests. I am looking at prey response to simulated, olfactory, learning, memory, and navigation in amblypygids and will tactile, and visual cues. Differences in prey feeding activity discuss ongoing research aimed at linking sensory systems and development will tell provide some information as to the to complex behavior in this understudied arachnid group. non-consumptive effects foraging spiders have on their prey. Keywords: Amblypygid, navigation, sensory ecology, multimodal, learning Oral presentation Amblypygids as a model for exploring links Oral presentation between sensory systems and behavior Cryptic elevational zonation in the Aliaty- pus janus complex (Antrodiaetidae) from Eileen A. Hebets1, Verner P. Bingman2, Wulfila Gronenberg3, montane California Daniel D. Wiegmann4 1School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska, Marshal Hedin1, James Starrett1, Cheryl Hayashi2
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1Department of Biology, San Diego State University, Oral presentation 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego CA 92182 USA; The good, the bad and the ugly: the asso- 2Department of Biology, University of California ciation between a bromeliad, an ant and Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA a spider [email protected] Yann Hénaut1, Bruno Corbara2, Régis Céréghino3, Alain Dejean3 The spider genus Aliatypus includes fourteen described 1El Colegio de la frontera sur, Unidad Chetumal, species, twelve of which are restricted to California. Aliaty- Av. Centenario, Chetumal, Quintana Roo. AP 424, pus are stocky, medium-sized (6–20 mm) subterranean Mexico; 2Clermont Université, Université Blaise spiders that cover silk-lined burrows with a wafer-like Pascal, Laboratoire Microorganismes, Génome et trapdoor. These spiders are generally highly dispersal-lim- Environnement, BP 10448, F-63000 Clermont- ited with strong preferences for cool, moist microhabitats, Ferrand, France; 3Université de Toulouse; UPS, INP, and prior genetic studies have revealed geographically Laboratoire Écologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement, localized population genetic structuring and evidence for 118 route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse, France cryptic speciation. This study focuses on Aliatypus janus, [email protected] which is phylogenetically allied with members of the A. californicus group. While most Aliatypus species occupy Many spider species live on tank bromeliads that host mid-elevation upland habitats and have relatively small arthropods and many other organisms. In Quintana Roo, geographic distributions, A. janus has an atypically large Mexico, the neotropical spider I. caudata (Dipluridae) geographic distribution–populations occur in California frequently installs its web on the tank-bromeliad Aechmea Coast Range xeric canyons, to upper montane forests bracteata. This bromeliad also hosts different ant species near the crest of the southern Sierra Nevada (>2400 m), and I. caudata appears to be associated with not only the to lower xeric habitats in eastern California and western bromeliad but also with the hairy-panther ant, Neoponera Nevada. We reconstructed the phylogeographic history villosa that also inhabits the plant. This association appears of the A. janus complex (plus close outgroups) using to be climate dependent as floods make the bromeliad a a mitochondrial COI and nuclear 28S sample of over Noah’s Ark for all spiders living in the inundated forest, 170 specimens from 102 geographic locations. Based while during the dry season the plants are an attractive but on congruent recovery of multiple geographic clades for not obligatory host for arachnids. This association between these gene regions, we gathered DNA sequences for six the funnel web tarantula, bromeliad and ants also has con- additional nuclear genes for a subsample of specimens, sequences on the architecture of the web. We describe web placing emphasis on paired low versus high elevation size and damage when associated with A. bracteata in the populations from the western slopes of the southern presence of a N. villosa colony, when these ants are absent Sierra Nevada. Using this multigenic nuclear dataset we but other species of ants are present, and when the spider is conduct multispecies coalescent analyses to explicitly test not associated with the bromeliad. In association with the alternative riverine versus elevational gradient divergence tank-bromeliad and the hairy-panther ant, spiders have hypotheses. Our results support an elevational gradient bigger webs with less damage. This particular association hypothesis, which is further supported by ecological niche between a spider, a bromeliad and an ant may be explained modeling. Overall, this research is novel in providing evi- by a lower cost in terms of silk production and also due to dence for cryptic, ecologically-mediated divergence in the the defensive capacities of the hairy-panther ant towards southern Sierra Nevada, in a taxonomic group otherwise eventual spider predators. Such multiple associations may dominated by divergence via niche conservatism. be implicated in the evolution of spider-ant associations. Keywords: molecular systematics, speciation, trapdoor Keywords: tank bromeliad, Neoponera villosa, funnel spiders, elevational zonation web tarantula, climate
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Poster presentation Poster presentation The use of tarantulas in traditional medi- Population genetic structure of the bold cine on three continents jumping spider, Phidippus audax: Evidence for distinct “northern” and “southern” forms Yann Hénaut1, Sévérin Tchibozo2, Salima Machkour M’Rabet1 Michael Henshaw, Brandon Beltz 1El Colegio de la frontera sur, Unidad Chetumal, Grand Valley State University, 1 Campus Dr Allen- Av. Centenario, Chetumal, Quintana Roo. AP 424, dale, MI 49525, USA Mexico; 2Centre de Recherche pour la Gestion de la [email protected] Biodiversité, 04 B.P. 0385, Cotonou, Benin. The bold jumping spider, Phidippus audax, is found [email protected] throughout much of North America, from Ontario to Spiders are used in traditional medicine on all con- Mexico, in a variety of climatic regions. While there are tinents; however the use of tarantulas in traditional few obvious geographical barriers separating populations, medicine has been reported on only two continents; and the spiders are abundant throughout their range, in America and in Asia. In this work we present a syn- there is substantial morphological variation, and previous thesis of the knowledge about the use of tarantulas in work has suggested that there may be distinct Southern traditional medicine throughout the world and new and Northern forms. We collected samples from across information for Mexico as well as a first report for the southern portion of the eastern half of the U.S., and Africa. In the state of Chiapas, the Tzeltal Maya ethnic sequenced 672 bp of the COI gene for 114 individuals. We group use tarantulas as a cure for tumors. The spiders also downloaded corresponding sequences, from Genbank, are induced to bite the affected area. Furthermore, the for 12 P. audax collected in Ontario, as well as sequences Chol ethnic group uses the tarantula Brachypelma from P. purpuratus, and P. clarus. The average pairwise vagans for people who present an illness called taran- differences among the P. audax haplotypes was 4.31, com- tula wind that consists of asthma, chest pain and pared to more than 40 differences in comparisons between coughing. In Brazil, the “tooth” of a bird spider is used species. A minimum spanning tree of the P. audax hap- to treat an infection of the upper dermis; the fangs are lotypes revealed two clusters, separated by 6 mutational also recommended for the treatment of toothache. In steps. These clusters were geographically distinct, with one Brazil, people suffering from asthma, drink tea with cluster found primarily in south Texas (“Southern” popu- bird-spider toasted powder. In Cambodia, tarantulas of lation), and the other cluster common everywhere else we the genus Haplopelma, are used for several medical collected (“Northern” population). Our study included a conditions. Recently we discovered another unique single sample collected from a morphologically distinct use of B. vagans by the Maya people, for bathing eyes Florida population, but it was not genetically distinct from which improves sight. They also rear these spiders in other “Northern” spiders. These differences suggest that, their patio so as to have medicine within easy reach. while the populations exhibit meaningful differentiation, In southern Mali, Africa, we observed people from the they are not different species. Differentiation may have Senufo population using tarantulas as a traditional arose as the result of historical isolation, for example, medicine to cure stomach illness. The tarantula identi- during the last glacial maximum, or, through the action fied as from the Phoneyusa genus, is fried with salt and of selection, perhaps as a result of local adaptation. We are then consumed. This is the first report of the use of a collecting additional nuclear data to further characterize tarantula in traditional medicine for Africa. the pattern of differentiation, and to better understand the Keywords: tarantula, traditional medicine, Brachy- evolutionary mechanisms that led to the differences. pelma, Phoneyusa Keywords: genetic differentiation, speciation, Salticidae, molecular systematics
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Student - oral presentation Student - poster presentation Sexual behavior and mating plugs as a Effects of Wolbachia infection on aggression tool of mating choice in the Colombian in a socially polymorphic spider, Anelosi- orb-web spider Leucauge acuminata mus studiosus (Araneae: Theridiidae) (Araneae, Tetragnathidae) *Ashley Herrig, Thomas C. Jones *Linda Hernández Duran1, Jorge Molina1, Anita Department of Biological Sciences, D.M. Brown Hall, Aisenberg2 PO Box 70703, East Tennessee State University, USA 1Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Para- [email protected] sitología tropical–CIMPAT. Universidad de los Andes, The endosymbiont bacterium Wolbachia is well known for a Bogotá, Colombia; 2Laboratorio de Etología, Ecología variety of effects it can have on its host through cellular and y Evolución, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas reproductive processes, such as cytoplasmic incompatibility, Clemente Estable, Uruguay parthenogenesis, feminization and male killing. It has also [email protected] recently come to light that Wolbachia can have effects on Females of some species of spiders can bias male the nervous system as well, including effects on olfaction paternity through different mating strategies such as and the mediation of octopamine levels. This project aims rejecting a mating, flushing out the sperm or selecting to investigate a potential proximate cause of social behavior the sperm of one male over the other. In Leucauge in the socially polymorphic spider, Anelosimus studiosus. orb web spiders, females produce a copulatory plug While most A. studiosus express an aggressive phenotype during or after mating that could be a useful tool to and tend to live in solitary colonies, a rarer docile pheno- bias paternity. Leucauge acuminata is a very fre- type is much more tolerant of conspecifics and is often quent spider in Cundinamarca, Colombia; however, found in multi-female colonies characterized by cooperative the sexual behavior of this species is completely brood care and foraging. Recent work has shown that lower unknown. Our aim was to describe courtship and levels of octopamine in the docile phenotype are related mating behavior of L. acuminata, record plug forma- this social behavior, but the proximate causes of lower tion and test its correlation with male sexual behavior. octopamine levels remain poorly understood. In this study We recorded individually the courtship and copulation we investigate a potential causal link between lower levels of 20 virgin females. In 11 cases, the copulatory plug of aggression in A. studiosus and Wolbachia infection. In was present, even though all females mated. Male Drosophila, Wolbachia infection have been linked to lower courtship behaviors during mating such as tapping levels of octopamine and a corresponding decrease in the female—touching synchronically the female aggression. Moreover, Wolbachia may be inherited through with forelegs (z=2.048; p=0.04), palpal insertions ingestion when hosts are in larval or early developmental (z=2.232; p=0.02) and mating duration (z=2.465; states. Juveniles of docile A. studiosus can be fed by multiple p=0.0137) were positively related with plug formation. females via regurgitation during development, which could We observed six female cannibalism attempts during a potential vector for horizontal transmission of Wolbachia mating, which could be related to female choice based infection. We will present results of quantitative genetic on male copulatory performance. We will discuss and screening of aggressive and docile females for Wolbachia compare our results with data available for other infection. Research which focuses on the effects of endog- species of the genus and the cryptic female choice enous microorganisms on social behavior is novel and our hypotheses. results could potentially transform current understandings Keywords: copulatory plugs, Leucauge acuminata, of key mechanisms in biogenic amine production. cryptic female choice, male performance. Keywords: social behavior, endosymbionts, biogenic amines, Wolbachia
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Student - oral presentation site selection based on the size/age of an individual. Activity patterns and mating behaviors of Keywords: tarantula, arboreal, mature-male, mating an arboreal tarantula: Avicularia laeta Poster presentation *Joseph Hill, Cara Shillington Social polymorphism in Anelosimus stu- Eastern Michigan University, Department of Biology, diosus: a longitudinal comparison 441 Mark Jefferson Science Complex, Ypsilanti, Michigan 48197, USA Maggie Hodge, Deborah Adeyemi [email protected] Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts 715 University Parkway, Natchitoches, LA 71457 Tarantulas are sit-and-wait predators that remain close to [email protected] their retreat while hunting. Following an ultimate molt, mature males travel in search of receptive adult females Anelosimus studiosus is a subsocial theridiid whose and exhibit scramble competition, where males locate distribution ranges from the southeastern United States scattered females within a habitat and show little aggres- through South America. Previous studies have shown sion towards each other. Little is known about their daily variation in social tendencies such that colony size and habits and behavioral ecology in their natural habitat; lack of aggression increase from southern to northern especially for arboreal species. We examined several latitudes, not the typical pattern for social spiders. aspects of the natural history of an arboreal tarantula Riechert & Jones (2008) examined social behavior along a including: mate searching behaviors by males and activ- latitudinal gradient from southern Florida to central Ten- ity patterns of juveniles and adult females. Retreats were nessee and found that social tolerance and multi-female located and marked during the day based on the presence nests increased with latitude. Our study compared social of web and we returned at night to determine if retreats tendencies of a population of A. studiosus in northwestern were occupied. The diameter-at-breast height (DBH) and Louisiana to that found by Riechert & Jones at a compa- length of visible silk was recorded. Active adult female rable latitude. Using the same behavioral assays we found and juvenile retreats were observed nightly from twilight that the Louisiana population showed a significantly until daybreak. Body position relative to their retreat was greater proportion of social versus asocial phenotypes, recorded every 30 minutes. Wild-caught male tarantulas but a similar frequency of multi-female nests. This cor- were radio-tagged and released and these individuals were roborates that social polymorphism is characteristic of A. re-located nightly and their position was recorded using a studiosus and that it varies at the population level. GPS. These data were used to calculate distances travelled Keywords: subsocial spider, social polymorphism per day and search areas. Adult females occupied trees with a significantly larger DBH and longer visible silk Student - Oral presentation than juveniles. Both groups emerged from retreats around Red list proposals of spiders for European the same time suggesting that light levels instigate activ- countries and regions ity. There was no difference in body position and proximity Fabian Hofmann, Daniel Gloor, Wolfgang Nentwig to their retreats indicating similar daily behaviors. Several University of Bern, Institute of Ecology and Evolu- males were relocated nightly on the same tree of an active tion, Baltzerstrasse 6 3012, Bern, Switzerland female suggesting that they remain within close proxim- [email protected] ity to sexually active females for extended periods. No aggressive behavior was witnessed between mature-males Only 11 of the 51 European countries have a national located on the same female retreat tree. The results of this red list for spiders comprising between 25 and 100% study provide the first insight into arboreal mature-male of the national spider fauna. Fourteen countries have tarantula searching behaviors and differences in retreat other lists like conservation, governmental protection
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or expert-knowledge lists, containing only a few species. are of medical and pharmaceutical interest. The currently Assessors used different criteria and methods for their accepted phylogeny of Haplogynes is largely based on mor- assessments, which make a direct comparison between phological characteristics, and has not been scrutinized threat categories of species difficult. While in an ideal with molecular data. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) scenario, we would know the exact degree a given species provides cost-effective access to large amounts of data is threatened, this information is only available for a few that can be used to revisit phylogenetic hypotheses based well-known taxa, mainly vertebrates, thus, IUCN criteria on morphology and/or molecular datasets with few genes. are hardly applicable to invertebrates such as spiders. This project is an undergraduate thesis that is utilizing Nevertheless, there is a need to classify invertebrates NGS (Illumina 3000) venom gland and whole body tran- with simple, taxon-specific criteria, which are applicable scriptomes for 11 Haplogyne species to provide a molecular for all species in every country. Here we analyse in a test of the family relationships proposed by morphological top-down approach criteria which have been used to data, with a concentration on generic level relationships establish some national red lists of spiders for all Euro- in the scytodoid superfamily. A secondary goal is to test the pean species. We tested traits against IUCN categories phylogenetic utility of venom-expressed genes by analyz- of red listed species to analyse for significant influence. ing the degree of congruence between phylogenies created Species with narrow distribution (endemics), preferred with datasets including only genes that code for venom occurrence in rare or threatened habitats such as proteins, datasets that include only non-venom genes, wetlands, xeric habitats, caves or rocky habitats are sig- and all molecular data. With a few intriguing exceptions, nificantly more often assessed to be threatened, whereas phylogenies including all sequences resolve relationships body size and hunting manner had no influence on that are largely congruent with relationships supported vulnerability. With these results, trait-based criteria have by morphology. Further analyses will test whether the been suggested to nationally assess all European spider relationships supported with the full dataset are congruent species. We propose complete national species red lists with those supported by analyses of the subset of the data for all 64 European countries and regions, which can be that are in gene families that include representatives that adapted, verified and easier compared with each other. are venom expressed, and subsets that are gene families Keywords: conservation, extinction, threatened species, that are not venom-expressed. These analyses improve risk assessment, endemism, distribution, habitat understanding of relationships within Haplogynes and test the utility of venom genes in resolving relationships. Student - poster presentation Keywords: next-generation sequencing (NGS), haplogy- A test of the utility of venom expressed nes, phylogenomics genes for reconstructing taxonomic rela- tionships using Haplogyne spiders Oral Presentation *Sophia Horigan1, Pam Zobel-Thropp1, Sasha Bishop1, A phylogenomic approach to resolve the Jeremy McWilliams2, Nick Budak2, Rishi Javia2, Greta relationships among the main lineages of Binford1 araneoid spiders 1Department of Biology, Lewis & Clark College, Port- Gustavo Hormiga1, Rosa Fernández2, Robert Kallal1, land, OR, USA; 2Watzek Library Digital Initiatives, Jesús A. Ballesteros1, Miquel Arnedo3, Dimitar Dimitrov4, Lewis & Clark College, Portland, OR USA Gonzalo Giribet2 [email protected] 1Department of Biological Sciences, The George Wash- Haplogyne spiders, including infamous members of the ington University, Washington DC, USA; 2Museum of genus Loxosceles (brown recluse) and relatives, are a Comparative Zoology & Department of Organismic diverse set of families with a variety of venom toxins that and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University,
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Cambridge MA, USA; 3Departament de Biologia In the fall of 1999 a graduate student, Greg Broussard, Animal & Biodiversity Research Institute, Universitat found an unusual spider while conducting a survey of de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; 4Natural History cursorial species. The location was the Dalquest Desert Museum, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway Research Station (DDRS) in the Chihuahuan Desert of [email protected] the Big Bend area of Texas. The family could not be deter- mined, so specimens were sent to taxonomic authorities Resolving the interfamilial relationships of the ecribel- for family placement, which has yet to be determined. In late orbweavers (Araneoidea) has proved to be a 2011 personnel from the University of New Mexico found recalcitrant phylogenetic problem. This lineage includes this spider on the surface of an ant mound (Pogonomyr- over a quarter of the described spider species and a mex rugosus) 9.7 km S of Cuatro Ciénegas, Coahuila, remarkable diversity of foraging webs and life history Mexico. The DDRS is 335 km (208 mi) from the Mexico traits. Understanding this diversity has been hindered by site. Concentrated pitfall collecting near a P. rugosus a lack of a robust hypothesis on the phylogenetic relation- nests on the DDRS has increased the take of this spider. In ships of the main lineages of Araneoidea. Recent studies the summer of 2015 four specimens were collected from using both the standard target-gene approach (and exten- chambers while digging up a P. rugosus nest. To date 127 sive taxon sampling) and phylogenomic methods (albeit spiders have been collected from the DDRS and include with a modest taxon sample) have refuted the monophyly 51 ♂, 34 ♀ and 42 immatures. Details of the symbiotic of cribellate and ecribellate orb-weavers (Orbiculariae) relationship are unknown. The morphology of the eyes and provided support for some interfamilial relationships, suggests that it belongs to a group of Dionycha having such as the clade that includes the families Mimetidae, orthogonally oriented tapeta in the posterior median eyes, Arkyidae and Tetragnathidae. Unfortunately, much of although the perplexing overall morphology makes it the phylogenetic scaffolding of Araneoidea has yet to hard to place the species in any established family. be discovered. In this presentation we will report on our progress to address araneoid relationships through a tran- Student - oral presentation scriptomic approach, using a taxon sample that includes Blue tarantulas and dancing rainbow representatives of about 72% of the families of Araneae spiders inspire new color technologies and about 90% of the families of Araneoidea. Keywords: Araneoidea, Orb-weavers, Phylogeny, System- *Bor-Kai Hsiung1, Matthew D. Shawkey1, 2, Todd A. atics, Web evolution Blackledge1 1Department of Biology and Integrated Bioscience Oral presentation Program, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, A myrmecophilic spider from West Texas USA; 2Biology Department, Terrestrial Ecology Unit, with discussion of biology and taxonomy Ghent University, Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Ghent, Belgium Norman Horner1, Martin Ramirez2, Darrell Ubick3, [email protected] Norman Platnick4, Paula Cushing5 1Department of Biology, Midwestern State University, Many spiders exhibit vivid colors that are not produced by USA; 2Division of Arachnology, Museo Argentino pigments, but rather by optical interference, diffraction, de Ciencias Naturales, Argentina; 3Department of and scattering — structural colors. Traditionally, struc- Entomology, California Academy of Sciences, USA; tural color research in nature focused on birds, butterflies 4Curator Emeritus, American Museum of Natural and beetles. But the long evolutionary history and extreme History, USA; 5Curator of Invertebrates, Denver diversity of spiders provide fruitful new territory. The Museum of Nature & Science, USA repeated evolution of blue in large, nearly blind tarantu- [email protected] las and the diversification of sexual display colors in tiny
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peacock spiders provide two striking examples. Here, we undersides of live leaves. Most species are restricted to show how tarantula blue is produced using specialized one specific microhabitat, and most are adapted to their hairs with complex hierarchical structure that greatly microhabitat in terms of body shape and coloration. Here reduces iridescence—which has been a key obstacle to we focus on leaf-dwelling which is often associated with the production of synthetic structural colorants without conspicuous adaptations in morphology and behavior. Our the shimmering effects. On the other hand, the strikingly results suggest that leaf-dwelling has originated ~30 times iridescent scales of the rainbow peacock spider (Maratus independently, mostly in the supposedly ‘modern’, humid robinsoni) can produce every color of the rainbow, and tropical subfamilies Modisiminae (8) and Pholcinae may hold the secrets for future optical device miniaturiza- (~21). The evolution of the pholcid spinning apparatus is tion. We used an interdisciplinary biomimetic approach to characterized by multiple convergent losses of one specific investigate both questions by including techniques such set of spigots. Male ocular area modifications have evolved as: morphological characterization (SEM/TEM), phyloge- about 20 times independently in pholcids. Such multiple netic analysis, spectrophotometry, optical simulation, and convergences are not only examples of ‘noise’ in phyloge- rapid prototyping by 3D nano-printing. Particularly with netic analyses (the problem) but can guide future research the rapid prototyping capability, we can create engineer- on the macroecology, behavioral ecology, and functional ing models to test biological hypotheses in a controlled morphology of the respective taxa (the promise). manner that may not be feasible with the living systems. Keywords: convergence, Pholcidae, microhabitat-shifts, Hence, biomimicry is not only taking what we learned leaf-dwelling from natural systems to practical human applications, but it is also providing insightful feedbacks and ideas to Poster presentation deepen our understanding of the biological system subject Multiple convergent evolution of male sexual matter during the process. ‘head’ modifications in pholcid spiders Keywords: structural color, biomimicry, Theraphosidae, Bernhard A. Huber1, Alejandro Valdez-Mondragón2, Salticidae, Maratus Dimitar Dimitrov3 1Alexander Koenig Research Museum of Zoology, Oral presentation Bonn, Germany; 2Instituto de Biologia UNAM, Multiple convergences in pholcid spiders: Municipio de Santa Cruz Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, Mexico; problem and promise 3Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, Norway Bernhard A. Huber1, Alejandro Valdez-Mondragón2, [email protected] Dimitar Dimitrov3 Sexual modifications of the male ocular area (‘head’) 1Alexander Koenig Research Museum of Zoology, occur in a wide variety of pholcid genera, in particular Bonn, Germany; 2Instituto de Biología UNAM, in the subfamily Pholcinae. These range from simple Municipio de Santa Cruz Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, Mexico; median or paired processes to exaggerated eye-stalks, 3Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, Norway conspicuous turrets, and curiously waxed brushes [email protected] of hairs. As a first step towards understanding the Based on our upcoming molecular phylogeny of Pholcidae evolution of these modifications, we summarize all (currently 380 species, 61 genera) we explore multiple known cases and map them on our current molecular convergences at three levels: ecology (microhabitats), phylogeny of the family (380 species, 61 genera). ultrastructure (spinning apparatus), and sexual dimor- There is strong evidence that male ‘head’ modifica- phism (male ocular area modifications). In tropical tions originated at least 20 times independently within forests, pholcid spiders occupy a wide range of microhabi- pholcids. Similar to linyphiids, the copulatory position tats, such as the leaf litter, large sheltered spaces, and the of pholcids is a likely explanation for this multiple
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convergences; however, in contrast to linyphiids, gus- Poster presentation tatorial courtship does not seem to be involved in Species diversity of Cybaeus kuramotoi- pholcids except for one single case (Modisimus culici- group (Cybaeidae) in Japan and evolution nus). This leaves a wide range of possible functions, of mating plugs associated with antagonis- including intersexual as well as intrasexual scenarios tic coevolution between males and females that may explain the evolution of these structures. Yoh Ihara Obviously, this is a rich field for future observational Hiroshima Environment and Health Association, 9-1 and experimental studies. Hirosekita-machi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima 730-8631, Japan Keywords: Sexual dimorphism, convergent evolution, [email protected] Pholcidae, ‘head’ structures The genus Cybaeus (Cybaeidae) comprises numerous Oral presentation species endemic to Japan. The number of described species Species discovery in the Pilbara: the of Japanese Cybaeus has reached 80 and there still remains curious case of Conothele undescribed species as many as described ones. They vary in body length with a wide range from ca. 3 to 15 mm, and a Joel Huey, Mia Hillyer, Mark Harvey local species assemblage usually consists of representatives Western Australian Museum, Locked Bag 49, Welsh- of different size classes. Each species of the assemblage often pool DC, WA 6986, Australia constitutes a closely related species group together with [email protected] other similar-sized species. A series of the medium-sized Many Mygalomorph genera harbor undescribed species species groups (approximately 5–7 mm in body length), diversity. In Western Australia, this was made evident in such as the kuramotoi-group and the ashikitaensis-group, a recently published barcoding study, which found ~140 is most diverse in western Japan. The kuramotoi-group con- putative new species across seven families, defined by a sists of more than 30 (including 7 described) species. The 9.5% divergence threshold at CO1. For the genus Cono- group can be also characterized by presence of the mating thele (Ctenizidae), 13 putative species were revealed plugs, whose morphology are species-specific. The mating in that study. In a more comprehensive molecular plugs are broken pieces of male’s own palp derived from an dataset discussed here, we have revealed upwards of 30 apical element of conductor. After the copulation, it is inlaid lineages, based on that same criterion. These lineages to a crevice of epigynal plate of female to block a copulatory suggest a complex evolutionary history for this genus in pore. Female internal genitalia of the kuramotoi-group are Australia, especially in the resource-rich Pilbara region more developed than those of C. ashikitaensis in which the of the north-west of the continent. Reconciling these mating plug is absent. In particular, the kuramotoi-group genetic data with morphology faces some constraints. has conspicuously elongated spermathecal bases in contrast Adult males are required for adequate morphological to rounded spermathecal bases of C. ashikitaensis. As the species level description and diagnoses, but available late mate priority may be enhanced by elongated sperma- collections have few adult male specimens that can thecal base, it is considered that males producing mating be sequenced and linked to the phylogeny. Here we plugs are adaptive if female’s multiple mating and resulting discuss avenues to reconcile these data, and explore the sperm competition are the norm. Furthermore, when males complex and incomplete biogeographic history of this have larger apical elements of conductor (= mating plug), genus in Australia. females tend to have more elongated spermathecal bases. Keywords: species discovery, systematics, phylogenetics, The sexually antagonistic coevolution hypotheses predict Mygalomorphae that female and male morphology will often coevolve. Keywords: Cybaeus, kuramotoi-group, geographic differentiation, mating plug
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Oral presentation University of Torino Via Accademia Albertina, 13, The dark side of climate change 10123 Torino Italy [email protected] Marco Isaia, Stefano Mammola Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, Human-driven climate deterioration is expected to University of Torino, Via Accademia Albertina, cause altitudinal shifts in biomes. There is a concern 13-10123 Torino, Italy for high alpine species that suitable habitats will be [email protected] reduced, and populations of cold-tolerant species The fact that caves are semi-closed systems with an almost living on mountain summits will be increasingly constant temperature makes them almost ideal sites where fragmented. Vesubia jugorum, the giant Alpine wolf to study where to study the effects of the ongoing global spiders, represents a typical example of such cold- warming on biological communities. In spite of that, the adapted species, as it occurs exclusively on rocky underlying mechanisms behind the response of specialized lands above 2,300 m asl. The species is paleoendemic, subterranean species to global warming are still largely reported exclusively from the Maritime Alps (NW- undiscussed. By means of two years observations data, Italy), with a very reduced number of populations we characterize the thermic conditions of 33 caves in the reported in literature. On the base of literature and Western Alps, and relate the hypogean microclimate to new original data, we generated a dataset compris- the occurrence of subterranean-adapted Troglohyphantes ing 37 occurrence of the species that we employed to spiders. Regression analysis points out a specific response to model potential present distribution of the species via temperature as well as a significant effect of the past Pleis- Ecological Niche Modeling (ENM). On the base of the tocene glaciations on their present distribution. In a second model results, we estimated the bioclimatic suitability step, we investigate the relationship between temperatures of V. jugorum in the past (Last Glacial Maximum, recorded in monitored caves and the corresponding external Pleistocene) and in the future, by projecting the temperature. We emphasize the mechanisms for which the present-day model into different global warming constant temperature recorded inside corresponds in good scenarios predicted by the International Panel on approximation to the mean value of the annual temperature Climate Change (IPCC). As expected, given the colder outside and use this direct relation to extend the results to climatic condition in the Pleistocene, the potential past a wider dataset, including records from over 350 caves in distribution of V. jugorum was found to be wider than the Western Italian Alps. Specifically, we employ Ecological today. Future forecasts based on different temperature Niche Modeling techniques to predict habitat suitability both scenarios showed a general declining trend of suitable in the Last Glacial Maximum and in future global warming areas all over the investigated area. We interpreted scenarios. In light of IPCC’s projections of global average our results in light of the expansion–contraction temperature increases, we assess the general sensitiveness of model, which describes the response of species to the our model species to future increase of temperature, point- fluctuations in temperature during glacial-interglacial ing out a future decline for hypogean adapted species. cycles. According to our results the giant Alpine spider Keywords: Global change, subterranean spiders, alpine expanded its distribution during cooler periods and spiders, ecological niche modelling contracted it during interglacials. Therefore, we hypothesize that the species is currently in a refugial Poster presentation phase, and we suggest that future warmer conditions Threatening the giant: the response of might determine a further contraction of the range. Vesubia jugorum to climate change Keywords: giant alpine spiders, global warming sce- Marco Isaia, Filippo Milano, Stefano Mammola narios, ecological niche modelling, endemic fauna Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology
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Oral presentation 2Independent researcher, Rua Barbara Augusta Garcia, Jumping spiders as a model for attention: 65, Colinas de Santa Bárbara, 37550-000, Pouso integration of novel techniques for eye- Alegre, MG, Brasil; 3Programa de Pós-Graduação em tracking and neural recording in the brain Zoologia UFPA-MPEG, Av. Perimetral 1901, CP 399, 66017-970, Belém, PA, Brasil; 4Independent researcher, Elizabeth Jakob1, Skye Long1,2, Duane Harland3, Robert Avenida do Contorno, 2250, apto 208, Floresta, Jackson3,4, Gil Menda5, Ronald Hoy5 30110-012, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil; 5A & 1Department of Psychological and Behavioral Sciences, L Engenharia e Serviços Ltda; Rua Jatobá, 15, Chácara UMass Amherst, Amherst MA 01003 USA; 2Department of da Lua, 68515-000, Parauapebas, Pará, Brasil Neuroscience, University of Arizona, Tucson AZ 85721, [email protected] USA; 3AgResearch, New Zealand School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, The arthropod pitfall trap is the capture technique Christchurch, New Zealand; 4ICIPE, Mbita Point, Kenya; most commonly used in sampling spiders. However, this 5Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell technique is not always used in long-term sampling, and University, Ithaca NY 14853, USA consequently, the component in which the diversity of [email protected] terrestrial spiders is studied is not performed. Our study Jumping spiders use their small brains to integrate infor- presents an alternative sampling technique for terres- mation from eight different eyes. Of these, one pair, the trial spiders (pitfall traps with drift fences; PTDF), and principal eyes, have retinae that move around to examine compares the species richness, relative abundance, and the visual field, whereas the other three pairs of eyes community structure perceived between this technique are non-moving. We present results from two unusual and the specific traps widely used for terrestrial spiders approaches to studying jumping spider perception. First, (pitfall traps; PT), and between the different designs, our eye-tracker enables us to record retinal position as buckets sizes, and spatial parameters widely used for a spider explores video images. Second, we are able to PTDF. Based on a great sampling effort in the Caxiuanã simultaneously record from the arcuate body region of the National Forest, Brazilian Amazonia, our results evi- brain as the spider observes video stimuli. We will present dences similar species richness obtained by PTDF and PT, the first data in which we record both retinal position and as well as patterns of species abundance and community arcuate body firing from spiders as they observe different structure. Among the different PTDF tested by us, both stimuli. We argue that we now have a powerful new model line and Y designs and buckets size (35l, 62l and 100l) for the study of visual attention in invertebrates. did not influence the effectiveness of the sampling tech- Keywords: salticids, gaze direction, attention, brain nique, with similar species richness, relative abundance, recordings, eyetracking and community structure perceived by them. However, there was a complementarity in the spatial parameters Poster presentation analyzed, evidenced by the species abundance and com- Sampling terrestrial spiders: evaluation munity structure patterns perceived by the traps installed of sampling protocols and presentation of widely in the region, and by them installed concentrated alternative methods in one area. Finally, the efficiency of the PTDF as sam- pling technique and component of the terrestrial spider Felipe E. C. Jaques1, Marco A. Ribeiro-Júnior2, Erika L. S. protocol is evidenced, and this technique is considered by Costa3, Nancy F. Lo-Man-Hung4, Jerriane O. Gomes5 us as a complementary and/or alternative way to sam- 1Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade pling terrestrial spiders in Amazonia. do Vale do Sapucaí, Av. Prefeito Tuany Toledo 470, Keywords: pitfall traps with drift fences, sampling Fátima, 37.550-000, Pouso Alegre, MG, Brasil; protocols
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Oral presentation taxa suggests this may be an underestimate of the actual From the proximate to the ultimate: number of species. This study attempts to identify distinct vertically-integrated research on the evo- morphological forms and determine the total number of lution of sociality in Anelosimus studiosus species of Mundochthonius present in western Oregon (Araneae: Theridiidae) and nearby areas. Pseudoscorpions were collected from temperate wet forests in western Oregon, Washington, and Thomas C. Jones, Nathaniel Q. Hancock California; 14 morphological features in 28 individuals Department of Biological Sciences East Tennessee were then examined and analyzed. Species were determined State University based on key taxonomic features, particularly coxal spine [email protected] shape. Morphological features differed in their degree of Anelosimus studiosus is unusual in that it forms both variability: chelal dentition, serrula shape, and flagella single-female subsocial colonies and multi-female social shape did not vary, while overall color, male abdomen colonies. Because of this variation, and the underly- shape, eye shape, epistome shape, tergite chaetotaxy, coxal ing variation in individual personality, the species has spine shape, intercoxal tubercle orientation, cheliceral proven to be an outstanding model for studies on the dentition, chelal hand appearance, right chela length, proximate underpinnings and ultimate selection for and right palpal femur length varied among individuals. the evolution of sociality. This talk will review what we Coxal spine shape varies more than currently documented know about the ecology and neurobiology of aggression in existing species descriptions: spines often vary in teeth and sociality in this species, and present some new data distribution and number and position of incisions between illustrating vertically-integrated lines of inquiry. Results spines of the same individual. Updated species descriptions from a study exploring how abiotic factors influence the using alternative taxonomic features may be required to species’ distribution suggest that both insolation and reflect observed morphological diversity. wind exposure affect both summer and winter colony Keywords: taxonomy, biodiversity, soil invertebrates, survival. Another study found that exposure to sub-lethal geographic barriers, morphometrics levels of Cadmium significantly increases individuals’ boldness and metabolic rate, without affecting overall Oral Presentation coordination and activity. This latter study suggests that Species diversity of the endemic genus through behavioral modulation, Cadmium could move Annandaliella in Western Ghats, India more quickly into the ecological food web. Sunil K Jose Keywords: sociality, ecology, neurobiology, toxicology Department of Zoology, Deva Matha College, Kuravilangad, Kerala, India-686633 Student - Poster presentation [email protected] Morphology of Mundochthonius (Pseudo- scorpiones) in Western Oregon Annandaliella Hirst, 1909 is a primitive genus endemic to Western Ghats. The genus is established by Hirst (1909) David S. Johnston1, Susan E. Masta2 to accommodate the new species A. travancorica Hirst, 1726 SW 11th Ave Apt #104, Portland, OR 9720, USA; 1909 collected from Trivandrum. Later two more species 2Department of Biology, P.O. Box 751, Portland State are recorded from this genus: A. pectinifera Gravely, 1935 University, Portland, OR 97207-0751, USA and A. ernakulamensis Jose & Sebastian, 2008. It is very [email protected] close to Plesiophrictus Pocock, 1899 but the presence of Three species of the genus Mundochthonius (Pseudoscor- cheliceral spines on the prolateral surfaces distinguishes piones, Chthoniidae) have previously been identified from it from related genera of theraphosids. The genus is pres- western Oregon; however, our work with other chthoniid ently known only from two states of India, indicating
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its restrictive distribution. They are ground dwelling forests of Western Ghats in Kerala, India - Nayamakkadu spiders found under rocks and boulders. Due to their shola (Eravikulam National Park), Chembra Peak and secluded nature, data on these endemic spiders are very Aanamudi Shola National Park, all within a short geo- much limited. In this paper I rediagnose and illustrate graphic range of 150 km. Examination of the specimens two poorly known species based on new specimens collected revealed incredible intraspecific variation in the morphol- from different parts of Western Ghats. One new species of ogy of pedipalp and epigiyne. Examination of four male Annandaliella is also recorded from Kerala. Photos and and three female specimens revealed notable variations new data on their distribution, habits and morphometry especially in the morphology of the basal arch of median are also provided. The new species Annandaliella nigra apophysis, conductor, embolus, terminal apophysis, sp. nov. is collected from Maalippara, Ernakulam district, epigyne plate, spermathecae and copulatory ducts. Detailed Kerala state, India. It can be separated from A. travanco- examination of the epigyne also revealed the presence of rica Hirst, 1909 by the presence of twin spermathecal lobes mating plugs, which were hitherto unknown in the genus. diverging from each other, distal end with club shaped The plug was found to be embedded in the copulatory lateral bud and three intercheliceral spines on the opposed opening and in the cleft between the posterior and lateral surfaces of chelicerae. Regarding the known species A. tra- lobes of the median plate and covered the surrounding vancorica Hirst, 1909, its presence in the northern district area of the epigyne. Either left or right or both copulatory of Kozhikode is also reported along with diagnosis of the openings were found to be plugged. species. Similarly diagnosis and distributional records of Keywords: distribution map, Shola, taxonomy, tropical A. ernakulamensis Jose & Sebastian 2008 is also provided. montane wet temperate forest, Western Ghats. The primitive nature of these spiders makes them highly vulnerable to extinction due to land degradation and defor- Student - Oral presentation estation. Unless urgent measures are taken to study and Sexually dimorphic tarsal features in protect these primitive spiders their existence will be at risk. mygalomorph spiders Keywords: Taxonomy, Mygalomorph spiders. Juliana Paneczko Jurgilas, José Paulo Leite Guadanucci UNESP, Instituto de Biociências, Departamento de Oral presentation Zoologia. Av. 24 A, 1515 - Bela Vista, Rio Claro - SP Intraspecific variation of pedipalp and 13506-900, Brazil. epigyne morphology in Plebs mitratus (Simon, [email protected] 1895) (Araneae: Aranediae), with comments on the occurrence of mating plug in the genus We investigated tarsi I and IV of males and females rep-
resentatives of all 16 families of mygalomorph spiders Mathew M. Joseph, Jimmy Paul, Pradeep M. Sankaran, (except for Microstigmatidae and Paratropididae, for Pothalil A. Sebastian which only males were examined) to verify sexually Division of Arachnology, Department of Zoology, Sacred dimorphic features regarding adhesive and sensory setae. Heart College, Thevara, Cochin, Kerala 682 013, India. A distinct type of sensory setae was found only in males, [email protected] additional to those sensory setae that are present in both Plebs Joseph & Framenau, 2012 (Araneae: Aranediae) is an sexes. The male sensory setae, which are shorter and have orb weaving spider genus distributed in Australia-Pacific a distinct apical end compared to the normal sensory region, South-East Asia, China, Japan, Korea and India setae, are located on the ventral face of tarsi. According and currently comprises 23 spp. P. mitratus, one of the to the relationship hypothesis based on total evidence Indian representatives of the genus, commonly prefers for mygalomorphs, we can presume that adhesive setae mountainous habitats. Specimens of P. mitratus were col- probably appeared three times independently: in Dipluri- lected from three different tropical montane wet temperate nae, Crassitarsae and Euctenizoidina. In Diplurinae and
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Crassitarsae, males have the ventral tarsi covered with foraging strategies (in the subfamily in general) are not scopula (adhesive setae) and mixed with male sensory well studied. The aims of our study are to 1) test bio- setae, whereas females have only adhesive setae (except geographical hypotheses of Indian Ocean argyrodines for Cyrtaucheniidae, that the males have only the male and 2) to understand the evolutionary history of their sensory setae). The distinction between a scopula com- foraging strategies. Here, we construct a preliminary posed of adhesive or sensory setae is only possible when molecular phylogeny of western Indian Ocean argyrodines examined under SEM. In other families, Actinopodidae, using mitochondrial (CO1) and nuclear (ITS2) genes to Antrodiaetidae, Atypidae, Ctenizidae, Hexathelidae, infer the biogeographical history of argyrodines and the Migidae, Paratropididae and representatives of Euagrinae phylogenetic relationship between kleptoparasites and (Dipluridae) male representatives have sensory scopula araneophages. Our phylogeny complements a previous only, whereas females have just a few long setae. Moreover, study done by Su & Smith (2014), and we use it to test the in these families, plus Idiopidae and Euctenizidae, we hypothesis that kleptoparasitism evolved from araneophagy observed differences in density of sensory setae of male (which itself evolved from a free-living ancestor). Our study scopula. The plesiomorphic state, as it is in Liphistius, furthermore sets the stage for future co-phylogenetic analy- where males have sensory scopula three times denser in ses of argyrodines and hosts to determine their interplay. hind legs, was observed in Actinopodidae, Hexathelidae and Keywords: biogeography, Argyrodinae, phylogeny, Paratropididae (p<0.005), as well as in Antrodiaetidae, kleptoparasitism, araneophagy Atypidae and Dipluridae (Euagrinae). The apomorphic state, where sensory setae are denser in front legs, was Student - oral presentation observed in Bipectina: Cyrtaucheniidae, Idiopidae and Systematics of the Australasian araneid Nemesiidae (p<0.001). These results provides new data for Phonognatha and evolution of orb-web phylogenetic and functional morphology approaches. leaf retreats Keywords: Mygalomorphae, morphology, tarsus, seta *Robert J. Kallal, Gustavo Hormiga The George Washington University, Department of Student - poster presentation Biological Sciences, 302 Bell Hall 2029 G St NW Island hideouts of thieves and assassins; Washington, DC 20052, USA biogeography of Indian Ocean Argyrodinae [email protected] spiders The phylogenetic relationships at the base of Araneidae *Muhammad Kala, Ingi Agnarsson are either contentious or poorly known. Two early diverg- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Room ing lineages within Araneidae are the Australasian genera 120A Marsh Life Sciences Building, 109 Carrigan Phonognatha Simon, 1894 and Deliochus Simon, 1894. Drive, Burlington, VT 05405, USA Members of these genera have been placed in Araneidae, [email protected] Tetragnathidae, and Nephilidae over the course of the past The diversity of arthropods inhabiting Indian Ocean 150 years. Neither genus has been revised, and 11 species islands is estimated to be high but remains poorly known. and subspecies are described between them. Some of Argyrodinae spiders (Araneae: Theridiidae) are found on these taxa are biologically interesting for reasons includ- all of the major islands and are notorious for their unusual ing curling a leaf in the orb-web to use as a retreat, male foraging strategies such as occupying webs of host spiders and female cohabitation prior to mating, and reversible to steal resources (kleptoparasitism), and preying on other color change. Recent analyses place them in the araneid spiders (araneophagy). Despite their ubiquity, however, subfamily Zygiellinae, which is either sister to Nephilinae the historical biogeography and dispersal patterns of at the base of Araneidae, or sister to all other araneids. Indian Ocean argyrodines as well as the evolution of these Morphological examination of more than 2,000 specimens
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and our own fieldwork indicates there is one undescribed Keywords: Herbert and Lorna Levi, Phoroncidia, struc- Phonognatha species, and multiple new combinations and tural color, biodiversity, Grand Teton National Park synonymies with taxa previously described as Araneus. Pre- liminary phylogenetic analyses including the Queensland Student - oral presentation endemic P. melanopyga (L. Koch, 1871) are equivocal Individual behavioral differences influence with respect to the reciprocal monophyly of the genera. patterns of social interactions and bacte- This could suggest the leaf curl and incomplete orb-web of rial transmission dynamics Phonognatha were lost secondarily, but all taxa retained *Carl N. Keiser1, Noa Pinter-Wollman2, Jeffrey G. Lawrence1, the non-sticky temporary spiral in the final web. Jonathan N. Pruitt1,3 Keywords: Araneidae, Australasia, leaf-curling, system- 1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pitts- atics, taxonomy, Zygiellinae burgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA; 2BioCircuits Institute, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla CA 92093, USA; Oral presentation 3Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, Honoring Herbert W. Levi: studies on University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA Phoroncidia and an interdisciplinary [email protected] project based on spider biodiversity in Grand Teton National Park Despite the importance of host traits for the likelihood of the transmission of microbes from exposed to susceptible Sarah J. Kariko individuals, inter-individual variation is seldom considered Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, in studies of wildlife disease. Here, we test the influence of 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA host behavioral phenotypes on social network structure [email protected] and the likelihood of cuticular bacterial transmission In 2014, arachnology lost a major figure in Herbert W. from exposed individuals to susceptible group-mates Levi. Throughout the course of his career, first at the Uni- using female social spiders (Stegodyphus dumicola). versity of Wisconsin and then as curator of arachnology at Based on the patterns of contact between resting indi- Harvard’s Museum of Comparative Zoology, he described viduals of known behavioral types, we assessed whether 1,254 species of spiders and authored over 200 scientific individuals assorted according to their behavioral traits. publications. His scholarly and taxonomic contributions We found that individuals preferentially interacted with are well known; less obvious yet equally important were individuals of unlike behavioral phenotypes (i.e., contact his interests in conservation and stewardship influenced networks are behaviorally disassortative). We next applied a by his early studies with Aldo Leopold and brought to frui- GFP-transformed cuticular bacterium, Pantoea sp., to indi- tion through his and his wife Lorna’s dedication to local viduals and allowed them to interact with an unexposed conservation and education efforts. This presentation colony-mate for 24h. We found evidence for transmission will pay tribute to Herb by highlighting two areas of my of bacteria in 55% of cases. Though, the likelihood of research and how this work was influenced by his men- transmission was influenced jointly by the behavioral torship. Firstly, I will discuss my taxonomic research and phenotypes of both the exposed and susceptible individuals: investigation of structural color in Phoroncidia stemming 69% of the instances where we detected bacterial transmis- from Herb’s publication “American Spiders of the Genus sion were cases where the exposed individual was bolder Phoroncidia” in 1964. Secondly, I will describe my study than its susceptible colony-mate. Indirect transmission via of spiders of Grand Teton National Park retracing Herb contaminated silk took place in only 15% of cases. Thus, and Lorna’s historic invertebrate survey from 1950 and the bodily contact appears key to transmission in this system. resulting interdisciplinary project in celebration of Herb These data represent a fundamental step towards under- and Lorna and the centennial of the National Park Service. standing how individual traits jointly influence larger-scale
118 DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE REPORTS | No. 3, July 2, 2016 20th International Congress of Arachnology social and epidemiological dynamics. rely more on aquatic insects as their primary food source. Keywords: behavior, bacterial transmission, social Therefore, impacts to urban stream ecosystems could have network analysis, social spider strong indirect effects on riparian spiders, such as changes in insect prey abundance and diversity, along with the pos- Student - oral presentation sible bioaccumulation of aquatic contaminants. Riparian tetragnathids rely heavily on Keywords: dietary analysis, riparian tetragnathids, aquatic subsidies in a tropical urban stable isotopes, urbanization watershed Student - Oral presentation *Sean P. Kelly, Elvira Cuevas, Alonso Ramírez Next generation sequencing of gut content Universidad de Puerto Rico, Departamento de Biología, to study niche ecology in spiders Río Piedras P.O. Box 23360 San Juan, PR 00931-3360 [email protected] Susan Kennedy1, Henrik Krehenwinkel1, Rosemary Gillespie1, Stanislav Pekar2 Some taxa of tetragnathid spiders are considered special- 1Dept. of Environmental Science, Policy, and Manage- ists of aquatic ecosystems and are major consumers of ment University of California - Berkeley 130 Mulford emerging aquatic insects. However, little is known about Hall #3114 Berkeley, CA 94720-3114 USA; 2Depart- how urbanization may have indirect effects on riparian ment of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, spider assemblages due to changes in prey communities Kotlářská 267/2, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic along urban stream gradients. We predicted that due to [email protected] the loss of terrestrial primary productivity in more urban- ized areas there will be less terrestrial prey available Dietary studies in spiders have historically been dif- and riparian tetragnathids would rely more heavily on ficult due to the infrequency of observing predation aquatic insects as a major energy source. Six study sites events; the fact that spiders consume prey in liquid were selected along the Río Piedras watershed that flows form, leaving no parts for morphological identification; through the center of San Juan, Puerto Rico. These six and the limitations of traditional barcoding methods, sites represent individual subwatersheds and form a which have not always been able to distinguish spiders gradient of increasing urbanization according to percent from their closely related arthropod prey without the vegetation in each subwatershed. To conduct stable isotope use of blocking primers. However, recent methodologi- dietary analyses, we collected samples of basal resources cal innovations and advances in sequencing technology for aquatic and terrestrial food webs, primary consumers have enabled powerful and detailed studies of spider gut and two species of tetragnathids (Leucauge argyra and contents using metagenomics. We developed a protocol Tetragnatha boydi). T. boydi are generally nocturnal and for extracting, amplifying and sequencing high yields of are known to be aquatic ecosystem specialists, while L. prey DNA from spiders’ guts using an Illumina platform argyra are more diurnal and are not exclusive to aquatic and without the need for blocking primers. Using the ecosystems. Utilizing Bayesian mixing models we found agelenid spider Hololena adnexa, we tested several that the proportion of aquatic insects in the diet of ripar- variables in the extraction process and used the results to ian tetragnathids increased along the urban gradient create an optimized protocol. This protocol recovers prey from ~50% in the less urbanized areas of the watershed DNA at a higher proportion of the total yield than has to ~95% at the most urbanized sites. There was not a been previously obtainable. It also addresses the problem large difference in the diets of the two species, although T. of secondary predation by substantially decreasing the boydi overall was found to consume greater proportions detection of secondarily consumed prey. The assemblage of aquatic insects. These findings support our prediction of prey we recovered from H. adnexa closely resembles that in heavily urbanized areas riparian tetragnathids the findings of previous observational studies, supporting
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the accuracy of our method. We are now using this isotopes, which may promote speciation by isolating approach to measure the trophic niches of spiders in the nearby populations from each other. Work is now under- Hawaiian Tetragnatha radiation in order to elucidate the way to test for dietary differences among the spider groups role of diet in the rapid diversification of this lineage. using gut content metagenomics. Keywords: gut content, metagenomics, trophic niche, Keywords: niche ecology, trophic ecology, stable isotopes, barcoding adaptive radiation
Student - poster presentation Student - Poster presentation Stable isotopes illuminate niche ecology in Diversity and community structure of an adaptive radiation of Hawaiian spiders arboreal spiders (Araneae) in grassland- shrub systems *Susan Kennedy1, Rosemary Gillespie1, Todd Dawson2 1Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Eric Knutson Management, University of California - Berkeley, Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest 130 Mulford Hall #3114 Berkeley, CA 94720-3114, Management, Colorado State University, 2220 S. USA; 2Department of Integrative Biology, University of College Ave, Fort Collins, CO, USA California - Berkeley, 3040 Valley Life Sciences Build- [email protected] ing #3140 Berkeley, CA 94720-3140, USA Native grasslands are among the most imperiled ecosys- [email protected] tems and with continued habitat alteration, we require Stable isotopes offer valuable information on organisms’ greater understanding on the species potentially affected. niche ecology. Used in the context of adaptive radiation, An important component of the invertebrate community these data can provide fascinating insights into the of these grasslands, are spiders. However, relatively little processes by which lineages evolve. Carbon and nitrogen is known about arboreal species in grassland systems. For isotopes have proven especially useful in food web studies, instance, temperature, humidity, and structural complex- as they tend to increase incrementally with successive ity of many perennials may allow spiders to segregate in trophic levels. Isotopes also reflect the chemical stoichi- these systems and be partially determined by these ecore- ometry of an individual’s habitat, as isotopic signatures gion effects. Thus, without including shrub habitat and its are passed from soil and water to plants, and on to con- occupants in modern grassland models, we cannot clearly sumers. We used C and N stable isotopes to measure niches determine what ecological drivers within a landscape are of spiders in the Hawaiian Tetragnatha adaptive radia- crucial to these spiders survival and its implications for tion. Tetragnatha spiders of both the cursorial (Spiny overall species distribution. The objective is to determine Leg) and web-building groups were collected from sites the responses of arboreal spider populations to habitat of different geologic age and were tested for their isotopic structure and landscape attributes of native grassland signatures. Ariamnes spiders, which specialize on hunting shrubs and how those patterns scale to define habitat other spiders, were also included, and foliar samples were use and niche width. To assess the factors responsible taken as a baseline. We found a clear stepwise increase in for diversity variation, I examined data collected for a δ15N from plants to Spiny Leg spiders to web-builders to multi-year biodiversity study within selected Colorado Ariamnes for all sites tested; furthermore, as substrate age National Grassland sites. Preliminary data indicates that increased, δ15N increased in every category. These results shrub species offer unique structural or temporal factors suggest that 1) web-building Tetragnatha may occupy a to spider communities in grasslands. To measure the higher position in the food web than their Spiny Leg con- responses to landscape variation, I examined how dif- geners, and 2) Tetragnatha and Ariamnes spiders exhibit ferent spider species respond to broad-scale to fine-scale high site fidelity, reflected in their site-specific nitrogen ecological gradients (elevation, vegetation density). In this
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way, spider communities within grassland shrubs serve as of Sciences, 1 Beichen West Road, Chaoyang District, a model system for habitat diversity, fragmentation, patch Beijing 100101, PR, China size, and other aspects of spatial heterogeneity. [email protected] Keywords: grassland, Araneae, spatial heterogeneity Reliable field guides with nice, colourful photographs of spiders, with their correct names, are not widespread in Poster presentation Southeast Asia. The oldest is a field guide to common Database of South East Asian jumping spiders Singapore spiders (1989), only to be followed by guides for Peter Koomen Thailand (2001, citrus orchards only), Hong Kong (2007, Uiterdijksterweg 45, NL-8931BL Leeuwarden, The jumping spiders only), China (2011, entirely), Brunei Netherlands (2013), and Malaysia (2015). Most of the scientific litera- [email protected] ture describes how spiders look like in collections, after at least several years of preservation with consequent loss of In 2001 I started to study the spiders (labah-labah in colours. This all makes it difficult to interest the general Malay) of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. However, summariz- public or even life science students in tropical arachnol- ing literature (field guides, handbooks) was lacking, and ogy. We need more field guides (printed, on the internet, or internet databases were still in their infancy. I started the both) to show what magnificent creatures live in tropical compilation of a database with all the pictures (drawings, rain forests, which are constantly under threat. In July 2015 photographs) from the scattered literature referring to the first steps were taken to prepare a field guide with pho- species or genera of jumping spiders (Salticidae) that may tographs of live spiders of Xishuangbanna prefecture, in the occur on Borneo (so: literature describing species from very south of China, close to Laos. Here, expanding rubber Borneo and neighbouring areas like Sumatra, Java, West- plantations pose the greatest threat. Within three weeks, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Southeast-China, Vietnam, more than 750 specimens were photographed from various Philippines). The database ‘Labah-labah Sabah’ was devel- points of view. The spiders were collected by hand and by oped in such a way (MS Access, simple structure, pictures fogging, during day and night, by a team of four collectors. incorporated within the database), that it should be easy All spiders were anaesthetized and photographed against a to use. It now contains about 10,500 pictures. Although a white background, in such a way that important features tremendous progress was made with internet databases, my will be well visible. Afterwards the spiders were preserved in database still has a few advantages. For example, pictures 96% ethanol and transported to Beijing for proper identi- can be arranged in an ‘atlas’ of pictorial datasheets per fication and, in some cases, DNA analysis. A first Chinese species (a Southeast Asian jumping spider book!) or in version of the ‘Xishuangbanna spider photo guide’ with overviews of similarly looking genital organs. Its major about 150 species is expected to be ready in 2017. drawback is, of course, that it is restricted to Salticidae and Keywords: identification, photography, field guide, to Southeast Asia. If it still may be a useful tool for you, I South China will be glad to provide you with a (free) copy of the whole database (1.95 GB) and/or a pdf of the atlas (150 MB). Oral presentation Keywords: Salticidae, Southeast Asia database, identification Community assembly over evolutionary time: application of next generation Poster presentation sequencing for high throughput assess- Towards a spider photo guide of Xish- ment of Hawaiian arthropod diversity uangbanna, Yunnan, China Henrik Krehenwinkel1, Kennedy Susan1, Henderson Jim2, Peter Koomen1, Shuqiang Li2 Russack Joe2, Simison Brian2, Gillespie Rosemary1 1Uiterdijksterweg 45, NL-8931BL Leeuwarden, The 1Environmental Science, Policy and Management, Netherlands; 2Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy University of California, Berkeley, USA; 2Center for
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Comparative Genomics, California Academy of Sci- Baltzerstrasse 6, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland ences, San Francisco, USA [email protected] [email protected] Hemolymph pressure in spiders serves many functions, Home to impressive and diverse adaptive radiations, the e.g., extension of leg joints. The hemolymph pressure Hawaiian Archipelago is a biodiversity hotspot of global pump is generally considered to be the prosoma that importance. In conjunction with its geographic isolation can be flattened by dorsoventrally running muscles. and well known geology, the island chain is also considered In many taxa of Araneomorphae, a peculiar sclero- a natural laboratory for the study of island biogeography. tisation of the body is seen, i.e. sclerotised prosomal Although much of the Hawaiian biodiversity is comprised pleurae being immovably connected to carapace and of arthropods, very little is known about diversification sternum, a sclerotised pedicel, and abdominal scuta. and assembly of Hawaiian arthropod communities. In a A functional-morphological analysis of the armored collaborative project, we currently aim to understand the species Comaroma simoni (Anapidae), Perania nasuta, processes underlying Hawaiian arthropod community and Indicoblemma lannaianum (Tetrablemmidae) assembly. The emerging technologies of next generation leads to the hypothesis of a hemolymph pressure pump sequencing now allow for unprecedented insights into the in the opisthosoma (and not in the prosoma) of these contribution of species interactions, abiotic factors and (and presumably all armored) spiders. Armored spiders island geology, in shaping Hawaii’s diversity. We have devel- transformed the prosoma into a stiff, inflexible capsule oped next generation sequencing based tools for rapid, by connecting carapace and sternum with a largely cost efficient and large scale analysis of taxonomy, sclerotised pleura, show a strongly thickened opistho- biogeography and species interactions. Here, we present somal cuticle, adaptations in areas of the opisthosoma results from the application of Illumina sequencing to: where the cuticle has to be membranous for functional (1) Multi-locus phylogenetic and taxonomic analyses. By reasons (e.g., mechanosensitive organs), a pressure- simple amplicon sequencing, we are building a comprehen- generating specialized muscular “abdominal sac” and sive barcode reference library for Hawaiian arthropod taxa. corresponding cuticular muscle attachments, a reduc- (2) Metabarcoding of mixed arthropod samples. We have tion of the prosomal musculi laterales, and a reduced optimized barcoding protocols for qualitative and quantita- number of extrinsic coxal leg muscles. By transforming tive analyses of the species composition in communities. the prosoma into a stiff capsule and by generating hemo- (3) Large scale population genetics. We have reestablished lymph pressure in the opisthosoma, armored spiders microsatellites as cost efficient markers for large scale pop- presumably protect their sensitive pleurae from predators ulation genetic studies across multiple species. We present (e.g., pompilid wasps) and save energy: the leg coxae an Illumina sequencing protocol for these markers and a move in a stiff frame provided by the hardened pleura, simple software solution for data analysis. in this way making the striated and energy-consuming Keywords: Illumina sequencing, Hawaii, metabarcoding, musculi laterales and a part of the extrinsic coxal community analysis muscles superfluous. Juveniles of armored spiders show no or only minor sclerotisation of the body and therefore Oral presentation presumably generate hemolymph pressure “normally” The hemolymph pressure pump of in the prosoma. This is explained by the need to retain armored spiders (Araneae) membranous pleurae as long as the animals have to Christian Kropf molt and it further explains why no armored species Natural History Museum Bern, Department of Inver- occur in Mesothelae and Mygalomorphae. tebrates, Bernastrasse 15, CH-3005 Bern, Switzerland. Keywords: functional morphology, hemolymph pressure, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, armored spiders, muscles
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Oral presentation Oral presentation The evolution of genital complexity and Spider feet evolution: multiple acquisitions of mating rates in size dimorphic spiders distal articulations in homologous location Matjaž Kuntner1,2, Ren-Chung Cheng1, Simona Kralj- Facundo M. Labarque1,2, Jonas O. Wolff3,9, Alexander Fišer1, Chen-Pan Liao3, Jutta M. Schneider4, Mark A. Sanchez Ruiz1, Peter Michalik4, Charles E. Griswold2,5-7, Elgar5 Martín J. Ramírez8 1Evolutionary Zoology Laboratory, Biological Institute 1Lab. Esp. Colecões Zoológicas, Instituto Butantan, Av. ZRC SAZU, Ljubljana, Slovenia; 2National Museum of Vital Brasil, 1500, 05503-900 São Paulo, SP Brazil; 2Cali- Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, fornia Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Drive, D.C., USA; 3Department of Life Science, Tunghai San Francisco, CA 94118 USA; 3Functional Morphology University, Taichung, Taiwan; 4Zoological Institute, and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute, University of Biozentrum Grindel, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Kiel, Kiel, Germany; 4Zoologisches Institut und Museum, Germany; 5School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität, Greifswald, Germany; Victoria 3010, Australia 5Biology Department, San Francisco State University, [email protected] 1600 Holloway Ave, San Francisco, CA 94132, USA; 6Envi- ronmental Science, Policy and management, University Genital diversity may derive from a sexual conflict of California, 101 Sproul Hall, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA; over polyandry, where male genital features function 7Biology Department, The George Washington University, to manipulate female mating frequency against her 2121 I St NW, Washington, DC 20052, USA; 8Museo Argen- interest. Correlated genital evolution across animal tino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”, groups is consistent with this view, but linking genital Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas complexity with mating frequencies remains untested. (CONICET), Av. Ángel Gallardo 470, C1405DJR, Buenos In extremely sexually size dimorphic spiders (Nephili- Aires, Argentina; 9Department of Biological Sciences, dae) males mutilate genitals to form genital plugs, but Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia these plugs do not always prevent female polyandry. [email protected] We tested, using phylogenetic comparative methods, whether male and female genital complexity coevolve, Most of the interaction of spiders with the substrate where and how they relate with the evolution of monogamy they live occur just on the tips of their legs. Because of and polygamy. We found a positive correlation between that, the different lifestyles have a profound impact on male and female genital complexity, and the prevalence their feet anatomy. Web builders and vagrant spiders of monogamy in species with complex male genitals, with adhesive setae are just two exemplary lifestyles suggesting that male genital complexity increases to where the functional anatomy is relatively well known limit female mating rates. Perhaps complex genitals from a few exemplary species with mostly solid tarsi (i.e., are required to facilitate breakage in which the geni- without distal articulations), but there are many spiders tals remain in the female. In turn, females may evolve with apical divisions in the tarsus. Recently it has been mechanisms to evade sexual monopolization by males, described eight exemplary configurations of feet from including sexual cannibalism and genital simplifica- diverse clades with various lifestyles and ethological tion. These data highlight the close evolutionary links specializations, to illustrate the diversity of structures and between post-mating sexual selection and sexual shapes that occur in spiders. Here we present new data on conflict. the tarsal evolution of Caponiidae, cryptic vagrant spiders Keywords: sexual selection, sexual size dimorphism, that live in the lift litter, which presents a simple foot female gigantism, genital complexity, sexually antago- configuration without suture but some genera may present nistic coevolution, Nephila a distal articulation, an enormously pretarsus, cuticular
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cracks (or pseudosegments) or, unusual for spiders, an that zinc-based fixatives are very effective in maintain- eversible fleshy arolium. Also, we focus on the evolution ing high-quality tissue integrity for simple and complex of raptorial feet, present in both web-builder and active histological investigations of a variety of arachnid tissues. hunters, which involves hyperflexion of the claws over Keywords: histology, histomorphometry, immunohisto- opposing macrosetae in several distant taxa. Finally, we chemistry, microscopy discuss the possible function of those configurations. Keywords: morphology, anatomy, spider feet, homology, Oral presentation evolution, phylogeny Ultrastructure in phylogeny of Araneomorpha Pekka T. Lehtinen Poster presentation Zoological Museum, 20014 University of Turku, Comparison of zinc-based fixatives for Turku, Finland histochemical and histomorphometric [email protected] analysis of arachnid tissues SEM-analysis of leg cuticle of araneomorph spiders Damien Laudier, Karl Lewis revealed that the well known fingerprint and scaly Laudier Histology, P.O. Box 78, New York, NY 10025, USA types represent two phylogenetic groups. It is possible to [email protected] confirm phylogenetic position of araneomorph taxa by Producing good histological preparations of arachnid study of ultrastructure. Type of cuticular ultrastructure tissues is often quite problematic. Studies that require is correlated to setal ultrastructure. Setae of groups high-fidelity morphological preservation for histomor- with fingerprint type cuticle are plumose or feathery, phometric measurements, or spatial localization of while setae of groups with scaly cuticle are serrate or histochemical events, inconsistent or poor histologic simple. Fingerprint pattern is plesiomorphic in Ara- preparations can render samples useless for light micros- neomorpha. Ultrastructure of basal trichobothrial plate copy analysis. The underlying causes of this variability and tarsal organ are useful in study of phylogenetic are not always clear-cut. However, choice of tissue fixative relationships. Fingerprint type cuticle is present in is a significant factor in determining the quality outcome Dysderomorpha (including Hypochiloidea), Eresoi- of an arachnid histologic preparation. Zinc-based fixa- dea, RTA-clade with related Deinopoidea, Lycosoidea, tives have proven to provide exceptional morphological and Dionycha. Leg cuticle of Thomisidae is papular preservation, retention of DNA/RNA integrity and anti- or smooth with remnants of fingerprint type, but their genic properties of vertebrate tissue and some insect setal structure is plumose and sometimes modified tissues. However, the application of zinc-based fixatives to resemble the branched type in Stiphropodidae and on arachnid tissues has been quite limited. This study Zodariidae. Scaly cuticle is present in all Araneoidea compares histological preparations of select tissue types s.lat., Archaeoidea and Palpimanoidea s.str. (but not all such as neuronal, ocular, digestive and reproductive Palpimanoidea sensu Platnick & Forster). Filistatidae from several arachnid orders including: Araneae, Scor- with different ultrastructure in all of its structures must piones, Opiliones and Solifugae. Specimen samples were be excluded from Araneomorpha. Nicodamidae s. str. fixed immediately post-sacrifice with various zinc-based and Homalonychidae with their “scaly” cuticle remain fixatives or with commonly used formaldehyde-based with uncertain placing. Megadictynidae Lehtinen, 1967 fixatives (zinc-free). Following fixation, all tissue samples is excluded from Nicodamidae. Fingerprint pattern were comparably processed, embedded and sectioned. is best preserved in basal plates of large spines. Ara- Staining was either tinctorial or with an antigenic neomorpha has neither been evolved from any recent marker identifying a particular protein expression via group of Mygalomorpha nor from Liphistiomorpha, immunohistochemical technique. The results illustrate but all four groups, including Filistatomorpha have
124 DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE REPORTS | No. 3, July 2, 2016 20th International Congress of Arachnology independently evolved from extinct groups with no Araneoidea. Despite previous studies, the internal relation- living representatives. ship and monophyly of Sphecozone is doubtful, and Keywords: SEM, cuticular anatomy, taxonomy hypotheses about a possible revalidation of Hypselistoides Tullgren 1901, and Brattia Simon, 1894, its junior syn- Poster presentation onyms, are also discussed. In this context, a new cladistic Spiders from the “LLAMA” collection in the analysis of Sphecozone is in progress, and currently, is Museum of Comparative Zoology composed by 18 species of Sphecozone as the ingroup, one representative of Ceratinopsis, Dolabritor, Intecymbium, Laura Leibensperger Gonatoraphis, Psilocymbium, Tutaibo and Grammonota Museum of Comparative Zoology, Department of Emerton, 1882, and two of Moyosi Miller, 2007, comprising Invertebrate Zoology, Harvard University, 26 Oxford the outgroup. So far, preliminary results show only one St., Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA most parsimonious tree (L=169; CI=0.46; RI=0.57) and [email protected] confirm the uncertainties concerning the monophyly of List and photo display of spiders from the “LLAMA” col- Sphecozone, and the possible revalidation of Brattia. lection (Leaf Litter Arthropods of MesoAmerica) in the Keywords: phylogeny, parsimony, spiders, Neotropics, Invertebrate Zoology department collections, Museum Erigoninae of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University. Keywords: leaf litter spiders, museum collections Oral presentation Jumping spiders as models for the study Student - poster presentation of animal coloration Cladistic analysis of the genus Sphecozone Daiqin Li O. P.-Cambridge, 1870 (Linyphiidae) Department of Biological Sciences, National University Rafael Yuji Lemos¹,², Antonio D. Brescovit¹ of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543 ¹Laboratório Especial de Coleções Zoológicas, Instituto [email protected] Butantan, Av. Vital Brasil, 1500, Butantã, São Paulo, Coloration is one of the most striking phenotypic traits in SP–Brazil, CEP: 05503-900; ²Instituto de Biociências, animal kingdom and has evolved to serve a great diversity Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, travessa of functions including camouflage, mimicry, masquerade, 14, nº 321, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP– aposematism, pollination, social, and sexual signaling. Brazil, CEP: 05508-090 However, the increasingly complexities of reconstructing [email protected] how the receivers (conspecifics, predators and prey) per- The genus Sphecozone O. P.-Cambridge, 1870 includes 34 ceive, integrate and process spectral information present species and has S. rubescens as its type-species. Except challenges that hamper accurate, biologically-relevant for the North American S. magnipalpis Millidge 1993, appraisals of animal coloration. This is particularly true all species of the genus occur only in the Neotropics. The in jumping spiders (Salticidae). Salticids are renowned monophyly of Sphecozone is supported by the loss of the for their intricate vision-guided predatory and sexual paracymbium and the radical ridge, and the origin of the behavior, and particularly for the acute eyesight of their atrium. It has Tutaibo Chamberlin, 1916 as sister group, principal eyes, which also support color vision, including and is related to Ceratinopsis Emerton, 1882, Dolabritor UV vision. Most salticids are diurnal predators that prey Millidge, 1991, Intecymbium Miller, 2007, Gonatoraphis on various arthropods, including other spiders, thus pre- Millidge, 1991, and Psilocymbium Millidge, 1991 based dation pressure from salticids is one of potential selective on the absence or reduction of paracymbium, a struc- force of the evolution of arthropod coloration. Many male ture present in the palps of males of the superfamily salticids sport garish coloration and some have strikingly
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iridescent markings that are used sexual selection. These context in which autotomy occurs. The orientation of sur- make salticids exceptional models for the study of evolu- faces in natural habitats is likely to determine the ways in tion of color communication, and of animal signaling which spiders will react to the loss of a limb. While many in general. However, a lack of proper foundation on how spiders are able to regrow autotomized limbs, pholcids are salticids perceive, integrate and process colors from prey not. The ability to compensate for limb loss may ameliorate and conspecifics makes it difficult to develop the study selective forces that maintain regeneration in other spiders. of coloration of salticids and their prey arthropods in a Keywords: autotomy, regeneration, locomotion, kine- rigorous and coherent manner. In this paper, we therefore matics, Pholcidae review the state of current research, present the challenges, and urge for collaboration to develop a framework for the Student - Poster presentation study of salticid coloration and sensory ecology. How citizen scientists help scientists to do Keywords: jumping spiders, vision, color, visual modeling, real scientific researches on arachnology?— sensory ecology A case of spider survey in Taiwan Ying-Yuan Lo1,2, Wen-Chun Huang3, Chueh Hou4 Poster presentation 1Endemic Species Research Institute, Jiji, Nantou, Autotomy and surface incline interactively Taiwan; 2Department of Life Science, National Taiwan affect movement in pholcid spiders Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan; 3Lu-Yeh Junior high Moriah Thompson1, Todd D. Levine2, Kerri M. Wrinn3, school, Taitung, Taiwan; 4Taipei Zoo, Taipei, Taiwan Gary W. Gerald1 [email protected] 1Department of Biology, Nebraska Wesleyan The information of species-richness and distribution from University, Lincoln, NE 68504; 2Department of local to global is important for biodiversity conservation. Biology, Carroll University, Waukesha, WI 53186; However, to evaluate biodiversity status is difficult because 3Department of Biology, University of Wisconsin-Rock that we must input large time and financial aid. Recently, County, Janesville, WI 53546 we had an opportunity to overcome the difficulty by using [email protected] a citizen science approach that could help scientists Autotomy of limbs is a common trait across many arachnid to address large-scale data and has made substantive taxa that allows animals to escape from dangerous situa- contributions to ecological research and environmental tions. Isolating and identifying the effects of autotomy is management. Here we report on the citizen scientists who often undertaken in the lab, but choosing ecologically participated in the public project about a spider survey in relevant ways to measure these effects can be challeng- Taiwan, how to facilitate spider investigation, specimen ing. Building on previous studies of pholcid spiders, we sampling and scientific education. We assembled records examined the effects of autotomy on spiders traveling on from citizen scientists using social network platform surfaces at different angles. Using a repeated measures (Facebook group) and framed systematic investigation in design, we examined maximum speed, stride length, stride regular sampling area every year. It helped us to accumu- cycle and duty cycle of both spiders with all eight legs late great amount of data about spider diversity rapidly intact and spiders with an autotomized leg. Speed declined in large spatial and long time scale, to obtain specimens with increasing angle of the surface and with autotomy. A to help us to clarify taxonomic problem. The data is all variety of changes in stride kinematics were observed for public and shared according to principle of open data autotomized spiders as compared to intact spiders, which that made spiders have more attention by crowd. Notably, we believe is likely due to compensation for a missing leg. there are still some constraints and weakness we need to Overall, our data suggest that the angle of the surface on overcome in the future, therefore it should be cautious which spiders move is an important part of the ecological when using citizen science approach on Araneae studies.
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However, since environment status decline and biodiversity whereas in N. chibcha the embolus curves in S-shaped to loss increasingly, and “taxonomic scientist extinction”, the furrow at base of cymbium and RTA is directed towards cooperation among the amateurs, scientist and govern- the patellar apophysis which has a curved tip. Females of ment become critical to contribute for scientific research N. ernsti resembles females of N. chibcha for the simple on arachnology of taxonomy, species diversity, evolution epigynum, but in N. chibcha copulatory openings are and population tendency monitoring indeed. rectangular, ducts are highly coiled, with loop laterally in Keywords: citizen science, monitoring, species diversity irregular loops trajectory terminating in connecting with lateral surface of posterior spermathecae, fertilization tubes Poster presentation are small and lateral, whereas in N. ernsti the paired open- On the Neohahnia ernsti (Simon, 1897) ings (or “pockets”) are very conspicuous, with copulatory (Araneae: Hahniidae): redescription and ducts almost globular and small central fertilization tubes. new records Keywords: dwarf sheet spiders; Neotropics, Hahniinae, taxonomy Nancy F. Lo-Man-Hung1, David F. Candiani2, Alexandre B. Bonaldo3 Oral presentation 1Independent researcher, Avenida do Contorno, 2250, Variation in morphology and organiza- apto 208, Floresta, 30110-012, Belo Horizonte, Minas tion of the secondary eye optic neuropils Gerais, Brasil; 2Carste Ciência e Meio Ambiente, Rua across the order of Araneae Aquiles Lobo, 297, Floresta, 30150-160, Belo Hori- zonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil; 3Museu Paraense Emílio Skye Long1, Elizabeth Jakob2 Goeldi, Coordenação de Zoologia, Laboratório de 1The Center for Insect Science, University of Arizona Aracnologia, Avenida Perimetral 1901, 66077-530, Tucson, Rm 422 Gould-Simpson, Tucson, AZ 85721, Terra Firme, Belém, Pará, Brasil USA; 2Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, [email protected] University of Massachusetts Amherst, 135 Hicks Way, Tobin Hall, Fl 01, Rm 0011, Amherst, MA 010, USA Simon described Neohahnia ernsti based on males and [email protected] females from the West Indies. Afterwards, Petrunkevitch examined specimens from Puerto Rico. Neohahnia ernsti Although the relationship between behavior and the brain was originally assigned to Hahnia and transferred to is well studied in insects, the brains of only a few of the Neohahnia by Lehtinen, who provided figures from male some 40,000 spider species have been described and com- and female genitalia. Here, we redescribe and illustrate parative studies of spider brain morphology are limited N. ernsti. The male palp retrolateral view and female in scope. The current project uses a novel histological epigynum ventral view are illustrated for the first time, technique that allows for the rapid processing and imaging SEM images were taken as complement to species descrip- of whole spider cephalothoraxes. This approach improves tion and new distribution records are provided. Males of N. our ability to accurately measure brain regions and places ernsti resemble males of N. chibcha, for combination the brain within the context of other tissues, giving a more of the following characters: shape of cymbium rounded, holistic view of spider neuromorphology. Nineteen species the embolus curves clockwise direction around the bulbus sampled from across the Araneae show striking variation in a complete circle and lying on a furrow on the tegulum, in general brain morphology and the size of different brain without median apophysis and the shape of retrolateral regions. In particular, the organization and morphology of tibial apophysis long and curved but differs from males of the visual processing pathway of the secondary eyes show N. chibcha, by embolous curves in little V-shape in cymbial four distinct conditions. These conditions vary both in the furrow, RTA is thin semicircular and is directed against number of pre-protocerebral optic neuropils and in the patellar apophysis which is also curved but with 1–3 hooks, connectivity pathways between the secondary eye retinas
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and nerve tracts in the protocerebrum. The current study Oral presentation highlights the vast amount of variation found in spider Brachypelma vagans, a successful inva- neuromorphology and the potential for using brain varia- sive species on Cozumel Island, Mexico: a tion to study visual processing in spiders. molecular perspective Keywords: brain, vision, morphology, variation Salima Machkour M’Rabet, Hénaut Yann El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Chetumal, México Oral presentation [email protected] Systematics and biogeography of the Asian forest scorpions, genus Heterometrus The Mexican redrump tarantula has shown its high Ehrenberg, 1828 potential as an invasive species through two success- ful invasions. One in Florida and a second which Stephanie Loria1,2, Lorenzo Prendini2 commenced on Cozumel Island (Mexico) in 1971, 1Richard Gilder Graduate School American Museum through the liberation of different animal species after of Natural History Central Park West at 79th Street the filming of a movie. The context for the tarantula New York, NY 10024-5192, U.S.A; 2Division of in Cozumel is particularly interesting because the Invertebrate Zoology American Museum of Natural island has a protected area in the north and a highly History Central Park West at 79th Street New York, NY perturbed zone in the center and south for the develop- 10024-5192, USA ment of important touristic infrastructure. Using highly [email protected] polymorphic molecular markers (ISSR; Inter Simple Asian forest scorpions of the genus Heterometrus Sequence Repeats), we studied the genetic diversity Ehrenberg, 1828 include some of the world’s largest and population structure of this protected tarantula at scorpions, e.g., H. swammerdami Simon, 1872, reach- two localities on Cozumel island (invasive area) and ing almost 180 mm in length. As their vernacular name two localities on the mainland (the Yucatan Peninsula suggests, the 36 species of Heterometrus are distributed being its natural distribution range) as a reference. throughout the tropical and subtropical forests of South At all localities, genetic diversity is high suggesting and Southeast Asia, from Pakistan to Wallace’s Line. All that the invasive population has not experienced the Heterometrus species are fossorial, rarely leaving their negative consequences of the founder effect. Tarantula underground burrows and, consequently, their dispersal biology and environmental conditions were invoked abilities are limited. We present the first phylogeny of in order to understand why the invasions have been so Heterometrus and the first biogeographical analysis of successful. The genetic structure of one population on Southeast Asian scorpions using both morphological and the island, within a conserved area in the north part of molecular data. The dataset comprised approximately 70 the island, presents a genetic profile similar to the origi- samples representing twenty-two ingroup species from nal invasive populations, whereas the other population, across the distribution. Other genera of the family Scor- in the tourism orientated south of the island, presents pionidae Latreille, 1802 from Africa and the Middle East a mix of the original and mainland profile. These were included as outgroups. The origins and diversifica- results suggest more recent introductions associated tion of Heterometrus were tested using divergence time with the human activities on the island. Furthermore, estimation and ancestral range estimation. Results of we identify one mainland population that appears to be this study have implications for the systematics of Asian at risk of extinction, revealing how a species can be at forest scorpions and for understanding the complex geo- risk in its natural range of distribution but a successful logical history of South and Southeast Asia. invader in new areas. Keywords: systematics, scorpions, biogeography, South- Keywords: population genetic, genetic diversity, inva- east Asia sion, conservation
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Oral presentation of character evolution. Hybridization and introgression Surprising sisters among the salticids among distant species, suggested by previous molecular data, may play an important role in the group’s evolution, Wayne P. Maddison but its extent has been unclear. We assembled transcrip- Departments of Zoology and Botany, and Beaty tomes for 34 Habronattus and 2 outgroup species and Biodiversity Museum University of British Columbia conducted a concatenated phylogenetic analysis using Vancouver, BC V6K 3S1, Canada Maximum Likelihood for 2.41 Mb of nuclear data and for [email protected] 12.33 kb of mitochondrial data. The concatenated nuclear Much of the broad structure of salticid phylogeny has phylogeny was resolved with high bootstrap support (95– been resolved using morphology, a several-genes molecu- 100%) at most nodes. Several instances of mitochondrial lar dataset, and now a genome-wide dataset with a few introgression are suggested by mitochondrial-nuclear dis- hundred loci. Nonetheless, there is uncertainty deep in cordance. Bayesian Concordance Analysis and Patterson’s the phylogeny, most smaller clades have no phylogenetic D and DFOIL statistics indicate introgression in the viridi- studies, and many distinctive lineages remain to be discov- pes/clypeatus/coecatus group and the americanus group, ered and placed. Field work in Australasia, Asia and South some distant, with (for instance) one undescribed Mexican America over the last 10 years has uncovered several such species showing about 20% of its genome introgressed distinctive lineages: sister groups to well-known lineages, from a different species group. Thus, although divergent each geographically or morphologically surprising. These branching dominates the history of genetic descent in include a larger-bodied sister group to Neon, a relative of Habronattus, reticulate evolution may have been frequent Myrmarachne that is not ant-like, a far-away marpissine, enough to play an important role in shaping the group. and a deeply diverging lyssomanine (finally). This talk Keywords: phylogenomics, introgression, incomplete will include a quick tour of salticid phylogeny, the field lineage sorting, Salticidae, Plexippini sites, the living spiders, and of course, their genitalia. Keywords: jumping spiders, taxonomy, systematics, Herb Student - Poster presentation Levi Do RTA-clade spiders possess the same suite of silk genes as orb-web weaving Poster presentation spiders? Phylogeny with introgression in Habronattus Andrew Mah, Nadia Ayoub, Janelle Vienneau-Hathaway jumping spiders revealed by transcriptomes Washington and Lee University, 204 West Washington (Araneae: Salticidae: Harmochirina) Street, Lexington, VA 24450, USA Wayne Maddison1,2, Genevieve Leduc-Robert1,2 [email protected] 1Department of Zoology, University of British Colum- Key innovations are traits that promote speciation and bia, Vancouver, Canada V6T 1Z4; 2Department of the ecological success of a clade. Key innovations are Botany and the Beaty Biodiversity Museum, Univer- verified through sister-group comparisons, which requires sity of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z4, Canada understanding when a trait originated and the relation- [email protected] ships between groups with the trait and their sister groups, The approximately-100 species of Habronattus are both of which are accomplished through phylogenetic notable for their complex and diverse courtship displays, analysis. For spiders, there are two conflicting phyloge- and frequent evolution of neo-Y chromosomes. The netic hypotheses, however, which affect the classification group’s phylogeny has been reconstructed with morphol- of two key innovations in spider evolution, the orb web ogy by Griswold and two genes by Maddison & Hedin, but and aggregate gland sticky-glue droplets, which must be poorly resolved areas remain that hinder interpretation resolved before we can begin to determine whether these
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traits are key innovations. Until recently, the favored to shy behaviors; measurements included latency to prey phylogenetic hypothesis included the clade Orbiculariae, capture and exploratory behavior. Tests of these behaviors which was composed of two groups that include orb-web- were performed three times over a six month period using weaving spiders: Araneoidea and Deinopoidea. It implied a arena prey capture trials and video tracking of explor- more recent evolution of the orb web. Under this hypoth- atory behavior in a novel environment. Two age groups esis, the sister group of Orbiculariae was the RTA-clade, were used — spiderlings and juveniles — and split into a megadiverse group named by the retrolateral tibial separate environmental types: simple and enriched. The apophysis (RTA) structure of the male genitalia. The RTA- simple environments held only coconut substrate, and clade includes spiders that build sheet webs or that have the enriched environments had the addition of artificial abandoned web-construction altogether. Recent evidence, plants. Juveniles were found to be significantly more active however, suggests that Deinopoidea is sister to the RTA in their explorations, and most likely to spend time away clade, implying either an earlier, more ancestral evolu- from the periphery of the arena, which corresponds with tion of the orb-web with multiple losses, or less likely two bold behavior. Surprisingly, no differences were found separate origins of the orb-web. Both of these hypotheses between tarantulas housed in the two types of environ- make mutually exclusive claims about the morphologi- ments. Similarly, latency of prey capture was alike between cal and phylogenetic characteristics of the silk systems age and environmental groups. These results suggest that of these three clades. Our understanding of deinopoid age may play an important role in personality, while envi- and RTA-clade silk systems, however, is poor compared to ronmental enrichment appears to have no effect. those of araneoids. To approach this issue and add to our Keywords: Tarantulas, personality, environment, age understanding of deinopoid and RTA-clade silk systems, we combined morphological, histological, and non-tradi- Oral presentation tional phylogenetic (comparing silk genes as opposed to How far is far? Spatial variation in the housekeeping genes) analyses of deinopoid and RTA-clade structure of spider communities in the silk systems to test the claims of these two hypotheses and Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania clarify the evolution of spiders Jagoba Malumbres-Olarte1, Christina Brylov Henriksen1, Keywords: RTA-clade, phylogenetics, orbweb Luis Crespo2, Pedro Cardoso3, Tamás Szűts4, Wouter Fannes5, Thomas Pape6, Nikolaj Scharff1 Student - poster presentation 1Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Natural Influence of age and environmental History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, enrichment on tarantula (Grammostola Copenhagen, Denmark; 2Biodiversity Research Institute, pulchripes) personality Department of Animal Biology, Universitat de Barcelona, *Samantha Malley, Dr. Cara Shillington Barcelona; 3Finnish Museum of Natural History, Uni- Eastern Michigan University Department of Biology, versity of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; 4University of West Ypsilanti, MI 48197, USA Hungary, Szombathely, Hungary; 5Royal Museum for [email protected] Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium; 6Zoological Museum, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Personality in arachnids is increasingly being studied, Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark but the majority of work has been with social species [email protected] within colonies. Tarantulas, which are traditionally thought of as solitary, have been studied in the context Understanding the mechanisms behind community assem- of personality even less. Our project examined the impact bly is no trivial task. One must consider processes such of environmental enrichment and age on tarantula per- as adaptation, speciation and movement, and use data sonality. Personality was assessed on a spectrum of bold on the ecological and evolutionary relationships among
130 DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE REPORTS | No. 3, July 2, 2016 20th International Congress of Arachnology organisms, and on the interactions with their physical life (Meta menardi, Pimoa n.sp. and Troglohyphantes environment. Elevational gradients offer one powerful tool vignai), occurring syntopically in different hypogean sites to disentangle the relative effects of these processes because of the Western Italian Alps. We surveyed different popula- the zones or bands along a gradient represent different con- tions of our model organisms over one year, monitoring ditions across which species composition and abundances monthly their spatial and temporal dynamics in the caves vary. In our talk we will present a novel framework to and the associated physical and ecological variables. We investigate community assembly using spider communi- quantified the ecological niche of the three species through ties as a model. By combining habitat-related physical and multi regression techniques (GLMMs) and assessed inter- (functional and phylogenetic) community structure data specific competition by evaluating the overlap between we are looking into the way climate and geography, habitat their n-dimensional niche hypervolumes. We detected a use and dispersal all interact to determine how species are remarkable overlap between the microclimatic and trophic filtered into communities. We will show our first findings niche of M. menardi and Pimoa n.sp. However, the former on the spatial changes in communities while introducing —being larger in size—resulted the best competitor in our model system: the Udzungwa Mountains, part of the the vicinity of the surface, causing the latter to readjust its Eastern Arc Mountains (EAM), Tanzania. The elevational spatial niche slightly towards the internal part of the cave, range (300–2500 m) in the Udzungwa Mountains creates where prey availability was scarcer. On the other hand, gradients in temperature and humidity, allowing for a lacking true competitors in the inner sections of the cave, variety of habitat types. From evolutionary and conserva- T. vignai realized its niche as a trade-off between optimal tion points of view, the EAM are particularly exciting as they microclimatic conditions and trophic availability. With this form an inland archipelago with a history at least as fasci- work, we aim at providing new insights about the complex nating as that of the Galápagos Islands, and they contain relationships among subterranean species, demonstrating some of the oldest and most stable forests of Africa and that energy-poor environments such as caves maintain some of the most endemism-rich forests in the world. the potential for diversification of top predators via niches Keywords: beta diversity, community assembly, Eastern differentiation. Arc Mountains, functional structure, habitat, Udzungwa Keywords: autoecology, cave, Hutchinsonian hypervolume, interspecific competition, niche overlap Student - oral presentation The ecological niche of subterranean spiders Student - Poster presentation Ecology of Argyroneta aquatica in a small *Stefano Mammola, Elenia Lazzaro, John Dejanaz, resurgence Marco Isaia Department of Life Sciences and System Biology, Stefano Mammola, Riccardo Cavalcante, Marco Isaia University of Torino, via Accademia Albertina 13 Department of Life Sciences and System Biology, 10123 Torino, Italy University of Torino, via Accademia Albertina 13 [email protected] 10123 Torino, Italy [email protected] The geometry of the Hutchinson’s hypervolume derives from multiple selective pressures defined, on one side by The water spider Argyroneta aquatica is the only known the physiological tolerance of the species, and on the other, spider to conduct a wholly aquatic life. For this reason, it by intra- and interspecific competition. The quantification has been the object of an array of studies concerning dif- of these evolutionary forces is essential for the understand- ferent aspects of its peculiar biology such as reproductive ing of the coexistence of top predators. We address this behavior and sexual dimorphism, physiology, genetic and topic by investigating the ecological niche of three spider silk. On the other hand, besides some empirical observa- species showing different adaptations to subterranean tions, the autoecology of this spider is widely understudied.
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We conducted an ecological study in a resurgence of the Poster presentation Po Plain (Northern Italy, Province of Vercelli) hosting a Spiders of the Pardosa laura-group relatively rich population of A. aquatica, aiming at iden- (Araneae: Lycosidae) in the Far East Russia tifying the ecological factors driving its presence/absence Yuri M. Marusik1, Mikhail M. Omelko2,3, Anatoly A. at the micro-habitat level. By means of a specific sampling Komisarenko2 methodology, we acquired distributional data of the spiders 1Institute for Biological Problems of the North, Portovaya in the study area and monitored physical-chemical and Street 18, Magadan 685000, Russia; 2Far Eastern habitat structure parameters at each plot. We analyzed the Federal University, Sukhanova 8, Vladivostok 690950, data through Bernoulli Generalized Linear Models (GLM). Russia; 3Gornotaezhnaya Station FEB RAS, Gornotaezh- Results pointed out a significant positive effect of the noe Vil., Ussuriyski Dist., Primorski krai 692533, Russia presence of aquatic vegetation in the plot. In addition, the [email protected] presence of the water spider was significantly associated with areas of the resurgence characterized simultaneously Pardosa laura-group is a group of small-sized lycosids by high prey availability and low density of predators. occurring in Far East Asia (Japan, Korea, China and Keywords: water spider, Po Plain, wetlands, binomial Russia). It encompasses six species by now: P. baosha- regressions nensis Wang & Qiu, 1991, P. graminea Tanaka, 1985, P. hokkaido Tanaka and Suwa, 1986, P. laevitarsis Tanaka Oral presentation and Suwa, 1986; P. laura Karsch, 1879 and P. yamanoi Palaearctic and Nearctic versus Holarctic: Tanaka and Suwa, 1986. Study of spiders from Primorskii how do spiders fit into zoogeographic Province of Russia as well as from Japan reveals that regions? two species (P. agraria Tanaka, 1985 and P. diversa Tanaka, 1985) are valid and should be removed from Yuri M. Marusik synonymy with P. laura. The latter species most prob- Institute for Biological Problems of the North, Porto- ably is an endemic of the Japanese islands and its records vaya Street 18, Magadan 685000, Russia from Korea, China and Russia actually refer to P. agraria. [email protected] One species (P. graminea) is found to be new for Russia. There are two alternative opinions about the biogeo- Finding of P. hokkaido from Bolshekhekhtsirsky Nature graphic subdivision of the Northern Hemisphere. Many Reserve in Russia is doubtful and its status remains biogeographers recognize the Holarctic realm with unclear. Besides the structure of males and females copu- two main subdivisions: the Palaearctic and the Nearc- latory organs, the following somatic characters were found tic, while some consider Palaearctic and Nearctic as to be useful for distinguishing species: sternum coloration, separate biogeographic realms. In this presentation, I leg I coloration, leg I spination, male palp coloration, pres- address the distribution of spider taxa in the northern ence/absence of carapace lateral bands, presence/absence Eurasia, northern Africa and North America and show of white hairs at eye area, and number of cymbial claws. how it corroborates different biogeographical schemes. Keywords: wolf spiders, Asia, Pardosinae A special emphasis will be given to the spiders distrib- uted in the Boreal and tundra zones. Spiders of these Oral presentation zones are much better studied in both the Western and Phylogeography and diversification of Eastern hemispheres than the spiders of other ecologi- chthonid pseudoscorpions in the Pacific cal zones. Northwest, USA Keywords: zoogeography, Holarctic, Palaearctic, Nearc- Susan E. Masta, Brandi Welch, James Carroll tic, boreal zone, tundra zone Department of Biology Portland State University Portland, OR 97207, USA; [email protected]
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The Pacific Northwest region of the United States has a salisburyi Hewitt, 1916, D. septemmaculata (Strand, complex geological history, which likely has influenced 1909), D. tenebrosa Lawrence, 1938 and D. vasivulva the distribution and differentiation of the taxa that Tucker, 1923, while recent field work yielded a female of reside there. Chthonid pseudoscorpions in this region D. purcelli Tucker, 1923. A further 13 new species are primarily inhabit leaf litter in moist evergreen forests, recognised from museum collections and recent field and their distribution and differentiation may reflect the work. Based on the genitalic structure, there appear to be geological and biotic factors that have shaped current two distinct species groups. The melana species group, forest ecosystems. In this study we focus on analyzing which includes D. melana, D. tenebrosa and eight new the geographic distribution, genetic relatedness, and species mainly distributed in eastern and northern South potential morphological variation among populations Africa, is characterised by very conservative genitalic of taxa within the pseudoscorpion genus Apochthonius morphology in both sexes. The salisburyi species group, in western Oregon, USA. We recover multiple cytochrome distributed in the southern half of South Africa, includes oxidase 1 clades (albeit weakly supported) that corre- the remaining 10 species, of which five are new. Females spond to geographic location, but that do not correspond display considerable variation in the structure of the to currently described species. Apochthonius minimus epigynal hoods, lateral ridges and spermathecae, while sequences form a monophyletic group within a much the shape of the male palpal embolus, median apophysis, larger clade of Apochthonius occidentalis sequences. conductor and tibial apophysis also varies considerably. Despite high sequence divergence among A. occidentalis Keywords: endemic, ground-dwelling, new species, from different geographic regions, we so far have found South Africa no anatomical features that can be used to distinguish among these individuals. We suggest that A. occidenta- Oral presentation lis, as currently described, represents multiple cryptic Comparison of rapid assessment protocol species, and that to retain the species name A. minimus data from Panama and Congo Basin sites would require naming each of these separate clades. Jean-Louis Juakaly Mbumba1, Michael L. Draney2, Petra Keywords: phylogeography, systematics, cryptic species, Sierwald3 Pacific Northwest, pseudoscorpion 1Faculté des Sciences, Université de Kisangani, Demo- cratic Republic of the Congo; 2Department Natural & Student - oral presentation Applied Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, A revision of the spider genus Drassodella Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; 3Division of Insects, Field Hewitt, 1916 (Araneae: Gallieniellidae) Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois, USA *Zingisile Mbo, Charles R. Haddad [email protected] Department of Zoology & Entomology, University Since 2007, we have been developing a rapid assessment of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, protocol (RAP), for efficient collection of statistically South Africa comparable samples of spiders and millipedes from differ- [email protected] ent habitats. This method intensively samples randomly The genus Drassodella Hewitt, 1916 is one of four Afro- selected equal areas, facilitating comparison of fauna, tropical genera of Gallieniellidae, following the recent and requires only low cost equipment and novice field transfer of Toxoniella Jocqué & Warui, 2002 to Liocrani- personnel. We have collected samples from monodomi- dae. Drassodella is presently represented by seven species, nant and mixed rainforest sites in Central Africa (DRC), all endemic to South Africa. The type material of six of and from younger and more mature rainforest types in the described species has been examined: D. melana Central America (Panama), in both wet and dry seasons. Tucker, 1923, D. quinquelabecula Tucker, 1923, D. The spider faunas of these areas are species-rich but
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poorly studied, and ongoing habitat alteration and or difficult, animals may adopt an alternative strategy of human population expansion has created an urgent need persisting until they reach a cost threshold (“self assess- to understand and begin to conserve this biota. Prelimi- ment”). We conducted a series of experiments to examine nary results show that spider in Central Africa are more the sources of information that influence decision-making abundant and diverse in monodominant than in the during male-male contests of the jumping spider Servaea mixed forest. But on both continents, the same families incana. We considered both maximum level of escalation (Theridiidae, Thomisidae, Salticidae, and Oonopidae) and duration as measures of contest costs and also exam- dominate (10–28% of communities) both ground and ined assessment strategies used at different stages within aerial samples. Rare families (less than 2% of the assem- a contest. There is substantial variation in body size in blage), including Anapidae, Clubionidae, Ctenidae, and S. incana males and body size was a strong predictor of Tetragnathidae, are rare in all our sites. Some families contest outcome. Despite the high acuity vision of jumping have medium abundance (2–10%) in all sites, includ- spiders and their dynamic, ritualized, displays, we found ing Linyphiidae and Gnaphosidae. A major result is that little evidence that S. incana males assess the size of their family-level spider diversity in our Central Africa samples opponents during staged contests. Smaller spiders were less (368 adult specimens collected, belonging to 25 families) willing to escalate, regardless of opponent size, consistent is very similar to sites in Central America (265 adult with a self-assessment strategy. Despite an apparent lack of specimens, 24 families). This similarity on two continents mutual assessment during contests between live pairs, S. requires our attention, for conservation. Moreover, some incana males did exhibit an ability to discern ‘opponent’ families can be considered as indicators, because of their size in video playback experiments. The probability of dis- scarcity in the populations. But this research needs to be playing was determined by an interaction between the size continued. This study has enhanced collaboration between of an individual and its video opponent. An additional set our American and African institutions, and promises to of experiments reveal that hunger also influences contest open a new era of scientific exchange between us. behaviour and may blur the distinction between “contests” Keywords: rapid assessment protocol, Afrotropics, and “predator-prey interactions” in jumping spiders. We Neotropics, spider communities, biodiversity discuss both the limitations of correlative studies in study- ing assessment strategies and why spiders may not use Oral presentation information about an opponent during live contests. Assessment strategies in male-male con- Keywords: agonistic signalling, animal contests, assess- tests of jumping spiders ment strategies, body size, intrasexual competition, Salticidae, visual displays Rowan H McGinley1,2, John Prenter1,3, Phillip W Taylor1 1Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie Univer- Poster presentation sity, Sydney, Australia; 2School of Biological Sciences, Relationships between whole-organism University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, performance, morphology and behaviour USA; 3St Mary’s University College, Belfast, UK in spiders [email protected] Rowan H. McGinley, J. Colton Watts, Eileen A. Hebets Animal contests are usually resolved when one opponent School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska- makes the decision to withdraw. This decision may be influ- Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA enced by diverse sources of information available during a [email protected] contest. Animals may reduce the costs of fighting by assess- ing the quality of their opponent and withdrawing when Studies of whole-organism performance can assist in they determine that the opponent is superior (“mutual interpreting relationships between morphology and assessment”). However, as assessment itself may be costly behaviour and how these in turn contribute towards
134 DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE REPORTS | No. 3, July 2, 2016 20th International Congress of Arachnology fitness. Traits such as locomotor performance and sensory ecology of these species—especially regarding endurance capacity may determine an animal’s success the sensory systems and cues used for the detection of in tasks such as obtaining resources, evading predators predators and prey. and determining the outcome of intraspecific interac- Keywords: neuroethology, recordings, acoustic, jumping tions. Morphological traits may potentially contribute spiders (Salticidae), wolf spiders (Lycosidae), net- towards, or impede, multiple performance traits. At the casting spiders (Deinopidae) same time, variation in performance capacity between individuals may result in different individuals adopting Student - oral presentation different behaviours in order to achieve similar levels of Investigating the complex relationship fitness. Therefore, whole-organism performance capacity between female state and courtship in may be central to understanding why animals behave the Schizocosa ocreata way that they do. We will present the results of a series of *Timothy Meyer, George Uetz studies examining different whole-organism performance Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincin- traits in spiders and their relationships with 1) morphol- nati, PO Box 210006, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0006, USA ogy, 2) other performance traits and 3) fitness related [email protected] tasks such as mating success and predator evasion. Keywords: whole-organism performance, locomotion, The courtship of male brush-legged wolf spiders morphology, sexual selection, mating success (Schizocosa ocreata Hentz 1844) involves both visual and vibratory signals, which are initiated upon contact Oral presentation with cues in female silk. Studies have found that males Neural responses to airborne pure tones appear able to assess a female’s maturity, mating status, from the brains of jumping spiders, and feeding history from silk alone, and that variation fishing spiders and net-casting spiders in male response indicates differential courtship invest- ment. However, these studies examined single factors, Gil Menda1, Jay Stafstrom2, Paul Shamble3, Tsevi Beatus1, and males are likely to encounter multiple females with Itai Cohen1, Eileen Hebets2, Ron Hoy1 different combinations of states under natural condi- 1Cornell University,W213 Mudd Hall, Ithaca, NY tions. In order to investigate how males might assess 14853 USA; 2School of Biological Sciences, University more complex aspects of female life history, males were of Nebraska - Lincoln, USA exposed to silk from females varying in feeding history [email protected] and mating status, and behaviors of these males were It has been known for over a century that spiders are analyzed for indicators of courtship investment (rates very sensitive to acoustic stimuli such as substrate of characteristic foreleg tapping and cheliceral strikes). vibrations and airflow. We report neural recordings Results suggest the presence of multiple factors and from the brains of jumping spiders (Salticidae), variation in the amount of experience with female cues fishing spiders (Dolomedes) and net-casting spiders may have an interactive effect on male behavior, with (Deinopidae). We present single unit recordings from some combinations resulting in differentially reduced the sound-processing regions of the brain in response to courtship. Additional results also show that females airborne pure-tone stimuli. These airborne pure tones with varied feeding and reproductive states behave were broadcast from a loudspeaker placed 3 meters differently during male courtship, i.e., becoming less from the spider, with neural units showing responses receptive or more aggressive, which suggests a relation- to amplitudes as low as 55 dB (SPL), and sensitivity to ship between male investment and female behavior. species-specific frequency bands between 50 and 5 kHz. Keywords: Schizocosa ocreata, sexual conflict, sexual These findings raise very interesting questions about the selection, courtship
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Oral presentation findings are of high interest not only because of their `Opening Pandora´s Box´—morphological phylogenetic implications, but also with regard to their analyses of the male reproductive system contribution to our understanding of postcopulatory of goblin spiders (Oonopidae) revealed an sexual selection in spiders. extraordinary complexity in sperm structures Keywords: synspermiata, ultrastructure, reproduction, spermatozoa, genitalia, systematics Peter Michalik1, Elisabeth Lipke2 1Zoologisches Institut und Museum, Loitzer Str. 26, Poster presentation Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität Greifswald, Germany; The endemic New Zealand spider family 2Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrtmedizin der Huttoniidae (Araneae) Luftwaffe, Fürstenfeldbruck, Germany [email protected] Peter Michalik1, Tim M. Dederichs1, Raymond R. Forster#, Cor J. Vink2 Goblin spiders (Oonopidae) are among the most 1Zoologisches Institut und Museum, Ernst-Moritz- species-rich spider families. Despite this diversity, goblin Arndt-Universität Greifswald, Germany; 2Canterbury spiders are understudied in many aspects and their Museum, Christchurch, New Zealand phylogenetic relationships are not well resolved. As #Deceased previously shown for numerous other spider groups, the [email protected] male and female reproductive system bears many char- acters of phylogenetic relevance. Moreover, the diversity The family Huttoniidae is known only from New of sperm structures within spiders is astonishingly Zealand and the only described species is Huttonia diverse and often taxon specific. In the present study, palpimanoides O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1879. The we analyzed the primary male reproductive system and description of this species was based on a single female spermatozoa of goblin spiders for the first time (Lipke specimen collected in the Dunedin area of the South and Michalik, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 396:1–72). We Island. Huttoniids are a member of the superfam- investigated 18 species of 13 genera representing the ily Palpimanoidea, which also includes the families subfamilies Orchestininae and Oonopinae by means of Stenochilidae, Palpimanidae, Mecysmaucheniidae and light and transmission electron microscopy. We scored Archaeidae. The present study is based on material 44 characters from the gross morphology of the repro- collected over almost five decades by comprehensive ductive system as well as spermatozoa including four collecting programs. Our examination of the material new characters for the male spider reproductive system. revealed considerable diversity, which is distributed All investigated species transfer sperm as synspermia, throughout mainland New Zealand, but appears to a transfer mode that corroborates with the recently be absent in the outlying Chatham and Subantarctic proposed “Synspermiata” clade unifying all ecribellate Islands. Moreover, the disproportionate number of Haplogynae. Furthermore, goblin spiders show by far immature to mature spiders in Berlese samples suggest the highest diversity of sperm structures in spiders. In that adult huttoniids live above the forest floor. This is total, we recovered 30 unambiguous synapomorphies supported by collecting programs covering a full range for different oonopid taxa. In a comparison of all other of habitats that clearly indicate that most adult hutto- spider taxa studied to date, we identified the longest niids were found in dried fronds of tree ferns. There are sperm (Neoxyphinus termitophilus) and longest 13 new huttonid species, the majority in the genus Hut- sperm conjugates (Orchestina). Moreover and most tonia and possibly two new genera. Most of the species remarkable is the presence of aflagellate sperm in appear to be locally endemic. Opopaea apicalis, which is the first report of the loss of Keywords: taxonomy, systematics, Palpimanoidea, a sperm flagellum in tetrapulmonate arachnids. These endemism
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Student - oral presentation of winter-active spiders on overall predation pressure on Effect of increased habitat complexity on psylla is not additive, which can be partly explained by an pest suppression by winter-active spiders increased intra-trophic level interference. Keywords: intraguild predation, food-web, biological *Radek Michalko1,2, Lenka Petrakova1, Lenka Sentenska1, control, pear psylla, winter ecology Stano Pekar1 1Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Sci- Student - poster presentation ences, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37 Brno, Alteration of predatory behavior of a gener- Czech Republic; 2Department of Forest Ecology, Faculty alist predator by exposure to two insecticides of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 3, Brno 613 00, Czech Republic Radek Michalko1,2, Booppa Petcharad3, Sara Bumrungsri3, [email protected] Ondrej Kosulic4 1Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Increased habitat complexity often reduces intraguild Sciences, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, 611 37 predation (IGP) among the top-predator and meso- Brno, Czech Republic; 2Department of Forest Ecology, predator and consequently increases abundances of the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel latter. However, reduced IGP may not necessary translate University in Brno, Zemedelska 3, Brno 613 00, to the increased predation pressure on a pest as the Czech Republic; 3Department of Biology, Faculty increased habitat complexity can also provide shelters of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, for the pest. Moreover, increased abundances of the Songkhla, 90112, Thailand; 4Department of Forest meso-predator may lead to increased intra-trophic level Protection and Wildlife Management, Faculty of interference that decreases the per capita capture rate Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in of the meso-predator. Here, we investigated whether the Brno, Zemedelska 3, Brno 613 00, Czech Republic cardboard bands installed on pear trees in early winter [email protected] improve the suppression of the pear psylla, Cacopsylla pyri, by winter-active spiders, Anyphaena accentuata Predation pressure exerted by spiders on pests depends on and Philodromus spp. We also investigated the effect of their prey choice as well as predatory activity. However, abundances of philodromids on their functional response both traits can be altered by exposure to pesticides. Pos- and their overall predation on the pear psylla. The trees sible influence of pesticides on the predatory activity of with cardboard bands hosted less psylla than the control spiders is known for quite a few preparations and the trees in early spring. The decrease in abundances of predatory activity can be decreased as well as increased. psylla can be attributed to the predation by spiders as the However, the effects of pesticides on prey choice of molecular gut-content analysis showed that 35% of spiders natural enemies have not been studied yet. The prey preyed on psylla. However, 58% of Anyphaena preyed also choice in euryphagous spiders might be altered either by on Philodromus. There was an asymptotic relationship the blurred cognitive abilities or by increased voracity, between abundances of winter-active spiders and the effect which are sometimes connected to lower prey choosiness size of psylla abundances. In the functional response in euryphagous spiders. Here we tested the effect of two experiments, the per capita capture rate decreased with insecticides, SpinTor® (a.i. spinosad) and Integro® abundance of conspecifics. Consequently, the overall pre- (a.i. methoxyfenozide), on the predatory activity and dation pressure on psylla was lowest at low abundances prey choice of spider Philodromus cespitum (Araneae: of philodromids but similar between moderate and high Philodromidae). We investigated the prey choice of P. abundances. Our results show that installation of card- cespitum between the pest Cacopsylla pyri (Hemiptera: board bands in winter contributes to reduction of psylla Psyllidae) and spiders Theridion sp. (Araneae: Theri- population. However, the effect of increased abundances diidae). We evaluated the predatory activity as overall
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number of killed prey of both prey types. We found that collected from two well-known sources (Foelix 2010, the philodromids in control treatment significantly pre- Herberstein 2012). It intended to provide fine-grained ferred theridiids to psylla while the philodromids in both coverage of spider behavior, while extending and relating pesticide treatments did not show any distinct prey prefer- terms back to the general behavior terms contained in ences. Although SpinTor has been shown to decrease the other vetted ontologies (GO, NBO, ABO). This talk also is predatory activity of philodromids in previous studies, a call for community participation; ontologies are only both pesticide treatments increased the predatory activ- useful when they represent a shared understanding of ity of philodromids in comparison to the control in this the field. Participation can include reviewing, suggesting study. The results show that the application of pesticides missing terms, and developing definitions. Review and can disrupt the natural ecological dynamics of predator- contribute at http://arachb.org/ontology. prey interactions, not only due to the changed predatory Keywords: behavior, ontologies, informatics, synthesis activity but also due to the altered prey choice. Keywords: pesticides, prey choice, predatory activity, Oral presentation biocontrol Resolving the taxonomic impediment Jeremy A. Miller1,2, Donat Agosti2, Guido Sautter2,3 Oral presentation 1Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Postbus 9517, 2300 RA An ontology for spider behavior Leiden, The Netherlands; 2Plazi.org, Zinggstrasse 16, Peter E. Midford 3007 Bern, Switzerland; 3Karlsruhe Institute of Tech- 6003C Willow Oaks Drive, Richmond VA 23225, USA nology, AM Fasanengarten 5, Karlsruhe, Germany [email protected] [email protected] For over two centuries, taxonomy has provided a vocabu- The genius of Linnaean nomenclature is to assign a lary, controlled by an evolving code, for naming species unique identifier, a formal taxonomic name, to every and other groups. Ontologies are a more recent develop- known species on earth. This identifier then becomes the ment in controlled vocabulary, which have been developed basis for accumulating knowledge about that species and for a wide range of areas of knowledge, including many of distinguishing it from every other species. This includes interest to biologists. The Gene Ontology is probably the physical characteristics, occurrence records, and interac- best known example of a biological ontology, but others tions with other species. But the magnitude of biodiversity exist for anatomy, biological chemistry, and ecology. Ontol- presents a two-part challenge for applying this knowledge: ogies cover fields at a range of granularities. Some, like the 1) organizing information about what is already known, Gene Ontology, cover processes and cell components rel- and 2) incorporating species that lack formal names evant across all life, whereas others, such as the SPD spider and thus a mechanism for aggregating knowledge. Our ontology, focus on the anatomy of a particular group. All collective biodiversity knowledge is vast but unevenly ontologies include a hierarchy of terms. Ontologies also accessible, incompletely digitized, and largely unstruc- include relations between terms. The most common rela- tured. Semantic enhancement of primary taxonomic tion is “is a.” Another common relation is between a whole literature using XML markup makes it possible to query and its parts. The relations, such as “is a” and “is part of” taxonomic literature like a database. We contrast data allow computers to use ontologies to do simple reasoning issues and solutions for charismatic groups (e.g., Aves, a and to check logical definitions for formal errors. Ontolo- flagship taxon for conservation despite comprising a scant gies should include human-friendly textual definitions of 10,000 species worldwide) with megadiverse groups (e.g., terms, so ontology designers and users can properly define Araneae, Hymenoptera). A series of dashboard charts have and understand the relationships. This talk will describe been developed to convey at a glance critical information an in-progress ontology of spider behavior, based on terms contained in one or many taxonomic treatments. Because
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of their high richness and sensitivity to environmental In October 2015, a team of researchers and students variables, arthropods offer some of the finest-grained data conducted a rapid inventory of Sint Eustatius, a 21 km2 with which to assess terrestrial biodiversity at individual island in the Lesser Antilles. Eleven quarter hectare plots localities (alpha diversity) and changes across landscapes were established, each randomly placed within a dif- (beta diversity). But because many arthropods lack ferent major vegetation zone. A sampling protocol was formal scientific names, ecological inventories may refer established targeting vascular and non-vascular plants, to unidentifiable species using an informal name (e.g., a lichen, vertebrates, gastropods, and arthropods (focusing morphospecies designation). But unlike formal taxonomic on Araneae, Coleoptera, Formicidae, and Heteroptera). names, informal names are rarely used as a basis for The aim of the study is to investigate which taxonomic accumulating knowledge. By posting libraries of images groups can stand as surrogates for others in conservation and DNA sequence data for informal species concepts and assessment based on the Species Accumulation Index assigning them a persistent unique identifier, we provide a (SAI). Ultimately, we will determine whether monitoring basis for accumulating knowledge about a species regard- a subset of taxa can be used as a proxy for the island’s less of whether it has a formal name. biodiversity as a whole. For megadiverse groups, not all Keywords: biodiversity informatics, cyberdiversity, species will be determined using formal scientific names. cybertaxonomy, GBIF, XML markup Nevertheless, all will be assigned persistent identifiers linked to image libraries and DNA sequences as prescribed by the Cyberdiversity approach. The Caribbean presents Poster presentation challenges for determining which species are shared by A broad spectrum inventory of a small which islands. Because this is a Cyberdiversity inventory, Caribbean island independent investigators will be able to use our image Jeremy A. Miller1, Michael Stech1, Tinde van Andel1,2, libraries and sequence data to compare the biota of Sint John Smit1,3, Ton de Winter1, Ed Colijn3, Lucas Eustatius with that of other Caribbean islands. Alferink1,4, Basje de Jonge1,4, Malamatenia Kaniadaki1,4, Keywords: biodiversity, conservation, species accumula- Saskia Bantjes4, Elizabeth Haber2, Tessa Huijts2, Chantal tion index, surrogacy Posthouweer4, Thomas Verheijden4, Rens Vogel4, Sophie Zwartsenberg2, Jöran Janse5, Bart Kluskens5, Elfriede Student - poster presentation Schotsmans5, Ellen van Norren6, Wesley Overman6, Investigating the effects of fluoxetine on Sil Westra6, Roland Butot1, Koos Biesmeijer1, Hannah anti-predator behavior of orb weaver Madden7, Berry van der Hoorn1 Larinioides cornutus (Araneae: Araneidae) 1Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Postbus 9517, 2300 *Madeleine Miller, Rebecca J. Wilson, Thomas C. Jones RA Leiden, The Netherlands; 2Wageningen University, Department of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Droevendaalsesteeg 4, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Sciences, East Tennessee State University, Johnson Netherlands; 3European Invertebrate Survey, Ken- City, TN 37601, USA niscentrum Insecten, Postbus 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, [email protected] The Netherlands; 4Leiden University, Rapenburg 70, 2311 EZ Leiden, The Netherlands; 5Ravon, PO Box Biogenic amines have been shown to regulate aggression- 1413, 6501 BK Nijmegen, The Netherlands; 6Zoog- related behaviors in both vertebrates and invertebrates, diervereniging (Dutch Mammal Society), Postbus potentially playing a role in the overall fitness of the 6531, 6503 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; 7Stenapa, animal. Being both predators and prey, spiders are an ideal Sint Eustatius National Parks Foundation, Gallows model organism for studying such behavior in the labora- Bay, Sint Eustatius, Netherlands Antilles tory and field. In orb-weaving spiders, a careful balance [email protected] of aggression must be maintained to optimize foraging
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while avoiding predation. Prior research in our lab has Agyneta allosubtilis is not known from the Midwest and shown that experimentally elevating octopamine and sero- this record indicates a large southern range extension, tonin alters predator wariness in the furrow orb-weaver and 3) Dipoena nigra, Eidmannella pallida, Idionella Larinioides cornutus. We are now interested in modifying rugosa, Neon nelli, Styloctetor purpurescens, Para- this behavior with antagonistic drug manipulations. cornicularia bicapillata, Oreonetides beattyi, Larinia Fluoxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor which directa, Microneta viaria, Spintharus flavidus, Lep- antagonizes 5-HT2C receptors, was used to modify levels of thyphantes turbatrix, Lupettiana mordax, Tapinocyba serotonin. In order to quantify changes in aggression, the emertoni, Phylloneta pictipes, Ceratinopsidis formosa, anti-predator behavior, called the “huddle” response, was Talanites exlineae, and Epiceraticelus fluvialis repre- scored 24 hours before and after drug manipulation. The sent species within 17 new genera for the state. Finally, goal of this work is to further understand the role of this we discovered four new undescribed linyphiids in the neurohormone in spider behavior, and to develop tools genera Agyneta, Goneatara, Oreonetides, and Wubana. with which behavior can be manipulated in the field. Keywords: Indiana, biodiversity, undescribed species, distribution record Poster presentation Seventy-two new spider distribution Student - oral presentation records and four undescribed species from Revision and phylogeny of Charinidae Quin- Indiana forests tero, 1986 (Arachnida, Amblypygi) based M. A. Milne1, B. Foster2, J. J. Lewis3, L. Bishop4, A. Hoffman5, on morphological and molecular data T. Ploss1, B. Deno1 *Gustavo Silva de Miranda1, Alessandro P.L. Giupponi2, 1Department of Biology, University of Indianapolis, Nikolaj Scharff1, Lorenzo Prendini3 1400 East Hanna Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46227; 1Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, 2Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN 47809; Natural History Museum of Denmark (Zoological 3Lewis & Associates LLC, Cave, Karst & Groundwater Museum), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Biological Consulting, 17903 State Road 60, Borden, Denmark; 2Laboratório de Referência Nacional em IN 47106; 45747 W. Lost Branch Rd, Nashville, IN Vetores das Riquetsioses, LIRN-FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, 47448; 5Turkey Run State Park, Indiana Department RJ, Brazil; 3Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American of Natural Resources, Marshall, IN 47859 Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, USA [email protected] [email protected] Spiders are an integral part of many ecosystems, yet Charinidae is the most diverse family of Amblypygi with 84 their diversity is understudied in Indiana. To uncover described species from all tropical continents. Despite of spider diversity within the state, we collected spiders from being old and having disjunct distribution, the diversity of several ecosystems in many counties across the state. the family is relatively low and only three genera are cur- Moreover, we re-identified spiders within the collection rently recognized, Catageus, Charinus and Sarax. The goal of a former Indiana arachnologist, Thomas Parker. of this work is to carry out a taxonomical revision of the Herein we report sixty-five new state records for spider family and to elucidate the phylogenetic structure of the species and update seven species distribution records. family. The morphology of almost all known Charinidae Some notable discoveries include: 1) Antrodiaetus species were studied and a morphological matrix created unicolor, Cybaeus giganteus, Oecobius cellariorum, with 168 characters (of which approx. 140 are new) for and Ummidia tuobita represent species within four 101 taxa (95 charinids and 6 outgroup taxa). The matrix new families of spiders for the state (Antrodiaetidae, was analyzed under parsimony. A molecular dataset was Cybaeidae, Oecobiidae, and Ctenizidae, respectively), 2) generated from a smaller set of taxa, since DNA quality
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data was only available for a fraction of the species. This (including the proposed pedipalp setae) and 7 outgroup dataset include both mitochondrial (COI, 12S and 16S) and taxa (including one fossil taxa). Our selected topology, nuclear gene fragments (28S and 18S) for 39 taxa. This showed Protoschizomidae monophyletic, but its internal dataset was analyzed under Bayesian Inference, Maximum relationships were not fully resolved. Genus Protoschizo- Likelihood and parsimony. The data support the monophyly mus was recovered paraphyletic due to the inclusion of of Charinidae, whereas the genera Charinus and Sarax are genus Agastoschizomus (recovered monophyletic) and para- and/or polyphyletic. A new classification of the family the fossil Onychothelyphonus bonneri. Biogeographical is proposed, including establishment of new genera, and history hypothesis are hard to resolve given our results; new diagnostic characters for the family is presented. nevertheless, a hypothesis was given and compared to Keywords: diversity, DNA, morphology, systematics, whip a similar case found in Scorpiones. The intromission spider of these specimens to different caves can be a factor to discuss in the current distribution of this family. Student - oral presentation Keywords: phylogenetics, cladistics, setae, morphology Fossil and setae characters: the morphologi- cal phylogeny of the family Protoschizomidae Student - poster presentation (Arachnida: Schizomida) Tails or heads? Setae patterns and annuli in the female flagellum of micro-whip Rodrigo Monjaraz-Ruedas1,2, Oscar F. Francke2, Carlos E. scorpions (Arachnida: Schizomida) Santibáñez-López3 1Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional *Rodrigo Monjaraz-Ruedas1,2, Oscar F. Francke2, Jesús A. Autónoma de México; Av. Universidad 3000, C.P. 04510, Cruz-López1,2, Carlos E. Santibáñez-López3 Coyoacán, Distrito Federal, México; 2Colección Nacional 1Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional de Arácnidos, Departamento de Zoología, Instituto de Autónoma de México; Av. Universidad 3000, C.P. 04510, Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Coyoacán, Distrito Federal, México; 2Colección Nacional Ciudad de México, México; 3Departamento de Medicina de Arácnidos, Departamento de Zoología, Instituto de Molecular y Bioprocesos. Instituto de Biotecnología, Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. 2001 Av. Ciudad de México, México; 3Departamento de Medicina Universidad, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62210, Mexico Molecular y Bioprocesos. Instituto de Biotecnología, [email protected] Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. 2001 Av. Universidad, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62210 Mexico Family Protoschizomidae, endemic to North America, [email protected] is currently represented by two genera and 15 species. Whereas most of the species are troglobite and distrib- Schizomid flagellum is consider one of the most important uted in caves in the Sierra Madre Oriental system; or in characters used to delimitate species, whereas the number caves in the Sierra Madre Occidental system; others are of “flagellomeres”, in the female flagellum, is used to epigean (Protoschizomus pachypalpus, Protoschizomus diagnose genera in both families. Despite the traditional occientalis and Protoschizomus rowlandi). Recently, use in schizomid taxonomy, the phylogenetic importance a new species member of this family was described from of these characters has been only tested in the systematics one cave in the Mexican Trans-Volcanic Belt, represent- of family Protoschizomidae. However, our understanding ing the bridge between both Sierras. Here, we revise in this pseudosegmentation of the flagellum, along with the systematics of Protoschizomidae; we also propose different “terminologies” proposed, and the relative posi- the nomenclature for the pedipalp setae of the protos- tion of certain setae, creates conflict in terms of homology chizomids; and revise the phylogenetic status of family assessments. In the present contribution, we present some Protoschizomidae using 137 morphological characters homology hypotheses and the phylogenetic importance
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of these characters across the two schizomid families. phylogenetically informative above the generic level. In The analyses were based on 44 morphological characters scorpions, the male reproductive organs produce a pair and 22 schizomid species, and two thelyphonid species as of partly sclerotized structures, the hemispermatophores, outgroup. Parsimony, Bayesian inference analyses, and that are eventually assembled when they exit the body to ancestral state reconstruction of the “annuli” characters form a spermatophore. Surprisingly, in many genera of were conducted. The resulting topology confirmed the scorpions the hemispermatophores lack the interspecific monophyly of Hubbardiidae further divided into Hubbar- morphological diversity observed in copulatory organs diinae + Megaschizominae. However, Protoschizomidae was of other arthropods, suggesting that these structures not recovered monophyletic. The ancestral state reconstruc- may actually provide a stronger phylogenetic signal for tion of the number of annuli in the common ancestor of suprageneric ranks than previously thought. A thorough Schizomida suggested gain and loss of the different annuli reassessment of the morphology of hemispermatophores at different hierarchical levels. Finally, the flagellum con- and spermatophores pre- and post-insemination across tains good taxonomic characters, but caution needs to be the whole order, as well as of the mechanisms of insemi- taken when used to diagnose genera, since the relative posi- nation, allows to recognize a complex of slowly evolving tion of the setae presents a lot of variation. characters from which a series of basic bauplans are Keywords: Schizomida, phylogenetics, Bayesian, parsi- defined. In parallel, a phylogenomic tree was inferred with mony, flagellum an emphasis on non-bothriurid Scorpionoidea, which comprises taxa with the most complicated hemisper- Oral presentation matophores. The taxon sampling for this group covers Are male copulatory structures in the all the families except one and about 65% of all genera. order Scorpiones informative at suprage- Ancestral states of the hemispermatophore bauplans were neric levels? reconstructed on this new phylogeny, and compared with ancestral reconstructions on trees based on morphologi- Lionel Monod1,2, Caitlin M. Baker3, Lucie Cauwet2, Julia G. cal data published earlier. A putative evolutive sequence Cosgrove3, Gonzalo Giribet3, Edmundo Gonzalez-Santillán4, is presented and the value of male copulatory structures Siegfried Huber5, Carlos Santibañez6, Prashant Sharma7 in scorpion phylogenetics is discussed with regard to the 1Muséum d’histoire naturelle, Route de Malagnou 1, reliability of the different phylogenies. 1205 Genève, Switzerland; 2Département de Génétique Keywords: hemispermatophore, spermatophore, & Evolution, Sciences III, Université de Genève, Genève, bauplan, phylogenomic Switzerland; 3Harvard University, Department of Organ- ismic and Evolutionary Biology, Museum of Comparative Poster presentation Zoology, Cambridge, USA; 4Laboratorio Nacional de Nanoscale fibrillar attachment devices Genómica para la Biodiversidad, Centro de Investigación for the dry adhesion in the salticid spider y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politecnico Plexippus setipes Nacional, Irapuato, Guanajuato, México; 5Uhldingen- Mühlhofen, Germany; 6Departamento de Medicina Myung-Jin Moon, Hoon Kim, Jae-Hwi Seo, Kyo-Jin Kim Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Department of Biological Sciences, Dankook Univer- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; 7University sity, Cheonan 330-714, Korea of Wisconsin, Department of Zoology, Madison, USA [email protected] [email protected] The cuticles of the salticid spiders have the distinctive The male sexual apparatus is widely used in arthropod attachment apparatuses for adhesion on smooth dry taxonomy to diagnose species. In many organisms, surface without sticky fluids. It has been reported that the however, it is considered to have evolved too rapidly to be van der Waals interaction plays a dominant role of the dry
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attachment by fibrillar adhesion system for smooth surface. bundles of spigots. Thus, the calamistrum of the spider Here, we have examined the whole tarsal appendages of draws silk fibrils from its cribellum and helps combine the jumping spider, Plexippus setipes with using scanning them with supporting strands to form a cribellar prey electron microscope to reveal the fine structural charac- capture thread. Our fine structural observation support teristics of its dry adhesion system. All eight legs have the the hypothesis that physical interaction between cribellum scopula with a pair of claw on the tip of feet. Each scopula and calamistrum is likely be attributed to electrostatic is composed of two groups of setae that are capable of dry charging during the spinning of fibers on the nano-scale. adhesion on smooth surface, however the hook structure Keywords: silk, cribellate spider, nanofiber, Nurscia of the claw is advanced to move on the rough surface. The albofasciata setae distributed on the bottom side of the tarsal segment are densely covered by numerous setules. The contact area Oral presentation of each setule has a triangular shape, and cuticular surface Repeated evolution of color vision under- of the contact area is fully expanded with aid of its elon- lies rapid diversification of salticid male gated stalk. In addition, spontaneous self-adhesion between coloration the numerous setules and the setae was effectively blocked Nathan I. Morehouse1, Daniel B. Zurek1, Lisa A. Taylor2, due to the numerous microscopic hairs since these hairs Thomas Cronin3 were interspersed on the upper side of the setae. 1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Keywords: nanostructure, dry adhesion, salticid spider, Pittsburgh; 2Entomology and Nematology Depart- tarsal appendage, Plexippus setipes ment, University of Florida, Gainesville; 3Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland, Poster presentation Baltimore County Nanoscopic structure of the silk spinning [email protected] spigots in the cribellate spider Nurscia albofasciata A major goal of evolutionary biology is to understand the events that lead to rapid diversification of form in Myung-Jin Moon, Hoon Kim, Kyo-Jin Kim, Jae-Hwi Seo the living world. Sensory systems are likely to play an Department of Biological Sciences, Dankook Univer- important role in the diversification of signals, par- sity, Cheonan 330-714, Korea ticularly when major changes to sensory systems enable [email protected] newfound sensory capabilities in specific taxa. We studied The cribellar silk is considered as a quite different sort whether major transitions in color sensitivity underlie the of catching silk with dry-adhesive properties. Here, we rapid diversification of male courtship coloration in the describe the functional significance of the cribellar silk Salticidae, or jumping spiders. In many species of jumping spigots for capture thread production and its peculiar spiders, males perform elaborate courtship dances that sieve-like structure in the titanoecid spider Nurscia involve visual signaling as well as vibratory songs. Court- albofasciata. By our fine structural observation using the ing males often showcase colored body parts during these field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), dances. In the majority of jumping spiders, these male surface of the cribellum is covered by hundred of tiny visual signals are limited to a restricted color gamut, spigots and its microstructure is quite different from those typically blues, greens, blacks, whites and browns. However, of the spigots on the spinnerets with respect to size. All of several jumping spider taxa represent notable departures these spigots are composed of five segments, and are all from this trend, exhibiting an expanded color palette that approximately the same length (10 µm). These segmented includes yellows, oranges, and reds. These jumping spiders and flexible structure enable to bent itself and conjoin present something of a conundrum, because data collected together with adjacent other spigots to form congregate from closely related taxa suggest that their visual systems
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should have limited color discrimination abilities based latency to detect crickets. We also looked at differences in on a system of UV-green dichromacy, and should therefore specific behaviors between treatments (ongoing analysis). lack the ability to discriminate long wavelength colors We found no differences between treatments in any of the such as yellows or reds. Here, we present evidence for two measured variables so far. Perhaps the starvation period independent, functionally distinct evolutionary origins of was not long enough and/or differences appear in other color vision in the Salticidae: filter-based trichromacy in behaviors that we did not measure, such as ingestion time. the colorful Habronattus jumping spiders of North and Keywords: hunger level, prey detection, foraging strat- Central America, and non-filter-based tetrachromacy in the egy, sit-and-wait Australian “peacock” spiders of the genus Maratus. Using a combination of microspectrophotometry, histology, and Student - poster presentation visual system modeling, we characterize the sensitivities The importance of trichobothria in prey- of these novel color vision systems and describe how they capture success in the scorpion Tityus might have enabled the evolution of a wider gamut of serrulatus (Buthidae) male courtship coloration in these two spider groups. *Gabriel Pimenta Murayama, Rodrigo Hirata Willemart Keywords: visual ecology, color vision, sexual selection, Rua do Matão, travessa 14, n. 101, Cidade Universi- speciation taria, São Paulo, SP 05508-090, Brazil [email protected] Student - poster presentation Effects of starvation on foraging behavior Arachnids often rely on substrate-borne vibrations in the scorpion Tityus serrulatus (Buthidae) and air displacement to detect prey. These stimuli are detected by organs such as slit sensilla and trichoboth- Gabriel Pimenta Murayama, Rodrigo Hirata Willemart ria. We tested the hypothesis that trichobothria on the Rua do Matão, travessa 14, n. 101, CEP 05508-090, pedipalps are important for capturing prey in scorpi- São Paulo-SP, Brazil ons. We predicted that scorpions with trichobothria [email protected] removed would have a lower prey-capture success rate Starvation is known to affect foraging and sensory perfor- than control groups (other setae removed/no setae mance in animals. Under starvation conditions, animals removed). We first anesthetized scorpions in the freezer may change their foraging strategy (wandering more), and cut all trichobothria on the pedipalps except those become more generalist, become risk-prone and increase of the inner region of the femur because these were their sensory perception. In scorpions, it has been shown difficult to access. We then released a scorpion and an that starvation affects the physiologic state, but few works immature cricket without legs III in a circular arena have tested how this condition affects foraging behavior. We with suspended filter paper in the bottom We measured hypothesized that starved scorpions change from sit-and- prey-capture success as the number of scorpions that wait to roving and that the threshold for prey detection is held the cricket for more than 2 s and, within the group decreased. To assess changes in the foraging strategy, we that captured prey, the number of capture attempts. We divided an arena (45.3 x 33.3 x 13.3cm) in 12 quadrants of also tried to find differences between the three treat- 11.3 x 11.1 cm and quantified the total number of quad- ment groups in the latency to detect prey, latency to the rants used, the number of quadrant changes and whether first attack and in the number of times each animal the scorpion was walking or motionless in each sampling. rotated to face the prey. We found no differences in No prey was present during the trials. We compared scorpi- any of the variables measured. Scorpions are known to ons starved 30 days with scorpions fed once a week before possess other sensory organs (basitarsal compound slit the experiment. To assess changes in the threshold for prey sensillum and tarsal hairs) that allow them to detect detection, we measured the distance (ongoing analysis) and prey by substrate vibration. These organs may have
144 DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE REPORTS | No. 3, July 2, 2016 20th International Congress of Arachnology compensated the lack of wind detectors (trichobothria) Poster presentation in our study. Preliminary description of defensive silk in Keywords: filiform hairs, predatory behavior, sensory Latrodectus hesperus organ, vibration, wind detector David R. Nelsen1, Chris Hansen2, Aaron G. Corbit1 1PO Box 370, Department of Biology and Allied Student - oral presentation health, Southern Adventist University, Collegedale, Social networks as a metric of sociality in TN 37315, USA; 2PO Box 370, Department of Physics spiders and Engineering, Southern Adventist University, Col- *Lucia C. Neco¹, Nicolas Châline¹, Charbel El-Hani², legedale, TN 37315, USA Hilton Japyassú² [email protected] ¹Institute of Psychology, University of Sao Paulo, SP, Numerous studies have looked at the properties of Brazil; ²Institute of Biology, Federal University of spider silk from an ecological perspective. Of these Bahia, BA, Brazil studies, most have looked at how spiders use silk in a [email protected] predatory context (prey capture) while comparatively Sociality encompasses a wide range of social pheno- few have looked at defensive silk use, with most of types and complexities. Beyond Wilson’s eusociality these focused on stabilimenta in orb weavers. To date, threshold, based on reproductive division of labor, two studies have been published on defensive silk use generation overlap and alloparental care, and other in Western black widow spiders, but none have focused qualitative measures, recent papers have proposed to on the physical characteristics of the silk. In this study, measure sociality quantitatively. Indeed, quantitative we present a preliminary description of the physical metrics that take into account various characteristics properties of defensive silk produced by Latrodectus of sociality seem to constitute more useful tools for hesperus which, when sufficiently threatened, actively comparative studies of social behavior. Social network tries to apply this silk to its attacker. We found that, analysis (SNA) is currently used as a means to describe unlike the sticky globules used for ensnaring prey social structures in animals, and the network structure items which are small (median 0.004 nL; range characteristics can be compared between groups of 0.001–0.008), these viscous globules are often rela- different composition and even species. Social spiders tively large (median 1.46 nL; range 0.14–29.79). These are good models to study social behavior because globules also appeared to lack hygroscopic properties they present different levels of sociality in different causing them to quickly desiccate after production taxonomic levels. In this context, we used association and lose their adhesive properties. Rate of desiccation data between individuals to develop a social network was dependent on size with larger globules taking approach in Anelosimus eximius colonies and describe longer to dry. Most globules completely desiccated in their structure. In addition, since division of labor is less than five minutes. We also show that this defen- an important feature of eusociality, one of the major sive silk forcefully contracts after production. When transitions in evolution, we tested for the existence of silk was suspended between thin wires the distance clusters in their social organization through different between wires was reduced by a median 2.88% (range social contexts. Anelosimus eximius doesn’t seem to 0.44–6.32). These properties may equip the defensive present consistent clusters in the colony across contexts, silk of this species to immobilize arthropod predators but specialists could be identified during the perfor- and allow the spider to escape. mance of specific tasks in the colony. Keywords: defensive silk, Latrodectus, viscid globule Keywords: sociality, Anelosimus, division of labor, metrics
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Oral presentation temperature showed some level of influence on the Ecological studies of spider fauna of population and distribution of spiders in marshy and Awka, Anambra state fallow habitats particularly. Keywords: habitat, sampling, pitfall trap Daniel Nwankwo Ogonna1, Ewuim Sylvanus Chima2 1Animal & Environmental Biology Dept., PMB 374, Student - poster presentation Federal University Oye-ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria; A dated molecular phylogeny for Austropur- 2Zoology Dept. PMB 5025, Nnamdi Azikiwe University cellia, short-range endemic mite harvestmen Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria (Cyphophthalmi, Pettalidae) from the Aus- [email protected] tralian Wet Tropics A twelve-month study of spider communities in farm- *Jill T. Oberski1, Kaelyn A. Lemon1, Prashant P. Sharma2, land, fallow, marshy and forest habitats was conducted Sarah L. Boyer1 in Awka, eastern Nigeria. Pitfall trap, sweepnet and 1Macalester College Biology Department 1600 Grand jarring methods were used and the influence of some Avenue Saint Paul, MN 55105, USA; 2University of abiotic factors investigated. Eight of the nineteen fami- Wisconsin-Madison Department of Zoology 352 Birge lies found were new to Nigeria while only Pochyta sp., Hall 430 Lincoln Drive Madison, WI 53706, USA Evarcha dotata and Baryphas sp. out of the 24 species [email protected] found have been previously recorded in Nigeria. Fallow habitat with 15 families and 337 individuals was the The Australian Wet Tropics in northern Queensland are most productive habitat among the four, while the heralded as a model region for studying the relation- farmland showed the highest diversity index of 2.11. ship between geological and evolutionary history. Mite Lycosidae was the most dominant family, in terms of harvestmen of the genus Austropurcellia (Opiliones: population, species diversity and distribution within Cyphophthalmi: Pettalidae) have come to attention in and across habitats. All the four families recorded in the recent years as a study system for understanding the forest were also found in all the other habitats except biogeography of the Wet Tropics. The limited dispersal, zodariidae which was not found in the marshy habitat. excellent persistence, and ancient age of this lineage Uloboridae was the only exclusive family to farmland, make it a particularly useful group for historical while fallow and marshy had 4 and 2 exclusive families biogeographic study. Although phylogenetic relation- each. ANOVA showed that there was no significant dif- ships within this genus have been explored in recent ference between the sampling methods effort, however years, previous studies did not achieve full taxonomic Duncan test showed that there was a difference between or biogeographic sampling across the genus. Using pitfall trap effort and the other methods. Correlation recently collected specimens from species and areas coefficient showed significant relationship between not represented in previous analyses, we inferred phy- sweep net, jarring methods effort and temperature. logenetic trees using Bayesian methods, and completed Spiders caught by pitfall trap from fallow and marshy maximum likelihood analyses with bootstrap resam- showed significant relationship with rainfall. Lycosidae, pling. Molecular clock methods implemented in BEAST Zodariidae, Theridiidae, Gnaphosidae, Eutichuridae, were used to determine divergence dates. We explore the Uloboridae, Miturgidae and Nesticidae were the new relationship between the evolutionary history of Aus- addition to the list of the very little known Nigeria tropurcellia and the geological history of northeastern spiders. Lycosidae was found to be the most suited as Australia, including Miocene aridification and Pleisto- biocontrol agent in the area. While all the methods cene glacial cycling. were good, pitfall trap was the most efficient and the Keywords: Australia, Cyphopthalmi, Pettalidae, molecu- only method to collect zodariidae group. Rainfall and lar clock, Miocene, Pleistocene, Wet Tropics
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Student - poster presentation Oral presentation Scorpion’s sexual behavior: a remarkable Humidity affects insect retention by spider performance of Megacormus gerstchi Diaz orb webs Najera 1966 (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae: Brent D. Opell, Katrina E. Buccella, Meaghan K. Godwin, Megacormiinae) Malik X. Rivas, Mary L. Hendricks *Laura Olguín-Pérez, Oscar Francke Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Colección Nacional de Arácnidos (CNAN), Departa- Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA mento de Zoología, Instituto de Biología, Universidad [email protected] Nacional Autónoma de México 3er. Circuito Exterior, The viscous prey capture threads of araneoid orb Cd. Universitaria. Apartado Postal 70-153, C.P. spiders are smart biomaterials whose properties change 04510. México, D.F. in response to their environment. As these threads are [email protected] hygroscopic, relative humidity (RH) has a significant Sexual selection, as a two sex coevolution process, has impact on the performance of the glycoprotein glue an important role in ornament and complex mating core within each of a thread’s droplets. In this study displays, as well as in female preference for certain we test the hypothesis that humidity-mediated changes phenotypes. All these processes result in individual in Araneus marmoreus capture threads affect the differential reproductive success when competing for time that actively struggling prey are retained. As a mate. Historically, female choice has been neglected. RH increased from 37% to 55% to 72%, so too did the Nevertheless, its relevance related to sexual selection volume, contact area, and extensibility of a thread’s force and direction, as well as the impact over male glycoprotein cores, indicating that threads are better sexual traits, is under study using several animal equipped to retain prey at 72% RH. To assess this, we systems. Some researchers have reported a particular collected capture threads from webs constructed by male scorpion behavior, known as “sexual sting”, 14 A. marmoreus females. Thread strands from each because it occurs during mating process. An educated web were placed at equal spacing on the parallel sup- guess is that this behavior results in the releasing of ports of insect retention assay samplers. Samplers venom components, gaining some kind of sedative were placed in 37%, 55%, and 72% RH chambers and effect over female and reducing the chances of being an anesthetized housefly was placed on three thread hurt by her. We have successfully recorded eleven strands. Each fly’s struggle and escape was captured mating events with captive Megacormus couples. If in a video and bouts of active escape behavior were female is receptive, pedipalpal grasp is allowed imme- summed. Houseflies were retained 12 seconds longer diately. Sexual sting is performed during promenade a at 72% RH than at 37% or 55% RH. This difference is deux, with a clearly “submissive female” behavior over ecologically significant because the short time after a a period of 50 minutes in the longest sting. Consider- prey strikes a web and before a spider begins wrapping ing that venom is a costly metabolic investment, it is is an insect’s best opportunity to escape from the web. of our interest to establish the costs and benefits poten- The impact of environmental humidity on an orb web’s tially involved in this behavior for both sexes in terms ability to retain prey impacts spider fitness and may of sexual conflict resolution, as well as the adaptive be the driving force behind inter-specific differences value(s) of this behavior. in viscous thread hygroscopicity and humidity related Keywords: scorpions, sexual behavior, sexual sting performance. Keywords: biomaterial, capture thread, adhesion, prey capture
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Student - oral presentation challenge the reliability of morphological characters for Multilocus phylogeny of Bonnetina and phylogenetic reconstruction in Bonnetina, and indicate related tarantulas reveals extensive mor- caution when interpreting Theraphosidae supra-specific phological homoplasy classification in absence of a solid phylogenetic framework. Keywords: tarantulas, new markers, molecular phylogeny, *David Ortiz1, Oscar F. Francke1, Jason E. Bond2 morphological homoplasy, divergence time, Miocene 1Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico; 2Department of Biologi- Oral presentation cal Sciences and Auburn University Museum of Natural Phylogeny and classification of ground History, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA. spiders of the family Gnaphosidae (Araneae): [email protected] historical and contemporary approaches Theraphosidae systematics has long been considered Vladimir Ovtcharenko1, Boris Zakharov2 problematic. It has relied mostly on morphological 1Hostos CC of the City University of New York, 500 Grand features, which have proven to be relatively conserved and Concourse, Bronx, New York 10451, USA; 2LaGuardia often homoplastic across the family. Several morphology- CC of the City University of New York, 31-10 Thomson based attempts to clarify the phylogeny of the New World Avenue, Long Island City, NY 11101, USA subfamily Theraphosinae, with more than 50 nominal [email protected] genera, have been only moderately successful. Approaches based on molecular data have the potential provide better The first complete classification of gnaphosids was pre- resolution with robust support in situations where sented by Eugene Simon (1893). He included these spiders morphological characters have proven problematic, in the family Drassidae, which contained four subfami- thereby providing a phylogenetic framework for evaluating lies. The subfamily Drassodinae, according to E. Simon, phenotypic evolution. Here we conduct a multilocus phy- included nine groups, and four of them, Gnaphoseae, Laro- logenetic analysis of the Theraphosinae genus Bonnetina neae, Drassodea and Echemeae still belong to Gnaphosidae. and related lineages, employing one mitochondrial To classify these spiders, Simon used two major character- (COI) and four nuclear (ITS1, EF1G, Mid1 and MRPL44) istics: cheliceral dentition (keel, separated tooth, rounded loci. We included all 17 valid Bonnetina species, as well lobe or the complete loss of any tooth or any projections) as 26 additional species placed in 12 nominal genera and and the shapes of the labium and maxilla. In 1919, L. other undetermined lineages. Phylogenetic inference Berland described a new characteristic: preening comb in and divergence time estimation were performed using Gnaphosidae (Zelotes, Camillina) and eventually created a Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian methods. Central and new large group with this characteristic. Ute Grimm (1985) North American tarantulas with only type III urticating in her book Central European Gnaphosidae divided the setae, including Bonnetina, were recovered as monophy- family into three subfamilies: Gnaphosinae, Laroniinae, letic; this lineage appears to have undergone noticeable and Drassodinae. Ovtcharenko (1989) used the structure of diversification in sexual features until the Middle Miocene. different setae to classify Gnaphosidae and included “tribe” Bonnetina juxtantricola is grouped with Schizopelma. as a new taxonomical rank in gnaphosids. In 1990, N. The remaining Bonnetina taxa form a monophyletic group Platnick relimited the classification of Gnaphosidae on the with two morphologically divergent undescribed species. basis of the structure of spinnerets and spigots of ground Morphological homoplasy is extensive across the phylogeny. spiders and restricted Gnaphosidae to five subfamilies. For instance, one of the features that diagnose Bonnetina Murphy (2007) eventually accepted Simon-Platnick clas- seems to be plesiomorphic for a larger group and have been sification and divided gnaphosids into 14 groups in order lost in several lineages while retained in others; the other to simplify the identification process. An additional classi- diagnostic feature seems to be homoplastic. Our results fication of gnaphosids was proposed by Wunderlich (2011).
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He used the taxonomical rank of “tribe” and assigned Oral presentation all ground spiders to 10 tribes. In current research, Reproductive biology of scorpions: pat- use additional characteristics to classify ground spiders, terns and mechanisms of sexual selection including structures of covering setae, trichobothria, the Alfredo V. Peretti, Paola Olivero, David E. Vrech tarsal organ, additional structures on spinnerets, and Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal (CONICET). structure of male palps and female genital organs. Laboratorio de Biología reproductiva y Evolución, Keywords: phylogeny, ground spiders, Gnaphosidae Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Av. Vélez Sarsfield Poster presentation 299 (5012), Córdoba, Argentina Overview of cave spiders in Croatia - 150 [email protected] years of research Martina Pavlek In the last years, there was an increase in research oriented Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, 10000 Zagreb, to sexual selection of scorpions. However, the knowledge Croatia and Croatian Biosopeleological Society, remains partial and fragmented: 1) few global studies in a Demetrova 1, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia worldwide context, in particular in comparative analyses; [email protected] 2) lack of long-term investigations on key topics such as mate choice, sperm competition, cryptic female choice, and Cave spider research in Croatia goes back to 1862 sexual conflict. In the present talk, firstly, I will review the when Keyserling described first troglobiotic species for history of the study of reproductive biology of scorpions by Croatia, Hadites tegenarioides. Władysław Kulczyński means of a detailed survey. Secondly, I will show examples described three and Josef Kratochvil, a famous Czech on presence of precopulatory and postcopulatory sexual arachnologist, described 14 cave species, some of selection, including morphological and ecological traits. In them with Karel Absolon and František Miller. Most these two contexts, I will analyze our baseline knowledge recent explorer was Christa Deeleman-Reinhold who and gaps on: a) patterns of intersexual communication; b) described six species. From the faunistic point of view, genitalia and mating plugs; c) links between precopulatory except for already mentioned authors, Paolo Marcello and postcopulatory mechanisms; d) rules and exceptions Brignoli also contributed. At the present time research- in reproductive ecology (sexual sting, sexual cannibalism). ers from Croatian Biospeleological Society (CBSS) For example, some studies show that during the precopu- perform systematic work in this field. Of approximately latory phase, scorpion males appear to use luring rather 9000 explored caves in Croatian karst (prediction is than coercive behaviors when facing resisting females. three times as much), CBSS collection holds spider In postcopulatory sexual interactions, as predicted by the material from about 1000 of them. At the moment sperm competition theory, testes mass increases with higher 115 hypogean taxa are recorded from caves in Croatia, levels of sperm competition. The review ends with prospects 90 of which are true cave taxa (43 troglobionts, 47 for integrative studies on proximate and ultimate causes of troglophiles), 9 are subtroglophiles and 16 microcav- sexual selection. ernicolus. Most abundant families are Linyphiidae (46 Keywords: reproduction, sexual selection, behavior, species), Dysderidae (16), Agelenidae (13 and Lep- mating plugs, sperm competition, scorpions tonetidae (10). Thirty-five species are described from Poster presentation Croatia and 27 are endemic. Of 90 cave taxa, 23 (13 Level of polygyny and associated repro- troglobionts) are probably new for science and waiting ductive costs in a funnel-web lycosid to be described. Keywords: cave spiders, Croatia, troglobionts, faunistics, Alfredo V. Peretti1,2, Macarena González3, Débora Abregú1 biodiversity 1Laboratorio de Biología Reproductiva, Cátedra de
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Diversidad Animal I, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Keywords: Aglaoctenus lagotis, sexual behavior, sperm Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de transfer, copulation, polygyny Córdoba, Argentina. IDEA-CONICET; 2Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal (IDEA), CONICET-UNC, Oral presentation Córdoba, Argentina; 3Laboratorio de Etología, Ransacking the incertae sedis opilionids: a Ecología y Evolución, Instituto de Investigaciones new Indo-Malayan family of Grassatores Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo, Uruguay. Abel Pérez-González1, Adriano B. Kury2, Daniel N. Proud1,3 [email protected] 1División Aracnología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”, Av. Angel Gal- A mating system that includes polygyny can involve lardo 470, C1405DJR Buenos Aires, Argentina; 2Dept. benefits for males but also costs in mate searching and Invertebrados - Lab. Aracnologia, Museu Nacional, sexual performance during courtship and copulation. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Quinta These costs could limit the number of copulations a male da Boa Vista s/n, São Cristóvão 20.940-040 Rio de achieves and also generate changes in body conditions and Janeiro - RJ - Brazil; 3Current address: Institute for physiological characteristics. In this study we focused on Health and Human Services, BCHS, Appalachian State the atypical Aglaoctenus lagotis, a South American wolf University, ASU Box 32102 - Boone, NC 28608, USA spider who lives in funnel-webs. Polyandrous females has [email protected] been reported for the species but nothing is known about reproductive dynamics of males. Here we evaluate, under Roewer established an artificial concept of Phalangodidae laboratory conditions, the level of polygyny that males by lumping together members from several harvestmen from A. lagotis are able to achieve and the behavioral and families. However, over the years, many authors took the physiological changes involved. Nine males were sequen- opposite approach and instead split Roewer’s Phalan- tially exposed to virgin females, in their webs, every three godidae to create, or revalidate, family groups. In this days, until the male stopped copulating and courting, work, we continue to purge the Phalangodidae of poorly were cannibalized or dead naturally. Number of matings placed taxa and we propose that a distinct group of Indo- achieved by males were counted, and the characteristics of Malayan “Phalangodine” constitutes a new family. The each sexual exposition, as well as body measurements of new family belongs to the infraorder Grassatores and is the individuals, were registered. We also counted the sperm sister to the Southeast Asian Epedanidae based on molecu- in the spermathecae of the females the males copulated lar phylogenetic evidence. Based on morphological data with, and the remaining sperm in male’s pedipalps after all can be divided in two new subfamilies, one including the their copulations. Males performed an average of 6 copula- genera Beloniscellus, Beloniscops, Belonisculus, Belo- tions (range 11–3). The number of sperm transferred to niscus and Kendengus (all previously in Phalangodidae, the females decreases with successive copulations, as well although Beloniscus was originally in Epedanidae) and as males weight. Courtships and copulations durations the other including the genera Buparellus, Bupares, showed no relation with males’ body conditions (size and Buparomma. The new family is endemic to Southeast weight). Four males were cannibalized by their mates Asia and thus far contains 38 valid species. Members of the during and after copulations, but were not those that family are distinguished from epedanids (and also from had performed more copulations. Results suggest that A. all other Grassatores) by a capsula externa with dorso- lagotis presents a polyandrous-polygynous system. Details medial region rigid and forming a ditch accommodating about other factors influencing these results, as males and the capsula interna. Male genitalia are characterized and female’s sexual behavior and body characteristics, will be detailed studied in representative species, including discussed by the light of the reproductive dynamics of the Beloniscus quinquespinosus Thorell, 1891 and Belo- species. niscus tricalcaratus Roewer, 1949, from Indonesia and
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Buparellus insolitus Suzuki, 1985, from Thailand. participation of claw tufts and scopula of anterior and Keywords: systematic, taxonomy, Opiliones, molecular posterior legs when the tarantula climbs. The mechanics of phylogenetic analysis, genital morphology, Indo- climbing in association with the biological characteristics Malayan Region of the species are discussed. Supported by CSIC-UDELAR. Keywords: scopula, claw-tufts, adhesion, locomotion Oral presentation Scopula, pseudoscopula and claw tufts in Oral presentation Mygalomorphae: morphology, evolution Behavioral effects of octopamine across and experimental approach contexts in the wolf spider Pardosa milvina Fernando Pérez-Miles, Laura Santamaría, Rodrigo Matthew Persons, Chelsea McCormick, Jose Ikeda Neto, Becco, Carlos Perafán Da’Mique Sellers Sección Entomología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad 514 University Avenue, Susquehanna University, de la República, Iguá 4225, 11400 Montevideo, Uruguay Selinsgrove, PA 17870 [email protected] [email protected] We studied the morphology of scopula, claw tufts and a The biogenic amine, octopamine (OA) serves as an inverte- scopula-like feature (pseudoscopula) of tarsi on repre- brate homolog of norepinephrine. We compared the effect sentatives of all Mygalomorphae families. The taxonomic of ingested octopamine on boldness in the wolf spider, distribution of these features was mapped on a recent Pardosa milvina across multiple contexts. Using a within- phylogeny of Mygalomorphae and the association of them between subjects experimental design, we quantified with the lifestyles of the spiders was analyzed. Setae present startle responses to a puff of air and a poke from a plastic in the adhesive features were described and some setal pipette tip. We also measured male activity in the presence types characterized. The adhesive face of setae varied in of predator cues, willingness to attack large prey, and the orientation in different parts of the tarsi, this variation court in the presence of silk cues from an unmated adult is more conspicuous in the spiders which only have claw female. Spider behavioral responses across these contexts tufts or scopula. We confirmed the association of adhesive were measured before and after octopamine consump- scopulae and claw tufts with burrower/cursorial or thin tion. Males that ingested octopamine showed significantly wafer lid trapdoor Mygalomorphs as suggested for cursorial shorter courtship latency and higher courtship intensity. spiders, but we found that the pseudoscopula is associated They also showed shorter latency to attack prey, more prey with some cork trap-door and some weavers Mygalomor- attacks, and longer latency to flee from a disturbance. phae. With the exception of some Diplurids (Diplurinae) Octopamine generally increased boldness among spiders most Mygalomorph weavers lack adhesive setae. The setal however we found no difference in antipredator responses morphology of pseudoscopula suggest at first their senso- among treatments suggesting some defensive behaviors are rial function but the anterior-posterior gradation and not strongly mediated by this neurohormone. sexual differences additionally suggest their contribution in Keywords: ingested octopamine, personality, boldness, copulation. The mechanism proposed to explain adhesion prey capture, courtship, predator avoidance in tarantulas is anisotropic friction, where friction is higher Oral presentation when the leg pushes than when it pulls. However, previous The phylogeny of wolf spiders (Araneae: studies of adhesion in theraphosids were performed using Lycosidae) dead specimens. To test their ability to climb, we studied static friction of live theraphosid spiders on different Luis Norberto Piacentini, Martín Javier Ramírez surfaces and at different inclines. We also compared bur- Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino rower with arboreal species. We found a complementary Rivadavia”– CONICET, Av. Angel Gallardo 470, 1405
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Buenos Aires, Argentina S. ocreata exhibit multimodal courtship signals complete [email protected] with visual and vibratory components, and occupy upland deciduous forests; male S. rovneri are found in floodplains We present the results of a project aimed at reconstruct- and use unimodal vibratory courtship signals. To explore ing the higher level cladistic relationships on Lycosidae, differences in the active space of male courtship signals through a total evidence analysis. This work is the first for these two species, we used female orientation as a phylogenetic analysis using morphological and molecular bio-indicator of signal transmission in mesocosms repre- data that covers all the subfamilies of wolf spiders. We senting each species’ native habitat. Over two consecutive have collected morphological character data for a sample days, males of both species were randomly assigned to each of more than 90 species of about 70 genera. The morpho- mesocosm type. Females were restrained in a clear acetate logical dataset includes about 100 characters, covering ring at one end of the mesocosm, and paired with conspe- those used in recent phylogenetic analyses of Lycosidae cific males (free to move about and court) for an hour or and Lycosoidea, including genitalic and somatic morphol- until the female oriented towards the male. No significant ogy. The molecular dataset includes mitochondrial (COI, difference was found for orientation latency between meso- NADH1 and 12S) and nuclear markers (28S, Wingless and cosm types for either species. However, female S. rovneri Actin 5C) of more than 60 species distributed on more than had longer orientation latency and significantly shorter 50 genera. Representatives of Trechaleidae, Pisauridae, orientation distance. These results suggest that multi- Ctenidae, Oxyopidae and Thomisidae were included as out- modal signals of S. ocreata have a larger active space. groups. The analysis sheds light on the evolutionary history Keywords: S. rovneri, S. ocreata, vibration, courtship, of biologically important characters for wolf spiders, such sexual selection, ethospecies as changes of function in sclerites of the male genital bulb and their interaction with the female epigyne, the origin of Oral presentation the sheet webs, and the distribution of the knobbed setae Beta-diversity and phylogeography of Opil- on the female abdomen. The topology of the obtained tree iones across Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest generally agrees with previous hypotheses, except for the subfamilies Zoicinae and Wadicosinae, which are sub- Ricardo Pinto-da-Rocha1, Elen Peres1, Andre do Amaral sumed within Venoniinae and Pardosinae, respectively. Nogueira1, Caio Gueratto Coelho da Silva1, Daniel Castro Keywords: Lycosidae, cladistics, morphology, phylogeny, Pereira1, Yago Monteiro1, Cibele Bragagnolo1, Alipio systematics, taxonomy Benedetti1, Marcio Bernardino da Silva2 1Universidade de São Paulo, Departamento de Zoologia, Brazil; 2Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Student - poster presentation Departamento de Zoologia, Brazil The effects of habitat on the active space [email protected] of two wolf spiders The Brazilian Atlantic Forest (AF) is a humid forest forma- *Emily Pickett, George Uetz tion located in the Atlantic coast from South to Northeast Department of Biological Sciences University of Cin- Brazil. Biogeographic hypotheses indicate a delimitation cinnati PO Box 210006 Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA of the AF into 12 Areas of Endemism (AoEs) for harvest- [email protected] men. To explore the environmental and historical factors Habitat may place numerous constraints on animal com- underlying this pattern, we analyzed the diversity of munication. Two closely related lycosid species, Schizocosa harvestmen communities in the AF using a data bank ocreata (Hentz 1844) and S. rovneri (Uetz and Dondale with 528 species from 56 localities. We also investigated 1979), are almost identical in morphology, yet are repro- putative phylogeographic breaks among the AoEs analyz- ductively isolated by courtship behavior and habitat. Male ing the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I region of taxa
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from the northern (Pickeliana spp. and Pseudopucrolia The foraging efforts of trap constructing animals, such as spp.) and southern (Neosadocus spp., Promitobates spp. web building spiders, tend to be confined within the limits and Sodreana spp.) portions of the AF. Richness ranged of their trap, accordingly ontogenetic shifts in foraging are from 2 to 57 species (mean 17.8±13.7 species) and was restricted to modifying their traps. While some web-build- higher in sites near the coast in the Southeast region, ing spiders vary their web’s architecture through ontogeny, decreasing towards the interior (with deciduous forest many spiders, such as the large-bodied Tasmanian cave formation) and the Northeast region (especially northern spider Hickmania troglodytes, produce a nearly homoge- of Bahia). Richness was positively related to humidity, neous web design throughout life history. We hypothesized and sites near cores of AoEs showed larger values than that in order to meet the high-energy demands of its large those more distant from them. Changes in beta diversity body size, H. troglodytes enhances its webs prey-capturing were intense and highly related with the AoEs, showing abilities by adjusting the physical properties of the major abrupt changes from one AoE to another and reflecting ampullate silk (MAS); the web’s primary prey stopping the high endemism level of harvestmen. Preliminary component and structural material. We collected samples phylogeographic analyses revealed similar patterns for of MAS from webs built in caves from 20 individuals of both Northeast taxa and corroborated the communities’ varying ontogeny and conducted tensile tests to measure diversity results, indicating higher genetic diversity near the MAS physical properties. We found impressive strength the core of the Pernambuco AoE and lineages’ divergences and toughness (ability to deform and absorb energy) of between southern Bahia and other Northeast localities. In the MAS that both increased significantly with both spider the Southern Atlantic Forest, Promitobates and Neosado- carapace width and body length. Our results are the first cus exhibit genetic discontinuities in Ribeira de Iguape to show changes in the physical properties of spider silk river valley region, which corresponds to the limit between through ontogeny, they also indicate that these spiders focus two AoEs, while Sodreana presents a more complex on building more resilient and structurally robust webs to pattern. Our results suggest that the predicted harvestmen catch disproportionately larger and potentially novel prey AoEs may have acted as forest refugia, maintaining more or to preserve web architectural integrity and function for species and higher genetic variability than less stable longer periods of time. The gradual shift in silk produc- areas in the transitional regions between AoEs. tion and use over the spider’s lifetime should inevitably lead Keywords: beta-diversity, biogeography, Opiliones, to improved prey capture abilities. Future investigation phylogeography into the mechanisms responsible for these shifts in the physical properties of MAS may provide better insights into Student - oral presentation how spiders produce such strong and tough silk. Ontogenetic shift towards stronger, tougher Keywords: major ampullate silk, ontogeny, spider web, silk of web building Tasmanian cave spider cave spider, biomechanics *Dakota Piorkowski1, Sean Blamires2, Niall Doran3, Chen-Pan Liao1, Tso, I-Min1,4 Student - poster presentation 1Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, Trophic cascades: the triangle of Taichung 40704, Taiwan; 2Evolution and Ecology decomposition Research Centre, University of New South Wales, *Leslie Potts Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; 3Bookend Trust and the Department of Entomology, S-332 Ag. Science Center, School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, N. Lexington KY 40546-0091, USA PO Box 310, Sandy Bay, Tasmania 7006, Australia; [email protected] 4Center for Tropical Ecology and Biodiversity, Tunghai University, Taichung 40704, Taiwan Litter decomposition is driven by multiple factors, includ- [email protected] ing climate and soil organisms. In detrital food webs,
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predators indirectly influence leaf litter through trophic what characteristics differentiate the two variants behavior- interactions affecting decomposition rates. Numerous ally, and 2) how are they different physiologically? Colonies studies have shown wandering spiders (Lycosidae) can and individuals were collected from multiple populations affect decomposition rates with varying magnitude and throughout the Tennessee River watershed area and main- direction. It is hypothesized that spiders consuming tained in a laboratory environment for quantitative and Collembola has impacts on fungal communities, which qualitative assessment of behavioral traits as well as spe- drives the changes in decomposition rates. And so with cific neurochemical analysis by high performance liquid changing abiotic environments and conditions, the chromatography with electrochemical detection. I looked fungal community health is a key factor in how spiders at the influence of factors such as age, reproductive state, will impact this cascade. However, limited studies have nutritional state, and time of day on behavior and neuro- investigated the fungal communities in response to spider physiology. I found correlations between social behaviors presence or absence. Here I present the results of a labo- and serotonin, aggressive behaviors and octopamine ratory mesocosm study, investigating the “triangle” of (invertebrate counterpart of norepinephrine), and several decomposition, measuring the spider-Collembola-fungus other compounds associated with an increase or decrease in interactions. Mesocosm treatments were a factorial design aggression. These studies combine techniques from multi- of presence/absence of wolf spider (Schizocosa) and Col- ple disciplines to contribute to the greater understanding of lembola (Sinella). Decomposition rates were measured the proximate control of social and aggressive behaviors as and fungal communities were assessed using phospho- well as the factors influencing the evolution of sociality. lipid fatty-acid (PLFA) analyses and mass spectrometry. Keywords: social behavior, neurochemistry, ontogeny, Keywords: Collembola, decomposition, fungus, phospho- aggression, reproductive state, circadian rhythm lipid fatty-acid, Schizocosa Oral presentation Student - oral presentation Male polymorphism in bird-associated Exploring behavior and neurochemistry in mites (Acariformes: Astigmata) the polyphenic spider, Anelosimus studio- Heather Proctor sus (Araneae: Theridiidae) Department of Biological Sciences, University of *Jennifer B. Price, Thomas C. Jones Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2E9 East Tennessee State University, Department of Biologi- [email protected] cal Sciences, Box 70703, Johnson City, TN, 37614, USA Male polymorphism is common in mites from the cohort [email protected] Astigmata. The best studied cases involve combat-related The importance of social behavior is evident in human morphology in mites associated with stored products, such society, but there are both costs and benefits associated as Sancassania berlesei, in which some males have legs with cooperation and sociality throughout the animal modified for attacking rivals (heteromorphs) while others kingdom. At what point do the benefits outweigh the have female-like walking legs (homeomorphs). In these costs, and when do selective pressures favor sociality and free-living species, induction of the hetermorphic state colonization over solitude and independence? To investigate can be environmentally or genetically determined. Poly- these questions, we have focused on an anomalous species morphism is even more commonly observed in astigmatan of spider, Anelosimus studiosus, also known now as the mites associated with birds. Male nest mites from the dust- northern social spider. Throughout its broad range, A. mite family Pyroglyphidae can show strong variation in the studiosus is solitary and aggressive, but recently, colonies degree of hypertrophy of their forelegs. Male feather mites of cooperative and social individuals have been observed at from the superfamily Analgoidea often display homeo- and northern latitudes. This leads to two research questions: 1) heteromorphic states, which can be further complicated by
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right- vs left-handed asymmetries. To date, instraspecific is sister to a well-supported monophyletic group of Neo- variation in male form in these bird-associated mites has tropical Samooidea comprised of five families: Samoidae received attention only from a taxonomic point of view + Hummelinckiolidae fam. nov. + Stygnommatidae + with little effort put into determining whether the varia- Stenostygnidae new rank + Neoscotolemonidae fam. nov. tion is truly a distinct polymorphism (vs, e.g., continuous We present the first dated molecular phylogeny of the variation) and whether there are any environmental cor- Samooidea and discuss the ways in which the shifting relates associated with variation in male morphology. Here landscape of the Caribbean has shaped the opiliofauna of I investigate three distinct examples of variation in male the region for more than 50 million years–with dispersal morphology in bird associated mites: the nest mite Stur- and vicariance both contributing to present day diversity nophagoides bakeri, the pigeon feather mite Falculifer and distributions. Of particular interest is Neoscotolemon, rostratus and the cormorant feather mite Michaelia sp. For a genus that currently consists of only two described the nest mite, there were no clearly distinct morphs, but species although we have discovered more than 20 addi- rather a continuum of leg and body sizes. For F. rostratus, tional species during our work. This clearly indicates that unlike in S. berlesei, there was no relationship between the diversity of this genus is greatly underestimated–a population density and propensity for expression of the pattern that we have observed to be relatively common for heteromorphic state. Asymmetry of male Michaelia was several genera of small litter dwelling harvestmen in the strongly correlated with which side of the host bird they Neotropics. The inferred evolutionary history of Neosco- were found on. Future research could address the relation- tolemon illustrates the dynamic two-way interchange ship between male morphology at a finer scale (e.g., per occurring between islands and nearby continents, in this feather rather than per bird), and how the modified case via dispersal. This phenomenon has recently gained male structures are actually used by the male mites. the attention of many of those studying island biogeogra- Keywords: sexual selection, male competition, asymmetry phy, and lends support to the idea that islands can serve as both evolutionary museums and cradles of diversity. Oral presentation Keywords: Opiliones, harvestmen, phylogenetics, system- Uncharted diversity and evolutionary atics, Caribbean, biogeography, diversity history of Neotropical samooid harvest- men (Opiliones: Laniatores: Samooidea) Oral presentation Keystone individuals in spider societies: Daniel N. Proud1,2, Abel Pérez-González2 some pros and cons 1Appalachian State University, Department of Biology, ASU Box 32027, Boone, NC 28608, USA; Jonathan N. Pruitt1, Carl N. Keiser2, Colin M. Wright1, 2Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Alexander DeMarco2, Noa Pinter-Wollman3 Rivadavia” (MACN), División Aracnología, Av. Angel 1University of California-Santa Barbara, Santa Gallardo 470, C1405DJR Buenos Aires, Argentina Barbara, CA 93160 USA; 2University of Pittsburgh, [email protected] Pittsburgh, PA 51360 USA; 3University of California- Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA The superfamily Samooidea is a diverse group of lania- [email protected] torean harvestmen comprised of 212 species that were, until this work, divided into three families: Biantidae, Many animal societies rely on highly influential keystone Samoidae, and Stygnommatidae. The systematics of this individuals for proper functioning. When information lineage is investigated and, using an integrative taxo- quality is important for group success, such keystone indi- nomic approach based on molecular and morphological viduals have the potential to diminish group performance if evidence, a new systematic arrangement is proposed. they possess inaccurate information. Here, we test whether Under the new arrangement, the African family Biantidae information quality (accurate or inaccurate) influences
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collective outcomes when keystone individuals are the first these resident females played a role in protecting the to acquire it. We trained keystone or generic individuals to offspring. During four consecutive days we monitored attack or avoid novel stimuli and implanted these trained 40 nests and recorded the presence of caring males and individuals within groups of naive colony-mates. We the position and behavior of all nearby females. We then subsequently tracked how quickly groups learned about removed the caring males from 24 nests and monitored their environment in situations that matched (accurate all nests for the following four days. Predation events were information) or mismatched (inaccurate information) the observed only in nests without males, performed mainly training of the trained individual. We found that colonies by conspecifics and ants. Ten unprotected nests were with just one accurately informed individual were quicker adopted by other males. Three resident females occupied to learn to attack a novel prey stimulus than colonies with unprotected nests and no predation events were recorded no informed individuals. However, this effect was no more while present. These results show that paternal protection pronounced when the informed individual was a keystone is crucial for offspring survival and that resident females individual. In contrast, keystones with inaccurate infor- may take care of unprotected eggs if caring males desert mation had larger effects than generic individuals with or die. Additional information is required to assess whether identical information: groups containing keystones with this is the first case of biparental care in harvestmen. inaccurate information took longer to learn to attack/avoid Keywords: parental care, sex role reversal, sexual selec- prey/predator stimuli and gained less weight than groups tion, mud-nest harvestmen harbouring generic individuals with identical information. Our results convey that misinformed keystone individu- Poster Presentation als can become points of vulnerability for their societies. Weather conditions affect developmental Keywords: behavioral syndrome, leadership, learning, decision in a common wolf spider species personality, social spider, temperament Zoltán Rádai1, Balázs Kiss2, Ferenc Samu2 1Department of Evolution, Zoology and Human Biology, Student - oral presentation University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary; 2Plant Efficiency of paternal care on egg protec- Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, tion in the harvestman Poassa limbata Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary (Opiliones): do females help caring too? [email protected] *Rosannette Quesada-Hidalgo1, Diego Solano2, Gustavo Cohort splitting is a unique life history characteristic Requena1 and Glauco Machado1 of the Central European agrobiont wolf spider, Pardosa 1Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, agrestis, and was suggested to be an adaptation to tempo- São Paulo, Brazil; 2Escuela de Biología, Universidad rally variable environments by allowing the coexistence of de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica parallel cohorts with differential success in given environ- [email protected] mental conditions. We have tested whether the emergence Parental care usually increases offspring protection of rapidly and slowly developing cohorts (due to the against predators and pathogens. Although paternal asynchronous development of first generation spiderlings) care is widespread in harvestmen, only two studies have depends on environmental, in particular weather condi- investigated the benefits of male care in terms of offspring tions during the season. We put forward three hypotheses protection. Here we tested the efficiency of parental care regarding the effect of weather. The first proposed that in the harvestman Poassa limbata Roewer 1943¸ whose weather conditions have no differential effect on the two males build cup-like mud nests used as oviposition sites. cohorts or different life stages. The other two hypotheses Given that some females stay for long periods in the vicin- devised that weather conditions may act as cues, based on ity of nests where they oviposit, we also tested whether which plastic developmental decisions of choosing rapid
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or slow developmental pathways can be made. Our second data (target gene and transcriptomic, published and in hypothesis proposed an early, while the third allowed for progress) are helping to define Dionycha and some of later choice between the pathways. To test these hypoth- their main lineages, and disentangle morphological eses, we used long term collection and weather data of convergences. Both sources of data are illuminating and seven natural P. agrestis populations in Hungary between largely congruent, but also have important differences, 1992 and 2000. Weather conditions indeed affect the due to different signal and unequal coverage. While number of individuals in late summer, as the number of morphological analyses are more sensitive to convergence adults in late summer (i.e., rapidly developing individuals) syndromes, sequence data produce groupings without was significantly higher in years of optimal early weather, morphological synapomorphies, thus with limited while the number of juveniles showed an opposing trend prediction over the taxonomic diversity of spiders. By to that. Interestingly though, the between-year variation in combining both data sources we provide synapomorphies late adult proportion did not correlate with early weather for important dionychan clades, confirm the monophyly conditions. However, the proportion of late summer adults and placement of many families (e.g., the placement of was higher in optimal late conditions. These results crab spiders among lycosoids, the inclusion of viridasiids indicate that early weather do have considerable effects in Dionycha), and propose new higher rank-clades. on developmental strategy, but at the same time, a later Keywords: phylogenetics, systematics, higher rank- choice between the different developmental pathways (as clades, adhesive setae proposed by our third hypothesis) might also contribute to the overall occurrence of rapidly developing individuals. Oral presentation Keywords: developmental plasticity, cohort splitting, The visual ecology of anti-predator wing life history, unpredictable environment, agrobiont, wolf displays: a case study with jumping spiders spider Dinesh Rao1, Samuel Aguilar-Argüello2, Ajay Narendra3, Skye Long4, Elizabeth Jakob4 Oral presentation 1Inbioteca, Universidad Veracruzana, Av. Culturas The phylogeny of dionychan spiders: a com- Veracruzanas No.101, Col. E. Zapata, CP 91090, bined analysis of sequences and morphology Xalapa, Veracruz, México; 2Inecol, A.C. Instituto de Martín J. Ramírez1, Charles Griswold2, Ward Wheeler3 Ecología, A.C, Apartado Postal 63, CP 91000, Xalapa, 1Division of Arachnology, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Veracruz, México; 3Department of Biological Sciences, Naturales - CONICET. Av. Angel Gallardo 470, Macquarie University, North Ryde, Sydney, NSW C1405DJR Buenos Aires, Argentina; 2Arachnology 2109, Australia; 4Psychology Department, University (Emeritus), California Academy of Sciences, San Fran- of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA cisco, USA; 3Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American [email protected] Museum of Natural History, New York, USA. Any species of tephritid flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) perform [email protected] a wing waving display (‘supination’) to deter attacks from The Dionycha comprise a large clade of two-clawed jumping spiders. This display, along with the dark bands spiders and a tuft of tenent setae, including about 30% on the wings, has been thought to deter spiders through a of the known spider species. Since the loss of the inferior form of mimicry termed ‘predator mimicry’. In a series of claw and acquisition of adhesive setae is one of the most studies with jumping spiders and the Mexican fruit fly, we plastic syndromes in spider evolution, the phylogeny explored this interaction from a visual ecology perspective. and precise demarcation of Dionycha are contentious. A Using a custom built eye-tracker that traces the movement recent morphological phylogeny produced novel synapo- of the retina in the principal eyes, we played videos of dis- morphies for large dionychan clades, and the molecular playing flies and monitored the response. We describe the
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patterns of retinal movement of jumping spiders in three Oral presentation treatments: during fly display, fly walking and a still fly. How habitat and retreat limitation influ- This study has implications for the study on signalling and ence sociality in prolonged subsocial visual ecology of jumping spiders. huntsman spiders Keywords: display, signalling, salticidae, retina Linda S. Rayor Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Poster presentation Ithaca, NY 14853, USA Islands in the trees: A biogeographic [email protected] exploration of epiphyte-dwelling spiders Many aspects of group-living in spiders are influenced Dinesh Rao1, Francisco Emmanuel Méndez-Castro1, by parameters of the habitat: biotic factors, such as prey Maaike Y. Bader2, Glenda Mendieta-Leiva2 availability and predation risk, as well as abiotic factors, 1Instituto de Biotecnología y Ecología Aplicada (INBIO- such as rain and wind, and sites for web or retreats. All TECA), Universidad Veracruzana, Av. de las Culturas these factors influence the costs and benefits of living in Veracruzanas No. 101, Col. Emiliano Zapata, CP 91090 groups, which in turn provide selective pressure on the Xalapa, Veracruz, México.; 2Ecological Plant Geography, relative social complexity of a species. Diurnal retreats Faculty of Geography, Univ. of Marburg, Germany. are critical for all three prolonged subsocial huntsman [email protected] spiders (Sparassidae: Deleninae: Delena cancerides, Epiphytic plants can be considered as tree-top islands. D. lapidicola, D. melanochelis), which live in interac- In this sense, a single tree represents a landscape where tive matrilineal family groups with a single adult female an archipelago of epiphytes influences ecological rela- and multiple cohorts of siblings who remain together for tionships dependent on geographic-spatial position, many months prior to individual dispersal. The retreats species-habitat size dynamics and species-isolation provide the adults and developing offspring protection gradients. We studied these island-biogeographic rela- from predators, and moderate climatic factors. As rela- tionships in spider communities that inhabit epiphyte tively permanent structures in the environment, retreats archipelagos in a shade coffee plantation of Veracruz, are a resource “inherited” by lineages, but fought over if Mexico. Spider diversity increased with epiphyte-island limited. All three social huntsman species live exclusively size. In contrast to other studies, our results showed in retreats with specific features, under exfoliating bark no evidence of spatial position within the tree affecting of certain trees, flat rocks on granite headlands, or rolls diversity, but position relative to other epiphytes did of sloughed bark of Eucalyptus regnans, respectively. The affect diversity patterns. Thereby, direct distance (Euclid- three social species differ from each other in their age of ean) was more important than walking distance (along dispersal, tolerance of immigrants, prey sharing, and branches). This is the first study presenting evidence number of sibling cohorts together. Ecological forces, par- of species-isolation processes driving the diversity of ticularly saturated habitats with limited retreat options for epiphyte-dwelling spider communities. Tree architecture larger social groups and retreat size, have influenced the influenced the distribution of epiphytes and thereby social ecology of these species. In D. cancerides habitats also affected spider diversity. The three-dimensional 85 to 100% of all possible retreats are occupied resulting archipelago structure and high biodiversity of epiphyte in intense competition among maturing females. Off- communities presents an excellent opportunity for spring remain in the natal colony until sexual maturity further developing advanced island-biogeographic to increase their resource holding power. Conflicts with theory and testing the generality of existing predictions. potential reproductive competitors and immigrants are Keywords: topology, structure, distance, 3d position, intense. In contrast, the other two species are less con- epiphytes strained by retreat limitation, so the payoffs for offspring
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retention in the natal retreat are reduced and there is capturing their armoured prey. In the Canary Islands this greater tolerance of immigrants. genus underwent species radiation resulting in almost fifty Keywords: social evolution, intraspecific cooperation & species. Our objective was to determine whether all Canar- competition, duration of association. ian Dysdera are woodlice specialists. In Tenerife and La Gomera we collected 17 species and potential prey cohab- Oral presentation iting with them and tested whether the species accepted Instilling Arachnophilia: Spiders in Children’s woodlice or alternative prey and how they captured wood- Literature lice. To predict the prey of the remaining Canarian species, we performed morphometric analysis of their mouthparts. Jon Reiskind The results indicate that only some of the Canary Dysdera Department of Biology, University of Florida 213 SW are woodlice specialists, the phylogenetically basal clades 41st Street, Gainesville, FL 32607, USA appeared to be diet generalists. The woodlice specialists use [email protected] three capturing tactics that are identical with the tactics Herb Levi et al. opened up the world of spiders to the present in the continental species, but two of them evolved general public in North America with their informative independently in the Canaries. The common ancestor from Spiders and Their Kin (Golden Nature Guide, 1968). North Africa was presumably a facultative woodlice special- However, the time to generate a lifelong appreciation and ist. Colonisation of newly evolved volcanic islands, where tolerance, if not love, of spiders is in childhood. I surveyed even the niches of polyphagous invertebrates were empty, a vast array of children’s non-fiction books devoted to was probably followed by dichotomous evolution–some spiders and evaluated them using several criteria including species further specialised on capturing woodlice while the accuracy, quality of the illustrations, age of readers/listen- others became polyphagous. The dietary specialisation is ers, and how enjoyable and informative overall. There usually considered to be an evolutionary trap. The Canary are also several fictional books with prominent spider Dysdera are the first described case documenting that even characters. Although their spider characters are typically dietary specialists can return to polyphagy when the anthropomorphized, the reader is often given some bio- competition for prey relaxes. logically accurate information and left with a positive and/ Keywords: diet specialisation, species radiation, mor- or sympathetic view of spiders. Charlotte’s Web is a good phological adaptations, prey example. A list of books that I recommend is provided. Keywords: arachnophobia, children’s literature Oral presentation Cladistic analysis of Neostasina, with com- Oral presentation ments on the phylogeny of Sparianthinae Radiation of Dysdera spiders in the Canary (Sparassidae) archipelago probably included unique evo- Cristina A. Rheims lution of diet generalists from diet specialists Laboratório Especial de Coleções Zoológicas, Instituto Milan Řezáč1, Stano Pekár2 Butantan, Av. Vital Brasil, 1500, 05503-900, São 1Biodiversity Lab, Crop Research Institute, Prague, Czech Paulo, SP, Brazil Republic; 2Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty [email protected] of Sciences, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic Sparianthinae currently includes fifteen genera, namely [email protected] Decaphora Franganillo, Defectrix Petrunkevitch, Pleorotus Spiders of the genus Dysdera are the only predators outside Simon, Pseudosparianthis Simon, Rhacocnemis Simon, the tropics that are woodlice specialists. They evolved Sagellula Strand, Sampaiosia Mello-Leitão, Sparianthis different tactics and related cheliceral modifications for Simon, Stasina Simon, Stipax Simon, Strandiellum
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Kolosváry, Thelcticopis Karsch, Thomasettia Hirst, Uaiuara The genus Sadala was proposed by Simon to include four Rheims and Neostasina Rheims and Alayón. The subfamily species previously described in Sparassus (S. antiguensis is widely distributed, with species occurring in all zoogeo- Keyserling, S. rufus Keyserling, S. pellucidus Keyserling, graphical regions, except the Antarctic. Neostasina was and S. luteus Keyserling), Olios ventrosus Nicolet, and recently proposed to include Neotropical Sparianthinae six newly described species (S. pictitarsis, S. nigristernis, species with legs I and II with three pairs of ventral spines S. keyserlingi, S. velox, S. mathani and S. punicea). A on tibiae and one pair on metatarsi. Currently the genus few years later, Simon synonymized the genus with Olios includes 27 species from the Antilles. In this study, a cla- Walckenaer claiming that he could not find significant distic analysis using parsimony was carried out to test the differences to maintain the species in a separate genus. monophyly of Neostasina and discuss the relationships A comparison between the type specimens of the original between its species and between Sparianthinae genera. The Sadala species with the type species of the genus Olios, data matrix comprised 72 morphological characters and 58 Olios argelasius Walckenaer, shows that the species taxa. Of these, 18 belonged to Neostasina, 24 to other Spar- described by Simon do not belong to this genus. Olios ianthinae genera, 15 to other Sparassidae subfamilies and argelasius shows characters that are commonly associ- one to Philodromidae. The analysis was carried out on TNT, ated to Sparassinae, such as two pairs of ventral spines on under equal weights, and yielded two most parsimonious tibiae I–IV and chelicerae with two promarginal teeth and trees with 188 steps each. Results confirm the monophyly no intermarginal denticles. The Sadala species, on the of Neostasina, which arises as sister to a clade including other hand, show characters that suggest they are more Decaphora and Pseudosparianthis (here considered a closely related to Heteropodinae, such as three pairs of senior synonym of Sampaiosia). The analysis did not fully ventral spines on tibiae I-IV, three promarginal teeth and resolve the relationships between the Neostasina species. a cluster of denticles at the base of the cheliceral furrow. Within the genus, the Jamaican species N. liguanea, N. Male and female genitalia also show significant differ- gunboat, N. guababoa arise sister to N. maroon, nestled ences, such as the lack of typical apophyses and distal within a larger unresolved clade including the Jamaican embolic coil in the male palp and lack of membranous N. mammee and the Cuban species N. siempreverde, N. parts in the internal duct system in the female vulva, all granpiedra, N. iberia and N. macleayi. This large clade present in Olios. Based on the above mentioned facts, arises as a polytomy with N. bryantae and N. amalie, Sadala is revalidated to include S. pictitarsis, S. nigris- nestled within a larger polytomy including all the remain- ternis, S. keyserlingi, S. velox, S. mathani, S. punicea ing species and a small clade including N. ouali and N. and nineteen new species. In addition, S. nigristernis lucasi. is considered a junior synonym of S. velox and O. quin- Keywords: morphology, phylogeny, neotropical, Sparassidae quelineatus Taczanowski, O. orchiticus Mello-Leitão and O. formosus Banks are transferred to Sadala. The other species originally described in Sadala remain in Olios Poster presentation until a more thorough revision of the genus is conducted. Revalidation and revision of the genus Keywords: taxonomy, Araneae, neotropical region, new Sadala Simon (Araneae: Sparassidae) species Cristina A. Rheims1, Peter Jäger2 Student - Poster presentation 1Laboratório Especial de Coleções Zoológicas, Instituto The goblin spider genus Ischnothyreus Butantan, Av. Vital Brasil, 1500, 05503-900, (Araneae, Oonopidae) in Java and Sumatra São Paulo, SP, Brazil; 2Arachnology, Senckenberg Research Institute, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Miguel Richard1,2, Werner Graber3, Christian Kropf1,2 Frankfurt am Main, Germany 1Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Division of Com- [email protected] munity Ecology, University of Bern, CH-3012 Bern,
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Switzerland; 2Natural History Museum Bern, Depart- Hemlock Zone of the Pacific Northwest, United States. The ment of Invertebrates, CH-3005 Bern, Switzerland; Western Hemlock Zone has a complex recent evolution- 3Institute of Anatomy, Department of Topographic ary past, with Cascade orogeny, Pleistocene refugia, and and Clinical Anatomy, University of Bern, CH-3012 riverine barriers all interacting to shape its biogeographic Bern, Switzerland history. Here we test several hypotheses on the effects of [email protected] Pleistocene refugia and riverine barriers on diversification events between the Acuclavella species of northern Idaho. The genus Ischnothyreus Simon, 1893 from Java and Namely, we predict that (1) diversification events within Sumatra is revised with the description of seven new Acuclavella are associated with refugia and rivers, (2) species from Java (I. baltenspergerae sp. nov., I. bauri sp. inferred ancestral population sizes of Acuclavella species nov., I. gigeri sp. nov., I. ligulatus sp. nov., I. nentwigo- will show bottlenecks corresponding temporally with the rum sp. nov., I. sigridae sp. nov., I. ujungkulon sp. nov.) Last Glacial Maximum, and (3) genetic diversity will be and eight from Sumatra (I. ascifer sp. nov., I. concavus higher in refugia, with a phylogenetic “leading edge” sp. nov., I. habeggeri sp. nov., I. haymozi sp. nov., I. model showing expansion out of refugia. This research lucidus sp. nov., I. marggii sp. nov., I. microphthalmus provides important and novel insights into the role of sp. nov., I. obscurus sp. nov.). Furthermore the male of I. Pleistocene glacial cycles and rivers in shaping the biodi- serpentinum Saaristo, 2001 is described for the first time. versity of the Western Hemlock Zone of northern Idaho. Special morphological features of Ischnothyreus males More broadly, this research highlights the significant and females are described and discussed, such as peculiar contributions that studying poorly dispersing denizens of trochanter projections, partially fused pedipalp segments, forest litter can have for biogeographic inquiries. processes on the cheliceral fang base in males and exter- Keywords: biogeography, Pleistocene refugia, riverine nal and internal genitalic structures in females. All species barriers, ddRAD, Opiliones, evolution are diagnosed, described and illustrated. This work is part of the planetary biodiversity inventory (PBI) project of Poster presentation goblin spiders (http://research.amnh.org/oonopidae/). First offering: spider identification field Keywords: genitalia, morphology, PBI, taxonomy course, Southwestern Research Station of the Student - oral presentation American Museum of Natural at Portal AZ Glacial refugia and riverine barriers: contributes to species records for the area biogeography of Acuclavella (Opiliones, David B. Richman1, Susan Riechert2, Barbara Roth3, Ischyropsalidoidea) in Northern Idaho Ann Kronk4 *Casey H. Richart, Marshal Hedin 1New Mexico State University, Dept. of Entomology, Plant San Diego State University 5500 Campanile Drive Pathology and Weed Science, Las Cruces, NM 88003, San Diego, CA 92182, USA USA - Current Address: P. O. Box 1653, Edmonds, WA [email protected] 98020, USA; 2Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 520 Hesler Biology Bldg., University of Tennessee, Knoxville, The utility of Opiliones to infer world-wide biogeographic TN 37996, USA; 3Southwestern Research Station, P.O. Box patterns has long been realized, but the potential for these 16553, Portal, AZ 85632, USA; 4Natural and Behavioral often poor dispersers to inform evolutionary processes at Sciences, Pellissippi State Community College, 10915 more shallow time scales is still underappreciated. Here we Hardin Valley Rd, Knoxville, TN 37932, USA analyze a phylogenomic data set of over 5201 variable loci [email protected] (5156 unlinked SNPs) generated via ddRAD sequencing to report on the biogeography of the Thorn Harvestmen Acu- A field course in spider collection and identification clavella (Dyspnoi, Ischyropsalidoidea) from the Western was offered at the Southwestern Research Station in the
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Chiricahua Mountains of Arizona in July of 2015. Our nine Oral presentation participants included primarily graduate students and pro- Next-generation systematics of Austral- fessionals from the United States and Canada. As a result asian idiopid trapdoor spiders: exploring of the collections made during the course, we completed a a continental radiation revision of the spider species of the Chiricahua Mountains Michael G. Rix1,2,3, Mark S. Harvey3, Steven J. B. Cooper2,4, area reported by Jung and Roth (1974). Familial represen- Sophie E. Harrison2, Andrew D. Austin2 tation in the local fauna is summarized herein. 1Queensland Museum, P.O. Box 3300, South Bris- Keywords: education, field course, species lists, southwest bane, Queensland 4101, Australia; 2The University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia Oral presentation 5005, Australia; 3Western Australian Museum, Locked Spiderling interactions on the group web: Bag 49, Welshpool DC, Western Australia 6986, social tyranny rules in Agelenopsis aperta! Australia; 4South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Susan Riechert1, Jonathan Pruitt2, Jennifer Bosco1 Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia 1Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Uni- [email protected] versity of Tennessee, Knoxville TN 37996-1610, USA; Next-generation sequencing (NGS) approaches have revo- 2Ecology, Evolution & Marine Biology Department, lutionized systematic arachnology, providing new markers, University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa more characters and, once optimised, faster methods for Barbara CA 93106-5131, USA data generation. Our understanding of the phylogeny [email protected] and classification of mygalomorph spiders has benefitted Investigation of between sib and non sib pairs of Agele- from recent advances in molecular systematics, although nopsis spiderlings of same mass over 6 weekly feeding many studies using Sanger sequencing methods remain periods in which each individual is offered a termite limited by the number of loci available and the informa- prey at its funnel entrance indicates that this species tion content of those loci. Here we present a comprehensive does not cooperate in prey capture at this age. Further, phylogeny of the trapdoor spiders of the family Idiopidae 2/3 of the over 2000 pairs exhibited agonistic interac- in Australasia. Using massively parallel RNA-Seq methods tions over prey as opposed to feeding independently for the development of new informative nuclear loci, and on the termite offered each one. The degree to which parallel tagged amplicon sequencing methods for the prey are contested differs among families indicating generation of a 12-gene dataset, we tested the phylogeny, that there is a genetic basis to agonistic behavior. generic classification and biogeography of Idiopidae Once a distinct winner occurs in an interaction, this across continental Australia. Resulting trees highlight the individual takes prey and/or keeps the other member mesic Gondwanan heritage of Idiopidae in Australia, and of the pair from feeding. This is despite the fact that 1 provide evidence for three independent xeric radiations. In termite is far more than an individual can consume. one of these arid-adapted genera, remarkable phragmotic The result is that there will be a marked dichotomy abdominal modifications analogous to those seen inCyclo - in individual size that increases through time.This cosmia (Ctenizidae) and African Galeosoma (Idiopidae) behavior may be adaptive in that it assures that some have evolved twice in parallel in Western Australia. This members of a family will be larger and more competi- phylogenetic framework provides the quantitative founda- tive over web-sites and resources following dispersal tion for a new generic-level classification of the arbanitine from the group web. Analyses completed thus far indi- Idiopidae, and for future species-level monography. Fur- cate that spiderlings do not discriminate between sibs thermore, new nuclear markers–developed and optimised and non sibs. for both Sanger and NGS sequencing platforms–offer great Keywords: spiderlings, feeding contests, behavior potential for the molecular analysis of Mygalomorphae
162 DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE REPORTS | No. 3, July 2, 2016 20th International Congress of Arachnology and other Arachnida. age-related changes in behavior, which has not previously Keywords: systematics; Mygalomorphae; next-genera- been explored in this species. While males maintained tion sequencing; biogeography similar levels of active courtship across all age classes, older males increased their relative investment in mainte- Oral presentation nance behaviors (grooming) and decreased non-courtship Influence of predators and senescence on display behaviors. These findings suggest that studies of male courtship investment in a wolf spider male behavior in this species should be carefully designed to control for age-related variation in behavioral response. Andrew J. Roberts1, Diana Saintignon2, Benjamin Nickley2 Keywords: senescence, predation, age effects, chemical 1Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal cues, context dependence Biology, The Ohio State University at Newark, 1179 University Drive, Newark, Ohio, 43055, USA; 2Depart- Student - oral presentation ment of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, What factors affect the relative abun- The Ohio State University, 300 Aronoff Lab, 318 W. dance of dense, three dimensional webs? 12th Ave, Columbus, Ohio, 43210, USA. [email protected] *Mark Robertson, Leticia Avilés Department of Zoology, University of British Colum- Active courtship is critical for mate attraction, but benefits bia, #4200-6270 University Blvd. Vancouver, B.C. of signal production depend on many influences. Sexual V6T 1Z4, Canada signaling can be energetically expensive, and has the [email protected] potential to attract unwanted attention from predators. Male brush-legged wolf spiders, Schizocosa ocreata Hentz Using a precipitation-productivity gradient in western (Araneae: Lycosidae), actively signal females in the leaf Ecuador, we considered the potential trade-off between litter habitat during their spring breeding season, but face costs of web repair and benefits of predator protection distinct tradeoffs between current and future reproduction in influencing the relative abundance of dense, three- as the season progresses. Later in the breeding season, dimensional (3D) spider webs. 3D spider webs require the number of available females, who typically mate only large amounts of silk and activity to be maintained. once, steadily declines, mated females become aggres- Since heavy rainfall severely damages webs, we pre- sive and cannibalistic, and leaf litter cover disappears, dicted that the relative abundance of 3D webs would increasing male exposure to other predators. Further decrease with increasing precipitation. Conversely, as 3D complicating reproduction, sexually selected male traits webs also confer greater protection against predators, such as foreleg tufts are subject to wear with increasing and predators are predicted to be more abundant in age (senescence), potentially reducing male attractiveness wetter, more productive habitats, the relative abundance to females. The terminal investment hypothesis predicts of 3D webs may increase with increasing precipita- that with fewer available females, increasing predation tion. We found that 3D webs significantly increased in risk, and physiological senescence as the season pro- relative abundance with increasing precipitation, which gresses, males should take greater risks to secure mating suggests greater importance of their predator protection including courting in the presence of predators. We function. We also found, however, that 3D webs may exposed males of increasing ages to female cues alone or avoid extensive damage from strong rains by choosing female cues combined with predator cues, but found little sites with greater immediate cover, which we found evidence to support the terminal investment hypothesis increased in abundance as precipitation, and thus veg- in this species in that there was no age related increase etation lushness, increased. in courtship investment in the presence of predator cues. Keywords: web architecture, ecological factors, observa- However, we found evidence of male senescence based on tional, environmental gradient
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Student - Oral presentation Student - poster presentation Preliminary results of the cladistic analysis A new genus of Neotropical spiders of the of the genera of Prodidomidae Simon 1884 family Prodidomidae Simon (Araneae) (Araneae) Bruno Rodrigues, Igor Cizauskas, Cristina Rheims Bruno Rodrigues, Cristina Rheims Laboratório Especial de Coleções Zoológicas, Instituto Laboratório Especial de Coleções Zoológicas, Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brasil, 1500, 05503-900, São Butantan, Av. Vital Brasil, 1500, 05503-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil Paulo, SP, Brazil [email protected] [email protected] Prodidomidae is distributed worldwide and currently Prodidomidae is currently composed of 309 species dis- includes 309 species in 31 genera. The family is divided tributed in 31 genera occurring in all zoogeographical in three subfamilies: Prodidominae Simon, Theuminae regions, except the Antarctic. The family is divided in three Platnick & Baehr, and Molycriinae Simon. Theuminae is subfamilies: Prodidominae Simon, Theuminae Platnick & the most diverse with 13 genera occuring in the Neotropi- Baehr, and Molycriinae Simon, and characterized by the cal (nine), Afrotropical (three) and Oriental (one) regions. piriform gland spigots of the anterior lateral spinnerets Four genera are described from Brazil: Brasilomma extremely elongated and associated to highly plumose Brescovit, Ferreira & Rheims, Lygromma Simon, Oltacloea setae. Traditionally, Prodidomidae, along with six others Mello-Leitão, and Tricongius Simon. The subfamily is families (Ammoxenidae Simon, Cithaeronidae Simon, characterized by the presence of a sternum with a large Gallienellidae Millot, Gnaphosidae Pocock, Lamponidae protrusion between the fourth coxae with numerous long, Simon and Trochantheriidae Karsch) composed the super- erect setae and by the female epigyne with strongly convo- family Gnaphosoidea. However, the latest hypothesis of luted ducts. Here we propose a new genus belonging to the relationship between the families of Araneomorphae, did subfamily Theuminae from the Neotropical region includ- not recover Gnaphosoidea and Prodidomidae was included ing, at present, eight new species from Brazil (five from in the CTC (Claw Tuft Clasper) clade. This group is char- Pará, one from São Paulo, one from Pernambuco and one acterized by the presence of a distinct mechanism for from Paraíba). Four species are known from both sexes, moving the claw tuft setae of the legs. Here, we present the two only from males and two only from females. The genus preliminary results of a cladistic analysis of Prodidomi- is characterized by the male palps with a single retrolateral dae genera to test the monophyly of the subfamilies and tibial apophysis, presence of basal cymbial process, long propose a relationship hypothesis between their genera. embolus with sinuous tip, thin and sinuous conductor and The data matrix comprised 45 species scored for 65 mor- hyaline median apophysis and by the female epigyne with phological characters. The ingroup comprised members of conspicuous anterior copulatory opening. Five species were 20 prodidomid genera. The outgroup included members of collected exclusively in iron caves and have troglobitic 14 genera, all belonging to the family Gnaphosidae, The features such as vestigial eyes or absents. analysis was carried out using heuristic search algorithms Keywords: taxonomy, Brazil, Theuminae, new species under equal weights and resulted in 44 most parsimonious Student - oral presentation trees with 196 steps each. The strict consensus recovered Assessment of morphometric characters used the subfamily Theuminae, including the species Anagra- to delimitate species in the genus Apolpium phis palles, a species originally allocated in Gnaphosidae. Chamberlin, 1930 (Olpiidae: Pseudoscorpiones) The analysis also recovered the subfamily Prodidominae, while the subfamily Molicriinae was not recovered. *Catalina Romero, Eduardo Florez Keywords: cladistic analysis, Prodidominae, Molycriinae, Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacio- Theuminae nal de Colombia. Colombia; [email protected]
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Pseudoscorpiones is a mesodiverse order into the Class Student - oral presentation Arachnida. Species delimitation into several genus has Understanding how changes in the been done in this group by means of taking diagnostic ground spider community can enhance characters as linear measurements or proportions restoration practices without any statistical criteria. Because of this, one *Sarah J. Rose, P. Charles Goebel specimen could be considered as a new species taking Forest Ecosystem Restoration and Ecology Laboratory, into account only its size or either how stouter or The Ohio State University School of Environment and slender a structure can be if compared with itself in Natural Resources, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, OH other species. Furthermore, it ignores the variability of 44691, USA this kind of characters, due to the fact that measure- [email protected] ments may differ depending on the instruments or who conducts the research. On the other hand, the neo- Fire-dependent jack pine forests of Michigan are the focus tropical genus Apolpium Chamberlin, 1930 (Olpiidae) of conservation and restoration efforts as they are the has seven species described from Costa Rica to Ecuador breeding ground for the endangered Kirtland’s Warbler with diagnostic characters such as length/width pro- (KW). Current forest management practices, focused on portions of chela and length/width of pedipalpal tibia increasing KW habitat, however, simplify landscape struc- and patella and total length of the body. Therefore, ture. Without an understanding of how these ecosystems the aim of this study was to explore and assess the naturally respond to wildfire there are insufficient metrics potential and role of these morphometric characters to measure the success of restoration that emulates fire in species delimitation for Apolpium. In order to and post-fire succession. One such metric, or indicator of achieve this, 170 specimens were studied from six col- ecosystem function, is spider community structure and lections, as well as the five types of the seven species. diversity. Specifically, the ground hunting spider guild From the examined material, 36 measures were taken (GHSG) is a good choice as they respond to environmental from 17 structures in all the body on 57 selected indi- changes and are easily sampled. To quantify the GHSG viduals. Then, a pool of statistics analyses including a community we established pitfall traps in 12 former Kolmogorov-Smirnoff test, cluster analyses, multiple wildfire sites in northern Lower Michigan. Sites were cat- correlations, principal components, discriminant func- egorized as either young (2–7 years post-fire) or mature tion and multidimensional scaling were carried on. (23–41 years post-fire) and all were relatively unaltered Those morphometric characters together showed first, by human activity. We observed significant differences in that there was no significant difference of most of the the GHSG community composition between the age classes proportions between males and females; second, a high (MRPP=0.001), and higher diversity (Shannon Diversity correlation between structures of same appendages Index) in mature (H’=2.11versus young (H’=1.49) stands was evidenced; and finally the proportions lacked of (p<0.01). Non-metric multidimensional scaling revealed explicative power to differentiate species. Given this, that stand age, canopy cover, ground cover, and under- proportions themselves do not support enough the story plant community composition and density (below Apolpium species proposed currently and other kind of 1 m) are important drivers of GHSG abundance. These characters have to be explored in order to find trust- data provide valuable insights into the role that natural able diagnostic ones. disturbances, and their legacies, play in shaping jack pine Keywords: Pseudoscorpiones, morphometric characters, forest ecosystems. Differences in the GHSG suggest that the multivariate analyses, species delimitation heterogeneous stand structure associated with naturally regenerating stands may provide a variety of microcli- mates, habitat structures, and prey availability; making them suitable for maintaining a high diversity of spiders
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across stand ages. Consequently, current forest manage- synthesize all current morphological knowledge. This in ment practices designed to enhance KW, by simplifying the combination with interactive 3D representations confer landscape, may negatively affect other important ecosys- our results a high degree of reproducibility. tem structures and functions. Keywords: fire, ecological restoration, ground spider, Oral presentation community ecology Experience with contaminated soil affects learning in a wolf spider Student - oral presentation Ann L. Rypstra1, Giséle Aubin1, Mary Gardiner2, James D. Three dimensional analysis of the spider loco- Harwood3 motory system—first answers and solutions 1Department of Biology, Miami University, Hamilton, *Jens Runge, Christian S. Wirkner OH 45011, USA; 2College of Food, Agricultural, and Universitaet Rostock, Allgemeine & Spezielle Zoologie, Environmental Sciences, The Ohio State University, Institut fuer Biowissenschaften, Universitaetsplatz 2, Wooster, OH 44691, USA; 3Department of Entomology, 18055 Rostock, Germany University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA [email protected] [email protected] Although an impressive body of knowledge exists, detailed The long industrial history of many urban communities comparative studies of structural and spatial aspects of ensures that heavy metals are pervasive contaminants in the complex locomotory apparatus in Arachnida have pro- their soils. It is clear that childhood exposure to common duced contradictory results. In the course of a comparative metals, such as lead, can have profound effects on the survey recently started on this topic, we therefore studied intellectual development of humans but few studies have three representative species of spiders (Liphisitus malaya- explored the impacts on invertebrates that spend their nus, Cupiennius salei, Araneus diadematus). One major lives in close association with these contaminated soils. In aim of this study was to establish visualization methods initial experiments, we documented the ability of the wolf and terminology to be easily and consistently applied to spider, Pardosa milvina (Araneae, Lycosidae) to learn all arachnid taxa. Spiders comprise over 45,000 species to associate the odor of peppermint with food. Trained and, in some features, show a fascinating disparity. Other animals changed their activity when near peppermint and features, such as the locomotory system, however, seem were more likely to move toward the peppermint odor in to be highly conserved. Generally, the locomotory system a two choice olfactometer. We repeated these experiments in spiders consists of the prosoma and its four pairs of with animals that had spent one month on soil laden with walking legs, each comprising seven cuticular podomeres. heavy metals that was obtained from urban neighbor- The locomotory musculature can be subdivided into the hoods in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. While spiders living on extrinsic musculature situated in the prosoma and the the contaminated soil behaved differently from animals intrinsic musculature located inside the walking legs. reared on uncontaminated soil, they did not learn to prefer Here we present the first three-dimensional analysis of the the peppermint odor. We uncovered no evidence that our locomotory system in spiders. Cuticular structures, muscles training protocols caused them to alter their activity in the and tendons are visualized and described using state of the presence of peppermint and they selected lanes at random art morphological methods. To unify the nomenclature of in the two–choice olfactometer. These results suggest that the investigated structures, results are compared to pub- P. milvina has some level of cognition and that their lished data and a position-based nomenclature of muscles cognitive ability is affected by exposure to heavy metals. is established which does not refer to homology in order to Thus, this spider may be an interesting model organism for avoid a priori misconceptions. On the basis of these com- the exploration of the neuropsychological impact of this parisons, homology hypotheses are formulated in order to kind of pollution. In addition, if learning is critical to the
166 DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE REPORTS | No. 3, July 2, 2016 20th International Congress of Arachnology success of these predators, populations living in impacted ordination techniques the strength and scale of dispersion. areas may play very different roles in the food web than By indicator species analysis we assessed the distinctness those living in more pristine habitats. of the expected communities. These independent analy- Keywords: learning, behavior, contaminants, wolf spider, ses reinforced the view of Clementsian communities by heavy metals, cognition, pollution showing a strong local habitat filtering effects driven by plant species richness, strong dispersal up to 500 m land- Oral presentation scape radius and a number of indicator species showing Spider metacommunities on the edge: local the coherent structure of species composition. Thus, if we and landscape scale processes on natural intend to preserve diverse and characteristic spider com- habitat islands in an agricultural landscape munities, then local habitat quality and management has to have high priority, as well as there is an importance Ferenc Samu1, Orsolya Beleznai1, Éva Szita1, Erika of natural landscape elements which can exert positive Botos1, Dóra Neidert1, András Horváth2 effects at considerable distances. 1Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Keywords: community ecology, landscape ecology, Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 15 community assembly, diversity, nestedness, ecosystem Herman Ottó Str., Budapest, H-1022, Hungary; services, habitat island 2Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecologi- cal Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 2–4 Poster presentation Alkotmány Str., Vácrátót, H-2163, Hungary A new genus of the Subfamily Nopinae [email protected] (Araneae, Caponiidae) from Neotropical Natural grasslands have shrunk to habitat islands in region most agricultural landscapes, still they play an important Alexander Sanchez-Ruiz, Antonio Domingos Brescovit role in maintaining biodiversity. To preserve spider com- Laboratório Especial de Coleções Zoológicas, Instituto munities in grasslands patches it is important to study Butantan, Av. Vital Brasil, 1500, Butantã, São Paulo the drivers of community processes both at local and 05503-900, SP, Brazil landscape scale. Metacommunity theory, in particular [email protected] the elements of metacommunity structure (EMS) frame- work explores how regional processes, such as dispersal, A new genus, Medionops, is proposed for a group of combine with local dynamics, such as species’ interac- caponiid spiders found in the Neotropical region. Nops tions and niche partitioning, to affect species’ coexistence simla Chickering and Nops cesari Dupérré are trans- across scales. In the studied habitat island situation we ferred to Medionops. Additionally, five new species are wanted to know whether there are predictable, recurring described: Medionops blades n. sp. from Colombia, spider communities in the similar grassland patches. The Medionops claudiae n. sp., Medionops murici n. EMS framework is suitable to provide proximate answer by sp. and Medionops ramirezi n. sp. from Brazil, and analyzing the coherence, turnover and boundary clump- Medionops venezuela n. sp. from Venezuela. All these ing in the species occurrence matrix. In the present study species are Nopinae and also have the translucent we sampled 28 localities, the interiors and edges of 14 ventral extension of the membrane between the anterior grassland patches bordering arable fields. The EMS results metatarsi and tarsi, and a very short, almost unnotice- indicated coherent species distributions, high species able, ventral translucent keel on the anterior metatarsi. turnover (lower than expected nestedness) and clumped Additionally, also have the unpaired claw on all tarsi boundaries amounting to a Clementsian community orga- elongate and dorsally reflexed and associated with a nization. In a next stage of the analysis we used additional membranous pulvillus; a character present only in Nops abundance data and environmental variables to assess by and Nopsides. Members of this genus differ from other
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Nopinae by the form of labium and endites; the confor- become more abundant, which might suggest more toler- mation of male and female genitalia is also diagnostic. ance of their conspecifics. Their change in behavior can Keywords: taxonomy, haplogynae, new species, Neotropics also be appreciated in the reduction of web size. When food stops being a limiting factors, they invest less energy Student - poster presentation in foraging, probably to allocate more to reproduction. Spider population response to spatial-tempo- Spiders around Lake Myvatn have behaviorally adapted ral variability in prey: Lake Mývatn, Iceland to exploit efficiently available resources in an otherwise resources lacking landscape. *Jose A Sanchez-Ruiz1, Joseph Phillips2, Arni Einarsson3, Keywords: aggregation, foraging behavior, emergence, Claudio Gratton4, Anthony Ives2 Lairinioides patagiatus, midges, subsidies, web size 1Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras, PO BOX 70377, San Juan, PR, 00936-8377, Student - oral presentation USA; 2Department of Zoology, University of Wisconsin- Phylogeny of Selenocosmia crassipes Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; 3Institute of (Theraphosidae): combining morphology, Biology, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 7, 101 DNA and venom Reykjavik, Iceland; 4University of Wisconsin, Depart- ment of Entomology 3111, Wisconsin Energy Institute *Renan Castro Santana1,2, Robert J. Raven2, Bryan G. Fry1 1552 University Avenue Madison, WI 53706, USA 1Floor 8th, Gerhmann Building, School of Biology, [email protected] University of Queensland, St. Lucia, 4072, Australia; 2Department of Terrestrial Environment, Queensland In places where resources are scarce, competition leads Museum, Grey St, PO Box 3300, South Brisbane, many organisms to engage in different types of behavior 4101, Q. Australia to protect and efficiently exploit these resources. Spider, [email protected] although territorial, sometimes occur in aggregation and adjust web size according to foraging necessities. Lake Most of Australia’s tarantulas were described around Myvatn is known for its huge midge emergences. Spiders 1900’s, except Coremiocnemis tropix Raven, 2005. Perhaps aggregate near the lake to exploit this prey resource, mostly because of their cryptic characters, a comprehen- which varies in space and time. Our objective was to assess sive taxonomic revision has been neglected. Although the spider population’s behavioral response to this tem- morphological work has been carried out, one species poral resource in relation to habitat and distance in Lake group is still unresolved using morphological data alone. Myvatn, Iceland. The orb weaver Lairinioides patagiatus Selenocosmia crassipes, possibly Phlogius crassipes, occurs in high densities near its shores. Three surveys, is a species complex that occurs from Rockhampton to considering midge emergence phenology, were conducted the tip of Cape York in Queensland, Australia, a range of for L. patagiatus abundance and web size along a dis- more than 1500 km. To test how many species there may tance gradient. Prey abundance and habitat and habitat be S. crassipes, molecular data has been extracted. Genes were accounted for as well. We found orb weaver abun- CO1 and 16S has been sequenced (forward and reverse) dance to increase with habitat complexity and temporal using traditional primers (CI-J-1751spid, C1-N-2776, increases in prey availability, not distance. Web size was N1-J-12261, LR-N-13398). Also, proteomic fingerprint found to decrease with prey availability through time. We of venom was done using LC/MS-MS, LC/MS, SDS-PAGE believe that L. patagiatus is responding behavioraly to of 1 dimension. CO1 and 16S Bayesian tree separated S. the incoming temporal subsidies from Lake Myvatn. Due crassipes into 3 clades, but one specimen are in different to the fact that food is generally limited, they aggregate clade on each tree. 16S and CO1 combined tree showed 3 near the lake shores when the midges emerge. As prey clades that correspond exactly with the CO1 tree. LC/MS increases, food becomes a less limiting factor and spiders venom data showed more similarity with 16S tree than
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CO1 and combined trees. Cluster analysis on the intensity components with no resemblance to known toxin types. of 1D electrophoresis gel spots using Bray-Curtis similar- It also showed us the presence of different genes coding ity is possible to define 4 clusters that correspond with for toxins or other venom components which may not be geographical distribution of the specimens, except one expressed in the venom or suffer from post-translational specimen from near Cooktown (Kings Plains) cluster with modifications. However, these transcriptome studies cover southern specimens. Similarity and permutation analysis a narrow taxonomic sampling including several buthid of LC/MS-MS results indicate that some northern speci- species, plus fewer species from seven non buthid families. mens have more similar venom to southern specimens Here, firstly the status quo of venom biodiversity is summa- than to other northern individuals. However, populations rized. Then, unpublished preliminary data of four venom from an island in the middle of the range differ largely gland transcriptomes of four non buthid scorpion families from northern and southern specimens. Combining the (two of them unexplored before) are presented. Finally, the analyses, it is just possible to assume that a population of phylogenetic affinities of some poorly known components, S. crassipes located along the Jardine River (northern Cape including scorpion calcines and La1-like peptides, reveal York) is different from all other S. crassipes, but the south- partially concordance with scorpion phylogenetics, sug- ern individuals are also different from specimens from the gesting the utility of these toxins and venom components northern and middle part of the distribution range. as molecular markers in phylogenetic studies. Keywords: CO1, 16S, venom proteomics, systematic, Keywords: venom, toxins, calcines, scorpions, La1-like Australian tarantula peptides
Oral presentation Oral presentation Filling pieces in the scorpion venom puzzle Influence of the biogeospatial environment on the distribution of spider communities Carlos E. Santibáñez-López Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos. Jason Schmidt1, Katherine Russell2, Dawn Olson3, Alisa Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Coffin4 Autónoma de México. 2001 Av. Universidad, Cuer- 1Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, navaca, Morelos 62210, México. Tifton, GA, USA; 2Odum School of Ecology, University [email protected] of Georgia, Athens, GA; 3Crop Protection, USDA, Tifton, GA, USA; 4Southeast Watershed, USDA, Tifton, GA, USA Scorpion venom is a library of several compounds, tradi- [email protected] tionally divided into two fractions: toxic and non-toxic. Whereas the non-toxic fraction includes mixtures of The maintenance of local biodiversity is an important mucopolysaccharides, lipids, free amino acids, enzymes, aspect of the long-term sustainability of agricultural protease inhibitors and biogenic amines. The toxic fraction production. Maintaining biodiversity, especially in regards basically consists of peptides that are highly specific to ion to predator species, promotes natural pest control and channels of excitable cells. Over more than 400 million many other ecosystem services. Spiders (Araneae) often years, the venom arsenal has assembled into an effective prey upon common pest species, making them a beneficial weapon that works for defense and offense. Traditionally, component of agroecosystems. Spider species richness and venomic studies consist of the isolation and biochemical diversity varies across landscapes and is often correlated characterization of specific peptides (e.g., toxins) from with certain abiotic factors. This project investigates how the venom mostly from buthid species. With the advent four geospatial attributes—elevation, soil moisture, NDVI, of the next generation sequencing, scorpion venom gland and distance to edge habitat—influence spider species transcriptomes have improved our knowledge on target distributions across a farm-scape in South Georgia. genes (e.g., those coding for toxins), and revealed different Samples for the project were obtained from pitfall traps
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placed along a grid pattern within a farm-scape in the Student - poster Presentation Tift county area. Spiders were later removed, preserved in Influence of web in prey detection: a com- alcohol, and counted and identified to lowest taxon pos- parison of four tarantula species sible. Species data were compiled and correlated with the *Sarah E Schrader, Cara Shillington four selected attributes using multivariate methods and Department of Biology, Eastern Michigan University, geospatial statistics. Preliminary analysis shows at least 12 Ypsilanti, Michigan 48197, USA different species of spiders present across the contrasting [email protected] cotton farm-scapes, and one bioenergy feedstock, Miscan- thus giganteus. The wolf spiders (Lycosidae) numerically Tarantulas are primarily sit-and-wait predators that do dominated the communities. Further identification of not rely on a web to capture prey. In many species, silk spiders and more in-depth analysis of the data will allow structures do not extend much past retreat entrances. There for greater exploration of the relationship between spider are species however that construct extensive sheets of web abundance, diversity, and the farm-scape’s geospatial interconnected by silken tubes. Four species that build attributes. Ultimately, the results should help growers this type of retreat were chosen for this study: Heterothele identify potential spider hotspots within their farm-scapes, gabonensis, H. villosella, Holothele incei and Oligoxystre which could then be maintained to promote healthy popu- diamantensis. Previous observations have shown that the lations of these beneficial predators. Heterothele species react to prey more quickly and have Keywords: agroecosystems, bioenergy feedstocks, a higher capture success rate in home containers with biophysical environment, natural enemies intact webs than in bare arenas. The goal of this study was to further examine how this network of web influences Oral presentation prey detection and capture behavior in other species of Who eats whom—life history strategies of tarantula, and the impact of web removal. Feeding trials the vinegaroon Mastigoproctus giganteus were conducted in situ, with each species divided into two treatment groups: one where the web was left intact, and Justin Schmidt the other had webbing removed 24 hours before the trial Southwestern Biological Institute, 1961 W. Brichta began. We hypothesized that spiders with intact webbing Dr., Tucson, Arizona 85745, USA would capture prey faster and exhibit bolder behaviors. [email protected] Each week, spiders were fed a single, live cricket weigh- Little is known about the life history or biology of ing 80% of the spider’s weight. Across six trials, latency vinegaroons (Thelyponida). They are perhaps best-known to capture was recorded and analyzed using a three-way for their vinegary smelling defensive spray that functions mixed ANOVA. Prey capture behaviors, particularly failed or as a powerful defense against would-be predators. The aborted grabs, were recorded and ranked in terms of bold- chemistry of the spray of Mastigoproctus giganteus is well ness. Web structure and percent coverage of the housing characterized and likely is similar throughout the order. containers were also recorded and compared between Vinegaroon natural history is terra incognita and lacking species. even basic information including life spans, predators, prey, Keywords: Theraphosidae, tarantula, prey capture, web and whether individuals tend to be cannibalistic. Through Student - poster presentation an extensive series of field observations and experiments Male black widows decrease competition both in the field and the lab, I report on the acceptable via web reduction prey, potential predators, and highlight the weaknesses or limitations of the different links of the life cycle M. *Catherine Scott1,2, Devin Kirk1, Sean McCann1, giganteus. A teaser: they are not naturally cannibalistic. Gerhard Gries1 Keywords: predation, prey, life history, cannibalism, defense 1Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive,
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Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada; 2University of and show considerable variations in the frequency of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Scarbor- web decorations. Yet no study has explored whether and ough, Ontario, M1C 1A4, Canada how personality could explain web-decoration behavior [email protected] and thus foraging success in these spiders. Here, we tested for the presence of boldness in the St. Andrew Male adaptations that limit sperm competition include cross spider, Argiope catenulata, and its effects on guarding females, applying mating plugs and chemically web-decoration behavior and foraging success. Boldness reducing the attractiveness or receptivity of females. was present in A. catenulata juveniles and adults as Female web-building spiders often attract males with well as females and males. In the wild, female boldness silk-borne volatile pheromones. In widow spiders (Latro- was correlated with how often females decorated their dectus), the courting male often engages in web reduction webs, and a good predictor of females’ foraging success behaviour, during which he excises and bundles sections and growth. Bolder females decorated their webs more of the female’s web and wraps them with his own silk. often, intercepted more prey and grew faster. This study This widespread behaviour may function in sexual com- highlights that spider personality should be considered munication (e.g., through dissemination of male sex in future studies of web-decoration behavior. pheromone) and/or decreasing the female’s attractiveness. Keywords: personality, boldness, Argiope, web decora- In a dense population of western black widows, Latro- tion, foraging success dectus hesperus, we ran mate attraction experiments to test the hypothesis that web reduction and/or male silk Student - poster presentation addition decrease web attractiveness. Male-reduced webs Expanding far from home: potential geo- attracted one third as many males as intact webs; webs graphic occupancy of the invasive Cyrtophora with a similar proportion of silk experimentally removed citricola (Araneae: Araneidae) in America were as attractive as intact webs. However, the experimen- tal addition of male silk did not affect web attractiveness. *Laura Segura-Hernández1, Gilbert Barrantes1, Adrián We conclude that web reduction in black widows limits García-Rodríguez2 male-male competition by reducing the attraction of rival 1Biology School, University of Costa Rica, San Pedro males to females’ webs. This effect is probably mediated 11501-2060, Costa Rica; 2Ecology Department, Uni- through targeted excision of pheromone-laden silk by versidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal-RN courting males, possibly in combination with the male’s 59078-900, Brazil silk forming a physical barrier to pheromone emission. [email protected] Keywords: chemical communication; courtship behav- Invasive species often have negative effects on colo- iour; pheromone, Theridiidae nized ecosystems. Thus, assessing their environmental Poster presentation requirements is key to identify potential areas for their Effects of boldness on web-decoration establishment and its consequent impacts. In this study we behavior and foraging success identify the climatic features that best describe the distri- bution of the invasive Cyrtophora citricola and evaluate Edward Z. Z. See, Chia-chen Chang, Daiqin Li its invasion risk in America. We used a Maximum Entropy Department of Biological Sciences, National University algorithm to create predicted distributions based on: 1. of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543 native range, and 2. documented invasive range. Then we [email protected] tested for niche conservatism by comparing the average Consistent inter-individual difference in behavior has results from Native and Invasive predictions using a Prin- been documented in many animals, including spiders. cipal Component Analysis and a Discriminant Analysis. We Many orb-web spiders decorate their webs to attract prey found that the Native Model shares 29.7% of the climatic
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conditions with the Invasive Model, while the later shares Brno, Czech Republic; 2Zoological Institute and Museum, 20.3% of its climatic conditions with the Native range. We Ernst Moritz Arndt University of Greifswald, Germany concluded that C. citricola has the potential for occupy- [email protected] ing and expanding into novel climatic conditions when Male spiders transfer their sperm via a secondary compared with its native range. This is one of the first reproductive organ called palpal bulbus. Based on several studies that analyzed the potential geographic expansion histological studies, this structure is considered to be of an old word spider in the Neotropics, and set the bases unique among all animal genitalia due to possible lack of for measuring the effect on the native spider fauna. innervation. A recent study, however, reported first evidence Keywords: niche expansion, invasive, biogeography, of neurons in the male bulbus in Hickmania troglodytes Cyrtophora citricola from a relict group of spiders. We performed a morpho- Oral presentation logical study on male copulatory organ of a common Burmese amber arachnids; biodiversity in entelegyne spider, Philodromus cespitum, whose males a Cretaceous tropical forest apply amorphous mating plugs into the female atrium after copulation. By means of microtomography, light Paul A. Selden and transmission electron microscopy we discovered a Department of Geology and Paleontological Institute, nerve-like structure in the bulbus. The cymbium of the University of Kansas, 1475 Jayhawk Boulevard, palp is richly innervated. One of the nerves departs into the Lawrence, KS 66045, USA, and The Natural History bulbus, runs through the whole structure and terminates Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK at the base of the embolus. Interestingly, the nerve is in [email protected] contact with two of three different glands situated in the Known for many years, but thought to be Cenozoic in bulbus. These glands are connected to the spermophore age, there has been an upsurge in interest in amber and may be involved in transfer of sperm as well as mating from Myanmar in recent years, partly because of its plug material. Our combined behavioral and morphologi- increased availability (especially now on the Chinese cal observations on the production of mating plugs in this market), and partly because we now know it is mid- species suggest that the male gains information about Cretaceous (c. 99 Ma) in age. A great diversity of biotic the intention of the female to interrupt the copulation inclusions have now been described. Most arachnid and reacts by promptly extruding the plug material. This groups are known from Burmese amber: Araneae, Opil- is the second case of bulbus innervation in spiders and iones, Solifugae, Pseudoscorpiones, Anactinotrichida, the first evidence for nerves in male copulatory organs of Amblypygi, Thelyphonida, Ricinulei, Scorpiones, and entelegyne spiders. Our results open the window into the Schizomida. In this talk, I shall briefly discuss the research of genitalic sensory feedback in spiders. biodiversity of arachnids in Burmese amber, before Keywords: male genitalia, palp morphology, innerva- describing some interesting new finds from the amber. tion, mating, histology, microtomography, mating plug Keywords: paleontology, Opiliones, Tetrablemmidae, Ricinulei, Schizomida, Mesothelae, Pseudoscorpiones Student - poster presentation Sexual dimorphism in venom gland Student - oral presentation anatomy in a sexually stinging scorpion Are males really so insensitive? Palp mor- Lenka Sentenská1, Franziska Graber2, Miguel Richard3, phology of a spider Philodromus cespitum Christian Kropf3,4 reveals innervation 1Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Sci- *Lenka Sentenská1, Stano Pekár1, Gabriele Uhl2 ences, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37 Brno, 1Department of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, Czech Republic; 2Institute of Anatomy, Department
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of Topographic and Clinical Anatomy, University Understanding of the developmental genetics of arthro- of Bern, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland; 3Institute of pod respiratory system is currently limited to the fruit fly Ecology and Evolution, Division of Community Drosophila melanogaster. The tracheal tubule complex Ecology, University of Bern, CH-3012 Bern, Switzer- of D. melanogaster is initially formed by the invagination land; 4Natural History Museum Bern, Department of of segmentally iterated tracheal placodes in the pleural Invertebrates, CH-3005 Bern, Switzerland regions of abdominal segments. Arachnids represent a [email protected] separate case of terrestrialization from insects, and the developmental origins of arachnid book lungs and tra- Males of several scorpion species possess bigger telsons cheal tubules have not received comparable attention. than females. In some of these species males repeatedly We examined the development of respiratory primordia sting females during mating. This behavior (“sexual in embryos of a scorpion, a harvestman, and a spider. We stinging”) is likely correlated with a sexual dimorphism used in situ hybridization and confocal microscopy to in telson and venom gland size. As natural selection examine the relative placement of respiratory placodes theory predicts bigger female venom glands (females and assay gene expression of candidate genes that are need more nutrients for their offspring), we hypothesise critical to tracheal fate specification in D. melanogaster. that this sexual venom gland dimorphism evolved under Here we show that the respiratory primordia of arachnids sexual selection in relation to the male’s sexual stinging are not positionally homologous to those of insects, as behaviour. We investigated morphometrics and morphol- they occur within the posterior region of the embryonic ogy of male and female telsons and venom glands by parasegment, demarcated by the expression boundary of means of light and transmission electron microscopy in the segment polarity gene wingless. Furthermore, we show the sexually stinging scorpion Euscorpius alpha (Eus- that orthologs of tracheal inducer gene tracheal-less are corpiidae). Male telsons are significantly bigger and more not expressed in cells of arachnid respiratory organs. These voluminous than those of females. In the compound light data suggest that mechanisms of respiratory system devel- microscope and transmission electron microscope, five opment are not homologous in insects and arachnids. different secretory cells can be distinguished with their Keywords: Scorpiones, book lung, tracheal tubule, representation varying considerably between sexes. While Araneae, Opiliones, evo-devo, homology female secretory epithelium consists mainly of cells filled by granules, males carry mainly cells containing dissolv- Student - poster presentation able vesicles. This cell type likely produces transparent Variation in total mercury content among venom that had been identified in other scorpions as riparian and non-riparian wolf spiders so-called “prevenom”. The function of this secretion is discussed in relation to sexual stinging behaviour. *Hailey Shannon1, Derek Wilson1, Tara Barbarich1, Keywords: sexual stinging, sexual dimorphism, venom Brian Mangan2, Matthew Persons1 gland, scorpion 1514 University Avenue, Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, PA 17870, USA; 2133 North River Street, Student - oral presentation King’s College, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711, USA Developmental genetics of respiratory [email protected] structures in Arachnopulmonate and non- Mercury is a persistent environmental contaminant that Arachnopulmonate Orders primarily originates from coal-fired power plants. Methyl- *Emily V. W. Setton, Holly Cho, Prashant P. Sharma mercury biomagnifies as it moves through food chains, Department of Zoology, University of Wisconsin- reaching toxic levels in apex predators. Wolf spiders can Madison, 420 Lincoln Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA concentrate mercury at high levels, sometimes exceeding [email protected] levels found in fish. Since these spiders occupy positions
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within detrital, terrestrial, and aquatic food chains, the [email protected] pathway for mercury biomagnification remains unknown. The phylogenetic position of Scorpiones and the attendant We collected two widespread wolf spiders, Pardosa milvina evolutionary scenario of arachnid terrestrialization have and P. saxatilis, at sites along the Susquehanna River a long and contentious history. The datasets of morpholo- near a coal-fired power plant and compared total mercury gists and paleontologists typically recover scorpions at levels to spiders from an uncontrolled coal fire burn site or close to the base of the arachnid tree of life, whereas (Centralia, PA) and reference sites away from the river or recent phylogenomic analyses have recovered support point sources of mercury pollution (agricultural fields). for a clade comprised of scorpions and tetrapulmonates We collected 89 Pardosa milvina and P. saxatilis across (Arachnopulmonata). To adjudicate between these com- the six sites and measured total mercury among individual peting hypotheses with an independent data class, we spiders. We found significant differences in mercury level examined the structure and composition of euchelicer- between these species despite being very similar in size, ate genomes, using mandibulate genomes as a point of microhabitat, phenology, and phylogenetic proximity. We reference. Here we show that a partial or whole genome also found higher mercury levels among adult male rather duplication event is shared by arachnopulmonates, to than female spiders suggesting either trophic dimorphism the exclusion of apulmonate arachnids. Furthermore, we or mercury depuration among females during egg pro- show that one or more whole genome duplication events duction. Total mercury levels varied significantly by site. independently occurred in Xiphosura. The signature of the Spiders from Centralia had total mercury levels up to three duplication in Arachnopulmonata is retained by devel- times higher than those in riparian zones adjacent to the opmental patterning genes, with gene expression surveys power plant and about nine times higher than spiders revealing several cases of putative sub-functionalization collected from agricultural fields. Significant differences of resulting paralogs in scorpion and spider exemplars. in total mercury across different age classes were also Taken together, these data imply a single origin of the found, indicating significant bioaccumulation. Our results arachnid book lung and transform previous scenarios of suggest that these species may serve as important bioin- the evolution of terrestrialization in Arachnida. dicators for mercury bioaccumulation, biomagnification Keywords: genomics, evo-devo, phylogenomics, terrestri- and transport across diverse habitat types. The high levels alization, Hox genes near Centralia, PA, suggest that, counter to conventional wisdom, aquatic environments are not necessary for sig- Poster presentation nificant terrestrial mercury bioaccumulation to occur. High throughput analysis of shape evolu- Keywords: total mercury bioaccumulation, biomagnifi- tion in the armored harvestman family cation, wolf spider, riparian Podoctidae Oral presentation Prashant P. Sharma1, Mark A. Santiago2, Perry A.C. Comparative analysis of euchelicerate Buenavente3, Arvin C. Diesmos3, Milan Janda4, Sarah L. genomes supports a single origin of the Boyer5, Ronald M. Clouse2, Ward C. Wheeler2 arachnid book lung 1Department of Zoology, University of Wisconsin- Prashant P. Sharma1, Evelyn E. Schwager2, Alistair P. Madison, 430 Lincoln Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA; McGregor2 2Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of 1Department of Zoology, University of Wisconsin- Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New Madison, Madison, WI, USA 53706; 2Department of York, NY, USA; 3Zoology Division, National Museum of Biological and Medical Sciences, Evolution of Animal the Philippines, Padre Burgos Avenue, Ermita 1000, Development and Morphology, Oxford Brookes Manila, Philippines; 4Biology Centre, Czech Academy University, Gipsy Lane, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK of Sciences, Branisovska 31, 370 05, Ceske Budejovice,
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Czech Republic; 5Biology Department, Macalester The relative costs and benefits of group living change College, 1600 Grand Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105, USA with group size. In the social spider Anelosimus eximius, [email protected] as colonies grow, the number of insects captured per capita decreases, but the size of insects increases, causing The taxonomy and systematics of the armored harvest- biomass captured per capita to peak at intermediate men (suborder Laniatores) are based on various sets of colony sizes. We show that for small to medium-sized morphological characters pertaining to shape, arma- colonies spiders are larger in larger colonies. We found, ture, pedipalpal setation, and the number of articles at however, that individual condition decreases as colony the termini of the legs. More recently, male copulatory size increases, indicating that an individual’s access to structures and appendicular secretory organs have been resources may become limited as colonies grow. Using proffered as a potential source of phylogenetically informa- artificial colonies in the lab we show that individual tive characters. Few studies have tested the validity of these spiders are not able to monopolize large prey and that character systems in a comprehensive way, with reference the variance in individual condition does not increase as to an independent data class, i.e., molecular sequence data. colony size increases, and in fact may even decrease. It We examined as a test case the systematics of Podoctidae, thus appears that scramble competition predominates in a family distributed throughout the Indo-Pacific, using a A. eximius colonies, especially at large colony sizes. We five-locus molecular phylogeny as a point of reference. We suggest that greater competition in larger colonies may mapped character data from various structures, includ- drive adults to disperse. The fact that dispersing adults ing shape data, onto the molecular phylogeny, in order to were found to be larger and in better condition compared quantify phylogenetic signal and to characterize evolution- to non-dispersers suggests that dispersal may be costly and ary rate and trait correlation of discrete and morphometric that competition in large colonies may result in some indi- characters. Here, we show that the subfamilies Ibaloniinae viduals failing to secure sufficient resources to disperse. and Podoctinae are paraphyletic, with Erecananinae Keywords: sociality, competition, dispersal, Anelosimus nested within Podoctinae. Various genera were recovered eximius, group size, behaviour as non-monophyletic. As a first step toward revision of the systematics of Podoctidae, we once again synonymize Student - poster presentation the genus Paralomanius Goodnight & Goodnight, 1948 New Records of Harvestmen (Arachnida, with Lomanius Roewer, 1923 revalidated. Erecananinae Opiliones) from Minnesota, USA Roewer, 1912 is synonymized with Podoctinae Roewer, 1912 new synonymy. We pinpoint morphological data classes that *A. Kenji Shoemaker1, Mercedes M Burns2, Sarah L. Boyer1 are consistent with phylogenetic signal, and identify those 1Biology Department, Macalester College, 1600 Grand highly prone to convergence. These results are anticipated Avenue, Saint Paul, MN, 53704, USA; 2Department of to guide taxonomic practices in Laniatores systematics. Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, Keywords: Opiliones; Grassatores; morphometrics; 92182, USA comparative methods; phylogenetic signal [email protected] Although they are familiar and often abundant in many Student - Oral presentation of the state’s ecosystems, the Opiliones of Minnesota are Interspecific competition, group size and significantly understudied in comparison to surrounding dispersal in a social spider states and provinces. Minnesota’s current species richness *Ruth Sharpe, Leticia Avilés sits as five species that were last documented over half a University of British Columbia, #4200-6270 Univer- century ago, while some neighboring states and provinces sity Blvd., Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z4, Canada are known to harbor double or quadruple that number. [email protected] We examined unidentified material from the University
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of Minnesota Insect Collection, and also freshly collected than in unfamiliar trials. We also found males were half as specimens from the main campus of Macalester College likely to mate in familiar trials, potentially due to higher (Ramsey County) and the college field station (Dakota rates of rejection by females. These results demonstrate County). We report eight previously undocumented familiarity from previous social interactions may play an species and two additional genera, identified using exter- important role in mating dynamics. nal and internal morphological characteristics. This work Keywords: social experience, mating dynamics, behavior, increases the known Opiliones species richness of Minne- familiarity, harvestmen sota from five species to thirteen, and the known number of genera in the state from five to seven, including the Oral presentation first documentation of the widespread genus Leiobunum. Muscles, hydraulics and springs: perspectives Keywords: Opiliones, Minnesota, harvestmen, species on joint mechanics in arachnid locomotion richness Jeffrey W. Shultz Department of Entomology, 4112 Plant Sciences Bldg, Student - poster presentation University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA Familiarity reduces aggression, but also [email protected] mating success, for male Leiobunum aldrichi This presentation reviews current understanding of the William Shoenberger, Dowen Jocson, Kasey Fowler-Finn evolution and biomechanics of muscular, hydraulic and Saint Louis University, 143B Macelwane Hall, elastic mechanisms used in propulsive joint extension and Department of Biology, 3507 Laclede Ave. Saint explores new avenues of research. Emphasis is placed on Louis, MO 63103, USA three aspects, the significance of phylogenetic history, body [email protected] size, and leg muscles other than extensors in shaping the Animals often adjust behavior in response to interactions taxonomic distribution of extension mechanisms. 1. Deep they have with conspecifics. For example, within a mating phylogenetic relationships among chelicerates indicates context, males may alter how they compete for mates an evolutionary polarity in arachnids from primitive joints depending on the level of familiarity they have with their without dedicated extensor mechanisms (e.g., hydraulics, competitors. We wanted to test if the mating dynamics kinetic chains) to those with dedicated extension mecha- of males change depending on whether they had prior nisms (e.g., elastic sclerites, novel extensor muscles), but experience with one another. We did this by using the finer details will depend on a robust phylogeny of arach- harvestmen species Leiobunum aldrichi (Opiliones: nids, which does not currently exist. 2. Specific mechanical Sclerosomatidae). We quantified mating dynamics (aggres- predictions can be derived from an assumption of siveness, likelihood of successful mating, and duration geometric similarity. The approach successfully predicts of copulation) in male-male-female mating trials where that hydraulic pressure used in propulsive leg extension competing males were either familiar or unfamiliar with is invariant with size, an observation that suggests that each other. We manipulated familiarity by pairing males hydraulics is more effective for small arachnids than for overnight in cages in which they were separated by netting large ones. A similar approach can be used to make test- that allowed them to interact and exchange cues except able predictions about muscular and elastic mechanisms. through physical altercations. The following day we ran 3. Extension mechanisms do not operate in isolation, and the male-male-female mating trials in which we paired most require antagonists to regulate the rate and range males with either a familiar male (the male with which he over which they operate. Antagonists can take the form of was housed overnight) or an unfamiliar male (a male that dedicated flexor muscles or muscles at adjacent joints that was housed with a different male). We found that male- can affect extension through a kinetic chain consisting of male aggression in familiar trials was considerably lower the intervening podomere or bi-articular muscles. Further
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progress in understanding the diversity of extension mech- Student - oral presentation anisms in arachnids will depend on integrating studies of Systematics of the “MPME clade” and the phylogeny, biomechanics and patterns of muscle activity. phylogeny of Linyphiidae (Araneae) Keywords: kinematics, locomotion, biomechanics, *Thiago Silva-Moreira, Gustavo Hormiga morphology Department of Biological Sciences, The George Wash- ington University, 2023 G Street NW, Washington DC. Student - oral presentation 20052, USA Occupancy & locomotor behavior in [email protected] Schizocosa ocreata: preliminary analysis & visualization in R Despite a considerable number of recent studies, the higher level phylogeny of Linyphiidae as well as its *Salvatore A. Sidoti1, J. Andrew Roberts2 immediate sister group relationships are still conten- 1The Ohio State University, Department of Evolution, tious. While some relationships are well established, Ecology & Organismal Biology, Columbus, OH, USA; 2The such as the monophyly of Mynoglenines and Erigo- Ohio State University at Newark, Department of Evolu- nines, and the position of Stemonyphantes as the tion, Ecology, & Organismal Biology, Newark, OH, USA sister group of clade that includes all other linyphiids, [email protected] much of the phylogenetic structure of this large family In many experimental designs, researchers are interested remains poorly understood. This study focuses on in tracking and quantifying the movement and/or behav- the relationships of linyphiids with emphasis on the ior of animal subjects. Several systems are available for Linyphiini (sensu Millidge). We will report the results of purchase that are capable of such tracking (e.g., Ethovi- phylogenetic analyses of linyphiid relationships based sion© by Noldus), but those systems are often proprietary both on molecular data from five genetic markers (16S, and expensive. We used BuriTrack, an open-source video 18S, 28S, COI, and H3) and morphological characters. capture application, as a base system for capturing spider Keywords: systematics, morphology, molecular, Linyphi- movements and digitizing their location within an arena idae, Araneoidea on a very fine scale relative to time. In our preliminary studies, 15-minute open field exploration trials each Student - poster presentation generated a robust data set including thousands of time- Revision and phylogenetic placement of the stamped x, y coordinates. Unfortunately, BuriTrack is not genera Jalapyphantes and Selenyphantes capable of converting positional information into distance (Araneae, Linyphiidae) or speed calculations, nor is it able to statistically examine Thiago Silva-Moreira, Gustavo Hormiga the differences between experimental treatments. We used Department of Biological Sciences, The George Wash- R, an open source software program, to build script that ington University, 2023 G Street NW, Washington DC. is able to automatically convert position and time data to 20052, USA more meaningful forms included travel distance, mean [email protected] travel direction, “burst” speed, proportion of time engaged in thigmotaxis, and visualization of arena occupancy The monotypic genus Selenyphantes Gertsch & Davis, via spatial histograms. Many of these functions are not 1946 is known only from Guatemala and Mexico. included in base R or found in any of its packages. The R Jalapyphantes Gertsch & Davis, 1946 comprises four scripts we developed will be made freely available to the sci- species J. cuernavaca, J. minorata and J. puebla entific community for verification and further development. (from Mexico) and J. obscurus (from Colombia). With Keywords: R programming, temporospatial analysis, the exception of J. cuernavaca (the type species) all video capture, open source other Jalapyphantes species are described based only
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on females. We revise and describe all species of both based on the positive variations of the total mechanical genera, including one new species of Jalapyphantes and energy of bCOM, represented in fact the highest fraction five new species of Selenyphantes. Preliminary analyses of the total work during locomotion. Great differences of molecular data place Jalapyphantes and Seleny- were found in the amplitude of the two total energy phantes as a monophyletic group sister to Pocobletus. components, kinetic and potential. These differences are Keywords: taxonomy, Linyphiidae, neotropical, Araneoi- responsible for a low value of pendular energy recovery. In dea, systematics fact, most of the variations in total energy, and therefore external work, are due to vertical displacement of bCOM. Student - poster presentation On gradient, the external work significantly increased, due Mechanical work of walking on level and to a larger component of positive gravitational work, and inclined surfaces in the tarantula Eupalaestrus the energy recovery decreased. The role of the mechanical weijenberghi (Araneae, Theraphosidae) paradigms of locomotion in spiders can help to under- stand the evolution of locomotion in tarantulas, however, *Valentina Silva-Pereyra1, Gabriel C. Fábrica1, Carlo M the pendulum mechanism seems not to be highly relevant. Biancardi2, Fernando Pérez-Miles3 Keywords: Theraphosidae, locomotion, kinematic, 1Unidad de Investigación en Biomecánica de la mechanical work, energy recovery Locomoción Humana, Facultad de Medicina, Univer- sidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay; 2Polo Poster presentation de Biomecánica, CENUR Litoral Norte, Universidad A new primitive trap door spider in Thailand de la República, Paysandú, Uruguay; 3Sección Entomología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Deborah Smith2, Varat Sivayyapram1, Natapot Warrit1 la República, Montevideo Uruguay 1Center of Excellence in Entomology and Depart- [email protected] ment of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; 2Department The metabolic cost of locomotion in cursorial spiders is of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of directly correlated with the mechanical work done during Kansas, Lawrence, KS, 66045, USA each movement cycle. The total mechanical work includes [email protected] the energy variations of the body center of mass (bCOM) regarding the environment (external work) and energy The primitive trap door spiders of the genus Liphistius variations of the body segments in relation to the bCOM Schiødte, 1849 (Araneae, Mesothelae) constitute the most (internal work). Males Eupalaestrus weijenberghi are basal group of all extant spiders. These spiders retain characterized by having relatively long legs in relation to many plesiomorphic characters, such as a segmented body size. During the sexual period males intensively walk abdomen and spinnerets located on the median area searching for females, hence locomotion is crucial for of the opisthosoma. Liphistius comprises 50 described reproductive success. We studied the mechanical work of species endemic to Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, locomotion in males, both at level and on gradient (12°). and Sumatra; 32 of these species have been described from We registered free displacements of each individual using Thailand. We found a large, previously unknown Liphistius four video cameras synchronized and analyzed the bCOM population in Mae Wong National Park, Kamphaeng Phet and body segments movements, after 3-D reconstruction. province at elevations between 1000–1300 m above sea At mean speed of 0.025±0.006 ms-1, the internal work level. We collected specimens and recorded behavioral was lower than expected and did not show significant and ecological information, including length and width differences between level and gradient. It seems that the of the nest entrances, number of trip lines radiating from number and displacement of legs do not affect the total nest entrance, depth of the tunnels, number of openings of mechanical work of this species. The external work, each nest (one or two), nearest neighbor distance among
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nests, soil composition where the nests were found, and Negev and the Arava; Fst values between these two popula- ambient temperature and humidity. Morphological studies tions and the north, central and western Negev populations of 35 Liphistius specimens (17 ♀, 18 ♂) revealed that are higher (0.06 to 0.12), but still indicate substantial gene the genital characteristics of both sexes are distinct from flow, especially between the Arava and eastern, central and other previously described Liphistius species, prompting northern Negev. Rift valley populations maintain substan- us to describe it as a new species. Unfortunately, this newly tial levels of gene flow (Fst values of 0.06 to 0.11), despite discovered species may already be in danger as a result of being widely separated. The Arava site seems to be an disturbance and deforestation that would be caused by a important hub connecting the rift valley populations to the dam planned for Mae Wong National Park. Negev populations. In future work we will also use SNPs Keywords: Liphistius, Asia, new species, conservation data in STRUCTURE analyses, and to investigate colony structure and sex-biased dispersal in this species. Poster presentation Geographic structure and gene flow in Student - oral presentation a range-expanding communal spider, An unexpected journey: The evolution and Cyrtophora citricola (Araneidae) in Israel biogeography of New Zealand Idiopidae Deborah Smith1, Yong-Chao Su1, Yael Lubin2 *Victoria R. Smith1, Cor J. Vink2, Emily D. Fountain3, 1Dept. Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Rob Cruickshank1, Adrian M. Paterson1 Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA; 2Blaustein Institutes 1Department of Ecology, Lincoln University, Lincoln for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 7647, Christchurch, New Zealand; 2Canterbury Sede Boqer Campus, Midreshet Ben-Gurion 84990, Israel Museum, Rolleston Avenue, Christchurch 8013, New [email protected] Zealand; 3University of Wisconsin-Madison, Depart- ment of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, 1630 Linden The communal spider Cyrtophora citricola (Forsskål, Drive, Madison, WI 53706-1598, USA 1775) is known historically from Europe, Africa, the [email protected] Middle East and Asia, and from several recently colonized locations in the Americas. In Israel, C. citricola has been Most of New Zealand was underwater in the late Oligo- known from the Jordan Valley, the Negev desert and the cene (27–22 million years ago). When the waters began to Arava. Recently, the distribution of C. citricola in Israel subside and more emergent land became available, it has expanded. Anecdotally, new populations appear to was colonised by a variety of biota. The origins of most New be associated with increased agricultural activity. Here Zealand lineages can be traced back to nearby continents, we address regional patterns of genetic variation within such as Australia. However, evidence suggests that a few have Israel. We collected C. citricola from the rift valley (Lake been associated with New Zealand and its supercontinent, Kinneret, Northern Jordan Valley and the Arava Valley), Zealandia, since the breakup of Gondwana. New Zealand’s and the western, northern, central and eastern Negev. We endemic trapdoor spider genus, Cantuaria (Idiopidae), is carried out multiplexed shotgun genotyping of 279 indi- one such candidate for a history of Gondwanan vicariance. viduals to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) Cantuaria appears dispersal limited and surprisingly spe- and used 3164 unlinked SNPs in Fst analyses. We found ciose. We set out to use dated phylogenies, phylogeographic low Fst values (0.02 to 0.05) among western, northern analysis, and ecological data to infer the history of Cantu- and central Negev populations, indicating high gene flow aria in New Zealand. Were Cantuaria in New Zealand since among them and/or very recent common ancestry. Since C. Zealandia split from Australia 80 million years ago, or citricola were not present there in the recent past, we favor did they more recently undertake an unexpected journey? the second hypothesis - recent colonization from the same Keywords: phylogeography, dispersal, vicariance, source population. The source is likely to be the eastern Australasia, diversity, genetics, Bayesian analysis
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Student - poster presentation Idris with one species. There are many parasitory and The many faces of Cantuaria: morphological predatory insects specializing on spider eggs. Among sce- plasticity in New Zealand’s trapdoor spiders lionids, some species (Baeus achaearneus, Comastichus zopheros, Idris sp.) parasitize spider eggs. However, there Victoria R. Smith1, Cor J. Vink2, Emily D. Fountain3, Rob was no Korean record for scelionid wasps parasitizing Cruickshank1, Adrian M. Paterson1 in egg sacs of spider. Based on morphology, ecology, and 1Department of Ecology, Lincoln University, Lincoln DNA identification, we recognized this species, Idris sp., 7647, Christchurch, New Zealand; 2Canterbury being new to Korea. All examined specimens and DNA Museum, Rolleston Avenue, Christchurch 8013, New samples are deposited in Kunsan National University. Zealand; 3University of Wisconsin-Madison, Depart- Keywords: Hymenoptera, Scelilionidae, Scelionae, Idrini, ment of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, 1630 Linden Idris, parasitoid wasps, spider eggs Drive, Madison, WI 53706-1598, USA [email protected] Student - oral presentation New Zealand’s endemic trapdoor spider genus, Cantu- Spider diversity response to garlic mustard aria (Idiopidae), is thought to contain 42 species in 10 invasion in a Wisconsin forest understory distinct clades. While researching their biogeography, we *Megan Sprovach, Michael L. Draney found that genetic phylogenies from multiple loci were Department of Natural and Applied Sciences, Uni- incongruent with morphological species delimitations. versity of Wisconsin - Green Bay, 2420 Nicolet Drive, Male genitalia, while often useful in mygalomorph tax- Green Bay, WI 54311-7001, USA onomy, are highly polymorphic even within populations [email protected] of Cantuaria. Our poster reveals the phylogenetic rela- tionships within the genus Cantuaria, and discusses the Little attention has been paid to non-herbivorous inver- plasticity of behavioural and morphological traits. tebrates, such as spiders, when assessing the impact of Keywords: phylogeography, palp, Australasia, localised invasive plant species on animal biodiversity. In June distribution, speciation, characters 2015, we explored how spider community diversity is affected by the presence of the invasive forest understory herb garlic Student - poster presentation mustard (Alliaria petiolata) by sampling spiders using beat A new record of the genus Idris (Scelioni- trays and handheld aspirators at a rate of 0.25 person-hours dae: Scelioninae: Idrini) from South Korea within thirty (5 X 5 m) plots at Bay Beach Wildlife Sanc- tuary in Green Bay, WI. We measured the percent cover of A. *Ju Hyeong Sohn1, Subin Choi1, Jun Ho Chae2, Hyojoong petiolata within each plot, calculated Shannon’s Diversity for Kim1, Jun Yeol Choi3 adult spiders, and assessed individual spider species for possi- 1Department of Biology, Kunsan National University, ble correlation with A. petiolata presence. A one-way ANOVA Gunsan, 573-101, Republic of Korea; 2Department revealed that Shannon’s Diversity and Berger-Parker index of Biology, Gangwon National University, 200-701, values of mature spiders responded differently among specific Republic of Korea; 3Crop Foundation Division, National ranges of A. petiolata cover (p=0.01 and 0.03 respectively). Institute of Crop Science, 55365, Republic of Korea Counts of the native Linyphiid Ceraticelus fissiceps correlated [email protected] with A. petiolata percent cover under a quasipoisson regres- The family Scelionidae is distributed all around the sion (p=0.02). The results of this study suggest how spiders, world, which has approximately 3,000 species within 150 unlike host-specific herbivores, may benefit from additional genera in the world. To date 39 species of 15 genera from structural complexity resulting from a plant invasion. three subfamilies in Scelionidae are recorded in South Keywords: garlic mustard, community ecology, invasion Korea. In this study, we report a new record of the genus ecology, spider conservation
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Student - oral presentation Student - poster presentation Net-casting neuroanatomy: Sensory struc- Nocturnal no more: Body condition pre- ture modifications match central nervous dicts diurnal foraging in the net-casting system investment in the net-casting spider, spider, Deinopis subrufa Deinopis spinosa Jay Stafstrom1, Mariella Herberstein2, Eileen Hebets1 *Jay A. Stafstrom1, Eileen A. Hebets1, Peter Michalik2 1School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska, 1School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska Lincoln, USA; 2Department of Biological Sciences, - Lincoln, USA; 2Institute of Zoology and Museum, Macquarie University, Australia University of Greifswald, Germany [email protected] [email protected] The time of day at which an animal is most active In attempt to better understand the link between directly affects many aspects of its ecology and behav- brain and behavior, it’s common practice to compare ior. For example, nocturnal animals must forage under differences in brain size across animals differing in dim light conditions. Many nocturnal animals seem to behavior. Here, we investigate the relative investment have overcome this constraint by increasing the sen- of visual processing centers and sensory integra- sitivity of their eyes, commonly by increasing eye size. tion centers in a species of spider that undergoes a With the largest eyes of any spider, net-casting spiders dramatic behavioral and morphological shift upon from the genus Deinopis are well-suited for visually- maturity. Deinopis spinosa are nocturnal, net-casting guided, nocturnal behavior. Past Deinopis research spiders that possess massive secondary eyes used in has illustrated the importance of vision in nocturnal their unique form of active foraging. Once mature, foraging, the day-time inactivity/diurnal cryptic males cease foraging and their eye size decreases, behavior of multiple Deinopis species, and an intense inferring a decrease of reliance on vision, a sense retinal shedding every morning and re-synthesis every extremely important within the juvenile stages of life. night. Taken together, these studies have led many We tested the hypothesis that external sensory struc- to believe Deinopis spiders to be strictly nocturnal, ture investment (i.e., eye diameter) predicts internal while also being functionally blind during the day- sensory processing investment (i.e., visual processing light hours. Recent field and laboratory observations centers). Using micro-computed X-ray technology, we dispute the long held belief of Deinopis being strictly calculated the volume of various processing centers nocturnal. Here, we first document diurnal foraging in penultimate and mature male and female spiders, behavior of Deinopis subrufa and empirically test inferring investment from relative volume of focal the effects of light environment and body condition brain regions. As expected, mature males invested on the likelihood to forage during the day. We show relatively less than penultimate males in visual only- that between 10–20% of D. subrufa remain foraging processing centers (ON1 and ON2), while females during daylight hours in their natural habitat. We also do not show this trend. We also find a significant show that diurnal foraging activity is not dependent on relative increase in arcuate body volume in mature light levels experienced in laboratory condition, but is males, another trend not seen in female D. spinosa. predicted, in part, by body condition. Our study high- This brain region, previously described as a sensory lights the importance of careful field observations and integration center, may be responsible for processing empirical testing when labeling an animal’s potential information related to mate searching in mature male activity pattern. spiders, likely chemical in nature. Keywords: activity patterns, nocturnal, diurnal, net- Keywords: neuroethology, neuroanatomy, visual process- casting spiders ing, nocturnal predator, net-casting spider, Deinopidae
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Student - poster presentation Poster Presentation Female preference for male chemotactile Low-input conventional farming supports cues in Pardosa milvina (Araneae, biodiversity of spiders in eastern Poland Lycosidae) Marzena Stańska1, Izabela Hajdamowicz1, Anna Król1, *Michael T. Stanley, Ann L. Rypstra Andreas Hirler1, Łukasz Nicewicz1, Jarosław Stalenga2 700 E High St, Oxford, Miami University, OH 45056, USA 1Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humani- [email protected] ties, Institute of Biology, Prusa 12, 08-110 Siedlce, Poland; 1Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultiva- Understanding the types of information organisms use tion, State Research Institute, Czartoryskich 8, 24-100 to make mating decisions is a critical part of studying Pulawy, Poland sexual selection. In the wolf spider Pardosa milvina, [email protected] both air- and substrate-borne chemical cues from females attract males, and visual aspects of male courtship Numerous studies show the negative influence of intensified impact female mate choice. Few studies, however, have agriculture practices on biodiversity of different groups of examined the impact of male chemical cues deposited on invertebrates, including spiders. To conserve biodiversity a substrate (chemotactile cues) on female preference. We in European farmlands, different measures have been first monitored the amount of time females spent on male implemented for last years within EU Common Agri- chemotactile cues and the amount of movement females cultural Policy, of which one of the most important is the performed on these cues, when the cues were from males agri-environmental scheme. There is still not much data that differed in quality (well-fed or food limited) and concerning the effect of low-input conventional farming were not physically present. We found that the time that systems on spider communities. Our study aims to compare females spent and the amount of movement females spider assemblages in winter cereals in low-input conven- performed did not differ between male chemotactile tional and organic farming systems in high nature value cues. Next, we examined the time it took the female to farmlands of eastern Poland. The research was conducted approach and the time they spent in association with a in 2012 and 2013, on 28 and 24 study plots, respectively. male sequestered under a glass vial, where half the males The plots were divided in two categories: low-input con- were surrounded by their own chemotactile cues and half ventional farming plots where only small doses of synthetic the males were not. We also monitored the number of fertilizers and pesticides were used and organic farming male courtship attempts, as well as the number of female plots (in agri-environmental scheme) where neither pesti- attempts to interact with the male. The presence of male cides nor synthetic fertilizers were applied. Epigeic spiders chemical cues had no effect on the time it took a female were collected once a month from April till July in both to approach or the time the female spent in association years of study. They were caught by pitfall traps operating with the sequestered male. However, the frequency of two weeks every month on each study plot. In organic fields courtship bouts performed by the male was correlated the number of specimens was higher in comparison to with the time the female spent near him. In addition, conventional plots (14,797 and 14,599 specimens, respec- the frequency with which the female appeared to have tively), while the species richness and diversity showed the her attention directed toward the male was related to reverse tendency (98 species, H’=2,44 in organic plots and his courtship activity. Taken together, these experiments 102 species, H’=2,54 in conventional fields). Differences in confirm that P. milvina females focus on the visual numbers of specimens and species richness were not statis- courtship display of males and suggest that they do not tically significant. For both types of study plots Linyphiidae use chemical cues to recognize or assess male quality. and Lycosidae families were the most numerous in terms of Keywords: sexual selection, mate choice, chemotactile specimen numbers. The linyphiids were more abundant in cues, courtship conventional plots and the lycosids were more numerous
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in organic fields. However, the differences between these arachnids. Sequence capture returned an average of 487 two farming systems were not statistically significant. UCE loci for all species, with a range from 170 to 722. Phy- Spider assemblages were also affected by vegetation and logenetic analysis of these UCEs produced a highly resolved landscape structure. arachnid tree with relationships largely consistent with Keywords: spider assemblages, farmland, biodiversity, recent transcriptome-based phylogenies. We also tested agri-environmental scheme the phylogenetic informativeness of UCE probes within the spider, scorpion, and harvestman orders, demonstrating Oral presentation the utility of these markers at somewhat shallower taxo- High phylogenetic utility of an ultracon- nomic scale, even down to the level of species differences. served element probe set designed for This probe set will open the door to phylogenetic and Arachnida population genetic studies across the arachnid tree of life, enabling systematics, species delimitation, species discov- James Starrett1#, Shahan Derkarabetian1,2#, Brant C. ery, and conservation of these diverse arthropods. Faircloth3, Robert W. Bryson Jr.4, 5, John E. McCormack5, Keywords: phylogenomics, target-enrichment, species Marshal Hedin1 delimitation, Araneae, Opiliones #equal contribution 1Department of Biology, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Oral presentation Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA; The effects of leg autotomy on the outcome of 2Department of Biology, 900 University Avenue, Uni- predator-prey interactions in Pardosa valens versity of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA; 3Department of Biological Sciences and Museum Matthew M. Steffenson1, Chris A. Brown2 of Natural Science, Louisiana State University, Baton 1Adams State University, 208 Edgemont Blvd Suite 3060 Rouge, LA 70803, USA; 4Department of Biology and Alamosa, CO 81101, USA; 2Tennessee Tech University, 1 Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, Uni- Williams L Jones Drive, Cookeville, TN 38505, USA versity of Washington, 4331 Memorial Way Northeast, [email protected] Seattle, WA 98195, USA; 5Moore Laboratory of Zoology, There are a variety of different factors that can influence Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA 90041, USA the outcome of predator-prey interactions. One factor [email protected] that has received little attention is how physical impair- Arachnida is an ancient, diverse, and ecologically impor- ment can influence the ability of prey to survive predation tant animal group that contains a number of species of events. In this study, we aimed to identify how a specific interest for medical and engineering applications. Yet, type of physical injury common to wolf spiders, autotomy, many aspects of the arachnid tree of life remain unre- can influence how capable prey are at surviving predation. solved, hindering comparative approaches to arachnid Female predatory Rabidosa santrita wolf spiders were biology. Despite considerable effort, biologists’ attempts captured and allowed to deposit chemical cues in half to resolve the arachnid phylogeny have been confounded of the foraging arenas for three days prior to all preda- by limited and challenging morphological characters, as tion trials. Females of the smaller prey species (Pardosa well as a dearth in genetic resources. Here, we present a valens) were brought back to the laboratory. If eggs sacs genomic toolkit for arachnids featuring hundreds of con- were present they were removed, and half of the P. valens served DNA regions (ultraconserved elements or UCEs) to had a randomly chosen leg IV removed. P. valens were allow targeted resequencing of any species in the arachnid then allowed 24 hours to acclimate to laboratory and tree of life. We used recently developed capture probes physical impairment conditions. Prey were then placed designed from conserved genomic regions of available in Tupperware arenas (half of which contained chemical arachnid genomes and enriched a sampling of 32 diverse cues, and half of which did not) and allowed to acclimate
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for an additional one hour before the introduction of the jumping spider Marpissa muscosa and compared the the R. santrita predators. Containers were checked at volumes of higher integrating brain structures of indi- predetermined intervals for prey mortality for a total of viduals that grew up in four different environments: 1) 24 hours. Preliminary data analysis indicates that regard- wild-caught spiders, 2) spiders reared alone in a deprived less of whether predator cues were present or not, intact setup, 3) spiders reared alone in an enriched setup, and individuals always survived longer than autotomized indi- 4) spiders reared in groups of several siblings. Our results viduals. When predator cues were present, both intact and demonstrate that neuroplasticity occurs in spiders and that autotomized P. valens survived longer than when cues brain structures in Marpissa muscosa plastically respond were not present. Autotomy appeared to negatively affect to the environment the individual is confronted with. a preys’ ability to survive predation events, most likely as Keywords: neuroplasticity, volumetric measurements, a result of decreased locomotory capability. When cues microCT analysis, developmental plasticity were present, spiders survive longer, possibly indicating that prey spiders may use chemosensory information from Student - poster presentation their environment to alter their anti-predator behavior. Brain structure of the jumping spider Marpissa Keywords: predator-prey interactions autotomy, Pardosa muscosa (Arachnida: Salticidae), an arthro- valens, Rabidosa santrita, chemical cues pod with extraordinary cognitive abilities Philip O. M. Steinhoff1, Jannis Liedtke2, Andy Sombke3, Student - oral presentation Steffen Harzsch3, Jutta M. Schneider2, Gabriele Uhl1 Neuroplasticity in a jumping spider 1Zoological Institute and Museum, General and *Philip O. M. Steinhoff1, Jannis Liedtke2, Andy Sombke3, Systematic Zoology, University of Greifswald, Anklamer Steffen Harzsch4, Jutta M. Schneider2, Gabriele Uhl1 Str. 20, 17489 Greifswald; 2Zoological Institute, 1Zoological Institute and Museum, General and Sys- Behavioural Biology, University of Hamburg, Martin- tematic Zoology, University of Greifswald, Anklamer Luther-King Platz 3, 20146 Hamburg, Germany; Str. 20, 17489 Greifswald; 2Zoological Institute, 3Zoological Institute and Museum, Cytology and Behavioural Biology, University of Hamburg, Martin- Evolutionary Biology, University of Greifswald, Sold- Luther-King Platz 3, 20146 Hamburg, Germany; mannstrasse 23, 17487 Greifswald, Germany 3Zoological Institute and Museum, Cytology and [email protected] Evolutionary Biology, University of Greifswald, Jumping spiders are known for their extraordinary cogni- Soldmannstrasse 23, 17487 Greifswald, Germany tive abilities. Here, we explore and describe the anatomy [email protected] of the brain in the jumping spider Marpissa muscosa by Behavioral plasticity is usually associated with neuroplas- means of paraffin histology, microCT, immunohistochem- ticity, as changes in brain anatomy can be necessary for istry and whole-mount immunolabeling. Specifically, an organism to cope with changes in the environment. In we focus on different neuropils, as they are processing some hymenopteran species, volume changes in specific and integrating centers of the brain. The brain is the brain areas have been found that are linked to learning, dominating structure within the prosoma. The brain is experience and formation of memory. Jumping spiders are compartmentalized into a number of different neuropils known for a wide array of complex behaviors. Previous that possess specific qualities. The most anterior part of studies have shown that salticids possess extraordinary the brain (protocerebrum) of M. muscosa comprises cognitive abilities including planning, learning and rever- seven paired neuropils and one unpaired midline neuro- sal learning. However, the underlying brain structures pil (arcuate body). Further ventral, the brain includes a which enable them to exhibit such flexible behaviors are pair of cheliceral- (deutocerebrum) and a pair of pedi- basically unknown. We explored the nervous system of palpal neuropils (tritocerebrum). All neuropils show a
184 DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE REPORTS | No. 3, July 2, 2016 20th International Congress of Arachnology strong synapsin-immunoreactivity as well as allatostatin- lineages. Congeners of Kleptochthonius (Chthoniidae) immunoreactivity. The mushroom bodies and the arcuate and Hesperochernes (Chernetidae) will be used. Klep- body are considered to be higher integrating neuropils tochthonius expresses the full continuum in visual and of the brain. Both are connected to the visual neuropils integumentary systems between cave- and surface-adapted in M. muscosa - the mushroom bodies to both, first and species, while Hesperochernes are eyeless and have second order visual neuropils of the lateral eyes, and the thickened cuticles with red coloration. Transcriptomes AB to the second order visual neuropils of the anterior will be assembled from representative congeners, then DE median eyes through an optic tract. The large size and analyses between cave- and surface-adapted pseudoscor- apparent strong link to vision of mushroom bodies and pions will explore signals in the visual and integumentary arcuate body in M. muscosa adds further support to the systems between cave- and surface-adapted species. Known hypothesis, that these neuropils play an important role in arthropod pigment pathways will be mined to see if pig- cognition and locomotion control of jumping spiders. ments are responsible for red color in Hesperochernes. We Keywords: neuroanatomy, jumping spider, cognition, present preliminary results from DE analyses of original neuropils transcriptomic resources that we have developed from cave- and surface-adapted pseudoscorpions and from Student - oral presentation our searching transcriptomes for components of pigment A transcriptomic approach to exploring pathways. pseudoscorpion subterranean trait evolution Keywords: Pseudoscorpiones, pigment, trait evolution, subterranean *Charles D.R. Stephen, Jason E. Bond Department of Biological Sciences, 331 Funchess Oral presentation Hall, Auburn University, Alabama, 36849, USA The effects of octopamine and serotonin [email protected] on a wolf spider’s mating behaviors Rapid advances in sequencing and computing technolo- Brent Stoffer, George W. Uetz gies are having a transformative effect on the study of trait University of Cincinnati, Department of Biological evolution in subterranean organisms. Although only Sciences P.O. Box 210006 Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA vertebrate models have been developed to date, arthropods [email protected] are by far the largest faunal component of subterranean systems. In this extreme environment pseudoscorpions The underlying mechanisms of individual variation in can be very abundant and are species-rich relative to other mating behaviors often remain unknown. Biogenic amines arthropods. This makes them ideal models for explor- are a potential source of such variation, as they can affect ing subterranean trait evolution. Most extant species are a wide range of behaviors by acting as neurotransmitters, poorly vagile, and several genera have congeners that are neuromodulators, or neurohormones. Octopamine (OA) exclusively surface or subterranean and express pheno- and serotonin (5-HT), for example, have been shown types along a continuum of cave- and surface-adaptation to regulate behaviors including aggression and mating in their visual and integumentary systems. However, avail- behaviors in arthropods. The regulation of spider mating able molecular data is sparse: there is no nuclear genome, and aggressive behaviors, however, might be particularly but two mitochondrial genomes and one transcriptome important, as females might have to decide whether to have been published. It is unknown whether the integu- mate with, or prey upon, courting males. The brush-legged ment color is from pigmentation. To address these issues wolf spider, Schizocosa ocreata, is a useful study organ- and develop pseudoscorpions as model taxa, first resources ism to investigate the effects of OA and 5-HT on mating will be developed and then differential expression (DE) behaviors given the behavioral evidence for variation in analyses will be run between cave- and surface-adapted male courtship, variation in female choosiness, male use
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of coercive mating tactics, and female sexual cannibal- was given DA and paired (1 male, 1 female) in live mating ism. We used topical application (via dimethyl sulfoxide) trials. Additional control groups were included to ensure to manipulate OA and 5-HT levels at different concentra- that carbon dioxide or DMSO treatments did not affect tions (2mg/uL and 10mg/uL). In general, males provided mating behaviors. We found that DA did not have a signifi- with OA had significantly reduced levels of courtship in cant effect on mating success or male courtship. However, comparison to control groups in response to isolated dopamine shortened the copulation duration when the female chemical cues. In live mating trials, males and/or female was given dopamine. We speculate that dopamine females were each give 10mg/uL of OA or 5-HT in a 2x2 stimulated the reward center, giving spiders no further design in order to determine whether the male or female motivation to mate and reducing the copulation duration. amine levels best predicted mating success. These live Keywords: mating behaviors, copulation, neuromodula- mating trials demonstrated that female biogenic amine tion, biogenic amines, Lycosidae, Schizocosa levels are more likely to affect mating outcomes, likely due to increased aggression when given OA and reduced Oral presentation aggression when given 5-HT. Our findings demonstrate the Vision and visually guided behavior in the importance of OA and 5-HT in the regulation of mating hunting spider Cupiennius salei (Araneae: behaviors of a well-studied wolf spider, but might also lead Ctenidae) to further evolutionary insight into the roles of OA and Martin Streinzer, Axel Schmid 5-HT in other arachnids and arthropods. Department of Neurobiology, University of Vienna, Keywords: male courtship, female mate choice, mating Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria behaviors, neuromodulation, Lycosidae, Schizocosa [email protected] Poster presentation Cupiennius salei, a nocturnal Central American hunting The effects of dopamine on mating behav- spider, serves as important model in neurobiology, neuro- iors of a wolf spider physiology and neuroethology. Aside from its remarkable mechanosensory organs, it is equipped with eight well Brent Stoffer, Breanna Bohan, George W. Uetz developed eyes. Behavioral observations confirm that University of Cincinnati, Department of Biological vision is used by the spider in the context of orientation Sciences, P.O. Box 210006 Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA and hunting. This presentation aims to give an overview [email protected] about experiments on visually guided behaviors in An array of animal behaviors is modulated by biogenic Cupiennius. These show that C. salei is capable of visual amines (e.g., histamine, serotonin, octopamine, norepi- object detection and discrimination and likely also visual nephrine, and dopamine) that act as neurotransmitters, memory. Cupiennius is further likely to use vision for neuromodulators, or neurohormones. However, the role depth perception. Behavioral experiments suggest that of these amines in the regulation of pre-copulatory and the main depth cue is motion induced parallax, gener- post-copulatory mating behaviors in arthropods, and espe- ated during their zigzag like approaches towards target cially arachnids, is poorly understood. Dopamine (DA), in objects. To overcome limitations of the previously used particular, has been associated with motivation and reward real-world arena setup, we recently started to use Virtual across different contexts, and is increased during copula- Reality (VR). Our setup consists of a large, actively driven tion in some vertebrates. In this study, we experimentally sphere that compensates for the spiders’ movement, and elevated DA levels in male and female brushed-legged wolf a circum surrounding seamless projection. The projection spiders, Schizocosa ocreata. Dopamine was given topically is updated in real time based on the spider’s own move- on the cephalothorax using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as ment, to create a closed-loop virtual reality environment a carrier solvent. Either the male, the female, or both sexes in which the spider can move freely. The Spider VR allows
186 DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE REPORTS | No. 3, July 2, 2016 20th International Congress of Arachnology to uncouple potential depth cues (e.g., absolute and rela- Oral presentation tive size differences, retinal expansion, motion parallax) Can genomic approaches resolve the and test their relevance independently. First experiments phylogeny of Argyrodinae (Araneae: confirm the important role of motion parallax for the Theridiidae)? preference of close objects. Yong-Chao Su Keywords: vision, behavior, depth perception, Virtual National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Reality, learning Singapore 11754 [email protected] Poster presentation SpiderVR: A virtual reality setup to Spiders in the subfamily Argyrodinae (Araneae: Theri- investigate visually guided behavior in diidae) are known for their web invasion behaviors to untethered hunting spiders the web of other spiders. These host-parasite associations include two forms: araneophagy and kleptoparasitism. Martin Streinzer, Maximilian Hofbauer, Axel Schmid Although the behaviors of argyrodine spiders have been the Department of Neurobiology, University of Vienna, interest of behavioral ecologists for a long time, the lack of Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria a robust phylogenetic treatment of this group has hindered [email protected] the study of the evolution of these behavioral traits. Su and Cupiennius salei serves as important model in neurobi- Smith (2014) reconstructed the first molecular phylogeny ology, neurophysiology and neuroethology. It is equipped of the subfamily Argyrodinae and conducted several com- with well developed eyes which are used in various biolog- parative analyses to test the evolutionary association of ical contexts, such as orientation, object detection, object group-living behavior and host use. An updated molecular discrimination and visual learning. Traditionally, behav- phylogeny showed the increase in species diversification ioral experiments were performed in large arena setups, rates in Argyrodinae is related to the origin of web inva- where single or multiple target objects were presented and sion behavior and the origin of kleptoparasitism. However, the spider’s behavior was recorded. To overcome limita- these molecular phylogenies based on Sanger data could tions of these real-world setups, minimize handling time not resolve several deep nodes thus made the inferences between trials and to permit presentation of non-static of the behavioral evolution unsettled. Therefore, genomic objects, we designed a Virtual Reality (VR) setup that approaches could be the solutions toward a robust phylog- can be used to study visually guided behavior in freely eny of Argyrodinae. I compared two genomic approaches, moving large hunting spiders. The spider walks on top of restriction enzyme associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq) an actively driven sphere that compensates for its move- and targeted sequence capture methods (specifically, ment. The spider’s position is tracked using computer ultra-conserved element sequence capture, or UCEs) and vision, which feeds into the motion compensation and the discussed the feasibilities of using genomic approaches recording of the walking path. Virtual environments are for Argyrodinae phylogeny. The preliminary results of the presented on a circular screen using four video projectors genomic approaches showed that RAD-seq approach is that produce a seamless image of 360° horizontal and suitable for species group or genus level phylogenies. The 50° vertical extent. The virtual scene is rendered for the number of homologous loci dramatically dropped when current viewpoint of the spider and updated in real-time. filtering the DNA fragments for constructing the phylogeny Repetition of previously performed real world experiments among genera. The UCEs approach is promising for a fully in the virtual environment confirmed that SpiderVR can resolved phylogeny for Argyrodinae. serve as alternative for the traditional approach. Keywords: phylogenomics, restriction site associated Keywords: vision, virtual reality, behavior, computer DNA sequencing, ultra-conserved elements, probe vision, motion compensation design, character evolution
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Student - oral presentation Student - poster presentation Behavioral responses to varying acoustic Behaviors associated with mating success stimuli in the wolf spider Gladicosa gulosa in the wolf spider Gladicosa gulosa *Alexander L. Sweger, George W. Uetz Alexander L. Sweger, Corey J. Vaughn, George W. Uetz Department of Biological Sciences University of Cin- Department of Biological Sciences University of Cin- cinnati P.O. Box 210006 Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA cinnati P.O. Box 210006 Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA [email protected] [email protected] Vibration is an important part of the sensory world Behaviors associated with courtship and mating- both for of spiders, and many species use vibratory signals as a courting males and choosy females- can be diverse. Conse- major part of their conspecific communication. While quently, investigating ecological variables associated with nearly all male wolf spiders produce vibrations during courtship and mating behaviors requires a baseline under- courtship, the “purring” wolf spider, Gladicosa gulosa standing of the behaviors themselves, and which behaviors (Walckenaer 1837), also produces an airborne acoustic are most closely associated with successful mating. Estab- signal in conjunction with its vibratory display. However, lishing a significant association between certain behaviors with limited previous research on this species, the and mating success can elucidate which features may be behavioral and evolutionary significance of this com- indicative of male quality and which behaviors females ponent remains unknown. Given that spiders are not might use to communicate acquiescence. Future studies known to possess sensory structures for direct perception can then use behavioral responses in controlled condi- of airborne sound, this raises a key question - do males tions as metrics for male quality and female choice. The or females of this species respond to conspecific acoustic “purring” wolf spider, Gladicosa gulosa (Walckenaer cues? We measured responses of male and female G. 1837) raises interesting evolutionary questions due to an gulosa to isolated acoustic signals under various condi- airborne acoustic signal that males produce in conjunction tions. Individuals were placed in an anechoic chamber with their vibratory display. However, with limited previous on either a vibrating (paper) or non-vibrating (granite) research on this species, there has been no quantitative substrate. In one experiment, spiders were presented evaluation of which behaviors in either sex are indicative with one of three stimuli- no stimulus, a neutral acous- of a higher probability of successful mating. We paired tic stimulus (white noise), or the airborne component male and female G. gulosa under controlled laboratory of a male conspecific signal. In a second experiment, conditions and recorded all visual and vibratory signals spiders were presented with a conspecific male signal at from both sexes. We then provided operational definitions one of three set amplitudes- the population mean, popu- of all observed male and female behaviors and quantified lation maximum, and beyond population maximum. said behaviors in association with mating success and We then measured individual movement patterns and cannibalism events. We found behaviors in both male relevant behaviors. We found significant differences in and female behaviors that indicated a high probability of phonotaxis, movement patterns, and association with mating success, as well as latency effects for male court- the stimulus based on the type of stimulus presented. ship. Females showed at least four visual behaviors that Responses also varied by sex and the vibration conduc- indicated receptivity (i.e., were followed by acquiescence to tion capacity of the substrate. These results suggest that mate), several of which showed a significant positive corre- while acoustic stimuli are likely perceived as substrate lation with male vibratory amplitude. These results provide vibrations, acoustic signaling may have a role in the a metric for future manipulations of ecological vari- communication network of this species. ables in association with sexual selection in this species. Keywords: wolf spider, behavior, communication, vibra- Keywords: wolf spider, behavior, communication, court- tion, sound ship, sexual selection
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Student - oral presentation Student - poster presentation Urban Islands: a biodiversity survey of Last male paternity bias in Tetragnatha– spiders on Portland, Oregon green roofs does intermating interval matter? Jessica Szabo, Susan Masta, Olyssa Starry Kaitlyn Dodson Tatro, Autumn Alexis Richardson, Anne Portland State University Department of Biology PO Danielson-Francois Box 751 Portland, Oregon 97207-0751, USA University of Michigan - Dearborn, Department of [email protected] Natural Sciences, 4901 Evergreen Road, Dearborn, Michigan 48128, USA Urban development reduces green space and causes [email protected] fragmentation of natural habitats, reducing the con- nectivity of populations of organisms. Green roofs Long jawed spiders of the genus Tetragnatha have been (rooftops with vegetation and shallow soil) may help to studied for their mating behavior, but few studies have augment green space in cities and provide connectivity determined the paternity patterns found in these species. for plant and animal populations. Spiders are good Female reproductive morphology predicts that the last bioindicators of the health of an ecosystem; if spiders male to mate should be favored in species with cul-de-sac are abundant in green roof communities, there is a spermathecae, although other researchers have found either food source (typically arthropods) available to them, extreme variability or a last-male bias for the first egg sacs signaling a thriving ecosystem. We surveyed the spider with an antichronological sequence of paternity for subse- community on 8 green roofs in Portland, Oregon, sam- quent egg sacs. It has recently been demonstrated that males pling every two weeks from April through September can remove amorphous mating plugs composed of rival over two years. We examined whether plant composi- male sperm. However, the influence of the age of the sperm tion on the green roofs influenced spider biodiversity plug on the ability of males to remove it has not been tested. and abundance by comparing herbaceous and Sedum Here, we used the classic sterile male technique to determine planted roofs. We found that herbaceous roofs had only whether or not paternity was influenced by the age of the slightly higher abundance and diversity of spiders, but sperm plug in Tetragnatha elongata. Females were mated to that both types of roofs harbored different compositions two males sequentially and assigned randomly to one of two of spider species. The most abundant families found groups: presentation of the second male after either short overall were Linyphiidae, Thomisidae, Salticidae and (15 min) or long (6 hour) intermating intervals. Across both Gnaphosidae. Spiders in the family Linyphiidae are groups, we found a strong bias for last-male paternity in known to balloon as adults, which may explain why the first egg sacs laid. Here, we report the paternity patterns they are the most abundant family on every roof. Bal- observed for subsequent egg sacs and the influence of the looning allows for greater dispersal and thus, greater intermating interval. We discuss the implications of our access to high places like tall buildings. Interestingly, findings for sperm competition in this species. the green roof watering regime did not affect spider Keywords: sexual selection, sperm competition, sexual biodiversity, as the unwatered herbaceous roof had behavior, paternity analysis equivalent spider diversity to the watered roof. We Oral presentation suggest that cities incorporate a diversity of green roofs, Prey color biases, learning, and colorful including those with herbaceous and Sedum plant- courtship in jumping spiders ings, and low to no additional water, to best maintain arthropod biodiversity. Lisa Taylor1, Collette Cook1, Michelle Brock1, Michael Keywords: ecoroof, urban ecology, spider ecology, pitfall Vickers1, Nathan I. Morehouse2, Jeff Coco1, Lauren Gawell1, trap Lauren Holian1 1Entomology and Nematology Department, University
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of Florida, USA; 2Department of Biological Sciences, Oral presentation University of Pittsburgh, USA Leg injuries and wound repair among [email protected] cosmetid harvestmen Victor R. Townsend Jr., Maynard H. Schaus Understanding the design of prey defenses, such as Virginia Wesleyan College, 1584 Wesleyan Drive, aposematic colors, involves understanding the per- Norfolk, VA 23502 USA ceptual and cognitive abilities of predators that drive [email protected] their evolution. Research in this area has focused on ‘key’ predators (e.g., birds), with less attention paid to Previous studies of leg injuries in harvestmen have invertebrate predators. To understand selection pres- generally focused on the fitness consequences of leg loss sures that jumping spiders exert on prey color patterns, for individuals that use autospasy as a secondary defense. we first examined natural color biases in several species In this study, we examined the rates of leg injuries among of both generalist and specialist predators across five three species of cosmetid harvestmen, assessed the impact jumping spider genera. Experiments using artificially- of leg damage upon locomotion in two species and inves- colored prey have revealed a few common themes. First, tigated the process of wound healing over a 10 day period generalist predators typically avoided color patterns in one species. We observed considerable interspecific that are often associated with chemically-defended variation in leg injuries among male and female harvest- prey (e.g., red, yellow, and black-and-white stripes). men. We also observed interspecific differences in the rate Moreover, while these color biases generally appear to of damage in relation to leg position, with leg IV exhibiting have innate components, they are also quite flexible the highest rate of injury. We hypothesize that interspecific in both the lab and field. In the lab, spiders can be variation in leg injuries may reflect encounters with differ- ‘trained’ to develop either preferences or aversions by ent types of predators associated with specific habitats. With exposing them to different combinations of natural- respect to the functional significance of leg damage, indi- occurring prey. In the field, we find additional evidence viduals with injuries (lab-induced) to leg IV (less than 48 that prey color biases are flexible and shaped by experi- hrs post-injury) walked at speeds significantly slower than ence: different populations (exposed to different types uninjured adults or individuals collected from the field that of colorful prey) exhibit different (and predictable) had fully healed leg wounds. In the lab, we assessed wound prey color biases. Finally, we examine the idea that healing by damaging femora IV of adults with a scalpel and species with the strongest aversions to aposematic color observing the changes in the wounds over time. Using SEM, patterns also have the highest susceptibility to prey we classified wounds into four distinct stages: fresh (within toxins. We discuss the implications of these findings 0–24 hrs, hemolymph coagulum forms), recent (from for the evolution of prey coloration. Moreover, many 48–144 hrs, hemolymph coagulum has smooth, featureless of the colors that females avoid when foraging are the surface), older (at least 172 hrs post-injury, hemolymph same colors that males incorporate into their colorful coagulum is scale-like with observable cell fragments and courtship displays suggesting that male color patterns fibers), and fully healed (scale replaced by new cuticle may act as sensory traps to avoid cannibalism; we will growth that may include setae and 1–2 auxillary claws discuss ongoing work examining potential spillover on terminal stump). We also used SEM to examine leg inju- between a female’s learned food color biases and her ries of an additional 41 individuals collected from the field. responses to the same colors in male courtship, and Although we did not observe any fresh wounds, we found implications for the evolution of elaborate male color- multiple individuals that had healing wounds (recent or ation in salticids. older) and several harvestmen with fully healed injuries. Keywords: Salticidae, color, foraging, mate choice, Keywords: Opiliones, neotropical, natural history, sexual selection, prey choice Cosmetidae, morphology, SEM
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Student - oral presentation Keywords: jumping spiders, molecular phylogenetics, Taxonomy, phylogeny and biogeography distribution, Australasia, mating plug, SEM of the Cytaea (Araneae: Salticidae) from the Australasian Region Oral presentation Cascading increase of the chromosome *Łukasz Trębicki1, Barbara Patoleta1, Yuri Marusik3, number showing concentric rings in Gagrel- Mirosława Dabert2, Marek Żabka1 lula ferruginea (Arachnida: Opiliones) in 1Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humani- two different mountains in Japan ties, Department of Zoology, Prusa 12, 08-110, Siedlce, Poland; 2Molecular Biology Techniques Nobuo Tsurusaki, Daichi Kawakami, Mizuho Yokoyama Laboratory, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz Laboratory of Biology, Faculty of Regional Sciences, University, Umultowska 89, 61-614 Poznan, Poland; Tottori University, Tottori, 680-855,1 Japan 3Institute for Biological Problems of the North, Porto- [email protected] vaya Street 18, Magadan 685000, Russia Gagrellula ferruginea (Loman 1902) (Opiliones: Eupnoi: [email protected] Sclerosomatidae) is one of the most common species of The main goals of the project are the following: 1) to harvestmen in main islands of Japan except Hokkaido. revise the genus Cytaea, 2) to distinguish species groups, The species is diverse in coloration of body and at least 11 3) recognize speciation centres, 4) to present a complete geographical forms have been recognized in the species. phylogeny and 5) distributional history of the genus, The number of chromosomes of the species also varies including bioclimatic and phylogeographical models. widely from 2n = 10 to 24, geographically. Populations of The genus Cytaea is distributed from SE Asia, through the species with different chromosome numbers usually Australia, New Guinea to New Caledonia and other W integrate one another through a hybrid zone where chro- Pacific archipelagos. It comprises 39 nominal species; mosome number is polymorphic including heterozygous however, the real numbers are far from being complete as karyotypes whose chromosome numbers are odd. However, during this project as many as 50 new species have been sites where two forms with different colorations or differ- found in Australia alone. According to recent molecular ent number of chromosomes are sympatrically found have and morphological data, the genus is a part of the tribe been found at three different sites; two of them can be Euophryini and is estimated to be some eighteen million interpreted as cases of circular overlap. Thus taxonomy of years old, with unclear origin area. The study, based on the species is complicated and challenging. In the Tango types and new material, includes hundreds of specimens Mountains, northwestern part of Kyoto Prefecture, Honshu, and field records analysed using morphological (LM, diploid number of chromosomes of the species abruptly SEM, X-ray microtomography) and molecular data increase from 14 to 20 toward the center of the moun- (sequence data of COI, 28S rDNA, 16S-ND1 and Actin 5C tains around Mt. Oye-yama from peripheral populations, gene fragments). The findings are promising, largely sup- making a series of chromosomal hybrid zones. Karyotypic porting results based on morphology and allowing us to analyses showed that a series of Robertsonian recipro- distinguish eight species-groups and to initially suggest cal translocations are responsible for the change and the Australia-New Guinea as the genus’ biodiversity (origin?) change proceeded successively from 2n=14 → 16 → 18 centre. So far, 12 nominal species have been re-studied (ŁT → 20. On the other hand, a similar pattern of the increase & BP). New morphological characters for the genus, such in the chromosome number through Robertsonian as “embolic teeth” and embolic accessory glands, have translocations has recently been found in the Nunobiki been discovered. The latter not only have diagnostic value, Mountains, in the middle part of Mie Prefecture, Honshu. but are also potentially important in mating plug produc- In the area, diploid number of chromosomes continuously tion. Mating plugs have also been found in females. varies from 12 to 18 depicting a concentric scheme again.
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These cases seem to indicate occurrence of a chain process different from the one today. Beetles that feed dry provi- that generates rapid increase of the chromosome number. sions or wooden building materials such as deathwatch Keywords: Opiliones, chromosomal evolution, geo- beetles (Anobiidae) were the most abundant in the samples graphic variation, speciation, hybrid zones collected. Prevalence of inexpensive bug repellents such as camphor balls might cause the change in the communities Poster presentation of house insect pests and house spiders as their predators. Mass findings of an uncommon spider Pro- Keywords: indoor spider fauna, historical faunal didomus rufus from Komon-jo: Time capsule change, antique documents, Prodidomus rufus, rare of indoor spider fauna from Edo Period species Nobuo Tsurusaki1, Hiromi Fukagawa2,3 Student - poster presentation 1Laboratory of Biology, Faculty of Regional Sciences, Spatio-temporal dynamics of generalist Tottori University, Tottori, 680-8551, Japan; 2Tottori predators (Tetragnatha spider) and dipteras Prefectural Museum, Tottori, 680-0011, Japan; 3Shima- in environmentally friendly paddy fields nouchi 1-20-11, Chuo-ku, Osaka City, 542-0082, Japan [email protected] *Masaru H. Tsutsui1, Yuki G. Baba2, Koichi Tanaka2, Tadashi Miyashita1 A conspicuous amount of antique documents (= Komon- 1Laboratory of Biodiversity Science, School of Agricul- jo) that had been housed in a warehouse in Nakajima’s ture and Life Sciences, University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, residence in Iwami-cho, in Tottori Prefecture, Japan, were Tokyo 113-8656, Japan; 2Biodiversity Division, Institute transferred to Tottori Prefectural Museum in 2008. The for Agro-Environmental Sciences, NARO. 3-1-3 Kan- Nakajima family had served as a village headman of nondai Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki Pref, 305-8604, Japan Tottori han (clan) in the Edo Period (1603–1868). During [email protected] the process of the transfer, all the dried dead bodies and exuviae of insects and spiders that had attached to the Spiders have long been known as biological control documents were collected for the purpose of pest control. agents in agricultural landscapes. This function is Identification of a total of 151 examples of spiders (33 thought to be of particular importance for environ- bodies, 118 exuvieae) revealed 18 spider species. Of these, mentally friendly farming (EFF) where agrochemical most abundantly found was Prodidomus rufus Hentz application is limited. For reducing pest damage in EFF, 1847 (Prodidomidae) that comprises 2 males, 3 females, it is crucial to identify environmental conditions that and 45 exuviae. This was followed by Loxosceles rufescens increase spider abundance. In this study, we focused on (Dufour 1820) (Sicariidae: 5 juveniles + 40 exuviae) spatio-temporal dynamics of Tetragnatha spiders that and Gnaphosidae gen. & sp. (probably Trachyzelotes heavily rely on wetland habitats including paddy fields. As jaxartensis (Kroneberg 1875 or Urozelotes rusticus (L. paddy fields are probably unsuitable habitats for spiders Koch 1872 (1 juvenile + 16 exuviae). Prodidomus rufus in non-crop (non-flooding) season, nearby ditches are is a very rare species, though distribution of the species is likely to be alternative habitats for these spiders. More- worldwide. Only 5 collecting records (latest is in 1991 are over, dipterans that emerge in large numbers from paddy available in Japan after the first finding in Japan from fields are expected to be important bottom-up agents inside house in Ozu City, Shikoku in 1913. The specimens maintaining spider populations. Field surveys were con- also included Dictis striatipes L. Koch 1872 (Scytodidae) ducted in 15 paddy fields under conventional fields and which lacks recent records in Japan and Oecobius navus 18 paddy fields under EFF during three seasons in Tochigi Blackwall 1859 (Oecobiidae) which has never been Prefecture, central Japan. The results showed that Tetrag- recorded from the Sea of Japan side of Japan. The results natha spiders were more abundant in paddy fields than suggests that indoor spider fauna in the Edo Period is quite in ditches during the growing season, but this tendency
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was reversed during the non-crop season. Thus, comple- are richly endowed in additional sexually dimorphic mentary utilization of ditches and paddy fields during structures. Of these, the most common are processes of the different seasons appeared to maintain Tetragnatha hind trochanter (TrIV), which range from small tubercles populations. Both Tetragnatha spiders and flying insects to short prongs to massive clubs. Similarly variable is the increased in paddy fields under only EFF, when the sur- size of the SA (and consequently the associated muscula- rounding forest cover was high. There was a significant ture), from the largest observed in Sitalcina californica positive correlation between the abundance of flying to the smallest in Banksula grahami. This variation of insects and the population growth rate of Tetragnatha two associated structures suggests a correlation. Do larger spiders, suggesting the bottom-up effect of flying insects TrIV structures require a larger muscle mass? Preliminary emerging from paddy fields. We considered that the high comparison of SA to TrIV size shows only partial correla- potential productivity in paddy fields, coupled with the tion. Species with TrIV modifications do have larger SAs presence of nearby ditches, maintained high abundance compared to those with unmodified TrIVs, but species with of Tetragnatha spiders in paddy-dominated landscapes. the largest SAs do not have the largest TrIV processes. The Keywords: agriculture, paddy landscape, natural enemy, presence of moderate-sized SAs in species lacking male farming practices trochanteral modifications (such as species of Calicina) is puzzling and requires an alternate explanation. Poster presentation Keywords: Opiliones, Phalangodidae, morphology, Sternal apodemes in phalangodid harvest- endoskeleton, sexual dimorphism men (Opiliones) Oral presentation Darrell Ubick1, Facundo Martín Labarque2 Comparative mate assessment in wolf 1California Academy of Sciences, Entomology, San spiders: results from multimodal playback Francisco, CA, USA; 2Instituto Butantan, Lab. Esp. studies Colecões Zoológicas, São Paulo, SP, Brazil [email protected] George W. Uetz1, Brent Stoffer1, Maddi Lallo1, David L. Clark2 1University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Ohio, USA; The sternal apodeme (SA) is a rarely observed endoskel- 2Alma College, Alma, Michigan, USA etal plate that has been documented only twice; first by [email protected] Loman (1903 for the Asian species, Mermerus beccarii (Assamiidae)) and more recently by Thaler (1996 for Although theory predicts that females should exhibit three European species of Scotolemon (Palangodidae)). ordered preferences for size or expression of male qual- Here we record this apodeme in all examined genera of ity-indicating traits, recent work suggests some species Nearctic Phalangodidae (Banksula, Bishopella, Calicina, employ comparative rather than absolute evaluation of Crosbyella, Enigmina, Megacina, Sitalcina, Texella mates. We tested comparative assessment of differences and Tularina), although not the Malagasy phalangodid, in male quality by female Schizocosa ocreata (Hentz) Bunofagea. The SA was also not found in several other wolf spiders with unimodal and multimodal video and laniatorid families examined, including representatives vibratory playback choice tests. Females show ordered of Insidiatores (Sclerobunidae and Triaenonychidae) and directional preferences for expression of male quality higher Grassatores (Assamiidae, Gonyleptidae, Podoc- indicator traits (leg tuft size, vibration amplitude) in tidae, Pyramidopidae, Samoidae, and Zalmoxidae). The both individual sensory modes and multimodal signals, SA is a leaf-like plate that extends from the sternum as quality of either signal mode affects mate choice into the abdominal cavity, where it serves to anchor the outcome. Females exhibited transitivity of preference, large muscles that insert into trochanter IV. The SA and consistently choosing males with higher quality relative associated musculature are found only in males, which to an alternate choice. Multimodal choice tests showed
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that while females made predicted choices when male suspected. Interlocking genitalia provide an evolutionary traits covaried positively, in negative covariance (cue- platform for the rapid evolution of this highly effective conflict) choice tests, females showed a bias for higher mechanism to secure paternity, and we suspect that other male quality in visual signals. Female wolf spiders animal groups with interlocking genital structures might therefore appear to exhibit comparative mate evalua- reveal similarly drastic male adaptations. tion of individual signal modes in multimodal signals, Keywords: sexual selection, conflict, securing paternity, and assess male quality among potential suitors. functional morphology of genitalia Keywords: behavior, communication, vibratory signals, video playback, Lycosidae Oral presentation A molecular phylogenetic approach to the Oral presentation New Zealand species of Enantiobuninae Securing paternity by mutilating female (Opiliones: Eupnoi : Neopilionidae) genitalia in spiders Sebastián Vélez1,2, Rosa Fernández2, Gonzalo Giribet2 Gabriele Uhl, Pierick Mouginot, Philip O. M. Steinhoff 1Biology Department, Worcester State University, University of Greifswald, Zoological Institute and Worcester, Massachusetts, USA; 2Museum of Com- Museum, General and Systematic Zoology, Germany parative Zoology, Department of Organismic and [email protected] Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA Competition between males and their sperm over access to [email protected] females and their eggs has resulted in manifold ways by which males try to secure paternity, ranging from physi- We report the first phylogeny based on molecular data for cally guarding the female after mating to reducing her the New Zealand species in the genera Forsteropsalis, Pan- receptivity or her attractiveness to subsequent males by topsalis, and Mangatangi, and comment on the taxonomic transferring manipulative substances or by mechanically implications of our results, including the diagnostic viability sealing the female reproductive tract with a copulatory of important morphological characters. Members of the New plug. Copulations may also result in internal damage Zealand Enantiobuninae constitute some of the most char- of the female genitalia; however, this is not considered ismatic soil arthropods of the archipelago, and a striking as a direct adaptation against sperm competition but as example of sexual dimorphism, with nondescript females but a collateral effect. Here, we present a drastic and direct colourful males boasting exaggerated chelicerae many times mechanism for securing paternity: the removal of coupling longer than their bodies. The genera Forsteropsalis and structures on female genitalia by males. In the orb-weav- Pantopsalis recently underwent revision, but many questions ing spider Larinia jeskovi males remove the scapus, a remained about the validity of many species designations, crucial coupling device on the female external genital due to issues of characters of dubious taxonomic value, region. Reconstruction of the coupling mechanism using female specimens designated as holotypes despite the males micro-CT-scanned mating pairs revealed that several scler- holding all the diagnostic characters, and the suspected pres- ites of the male genitalia interact to break off the scapus. ence of more than one male form within some species. We Once it is removed, remating cannot occur due to mechan- present the first molecular phylogenetic study of the group, ical coupling difficulties. In the field, male-inflicted genital including extensive sampling of fresh material across New damage is very prevalent since all female L. jeskovi were Zealand. Our results reject the controversial monophyly of found to be mutilated at the end of the mating season. Neopilionidae and comment on the taxonomic implications External genital mutilation is an overlooked but widely of the results, including the diagnostic validity of mor- spread phenomenon since 80 additional spider species phological characters traditionally used on the groups. were found for which male genital manipulation can be Keywords: Opiliones, Australia, biogeography, phylogeny
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Oral presentation stopped molting after October although their abdomens Crowding leads to fitness benefits and were well-nourished and were maintained at 25° C. It was reduced dispersal in a colonial spider surmised that decreased filtered daylight coming through a paper-covered window might be suppressing molting. Lior Ventura, Yael Lubin Feeding was halted in January and 88 recluse spiderlings Blaustein Institute for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion were checked weekly for molts. Molting resumed at the University, Sede Boqer Campus, Israel beginning of April and continued through May despite [email protected] not being fed. To more thoroughly elucidate photoperiod Density-dependent dispersal is a mechanism of escaping effects on molting, during the week of the September decreased fitness associated with intra-specific competi- 2015 equinox, immature brown and Chilean recluses tion. In group living species, however, high density is were set up in three light regimes: 14:10 L:D, natural, expected to be beneficial for the individual, at least up to a 10:14 L:D. Through the winter, brown recluse molting certain threshold. A possible mechanism for maintaining was suppressed with no molting in the 10:14 regime from optimal density is negative density-dependent dispersal. November to late March, minor molting in the natural To examine this hypothesis we studied the effect of colony exposure and moderate in the 14:10 regime. Chilean density on fitness, dispersal and prey capture under dif- recluses showed no differences in molting across the ferent diets in Cyrtophora citricola, a colonial spider three photoperiod regimes. This species difference may undergoing range expansion. Results support a negative be explained in that brown recluses are temperate zone density-dependent dispersal strategy: dispersal propensity creatures where winter is typically accompanied by cold of spiders decreased with colony density, especially when temperatures and reduced prey availability that would prey abundance was high, and spiderling site tenacity be detrimental to survival; Chilean recluses are tropical increased with colony density. Spider body mass increased where winter light cycles may have little significance. The with density, indicating positive density-dependent fitness experiment was still underway when this abstract was (Allee effect). However, variance in body mass was higher submitted so additional information may develop. in dense colonies than among solitary spiders, suggesting Keywords: behavior, photoperiod, molting, Loxosceles that spiders in the colony differed in their prey capture success. This interplay between Allee effect and dispersal Student - oral presentation strategy may have an important role in the life history Odor alters color preference in foraging and colonization success of colonial spiders. jumping spiders Keywords: Allee effect, colonial spider, density-dependence, *Michael Vickers, Lisa Taylor dispersal Entomology and Nematology Department 1881 Natural Area Drive University of Florida - Steinmetz Oral presentation Hall Gainesville, FL 32611, USA Effect of seasonal photoperiod on molting [email protected] in Loxosceles reclusa and Loxosceles laeta In many prey taxa with aposematic coloration, prey Richard S. Vetter defenses also involve signals in other modalities (odors, Department of Entomology, Univ. Calif. Riverside, sounds, etc.). Yet the selective forces that have driven Riverside, CA 92521, USA multimodality in warning displays are not well under- [email protected] stood. One potential hypothesis that has recently received In the winter of 2014–15, I attempted to push immature support in the avian literature, is that different signal brown recluse spiders, Loxosceles reclusa, to maturity components may interact synergistically, such that one for a pest control experiment. Despite food offerings, they component of the signal (odor) may trigger predator’s
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aversion to another component of the signal (color). Such family. However, the extent to which variation in mate- synergistic effects on predator psychology have received rial properties within a single silk type can be explained little attention in invertebrate predators. We address this by variation in spidroin sequences is unknown. Orb-web gap by asking how multimodality affects attack rates in a weavers use minor ampullate silk to form the auxiliary voracious jumping spider (Habronattus trimaculatus). spiral of the orb-web, while cobweb weavers use it to Spiders were given the choice between red or black prey wrap prey, suggesting that selection pressures on minor (artificially colored termites) in either the presence or ampullate spidroin (MiSp) sequences may differ between absence of odor from a chemically defended coreid bug the two groups. Here, we characterize complete or nearly (Acanthocephala femorata). We found that when the complete MiSp sequences from five cobweb weaving spider scent was present, spiders were significantly more likely to species in three genera and measure material properties avoid red termites compared with when absent. Interest- of minor ampullate silks in a subset of these species. We ingly, this pattern only held up when the scent was novel; also compare MiSp sequences and silk properties of our subsequent exposure to the scent did not have the same cob-web weavers to published data for orb-web weavers. effect on color preference. We discuss these findings in the We demonstrate that all our cobweb weavers possess mul- broader context of predator psychology and argue that tiple MiSp loci and that one locus is more highly expressed spiders may provide novel insights for the field. than the other in at least two species. We also find that the Keywords: Salticidae, multimodality, aposematic, foraging proportion of β-spiral-forming amino acid motifs in MiSp positively correlates with minor ampullate silk extensibil- Student - poster presentation ity. Our sequences thus provide templates for recombinant Duplication and concerted evolution of silk proteins with tailored properties. MiSp-encoding genes underlie the mate- Keywords: concerted evolution, minor ampullate rial properties of minor ampullate silks of spidroin, cobweb weavers, physical properties cobweb weaving spiders Oral presentation Jannelle Vienneau-Hathaway1, Elizabeth Brassfield1, Another bloody Australian in New Zealand: Amanda Kelly Lane1, Matthew Collin2, Sandra Correa- The invasive spider Latrodectus hasseltii Garhwal2, Thomas H. Clarke1,2, Evelyn Schwager3, Jessica E. Garb3, Cheryl Y. Hayashi2, Nadia A. Ayoub1 Cor J. Vink 1Department of Biology, Washington and Lee University, Canterbury Museum, Rolleston Avenue, Christchurch Lexington, VA, USA; 2Department of Biology, University of 8013, New Zealand California, Riverside, CA, USA; 3Department of Biological [email protected] Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA, USA Latrodectus hasseltii, the Australian redback, is [email protected] an invasive spider that has been established in Orb-web weaving spiders and their relatives use mul- New Zealand since 1980. As well as its medical tiple types of task-specific silks. The majority of spider importance, L. hasseltii is a conservation threat to silk studies have focused on the ultra-tough dragline threatened endemic chafer beetles, skinks and New silk synthesized in major ampullate glands, but all silk Zealand’s endemic widow spider, Latrodectus katipo. types have impressive material properties. For instance, This unwelcome Australian spider has the capabil- minor ampullate silks of orb-web weaving spiders have ity to spread further than its current range in New lower strength but higher extensibility than draglines. Zealand and can also spread to other parts of the world. Differences in material properties between silk types However, there is hope for controlling it biologically result from differences in their component proteins, using a volatile organic compound. which are members of the spidroin (spider fibroin) gene Keywords: invasive species, Latrodectus, New Zealand
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Student - oral presentation Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA Male-male competition and chelicera mor- [email protected] phology in New Zealand sheet-web spiders Variation in mate choice within and among populations *Leilani Walker1, Cor Vink2, Greg Holwell1 can have profound effects on sexually selected traits 1School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, and ultimately on population divergence. However, our Private Bag 92019, Auckland Mail Centre, Auckland understanding of how changes in the costs or benefits 1142, New Zealand; 2Canterbury Museum, Rolleston of mate choice per se shape mate choice in and among Avenue, Christchurch, New Zealand natural populations remains limited. We use a population [email protected] comparison approach in Schizocosa wolf spiders to deter- mine the extent to which changes in benefits provided by Animal weaponry has long captured the imagination of males contribute to among-population variation in mate researchers, and can occur with varying degrees of exag- choice. Specifically, we test for population differences geration in different taxa. Exaggerated male weaponry in the male signal variants that maximize copulation are particularly common in species in which males success and those that maximize female fitness, and we defend females or their resources from potential rivals. then determine whether signal variants associated with While sexual selection is generally credited with their copulation and with female fitness are correlated among exaggeration, the particular processes and drivers are far populations. In addition to contributing to the limited lit- from uniform. In particular, exaggerated jaws, horns and erature on adaptive mate choice variation, our work lays teeth may evolve through selection for males who can the foundation for further investigations of ecological physically defend females or they may develop as badges causes of changing benefits as well as the potential role of of status to warn rivals off. New Zealand sheet-web spiders variation in mate choice in driving signal divergence and (Cambridgea foliata) are one such species in which male premating reproductive isolation. chelicerae (jaws) are substantially larger than those of Keywords: mate choice, sexual selection, communica- female conspecifics. We used an integrative approach, tion, divergence combining behavioural and morphological analyses to pinpoint the selective pressures acting on male chelicera Student - oral presentation and to examine how chelicera morphology varies among Genetic consequences of rapid range expan- males. We randomly paired males on female webs and sion in Argiope bruennichi populations recorded their behaviours. Then, we compared both internal and external chelicera morphology of males and Wioletta Wawer, Robert Rutkowski, Wiesław Bogdanowicz females of varying sizes to see how internal and external Museum & Institute of Zoology Polish Academy of traits covaried. In this species, male jaws are positively Sciences, Wilcza 64, 00-679 Warsaw, Poland allometric while female jaws are not and larger males [email protected] tend to win fights against smaller males while chelicera Environmental changes, e.g., climate warming or increase size does not seem to have an effect. in the area of wastelands, contribute to the expansion of Keywords: sexual selection, male-male competition, many terrestrial invertebrates. In Europe, a strong north- chelicera morphology, allometry ward expansion of Argiope bruennichi is observed. In Student - poster presentation Poland, by the end of the 1990s ca. 100 sites have been Fitness consequences of geographic varia- identified in many regions, except north-eastern parts of tion in mate choice in a wolf spider the country and mountains region in the south, where the climate is harsh. Currently, the wasp spider is distributed J. Colton Watts, Brigitte Tenhumberg, Eileen A. Hebets over the whole territory of Poland and it has become a School of Biological Sciences, University of
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very common species. However, it is still unclear, whether which complex genital morphology suggests functions the newly founded populations in mountain regions in beyond gamete transfer/oviposition. Previously, we studied the south or in harsh climatic conditions of north-eastern a Laniatorean species’s coupled genitalia in some detail Poland are unstable and vulnerable to fluctuations, which (unpublished data). Here we present the first observations hinders effective colonization. In expansive species, data for the suborder Eupnoi. Three pairs of Phalangium about the genetic diversity and gene flow between local opilio in copula were freeze-fixed with liquid nitrogen. populations are important in predicting the longevity of One pair was submitted to microCT scan and the others the population, especially in newly colonized areas. The photographed, since they were clearly in early stages main goal of the research was to analyze genetic structure of penetration: beginning of penetration, and mouth and to estimate a migration level of the wasp spider in rubbing. The images show interesting new facts, e.g., Poland. Over 600 specimens we obtained from 24 sites. The pre-penetration interaction, depth of penis penetration, genetic variability of the species and genetic differentiation stylus location in relation to seminal receptacles, penis among populations was estimated using 19 microsatellite and ovipositor contact regions. These results, even though loci. We found that in Poland A. bruennichi presents low preliminary, contribute to fill the gap in harvestmen func- level of genetic variability. Most of local populations were tional genital morphology, and also provide consistent not in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Genetic structure was data for sexual selection hypotheses formulation. weakly pronounced but some division of populations into Keywords: Opiliones, genital coupling, genital morphology, geographical groups was supported by genetic data. We mating suggest that observed pattern of distribution of genetic diversity could be a consequence of rapid expansion and Student - poster presentation result of founder effect in the newly colonized areas. Anti-predator submersion behavior: a Keywords: gene flow, dispersal, habitat fragmentation, coevolutionary arms race between two population structure, isolation by distance. species of wolf spiders? *John A. Whitinger1, Alex N. Mullins1, Matt M. Steffenson1, Student - oral presentation Chris A. Brown2 A first glance at the coupled genitalia of 1Adams State University, 208 Edgemont Blvd Almosa, the harvestmen Phalangium opilio (Eupnoi) CO 81101, USA; 2Tennessee Tech University, 1 William *Rachel M. Werneck1, Abel Pérez-González2, Gabriele Uhl3 L Jones Drive, Cookeville, TN 38505, USA 1Museum Alexander Koenig, Bonn, Germany; [email protected] 2División Aracnología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Spiders exhibit a wide range of anti-predatory defenses Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”, Buenos Aires, that affect their overall behavior. The Red Queen Argentina; 3Zoological Institute and Museum, Univer- hypothesis predicts situations in which interactions with sity of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany predators can result in a coevolutionary arms race. We [email protected] examined the predator-prey interactions between two Harvestmen genital morphology has long been described species of semi-aquatic wolf spiders from Arizona. In these mainly for taxonomic purposes, but genital coupling interactions, the smaller prey species will dive under the interactions remain largely unknown. Male genital water to escape the larger species, however the larger functioning was generally inferred by artificial hydraulic species has also evolved a diving behavior. We compared expansion, since interactions between male genital parts the submersion tolerance and morphological characters (as well as their possible movements) were never seen. that may influence such aquatic anti-predator behavior This is a huge information deficit for a better understand- to determine if a coevolutionary arms race may be occur- ing of genital interactions in harvestmen, a group in ring. Results indicated that the prey species had a faster
198 DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE REPORTS | No. 3, July 2, 2016 20th International Congress of Arachnology submersion recovery time and a higher density of longer Oral presentation spines on their femurs when compared to the predator Measuring the nutrient content of prey for species. This may allow the prey species to remain sub- spiders merged longer by way of a larger volume of trapped air, Shawn M. Wilder resulting in the ability to evade predation. Further investi- Department of Integrative Biology, 501 Life Sciences West, gation will determine whether the density of the hairs on Oklahoma State University, Stillwater OK 74078, USA the abdomen differs between predator and prey, as well as [email protected] how the density of spines influences aquatic movement. Keywords: anti-predator behavior, Red Queen hypoth- Diet quality has long been known to have large effects on esis, Lycosidae, submersion, tolerance the behavior, survival, growth and reproduction of spiders. The main attributes of prey thought to be responsible for Student - oral presentation these effects of diet quality are toxins and nutrients. For Macronutrient effects on juvenile jumping decades, analysis of prey nutrient content have measured spider growth nitrogen (N) and extrapolated to protein using an out- dated conversion factor (6.25). Here, I test if N or protein *Will Wiggins, Shawn Wilder is a better measure of the nutrient content of the prey Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State of spiders. Overall, there was a poor correlation between University LSW 501, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA the N and protein content of a wide range of arthropods [email protected] and the estimated conversion factor was lower than the A large body size is important for many reasons, including traditional 6.25. Analyses of N also overestimated the increases in viable eggs, decrease risk of cannibalism, and amount of protein left in prey remains after spiders fin- increased success in male-male combat. However, building ished feeding. The N content of prey remains is similar a large body is costly and may require particular amounts too, if not higher than, whole prey items. Yet, almost no and ratios of nutrients. For many animals, especially protein is present in prey remains. Feeding experiments carnivores on which less is known of their nutritional demonstrated that analysis of the protein content in whole ecology, the balance of nutrients at which animals prey items is a strong predictor of the amount of protein maximize growth and body size remains unknown. We consumed from prey by spiders. Assays of protein content manipulated the quantity and nutrient content of flies provide a more direct and cost effective method for mea- as prey to test how the lipid and protein content of prey suring the nutrient content of prey and the nutrients that affected the growth of spiders. We measured the body size spiders consume from prey than the traditional method of of 420 F1 jumping spiders, Phidippus audax, raised on measuring N and multiplying by 6.25. 21 different diet treatments ranging from high protein to Keywords: foraging, nutrition, prey, protein high lipid across several prey quantities. The ratio of lipid to protein in prey had the largest effect on spider growth Oral presentation in the high prey abundance treatments. Overall, spiders Female mating status affects male mating tactic weighed more and had larger body size on diets that were expression in the wolf spider Rabidosa punctulata more lipid-biased. Our results suggest that spiders require Dustin J. Wilgers, S. Simon lipid rich prey for maximal growth. Previous work indi- McPherson College, 1600 E. Euclid Ave., McPherson, cates most prey in nature are lipid poor. Spiders should KS 67460, USA then either select lipid rich prey over lipid poor prey or [email protected] find alternative energy sources, like extra floral nectar. Keywords: nutrition, macronutrients, jumping spider, Males commonly alter the expression of alternative growth, Phidippus audax mating tactics based on their condition, the environment
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they are in, and various characteristics of their poten- flatworm. We paired predator and prey, described their tial mate. In the wolf spider, Rabidosa punctulata, behaviors and tested hypotheses on the role of chemical males commonly adopt one of two mating tactics when defenses and the survival value of the thick harvestmen encountering a female, multimodal courtship or the cuticle. Against spiders, the armor proved to be an excel- more aggressive direct mount that often incorporates lent defense except against recluse spiders. These spiders grappling with females for copulation. While females have a remarkable strategy that involves searching for the of closely related species mate only once and become soft parts like leg articulations and the distal parts of the unreceptive and aggressive, a recent study showed that legs and were able to kill harvestmen in most cases. The female R. punctulata mates multiply in a short time armor was also useless against flatworms, which hamper period. Here we explored how female mating status prey’s movement with mucus, kill and ingest the internal affects male mating behaviors. We exposed males to organs of harvestmen. Against spiders, harvestmen seldom females that had or had not mated in previous trial and used their defensive secretions but these proved to effi- observed the mating tactics expressed. Previously mated ciently repel flatworms. Against both predators, pinching females re-mated in 34% of second trials. The mating with spines on legs IV repelled the predator, in some cases status of females affected the mating tactic that males almost cutting the flatworm body in two pieces. While the used. Males paired with already mated females were classical literature emphasized the importance of chemical significantly more likely to use grappling during the trial defense for harvestmen, we are showing that the relative when compared to males that were paired with unmated importance of each defense is predator dependent. females. Grappling was the most successful tactic at Keywords: animal behavior, predator-prey interaction, acquiring copulations with already mated females. This defensive behavior could be due to reduced receptivity by mated females not approaching males that simply adopt courtship. Student - oral presentation Keywords: mating tactics, context dependent, multiple Investigating the influence and regulation mating, Lycosidae of catecholamines on circadian rhyth- micity of anti-predator behavior in the Oral presentation orb-weaving spiders Chemical and mechanical warfare: the *Rebecca J. Wilson, Jennifer B. Price, Thomas C. Jones defenses of armored harvestmen against Department of Biological Sciences, East Tennessee State spiders and flatworms University, PO Box 70300 Johnson City, TN 37614, USA Rodrigo H Willemart, Marcos Silva, Fernando Carbayo [email protected] Escola de Artes Ciências e Humanidades, Universidade While it is widely assumed that circadian rhythms benefit de São Paulo. Rua Arlindo Bettio 1000. 03828-000, organisms by allowing them to anticipate changing São Paulo, Brazil conditions, only a few studies have directly tested this. [email protected] Being both predator and prey, orb-weaving spiders offer Most spectacular adaptations exist in nature when it comes a novel, tractable model system to test whether circadian to predator-prey interactions but few studies report how rhythms are adaptive due to their variety of temporal the same prey react against different predators. Here we foraging strategies across species. Previous work sug- summarize studies we have been carrying out in the last gests that spiders modulate their aggression/wariness five years on how Neotropical armored harvestmen defend over the 24-cycle and that aggression and wariness are themselves against sympatric and also nocturnal spiders modulated by biogenic amines (neurohormones). In this and flatworms. We used two harvestmen species, one spit- study, we analyzed temporal changes in catecholamine ting spider, two large ctenids, one recluse spider and one levels and transcriptional regulation in the orb-weaving
200 DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE REPORTS | No. 3, July 2, 2016 20th International Congress of Arachnology spider Larinioides cornutus. L.cornutus individuals theoretical problems which occurred during the initial were collected from sites in northeast TN. After a 7-day investigations. entrainment period, spider cephalothoraxes were dis- sected and haemolymph was collected at 4 different time Poster presentation points over a 24-hour cycle. We measured gene transcrip- Role of elongated chelicerae in male-male tion levels and neurohormone levels in haemolymph and contest and female mate-choice in the spider cephalothoraxes using RNA-sequencing and HPLC-ED, genus Myrmarachne (Araneae: Salticidae) respectively. Levels of catecholamine neurohormones did B. H. Wong, Mindy J. M. Tuan, Daiqin Li change over the 24-hour period however, the patterns Department of Biological Sciences, National University found were not uniform. Like brain-reward pathways of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, 117543, Singapore in many other taxa, dopamine levels did rise during [email protected] foraging periods (nighttime) of L. cornutus. In addition, patterns in gene expression further supported the fluctu- Exaggerated male structures, which are sexually dimor- ating patterns of catecholamines. phic, have evolved in many animals, and often serve a role Keywords: circadian rhythms, neurochemistry, in sexual selection, that is, either male-male competition transcriptomics or female mate-choice or both. Such exaggerated struc- tures also exist in ant-mimicking jumping spiders from the Oral presentation genus Myrmarachne in the form of elongated chelicerae. Three dimensional analysis of the arachnid This study focused on the species Myrmarachne maxil- locomotory system - topics and problems losa as the model for investigating the role of elongated chelicerae in sexual selection, effect of which is suggested Christian S.Wirkner, Jens Runge by the variance of chelicera size within males and between Universität Rostock, Allgemeine und Spezielle Zoologie, the sexes of the species. Males are randomly pitted against Institut für Biowissenschaften, Universitätsplatz 2, each other to examine the effect of chelicera length in 18055 Rostock, Germany male-male competition; males and females are randomly [email protected] paired in simultaneous-choice trials to examine the effect The arachnid locomotory apparatus has formed the of chelicera length in female mate-choice. Our results focus of zoological research for many decades. However, showed that males with longer chelicerae won the major- the 3D revolution opens up fascinating new possibilities ity of the fights, and females preferred males with longer for visualizing highly complex animal features and chelicerae that courted longer. We concluded that chelicera therefore makes a re-investigation of the locomotory length can be used as a reference for success in male-male system and all its substructures necessary. Here we competition as well as preference in female mate-choice. present the concepts behind a recently started project Keywords: ant-like jumping spider, Myrmarachne, in which the cuticular, muscular and nervous elements male-male contest, female mate-choice, ornament, of all four pairs of walking legs will be described three armament, sexual behavior dimensionally for representatives of all major arachnid Oral presentation lineages. In addition, the complete prosomata, i.e., the Repeated evolution of power-amplified extrinsic locomotory musculature and all other skeletal predatory strikes in trap-jaw spiders musculature will be studied in order to account for the (Araneae, Mecysmaucheniidae) structural basis of leg movement and the generation of the hydraulic pressure responsible for leg extension Hannah M. Wood1, Dilworth Y. Parkinson2, Charles E. in a number of arachnid taxa. As well as presenting Griswold3, Rosemary G. Gillespie4, Damian O. Elias4 major components of the locomotory system, we discuss 1Department of Entomology, National Museum of
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Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Wash- Student - oral presentation ington, DC 20013, USA; 2Advanced Light Source, Exploring the relationship between collec- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, tive personality and behavioral plasticity CA 94720, USA; 3Entomology Department, California in warring arthropod societies Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA; *Colin M. Wright, Carl N. Keiser, Jonathan N. Pruitt 4Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Management, University of California at Berkeley, Pittsburgh, 5562 Hobart Street #415 Pittsburgh, PA Berkeley, CA 94720, USA. 15217, USA [email protected] [email protected] Small animals possess intriguing morphological and Collective personalities of animal societies can sometimes behavioral traits that allow them to capture prey, includ- predict whether they flourish or whether they fail. These ing innovative structural mechanisms that produce collective personalities often arise from the behavioral ballistic movements by amplifying power. Power- composition of the individuals that comprise the society. amplification occurs when an organism produces a Different behavioral compositions generally perform relatively high power output by releasing slowly stored differently in orchestrating and shaping complex tasks energy almost instantaneously, resulting in movements such as foraging, prey capture, and colony defense. In that surpass the maximal power output of muscles. For instances where predators and prey share a long evolution- example, trap-jaw power-amplified mechanisms have ary history, prey species sometimes exhibit a specialized, been described for several ant genera, which have evolved species-specific, anti-predator response to their presence. some of the fastest known movements in the animal Here we show how different behavioral compositions of kingdom. However, power-amplified predatory strikes desert social spider (Stegodyphus dumicola) societies were not previously known in one of the largest animal survive and modulate their collective foraging and defen- classes, the arachnids. Mecysmaucheniidae spiders, which sive behavior in the presence or perceived presence of a occur only in New Zealand and southern South America, common voracious predator, the pugnacious ant (Anoplo- are tiny, cryptic, ground-dwelling spiders that rely on lepis custodiens). Our results reveal a subtle interaction hunting rather than web-building to capture prey. Analy- between group composition and group experience in deter- sis of high-speed video revealed that power-amplified mining the collective behavior of spider societies, which, in mechanisms occur in some mecysmaucheniid species, turn, can impact their survival under siege in situ. with the fastest species being two orders of magnitude Keywords: sociality, plasticity, personality, predation faster than the slowest species. Molecular phylogenetic analysis revealed that power-amplified cheliceral strikes Poster presentation have evolved four times independently within the family. Competition and autotomy affect survival Furthermore, we identified morphological innovations and development in cellar spiders that directly relate to cheliceral function: a highly modi- Kerri Wrinn1, Todd Levine2 fied carapace where the cheliceral muscles are oriented 1University of Wisconsin Rock County, 2909 Kellogg horizontally; modification of a cheliceral sclerite to have Ave, Janesville WI, 53546, USA; 2Carroll University, muscle attachments; and in the power-amplified species, 100 N East Ave, Waukesha, WI 53186, USA a thicker clypeus and clypeal apodemes. These structural [email protected] innovations may have set the stage for the parallel evolu- tion of ballistic predatory strikes. Cellar spiders, Pholcus phalangioides, are well-known for Keywords: ballistic movement, functional morphology, their cosmopolitan distribution, facilitated by their ability phylogenetic, evolution to live indoors in colder areas. Indoor living combined
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with a two year life span and high reproductive capacity 4Evolutionary Zoology Laboratory, Biological Insti- can set the stage for large, dense populations where intra- tute ZRC SAZU, Ljubljana, Slovenia; 5Department of specific competition for prey and territory may be intense. Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, Cellar spiders are able to autotomize limbs (to escape a Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., USA; predator or a bad molt), but are unable to regenerate 6Department of Zoology, National Museum of Nature lost limbs. Thus, losing a leg as a juvenile is likely to and Science, 4-1-1 Amakubo, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki- incur lifelong costs. We tested the effects of competition ken 305-0005, Japan; 7Department of Biology, and autotomy on survival and development in juve- University of Vermont, 109 Carrigan Drive, MLS-316, nile P. phalangioides, housed singly or with a partner Burlington, VT 05405 USA (either a sibling or non-sibling) between the third and [email protected] fourth molts. Treatments for this experiment were: 1) autotomized-Intact paired siblings, 2) autotomized-Intact Phylogeographical research in the East Asian con- paired non-siblings, 3) intact-intact paired siblings, tinent and islands (East Asian Margins, or EAM) 4) intact-intact paired non-siblings, 5) single intact suggests predominant Pleistocene over-water dispersal individuals, and 6) single autotomized individuals. In events from continent to islands, but more ancient each treatment with only one spider, 11 of 16 survived to biogeographical patterns in EAM remain obscure. We complete the fourth molt, but of the survivors, three had explored biogeographical histories and population to autotomize one or more legs to escape a bad molt. In genetic structures of the primitively segmented spiders, treatments with a lone spider, mortality was confined to Heptathela and Ryuthela (Liphistiidae), broadly times when molting was occurring. Pairing with another codistributed across EAM islands. Time-calibrated spider, introduces the risk of cannibalism on top of an phylogenetic, biogeographic and population genetic already challenging transition. Cannibalism rates were analyses were performed. Dating analyses suggest high in all paired treatments and in the paired Autoto- that i) phylogenetic origin of Heptathela + Ryuthela mized-Intact treatments; spiderlings missing a leg were is estimated at 26.6–18.4 Ma (95% HPD) when EAM more likely to be cannibalized by their intact partners. islands became separated from the continent, ii) the These results indicate that whereas autotomy is likely crown ages of Heptathela (18.0–10.7 Ma) and Ryuthela helpful to juvenile spiders in escaping a bad molt, it also (17.8–8.7 Ma) coincide with the formation of Japan reduces their ability to compete with conspecifics. Sea and Okinawa Trough respectively, iii) a split within Keywords: cellar spiders, autotomy, competition, Ryuthela (13.9–6.0 Ma) coincides with the opening survival of the Kerama Gap, but a split within Heptathela (18.0–10.7 Ma) pre-dates the formation of the Tokara Gap, iv) speciation within Heptathela and Ryuthela Oral presentation is relatively recent (6.0–0.3 Ma). Population genetic Pre-Pleistocene geological events shaping and demographic results suggest interrupted gene flow diversification and distribution of primitively within and among islands, with most species exhibit- segmented spiders on East Asian margins ing stable past populations. Our results corroborate Xin Xu1,2,†, Fengxiang Liu2, Jian Chen2, Hirotsugu Ono6, predominantly vicariant origins of genera and species, Ingi Agnarsson5,7, Daiqin Li3,†, Matjaž Kuntner2,4,5 and suggest total lack of overwater dispersal in these 1College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, sedentary spiders. Changsha, China; 2Centre for Behavioural Ecology Keywords: biogeography, continental islands, dispersal, and Evolution, College of Life Sciences, Hubei Kyushu, phylogeography, Ryukyus, vicariance University, Wuhan, China; 3Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
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Poster presentation throughout their Asian range, here we provide the Extant primitively segmented spiders have phylogenetic framework necessary for reconstructing recently diversified from an ancient lineage liphistiid biogeographic history. All phylogenetic analy- ses support the monophyly of Liphistiidae and of eight Xin Xu1,2, Fengxiang Liu2, Ren-Chung Cheng4, Jian Chen2, genera. As the fossil evidence supports a Carboniferous Xiang Xu1, Zhisheng Zhang6, Hirotsugu Ono7, Dinh Sac Euramerican origin of Mesothelae, our dating analyses Pham8, Y. Norma-Rashid9, Miquel A. Arnedo10, Matjaž postulate a long eastward over-land dispersal towards Kuntner2,4,5, Daiqin Li3 the Asian origin of Liphistiidae during the Palaeogene 1College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, (39–58 Ma). Contrary to expectations, diversification Changsha, China; 2Centre for Behavioural Ecology within extant liphistiid genera is relatively recent, in and Evolution (CBEE), College of Life Sciences, Hubei the Neogene and Late Palaeogene (4–24 Ma). While no University, Wuhan, China; 3Department of Biological over-water dispersal events are needed to explain their Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, evolutionary history, the history of liphistiid spiders has Singapore; 4Evolutionary Zoology Laboratory, Biological the potential to play prominently in vicariant biogeo- Institute ZRC SAZU, Ljubljana, Slovenia 5Department graphic studies. of Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, Keywords: biogeography, systematics, vicariance, disper- Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA; 6Key Lab- sal, ancestral areas oratory of Eco-environments in Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education), School of Life Science, Oral presentation Southwest University, Chongqing, China; 7Department of Evolutional pattern of the mimic-model Zoology, National Museum of Nature and Science, 4-1-1 relationship in the genus Myrmarachne Amakubo, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki-ken 305-0005, Japan; (Araneae: Salticidae) 8Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources (IEBR), Vietnamese Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), Takeshi Yamasaki1, Yoshiaki Hashimoto2, Tomoji Endo3, 8 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam; 9Institute Fujio Hyodo4, Takao Itioka5 of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of 1Makino Herbarium, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia; 10Institut de 1-1 Minami-osawa, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo 192-0397, Recerca de la Biodiversitat, Departament de Biologia Japan; 2Institute of Natural and Environmental Animal, Universitat de Barcelona, Avinguda Diagonal Sciences, University of Hyogo/Museum of Nature and 643, Barcelona 08028, Spain Human Activities, Hyogo, Japan; 3School of Human [email protected] Science, Kobe Collegae, Hyogo, Japan; 4Research Core for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Okayama University, Living fossils are lineages that have retained plesio- Okayama, Japan; 5Graduate School of Human and morphic traits through long time periods. It is expected Environmental Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, that such lineages have both originated and diversified Japan long ago. Such expectations have recently been chal- [email protected] lenged in some textbook examples of living fossils, notably in extant cycads and coelacanths. Using a The genus Myrmarachne MacLeay, 1839 comprises the phylogenetic approach, we tested the patterns of the species that show ant-like appearance and behavior, origin and diversification of liphistiid spiders, a clade and they are considered to be Batesian mimics. In of spiders considered to be living fossils due to their fact, the ant-like appearance works effectively to get a retention of arachnid plesiomorphies and their exclu- protection against predators that dislike ants (Huang sive grouping in Mesothelae, an ancient clade sister to et al 2011; Nelson & Jackson 2006). However, the all modern spiders. Facilitated by original sampling model ant of each Myrmarachne species has not been
204 DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE REPORTS | No. 3, July 2, 2016 20th International Congress of Arachnology specified sufficiently, and the evolutionary pattern of the Oral presentation mimic-model relationship is unclear. To reveal probable Maternal feeding and webs influence evolutionary pattern of the mimic-model relationship dispersal in the colonial orb-weaver, in the genus Myrmarachne, we established the mimicry Cyrtophora citricola relationship between Myrmarachne species and ants Eric C. Yip1,2, Yael Lubin2 on the basis of the size, shape, coloration, geographi- 1Department of Entomology, Penn State University, cal distribution and natural history information. The University Park, PA, USA; 2Mitrani Department of phylogeny of Myrmarachne species was also inferred by Desert Ecology, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert molecular analysis of mitochondrial CO1 region. Based Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, on available data obtained until now, we will discuss the Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel evolution of the mimic-model relationship. [email protected] Keywords: myrmecomorphy, Batesian mimicry, taxonomy, Southeast Asia Although colonial spiders are thought to have paraso- cial, rather than subsocial, origins, colonies may grow Poster presentation through the retention of juveniles, and the genetic struc- Assembly and annotation of the mito- ture of colonies remains unknown for most species. We chondrial genome of the striped scorpion, examined the role of natal philopatry in the formation, Centruroides vittatus growth, and decline of Cyrtophora citricola colonies in a semi-natural setting. I placed gravid females on high and Tsunemi Yamashita1, Douglas Rhoads2, Jeff Pummill3 low diets onto potted trees in a net house and examined 1Department of Biological Sciences, Arkansas their webs daily for hatching, juvenile web building, and Tech University, Russellville, AR 72801, USA; migration among trees. About half of spiderlings from 2Department of Biological Sciences, University of the first clutch built their webs within the support silk of Arkansas-Fayetteville, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA; their mother’s web, and they were less likely to disperse 3High Performance Computing Center, University of if the mother had been on the high feeding regime and Arkansas-Fayetteville, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA if her web was larger. These effects held only for the first [email protected] cohort of hatchlings. Later cohorts dispersed at greater We have assembled a complete mitochondrial genome rates, and neither maternal feeding nor web size affected for the striped scorpion, Centruroides vittatus, from the probability of dispersal. However, the total number of Illumina miSeq data. The C. vittatus mtDNA genome offspring staying in the colony remained correlated with matches the published C. limpitus mtDNA genome web size, suggesting that spiderlings prefer to build webs (81.6%) with a similar genome size (14.6 kb) and the within the silken framework of their mother’s web, but same order of the 13 protein coding genes. The A + T that her web can become saturated with juvenile webs content of the C. vitttatus mtDNA assembly is also and thereby force later hatchlings to disperse. similar to C. limpidus (68.1% to 64.46%, respectively). Keywords: colonial, dispersal, foraging, migration, silk, Most of the nucleotide variation between the C. vittatus social, web and C. limpidus mtDNA genome occurs in the putative Poster presentation noncoding regions. Availability of multiple complete Cuticular compounds in a subsocial spider mitochondrial genomes will advance molecular phylo- with kin recognition genetic and biogeographical investigations. Keywords: scorpion, mitochondrial genome, genomics, Eric Yip mitochondrion Department of Entomology, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; [email protected]
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In the prolonged subsocial spider, Delena cancerides, has been analyzed in terms of genus/species diversity, juveniles remain with their mother under a piece of endemism, biotic preferences and dispersal. At least 41 bark until they reach maturity. Unlike most other genera have been identified and the number of species group-living spiders, D. cancerides is a central place appeared several times higher. In comparison to over forager: individuals leave the bark retreat at dusk 70 genera and 400 species known from the whole to feed and return at dawn. Spiders can travel many Australia, the numbers seem quite substantial. Several meters in a single night and may encounter foreign genera predominated the data: Lycidas/Jotus (101 colonies. Molecular data show that some individu- records), Cosmophasis (37), Holoplatys/Ocrisiona (29), als in a colony are immigrants unrelated to the adult Simaetha (22), Clynotis (19), Neon (19). The majority female and her offspring, and behavioral assays show of records came from different types of forests and the that spiders differentiate kin from nonkin by preferen- list of microhabitats included leaf litter, tree trunks/ tially cannibalizing nonkin and spending more time bark, and vegetation of different strata, each known to investigating unfamiliar conspecifics. To understand require unique living strategies and to offer different the mechanism behind this recognition, I extracted the dispersal potential. Not surprisingly, the Lord Howe cuticular molecules of male and female spiders and Island has proved to possess highly endemic fauna, the juveniles of two families. I present the preliminary but also other islands, such as Barrow Island (close to analysis of the compound blend and their differences Western Australian coast) appeared an important biodi- among individuals. versity centre (genus Cytaea). Our research confirmed Keywords: chemical communication, hydrocarbon, kin the islands to be an important model for the research recognition, subsocial of salticid dispersal and colonization, but for the results to be fully comprehensive the sampling methods should be unified and the investigated biota and microhabitats Oral presentation should be more representative. Salticidae (Arachnida: Araneae) of islands Keywords: Salticidae, taxonomy, islands, biogeography off Australia revisited Student - oral presentation Marek Żabka, Łukasz Trębicki, Barbara Patoleta Ornamental coloration associated assess- Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities, ment strategy in male-male contests of Zooogy Department, Prusa 12, 08-110 Siedlce, Poland Siler semiglaucus jumping spiders [email protected] *Hua Zeng1, Xiaodong Yang2, Daiqin Li1 Island salticids have been studied on several occasions, 1Department of Biological Sciences, National Uni- including our first approach made in 1999. The current versity of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore; project included 64 islands, most of them in tropi- 2Xishuangbannan Tropical Botany Garden, Chinese cal part of Queensland. The islands have been divided Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Yunnan, China according to their climate (tropical, temperate), origin [email protected] (coral, volcanic), distance from the continent (within or outside the continental shelf), size, topography, Animals engaging in potential time and energy cost biotic diversity and intensity of human penetration. Due contests are expected to estimate either the resource- to the fact that some islands were connected with the holding potential (RHP) of their own (‘self-assessment continent during Pleistocene ice age and others had no strategy’), or difference between their rivals and their such connections, we expected their faunas to be more own (‘mutual assessment strategy’). Body size is com- balanced (continental) or disharmonic, respectively. monly used as a proxy for RHP in animal contests. Male The material included about 700 field records and ornamental coloration exhibits on the body of male
206 DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE REPORTS | No. 3, July 2, 2016 20th International Congress of Arachnology individuals is also commonly used as a visual signal buffer). Results showed that the number of bacteria in in intraspecific communications in many species, but LB medium was significantly higher than those in NFG evidence of whether it could be an appropriate proxy and PBS media. However, the number of bacteria cul- of RHP is scarce. Here, we staged contests between tured in NFG and PBS media did not differ significantly. age- and size-matched male Siler semiglaucus, a These results suggest that the reason bacteria can not widely distributed Southeast Asian jumping spider, to easily consume spider silk is that the nutrients in spider tackle this question in terms of its effect on both contest silk can not support the growth of bacteria, rather than outcome and strategy. Meanwhile, we investigated if the silk containing antimicrobial chemicals to inhibit contest intensity (escalation) could also serve as a the growth of bacteria. measure of contest cost, compare with contest duration Keywords: spider silk, bacterial growth, Nephila pilipes, in male-male contest. Hippasa holmerae, Cyrtophora moluccensis Keywords: male-male contest, assessment strategy, coloration, jumping spider, Siler semiglaucus Oral presentation If they could only bite you: venom com- Oral presentation position and potency of daddy long-leg Spider silk does not support the growth of spider venom bacteria Pamela A. Zobel-Thropp1, Jennifer Mullins1, Charles Shichang Zhang, Yi-Ru Lee, Pi-Han Wang, Chen-Pan Kristensen2, Cynthia L. David3, Linda A. Breci3, Greta Liao, I-Min Tso Binford1 Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, 1Department of Biology, Lewis & Clark College, Taichung 40704, Taiwan; [email protected] Portland, OR 97219, USA; 2Spider Pharm, Yarnell, AZ 86362, USA; 3Arizona Proteomics Consortium, Spider silks are fascinating biopolymers, the strength of University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA which can be comparable to that of the synthetic super [email protected] fiber Kevlar. Their mechanical properties have been intensively investigated, however, their chemical prop- Pholcid or “daddy long-legs” spiders are notorious for erties have received less attention. Though spider silks their toxic venom, even though its potency has never are made from proteins, in nature they were seldom formally been studied. Urban myths surrounding the observed to be decomposed by bacteria or fungi. To venom of these common spiders have survived years of reveal why microbes can not grow well on spider silk, curiosity and rumor with no supporting scientific evi- we tested silks of three spider species building three web dence. We have identified the venome - transcriptomic types: orb web builder Nephila pilipes (Nephilidae), the and proteomic venom components - of the North Ameri- funnel web builder Hippasa holmerae (Lycosidae), and can species Physocyclus mexicanus and analyzed its the tent web builder Cyrtophora moluccensis (Aranei- potency on natural prey. The result is a comprehensive dae). We used Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and collection of data from Sanger sequencing, Illumina two strains of bacteria isolated from silk decoration of 3000 sequencing, and mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Cyclosa mulmeinensis (Araneidae). We examined the We found that the majority of the venom proteome are antimicrobial effect of spider silks by cross-streaking toxic elements including digestive enzymes (astacin assays and the results showed that there was no inhibi- metalloproteases, serine proteases and metalloendo- tion zone in the vicinity of spider silks. In addition, we peptidases) and venom peptide neurotoxins. We have also used spider web silks to culture the bacteria using identified several new groups of venom peptides, all of three different media: LB (containing all nutrients), which are homologous with toxins from other haplogy- NFG (nitrogen-free glucose) and PBS (no nutrient nes (e<10-5), except one. Finally, bioassays on crickets
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caused flaccid paralysis with an effective paralytic dose act on the evolution of the receiver’s visual system? 3) of 3.9µg/g. Altogether, these data provide an important How are multiple visual functions (e.g., color vision, contribution to comparative venom analyses, fill in motion detection) integrated during active display another piece of the phylogenetic puzzle among hap- evaluation? Our data from H. pyrrithrix reveal discrete logyne spider venoms, and address the myth of daddy distance-dependent dance motifs that match regional long-leg spider venom potency. competencies of the female visual system, and show that Keywords: venom, astacin metalloprotease, neurotoxin, females pay specific attention to subsections of the male cDNA library, mass spectrometry, bioassay display. Analysis of other Habronattus species with distinct visual environments, coloration, and courtship Oral presentation dances offers a tantalizing opportunity to deepen our Retinal specializations and the architec- understanding of visual signaling, and reveal principles ture of visual signals that may be applicable across taxa. Keywords: Salticidae, color vision, communication, Daniel B. Zurek, Sebastian A. Echeverri, Nate I. Morehouse sensory drive, courtship University of Pittsburgh, Department of Biological Sci- ences, 204 Clapp Hall, 4249 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA [email protected] One widespread feature of visual systems is regional- ization of visual competency across the visual field, including regions of heightened motion sensitivity, spatial acuity and/or color vision. Animals compensate for this regionalization with gaze movements that aim specialized retinal regions at areas of interest within the visual scene. These movements determine what animals see when they interact with visual stimuli. However, we know almost nothing about how animals use their gaze to evaluate communicatory displays. We know even less about how visual displays have evolved to effectively capture, retain or manipulate the gaze of signal receivers. We have begun to explore this critical aspect of visual signaling in the jumping spider genus Habronattus. The extreme regionalization within their modular visual systems, and their diverse courtship displays combined with a well-characterized phylogeny enable us to investigate how female gaze interacts with male displays, both during courtship signaling and over evolutionary time. By employing gaze-tracking, video playback, and signal manipulations, we are approaching three questions: 1) Where do jumping spiders focus attention when viewing complex displays, and how do visual systems influence the evolution of visual signals? 2) Conversely, how do visual signal traits
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ATTENDEES Fernando Alvarez-Padilla Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico Noraishah M Abdul-Aziz Facultad de Ciencias, Biologia Comparada Lab. Aracno- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Uni- logia, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de Mexico 04510, versity of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA MEXICO [email protected] [email protected] Seira Adams Sudhikumar Ambalaparambil Vasu 2227 Derby Street, Apartment #2, Berkeley, California Department of Zoology, Christ College 94705, USA; [email protected] Irinjalakuda, Kerala 680125, INDIA [email protected] Ingi Agnarsson University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405, USA Alissa Anderson [email protected] University of Nebraska–Lincoln, 324 Manter Hall, Lincoln, Nebraska 68502, USA Anita Aisenberg [email protected] Lab. Etología, Ecología y Evolución, Instituto de Inves- tigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Avenida Italia Robert Anderson–Vendor 3318, Montevideo, URUGUAY Cricket Science, 1611 Shane Drive, Pocatello, Idaho [email protected] 83204, USA [email protected] Andrea Albín Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Ellie Armstrong Estable, Montevideo 11400, URUGUAY 131 Ainaola Drive, Hilo, Hawaii 96720, USA [email protected] [email protected] Maria J. Albo Miquel Arnedo Avenida Italia 3318, Montevideo 11600, URUGUAY Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology & Envi- [email protected] ronmental Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, E-08028 Barcelona, Catalonia, SPAIN Rachael Alfaro [email protected] Division of Arthropods, Museum of Southwestern Biology, 1 University of New Mexico, MSC03-2020, Anthony Auletta Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA University of Minnesota Department of Entomology, [email protected] 219 Hodson Hall, 1980 Folwell Avenue, Saint Paul, Min- nesota 55108, USA Pir Asmat Ali [email protected] Department of Zoology, Islamia College University, Peshawar, Pakistan & Department of Zoology, University Leticia Aviles of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, 1Z4, CANADA Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, CANADA [email protected] [email protected] Angela M. Alicea-Serrano Nadia Ayoub Department of Biology, The University of Akron, Akron, 204 W. Washington Street, Washington and Lee Univer- Ohio 44325-3908, USA sity, Lexington, Virginia 24450, USA [email protected] [email protected]
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Guilherme Azevedo Gary Baxley - Volunteer Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Ciências 319 W. Hawthorn Ct., Louisville, Colorado 80027, USA Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Av. [email protected] Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha Belo Horizonte, Minas Jesper Bechsgaard Gerais 31270-901, BRAZIL; [email protected] Aarhus University, DK-8000 Aarhus, DENMARK Caitlin Baker [email protected] 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA Orsolya Beleznai [email protected] Zoology Department, Plant Protection Institute, Centre Jesus Ballesteros for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of The George Washington University, Department of Bio- Sciences, 26-30 Nagykovácsi Road, HU-1029 Budapest, logical Sciences, 2029 G ST NW, Room 302, Washington, HUNGARY; [email protected] D.C. 20052, USA; [email protected] Ligia Benavides Tara Barbarich Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, 1858 Weber Way, S19, Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania 17870, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Giribet Lab, Harvard USA; [email protected] University 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA; [email protected] Cody Barnes 501 Life Sciences West, Department of Integrative Biology, Robb Bennett Oklahoma State University, 501 Life Sciences West, Still- Royal British Columbia Museum, 675 Belleville Street, water, Oklahoma 74078, USA; [email protected] Victoria, British Columbia V8W 9W2, CANADA [email protected] Diego Alejandro Barrales Alcalá Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma Trine Bilde & Cecilie Bilde Kofoed de México, Av. Universidad 3000, Coyoacan, Ciudad de Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, DK-8000 México 04369, MEXICO; [email protected] Aarhus, DENMARK; [email protected] Ryan Bartlett–Volunteer Greta Binford 3116 Zenobia Street, Denver, Colorado 80212, USA Department of Biology, Lewis & Clark College, 0915 SW [email protected] Palatine Hill Road, Portland, Oregon 97219, USA [email protected] Luciana Baruffaldi Integrative Behaviour & Neuroscience Group, Department Tharina Bird of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Scarborough, Ontario, BIUST, Private Bag 16, Palapye, BOTSWANA M1C 1A4, CANADA; [email protected] [email protected] Bruno Vinícius Bastos Rodrigues Sasha Bishop USP - Universidade de São Paulo, LECZ - Instituto 1646 SE Tenino Street, Portland, Oregon 97202, USA Butantan, São Paulo 05503900, BRAZIL [email protected] [email protected] Bob Blackburn Kate Baughn–Volunteer 32801 US Highway, 441N Lot 102, Okeechobee, Florida 6150 S. Columbine Way, Greenwood Village, Littleton, 34972, USA Colorado 80121, USA; [email protected] [email protected]
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Todd Blackledge Brad Brayfield Department of Biology, University of Akron, Akron, Ohio Department of Biology, Richards Hall, 730 Van Vleet Oval, 44325-3908, USA; [email protected] Norman, Oklahoma 73019, USA; [email protected] Sean Blamires Antonio Brescovit Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biologi- Instituto Butantan–LECZ, Av. Vital Brasil, 1500, São Paulo cal, Earth & Environmental Sciences, The University 05503-900, BRAZIL; [email protected] of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Michael Brewer & Lynn Swafford AUSTRALIA; [email protected] East Carolina University, 1000 E 5th Street, Howell Theo Blick & Edda Blick Science Complex, N108, Greenville, North Carolina Callistus–Gemeinschaft für Zoologische & Ökologische 27858, USA; [email protected] Untersuchungen, Heidloh 8, D-95503 Hummeltal, Chris Brown GERMANY; [email protected] Department of Biology, Box 5063, Tennessee Tech Jason Bond University, Cookeville, Tennessee 38505, USA Auburn University, Department of Biological Sciences, [email protected] Auburn, Alabama 36849, USA; [email protected] Christopher Buddle Robert Bosmans & Marij Decleer Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill Uni- Terrestrial Ecology Unit , Rijksuniverrsiteit Gent, B-9000 versity, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec H9X 3V9, CANADA Gent, BELGIUM; [email protected] [email protected] Brendan Boyer Mercedes Burns 4809 67th Street, San Diego, California 92115, USA Life Sciences North 206, 5500 Campanile Drive, San [email protected] Diego, California 92182, USA [email protected] Sarah Boyer Biology Department, Macalester College, St. Paul, Min- Jimmy Cabra-García nesota 55105, USA; [email protected] Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-090, Richard Bradley & Amy Tovar BRAZIL; [email protected] 1196 Penry Road, Delaware, Ohio 43015, USA [email protected] Allan Cabrero San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Allen Brady, Melinda Brady Osborne & Emma Johnson Diego, California 92182, USA; [email protected] Hope College, Holland, Michigan 49423, USA [email protected] Alan Cady Miami University, Middletown, Ohio 45042, USA Erin Brandt [email protected] 130 Mulford, Department of ESPM, University of Califor- nia, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, USA Laura Calcedo-Quiroga [email protected] Room 120A Marsh Life Sciences Building, Burlington, Vermont 05405, USA; [email protected] Sandra Brantley Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Daniela Candia-Ramírez Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA Instituto de Biología, UNAM, Mexico City 16034, MEXICO [email protected] [email protected]
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David Candiani Lisa Chamberland Av. Contorno, 2250, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 30110- 87 Hildred Drive, Burlington, Vermont 05401, USA 012, BRAZIL; [email protected] [email protected] Karen Cangialosi, Rachel Clermont, Brook Myers & Kenny Chapin Fay Sarchelli 621 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, California Department of Biology, Keene State College, Keene, NH 90095-7246, USA; [email protected] 03435, USA; [email protected] Chia-chen Chang Pedro Cardoso Department of Biological Sciences, National University Finnish Museum of Natural History, P.O. Box 17 (Poh- of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543, joinen Rautatiekatu 13), FI-00014 Helsinki, FINLAND SINGAPORE; [email protected] [email protected] R. Crystal Chaw Brad Carlson & Gwen Carlson Department of Biology, University of California, River- Wabash College, 301 W Wabash Avenue, Crawfordsville, side, Riverside, California 92521, USA Indiana 47933, USA; [email protected] [email protected] Lynn Carpenter–Volunteer Ren-Chung Cheng 14060 W. 5th Avenue, Golden, Colorado 80401, USA Novi trg 2, SI-1000 Ljubljana, SLOVENIA [email protected] [email protected] Leonardo Carvalho Alba Cherubini Universidade Federal do Piauí, Campus Amílcar Ferreira Via Chiudare 9, I-40124 Bologna, ITALY Sobral, BR 343, KM 3.5, Bairro Meladão, CEP 64800- [email protected] 000, Floriano, Piauí, BRAZIL; [email protected] Wimolwan Chotwong Lucia Carvalho Neco Mite and Spider Research Group, Entomology and Departamento de Psicologia Experimental, Universidade de Zoology Division, Plant Protection Research and Devel- São Paulo, Avenida Professor Melo de Morais, 1721 Butantã, opment Office, Department of Agriculture, Bangkok São Paulo 05508-030, BRAZIL; [email protected] 10900, THAILAND; [email protected] Stephanie Castillo Mark Christopher–Volunteer 19495 Split Rock Road, Ramona, California 92065, USA 1445 S. Ulater Street, Denver, Colorado 80231, USA [email protected] [email protected] Patrick Casto–Volunteer Angela Chuang 295 Allison Street, Lakewood, Colorado 80226, USA 569 Dabney Hall, Department of Ecology and Evolution- [email protected] ary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA; [email protected] Renan Castro Santana 4004/56 Wharf Street, Kangaroo Point, Queensland Igor Cizauskas 4169, AUSTRALIA; [email protected] R. Frei Inácio da Conceição, 238, São Paulo 55, BRAZIL [email protected] Junho Chae 74-1, Dosol-ro 267beon-gil, Seo-gu, Daejeon KS015, Leticia Classen-Rodriguez SOUTH KOREA P.O. Box 19976, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00910, USA [email protected] [email protected]
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Jonathan Coddington Darko Cotoras Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20013-7012, Paleogenomics lab. UC Santa Cruz, Entomology Dept., USA; [email protected] Center for Comparative Genomics, California Academy of Sciences, Santa Cruz, California 95060, USA Pedro Coelho [email protected] CIBIO-InBIO - Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Rua David Court Padre Armando Quintas, nº 7, Vairão, PT-4485-661 Vila Block 273, Choa Chu Kang Ave 2, #12-243, Choa Chu do Conde, PORTUGAL; [email protected] Kang 680273, SINGAPORE [email protected] Jeff Cole 7 Perry Farm Road SW, Apt C4, Cave Spring, Georgia Hamish Craig 30124, USA; [email protected] 2/339 Clovelly Road, Clovelly New South Wales 2031, AUSTRALIA; [email protected] Charmaine Condy Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Kenneth L. Cramer Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4, CANADA Department of Biology, Monmouth College, Monmouth [email protected] Illinois 61462-1998, USA; [email protected] Gerardo Adalberto Contreras Félix Sarah Crews Instituto de Biologia, Univ. Nacional Autonoma de California Academy of Sciences, Department of Ento- Mexico, Coyoacan, Ciudad de Mexico 04510, MEXICO mology, 55 Music Concourse Drive, San Francisco, CA [email protected] 94118, USA; [email protected] Claudia Copley Jesús Alberto Cruz-López Royal BC Museum, 675 Belleville Street, Victoria British Colección Nacional de Arácnidos (CNAN), Instituto de Columbia V8W 9W2, CANADA Biología, UNAM (IBUNAM), Mexico City 03910, MEXICO [email protected] [email protected] Darren Copley Michael Cuggy Royal BC Museum, 675 Belleville Street, Victoria British University of Saskatchewan, Geological Sciences, Room Columbia V8W 9W2, CANADA 140, 114 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N [email protected] 5E2, CANADA; [email protected] Tyler Corey Paula Cushing–Host School of Biological Sciences, 323 Manter Hall, Lincoln, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Department of Nebraska 68588, USA; [email protected] Zoology, 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver, Colorado 80205, USA; [email protected] Sandra Correa-Garhwal University of California, Riverside, 900 University Bruce E. Cutler Avenue, Riverside, California 92521, USA 1931 Emerald Drive, Lawrence, Kansas 66046, USA [email protected] [email protected] Julia G. Cosgrove Thiago da Silva Moreira Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology, 26 Oxford St., The George Washington University, Bell Hall 405, 2023 Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA G Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20052, USA [email protected] [email protected]
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Anne Danielson Francois Matthew Downen Division of Biology (239 ASC), Department of Natural 1475 Jayhawk Blvd Room 120, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, Sciences, University of Michigan–Dearborn, 4901 USA; [email protected] Evergreen Road, Dearborn, Michigan 48128, USA Michael Draney [email protected] Department of Natural & Applied Sciences, University Cat Davis–Volunteer of Wisconsin-Green Bay, 2420 Nicolet Drive, Green Bay, 3098 S. Downing Street, Englewood, Colorado 80113, Wisconsin 54311-7001, USA; [email protected] USA; [email protected] G.B. Edwards & Helen Zee Arthur Decae & Nollie Hallensleben Curator Emeritus: Arachnida & Myriapoda, Florida M. Smallegangehof 25, Middelburg, NL-4331 WC State Collection of Arthropods, 1911 SW 34th Street, Zeeland, NETHERLANDS; [email protected] Gainesville, Florida 32608, USA [email protected] Alex DeMarco Department of Biological Sciences, Box 70703, Johnson William Eberhard City, Tennessee 37614, USA; [email protected] Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, and Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, Ciudad Universi- Chan Deng taria, COSTA RICA 2 Konini Street, Riccarton Road, Christchurch, Canter- [email protected] bury 8041, NEW ZEALAND; [email protected] Sebastian Echeverri Shahan Derkarabetian University of Pittsburgh, Department of Biological Department of Biology, San Diego State University, 5500 Sciences,, 204 Clapp Hall, 4249 Fifth Ave, Pittsburgh, Campanile Drive, San Diego, California 92182, USA Pennsylvania 15213, USA; [email protected] [email protected] Damian Elias Abhilesh Dhawanjewar Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Man- 302 Manter Hall, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, agement, University of California, Berkeley, 140 Mulford Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, USA Hall, Berkeley, California 94720-3114, USA [email protected] [email protected] Suzana Diniz Jessica Ellis–Volunteer Department of Animal Biology, State University of 2200 Garland Street, Lakewood, Colorado 80215, USA Campinas, (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo 13083- [email protected] 970, BRAZIL; [email protected] Kristen Emata Nicholas DiRienzo 5500 Campanile Drive, LSN 206, San Diego, California University of Arizona, Department of Ecology and 92103, USA; [email protected] Evolutionary Biology, P.O. Box 210088, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA; [email protected] Linda Erickson 2819 Doidge Avenue, Pinole, California 94564, USA Petr Dolejš [email protected] Department of Zoology, National Museum–Natural History Museum, Cirkusova 1740, CZ-193 00 Prague 9, Lucas Erickson CZECH REPUBLIC 700 E. High Street, Oxford, Ohio 45056, USA [email protected] [email protected]
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Ignacio Escalante Stefan Foord University of California Berkeley, El Cerrito, California University of Venda Thohoyandou, Limpopo 0950, 94530, USA; [email protected] SOUTH AFRICA; [email protected] Lauren Esposito David Footle–Volunteer California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse 1200 Perry Street, Apt. B, Denver, Colorado 80204, USA Drive, San Francisco, California 94118, USA [email protected] [email protected] Kasey Fowler-Finn Samuel Evans Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, Missouri 63110, USA Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, [email protected] Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, CANADA Oscar Francke [email protected] Instituto de Biologia, Univ. Nacional Autonoma de Rosa Fernandez Mexico, Coyoacan, Ciudad de Mexico 04510, MEXICO Museum of Comparative Zoology, Department of [email protected] Organismic & Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Debra Freeman–Volunteer 26 Oxford St., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02141, USA 11368 Forest Drive, Thornton, Colorado 80233, USA [email protected] [email protected] Andreas Fischer Alyssa Fuller Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation 265 North Sixth Street, Highlands, North Carolina Genomics, University of Ulm, Helmholtzstraße 10-1 28741, USA; [email protected] Containerstadt, D-89081 Ulm, GERMANY [email protected] Doug Gaffin & Mariëlle Hoefnagels University of Oklahoma, Department of Biology, Jonas Fischer Richards Hall, 730 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, Oklahoma Luisenstrasse 43, CH-3005 Bern, SWITZERLAND 73019, USA; [email protected] [email protected] Guilherme Gainett Eduardo Florez Rua do Matão, Travessa 14, 321, Cidade Universitária, Carrera 38 No. 57–32, Bogota, Bogota D.C., COLOMBIA Sao Paulo 05508-090, BRAZIL [email protected] [email protected] Rainer Foelix Wenjin Gan Neue Kantonsschule Aarau, Schanzmaettelistr. 32, Insect Laboratory, College of Plant Science & Technol- CH-5000 Aarau, SWITZERLAND ogy, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei [email protected] Province 430070, CHINA Lauren Fogg & Sheila Bauer [email protected] 2847 Lakeshore Drive North, Holland, Michigan 49424, Anne-Sarah Ganske USA; [email protected] University of Greifswald, Zoological Institute and Matthias Foellmer Museum, Department of General and Systematic Department of Biology, Adelphi University, Garden City, Zoology, Anklamerstr. 20, D-17489 Greifswald, New York 11530, USA GERMANY [email protected] [email protected]
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Jessica Garb Daniel Gloor Department of Biological Sciences, University of Mas- Feldblumenweg 39, CH-8048 Zürich, SWITZERLAND sachusetts Lowell, 198 Riverside Street, Olsen Hall 520, [email protected] Lowell, Massachusetts 01854, USA; [email protected] Jake Godfrey Erika Garcia 700 East High Street, Oxford, Ohio 45056, USA California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse [email protected] Drive, Department of Entomology, San Francisco, Rebecca Godwin California 94118, USA; [email protected] 101 Life Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama Nicole Garrison 36849. USA; [email protected] 101 Rouse Life Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Luz Adriana Gomez Galvis Alabama 36849, USA; [email protected] Calle 108B # 6-24 Apt. 602, Bogota 11001, COLOMBIA Mike Getty–Volunteer [email protected] Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Department of Edmundo González-Santillán Earth Sciences, 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver, Colorado Libramiento Norte Carretera Leon Km 9.6, Irapuato, Gua- 80205, USA; [email protected] najuato 36821, MEXICO; [email protected] Alastair Gibbons Matthew Greenstone School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham, USDA-ARS, Invasive Insect Biocontrol and Behavior Nottingham NG7 2NF, UNITED KINGDOM Laboratory, 10300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, Mary- [email protected] land 20705, USA; [email protected] Cole Gilbert Charles Griswold Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, 23 Meadowglen Dr., Petaluma, California 94952, USA New York 14853, USA; [email protected] [email protected] Rachel Gilbert Jose Paulo Guadanucci Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincin- UNESP-Rio Claro, Instituto de Biociências, Departamento nati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45251, USA; [email protected] de Zoologia, Av. 24A 1515, Bela Vsita, Rio Claro, São Rosemary Gillespie & George Roderick Paolo 13506-900, BRAZIL; [email protected] University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California Andrea Haberkern 94708, USA; [email protected] 22054 Wyandotte Street, Canoga Park, California 91303, Madeline Girard USA; [email protected] 661 Poirier Street, Oakland, California 94609, USA Charles Haddad [email protected] Department of Zoology & Entomology (49), University Gonzalo Giribet of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, Free State Museum of Comparative Zoology, 26 Oxford Street, 9300, SOUTH AFRICA; [email protected] Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA Izabela Hajdamowicz [email protected] Department of Zoology, Institute of Biology, Siedlce Megan Gish–Volunteer University of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Prusa 1757 E 11Th Street, Loveland, Colorado 80537, USA 12, 08-110 Siedlce, POLAND [email protected] [email protected]
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Karen Hall–Volunteer Sergio Henriques 14781 E. Colgate Drive, Aurora, Colorado 80014, USA Indicators & Assessments Unit, Institute of Zoology, [email protected] Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UNITED KINGDOM [email protected] Chris Hamilton Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Brent Hendrixson Gainesville, Florida 32605, USA; [email protected] Millsaps College, Jackson, Mississippi 39210, USA [email protected] Robert Haney University of Massachusetts, Lowell, Lowell, Massachu- Michael Henshaw setts 01854, USA; [email protected] Grand Valley State University, Biology Department, 1 Campus Dr., Allendale, Michigan 49401, USA Mark Harvey [email protected] Western Australian Museum, Locked Bag 49, Welshpool DC, Western Australia 6016, AUSTRALIA Linda Hernández Duran [email protected] Calle 64j No 79–28, Bogotá 111071, COLOMBIA [email protected] Domonique Hatton 2717 Jefferson Avenue, Knoxville, Tennessee 37914, USA Ashley Herrig [email protected] Department of Biological Sciences, Box 70703, Johnson City, Tennessee 37614, USA; [email protected] Cheryl Hayashi Department of Biology, University of California, River- Joseph Hill & Craig Hill side, Riverside, California 92521, USA 115 South Maumee Street, Tecumseh, Michigan 49286, [email protected] USA; [email protected] Eileen Hebets Maggie Hodge 402 Manter Hall, School of Biological Sciences, Univer- Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts, 715 sity of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, USA University Parkway, Natchitoches, Louisiana 71457, USA [email protected] [email protected] Martin Heck - Volunteer Fabian Hofmann 16182 W 13Th Avenue, Golden, Colorado 80401-2979, Höheweg 6A, Münsingen, CH-3110 Bern, SWITZERLAND USA; [email protected] [email protected] Marshal Hedin Robert Holmberg & Catherine Holmberg San Diego State University, San Diego, California 92182, Science Lab, Center for Science, Athabasa University, 1 USA; [email protected] University Drive, Athabasca, Alberta T9S 3A3, CANADA [email protected] Yann Hénaut & Charlotte & Margot Hénaut El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Avenida Centenari Km 5.5, Kathy Honda–Volunteer Chetumal, Quintana Roo 77014, MEXICO 3591 S. Richfield Circle, Aurora, Colorado 80013, USA [email protected] [email protected] Mary Lee Hendricks Sophia Horigan 902 Gracelyn Court, Blacksburg, Virginia 24060, USA 0615 SW Palatine Hill Road, Portland, Oregon 97219, [email protected] USA; [email protected]
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Gustavo Hormiga David Johnston Department of Biology, The George Washington Univer- Department of Biology, Portland State University, sity, Washington, D.C. 20052, USA; [email protected] Portland, Oregon 97207, USA; [email protected] Norm Horner & Jane Horner Thomas Jones Department of Biology, Midwestern State University, Wichita Department of Biological Sciences, Box 70703, Johnson Falls, Texas 76308, USA; [email protected] City, Tennessee 37614, USA; [email protected] Ronald Hoy Sunil Jose Dept. of Neurobiology & Behavior, Cornell University, Department of Zoology. Deva Matha College, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA; [email protected] Kuravilangad, Kottayam, Kerala 686633, INDIA; [email protected] Bor-Kai Hsiung 214 N Portage Path Apt 208, Akron, Ohio 44303, USA Mathew M. Joseph [email protected] Division of Arachnology, Department of Zoology, Sacred Heart College, Thevara, Cochin, Kerala 682 013, INDIA Bernhard Huber [email protected] Research Museum of Zoology Alexander Koenig, Adenau- erallee 160, D-53113 Bonn, GERMANY; [email protected] Juliana Paneczko Jurgilas Av. 24 A, 1515, Bela Vista, Rio Claro, São Paulo 13506- Joel Huey 900, BRAZIL; [email protected] Western Australian Museum, 49 Kew Street, Welshpool DC Western Australia 6016, AUSTRALIA Muhammad Kala [email protected] Room 120A, Marsh Life Sciences Bldg., 109 Carrigan Drive, Burlington, Vermont 05405, USA; [email protected] Wendell Icenogle 32631Grand Avenue, P. O. Box 277, Winchester, Califor- Robert Kallal nia 92596, USA Department of Biological Sciences, Bell Hall 302, 2029 G St NW, Washington, D.C. 20052, USA Yoh Ihara [email protected] Hiroshima Environment and Health Association, 9-1 Hirosekita-machi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima-shi, Hiroshima Sarah Kariko Pref. 730-8631, JAPAN; [email protected] Museum of Comparative Zoology, Invertebrate Zoology, 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02140, USA Marco Isaia [email protected] Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, I-10123 Torino, ITALY Carl Keiser [email protected] 4249 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, USA [email protected] Beth Jakob Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Tobin Patsy Kelly–Volunteer Hall, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachu- 2836 Bellaire Street, Denver, Colorado 80207, USA setts 01379, USA; [email protected] [email protected] Jennifer Jennings–Volunteer Sean Kelly 471 S Balsam Street, Lakewood, Colorado 80226, USA 43 Calle Ponce, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00917, USA [email protected] [email protected]
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Janet Kempf Christian Kropf 311 14th Street, Santa Monica, California 90402, USA Natural History Museum Bern, Bernastrasse 15, CH-3005 [email protected] Bern, SWITZERLAND; [email protected] Susan Kennedy Lucia Kuhn-Nentwig Dept. of Environmental Science, Policy, and Manage- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, ment, University of California–Berkeley, 130 Mulford Baltzerstrasse 6, CH-3012 Bern, SWITZERLAND Hall #3114, Berkeley, California 94720-3114, USA [email protected] [email protected] Matjaž Kuntner Benji Kessler Evolutionary Zoology Laboratory, Biological Institute ZRC 1032 Talbot, Albany, California 94706, USA SAZU, SI-1000 Ljubljana, SLOVENIA; [email protected] [email protected] Facundo Labarque Jihoo Kim Lab. Esp. Colecões Zoológicas, Instituto Butantan, Av. 350 Skokie Court, Wilmette, Illinois 60091, USA Vital Brasil, 1500, São Paulo 05503-900, BRAZIL [email protected] [email protected] Eric Knutson–Volunteer Damien Laudier–Sponsor 2220 S. College Ave., Fort Collins, Colorado 80525, USA Laudier Histology, P.O. BOX 78, New York, New York [email protected] 10025, USA; [email protected] Joseph K H Koh & Peifen Koh Efrain Leal–Volunteer 12-J Sime Road, Singapore 288296, SINGAPORE 4695 E. Mississippi Avenue, Apartment 304, Denver, [email protected] Colorado 80246, USA; [email protected] Christian Komposch Pekka T. Lehtinen ÖKOTEAM - Institute for Animal Ecology and Landscape Zoological Museum, FI-20014 University of Turku, Planning, Bergmanngasse 22, A-8010 Graz, AUSTRIA Turku, FINLAND; [email protected] [email protected] Laura Leibensperger Peter Koomen & Ellen Akkersdijk Museum of Comparative Zoology, Department of Uiterdijksterweg 45, NL-8931 BL Leeuwarden, Fryslân, Invertebrate Zoology, Harvard University, 26 Oxford St., NETHERLANDS; [email protected] Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA [email protected] Mandy Kotzman P.O. Box 1084, LaPorte, Colorado 80535, USA Todd Levine [email protected] Carroll University, 100 N. East Avenue, Waukesha, Wisconsin 53186, USA; [email protected] Henrik Krehenwinkel Environmental Sciences Policy and Management, Daiqin Li & Bonnie Wu University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California Department of Biological Sciences, National University 94707, USA; [email protected] of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543, SINGAPORE; [email protected] Frank-T. Krell–Volunteer Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Department of Nancy Lo Zoology, 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver, Colorado 80205, Av. Contorno, 2250, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 30110- USA; [email protected] 012, BRAZIL; [email protected]
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Ying-Yuan Lo & Yu-Hsuan Chiang Jagoba Malumbres-Olarte No.1, Ming-shen East Rd., Jiji Township, Nantou County, Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Uni- Nano 55244, TAIWAN; [email protected] versity of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, DENMARK [email protected] Skye Long University of Arizona, Department of Neuroscience, Stefano Mammola Room 442 Gould Simpson, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, [email protected] University of Torino, I-10123 Torino, ITALY [email protected] Stephanie Loria Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of André Marsola Giroti Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New USP - Universidade de São Paulo, LECZ - Instituto York, New York 10024-5192, USA; [email protected] Butantan, São Paulo 05503900, BRAZIL [email protected] Yael Lubin Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University, Yuri Marusik & Irina Marusik Sede Boqer Campus, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, 8499000, Institute for Biological Problems of the North, Russian ISRAEL; [email protected] Academy of Sciences, Magadan 685000, RUSSIA [email protected] Jason Lucas–Volunteer 615 Raleigh Street, Denver, Colorado 80204, USA Susan Masta [email protected] Department of Biology, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon 97207, USA; [email protected] Glauco Machado Departamento de Ecologia, Instituto de Biociências, Zingisile Mbo Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, trav. 14, n˚ 321B Moroka Location, Thaba Nchu, Bloemfontein, Free 321, São Paulo 05508-090, BRAZIL; [email protected] State 9780, SOUTH AFRICA; [email protected] Salima Machkour M'Rabet Jean-Louis Juakaly Mbumba El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Avenida Centenario km University of Kisangani, Faculty of Sciences, Kisangani, 5.5, Chetumal, Quintana Roo 77014, MEXICO DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO [email protected] [email protected] Wayne Maddison Rowan McGinley Depts. of Zoology and Botany & Beaty Biodiversity School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska- Museum, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, USA British Columbia V6K 3S1, CANADA [email protected] [email protected] Gil Menda Andrew Mah Hoy Lab, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Washington & Lee University, 204 West Washington Cornell University, W213 Mudd Hall, Ithaca, New York Street, Biology Department, Lexington, Virginia 24450, 14853, USA; [email protected] USA; [email protected] Timothy Meyer Samantha Donato Malley Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincin- 7160 Lochmoor Drive, Ypsilanti, Michigan 48197, USA nati, P.O. Box 210006, Cincinnati, Ohio 45221, USA [email protected] [email protected]
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Peter Michalik Nathan Morehouse Zoologisches Institut und Museum, Universität Greifswald, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pitts- Loitzer Str. 26, D-17489 Greifswald, GERMANY burgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, USA [email protected] [email protected] Radek Michalko Gretchen K. Moritz-Hale–Volunteer Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, 3330 South Logan Street, Englewood, Colorado 80113, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, CZ-611 37 Brno, CZECH USA; [email protected] REPUBLIC; [email protected] Tam Morris–Volunteer Peter Midford 5220 E. Kensington Avenue, Castle Rock, Colorado 6003C Willow Oaks Drive, Richmond, Virginia 23225, 80104, USA; [email protected] USA; [email protected] Vicki Moyer–Volunteer Jeremy Miller 14704 E. Scott Place, Denver, Colorado 80239, USA Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Darwinweg 2, NL-2333 CR [email protected] Leiden, THE NETHERLANDS; [email protected] Alex Mullins Madeleine Miller 208 Edgemont Blvd., Suite 3060, Alamosa, Colorado Department of Biological Sciences, Box 70703, Johnson 81101, USA; [email protected] City, Tennessee 37614, USA; [email protected] Gabriel Murayama Marc Milne Rua do Matão, trav. 14, nº 321, São Paulo 05508-090, Department of Biology, University of Indianapolis, 1400 BRAZIL; [email protected] East Hanna Avenue, Indianapolis, Indiana 46227, USA David Nelsen [email protected] P.O. Box 370, 4843 Industrial Drive, Collegedale, Ten- Gustavo Miranda nessee 37315, USA; [email protected] Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Ximena Nelson Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen, Univer- School of Biological Sciences., University of Canterbury, sitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen, DENMARK Christchurch 8081, NEW ZEALAND [email protected] [email protected] Rodrigo Monjaraz-Ruedas Wolfgang Nentwig Colección Nacional de Arácnidos (CNAN), Instituto de Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Biología, Universidad Nacional, Autónoma de Mexico, Baltzerstrasse 6, CH-3012 Bern, SWITZERLAND Mexico City, D.F. 04510, MEXICO [email protected] [email protected] Jill Oberski Lionel Monod 114 Snelling Ave N, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55104-6744, Museum d'histoire naturelle, Route de Malagnou 1, USA; [email protected] CH-1208 Geneve, SWITZERLAND [email protected] Daniel Nwankwo Ogonna Animal & Environmental Biology Department, PMB 374, Myung-Jin Moon Federal University Oye-ekiti, Ekiti State, NIGERIA Department of Biological Sciences, Dankook University, [email protected] Cheonan 330-714, KOREA; [email protected]
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Laura Olguin Thomas Pearce Colección Nacional de Arácnidos (CNAN), Posgrado en 236 Cordova Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3N 1A4, CIencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de CANADA; [email protected] México, Mexico City, Distrito Federal 70-153 MEXICO Alfredo Peretti [email protected] Laboratorio de Biología Reproductiva & Evolución, Hirotsugu Ono Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal (IDEA), Department of Zoology, National Museum of Nature CONICET - Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba and Science, 4-1-1 Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki Pref. 305-0005, 5000, ARGENTINA; [email protected] JAPAN; [email protected] Abel Pérez-González Vera Opatova Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849, USA Rivadavia" - CONICET, Av. Angel Gallardo 470, Buenos [email protected] Aires C1405DJR, ARGENTINA; [email protected] Brent Opell Fernando Pérez-Miles Department of Biological Sciences, 1405 Perry Street, Sección Entomología, Facultad de Ciencias Iguá 4225, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA Montevideo 11400, URUGUAY; [email protected] [email protected] Matthew Persons David Ortiz 514 University Avenue, Susquehanna University, Selins- Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma grove, Pennsylvania 17870, USA de México, Mexico City 04510, MEXICO [email protected] [email protected] Gini Philipp–Volunteer Vladimir Ovtcharenko 5119 Williams Fork Trail, Unit 119, Boulder, Colorado Natural Sciences Department, Hostos CC of the City 80301, USA; [email protected] University of New York 500 Grand Concourse, New York, Luis Norberto Piacentini New York 10451, USA; [email protected] División Aracnología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Natu- Jack Owicki rales, Av. Angel Gallardo 470, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos 956 N. California Avenue, Palo Alto, California 94303, Aires C1405DJR, ARGENTINA; [email protected] USA; [email protected] Emily Pickett Veronica Pagowski Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincin- 768 Eaton Circle, Superior, Colorado 80027, USA nati, P.O. Box 210006, Cincinnati, Ohio 45221, USA [email protected] [email protected] L. Brian Patrick William Piel Department of Biological Sciences, Dakota Wesleyan Yale-NUS College, 10 College Avenue, West, #01-101, Singa- University, 1200 W. University Avenue, Mitchell, South pore 138609, SINGAPORE; [email protected] Dakota 57301, USA; [email protected] Ricardo Pinto-da-Rocha Martina Pavlek Instituto de Biociências, Departamento de Zoologia, Rudjer Boskovic Institute, Bijenicka 54, HR-10000 Rua do Matão, trav. 14, nº 321, Sao Paulo, SP 05508090, Zagreb, CROATIA BRAZIL [email protected] or [email protected] [email protected]
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Norman I. Platnick Jon Reiskind & Julia Reiskind Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of 213 SW 41st Street, Gainesville, Florida 32607, USA Natural History, Central Park West at 79th St., New York, [email protected] New York 10024, USA; [email protected] Milan Řezáč Dakota Piorkowski Biodiversity Lab, Crop Research Institute, Drnovska 507, Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, Taic- CZ-161 06 Prague 6–Ruzyne, CZECH REPUBLIC hung 40704, TAIWAN; [email protected] [email protected] Leslie Potts Christina Rheims S-225 Ag Center North, Lexington, Kentucky 40546, USA Laboratório Especial de Coleções, Zoológicas Av. Vital [email protected] Brasil 1500, São Paulo, São Paulo 05503-900, BRAZIL [email protected] Jennifer Price Department of Biological Sciences, Box 70703, Johnson Rosine Ribelin–Volunteer City, Tennessee 37614, USA; [email protected] 13807 W. Pacific Avenue, Lakewood, Colorado 80228, USA; [email protected] Heather Proctor University of Alberta, Department of Biological Sciences, Miguel Richard Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, CANADA Natural History Museum Bern, Bernastrasse 15, CH-3008 [email protected] Bern, SWITZERLAND; [email protected] Daniel Proud Casey Richart Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San 28607, USA; [email protected] Diego, California 92182, USA; [email protected] Jonathan Pruitt David Richman Department of Ecology, Evolution & Marine Biology, P.O. Box 1653, Edmonds, Washington 98020, USA University of California- Santa Barbara, California [email protected] 93160, USA; [email protected] Susan Riechert Rosannette Quesada Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Univer- Granadilla, Curridabat, San José 103-2300, COSTA RICA sity of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-1610, USA [email protected] [email protected] Martin Ramirez Michael Rix Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales–CONICET, Av. Queensland Museum, P.O. Box 3300, South Brisbane, Angel Gallardo 470, Buenos Aires C1405DJR, ARGENTINA Queensland 4101, AUSTRALIA [email protected] [email protected] Dinesh Rao J. Andrew Roberts Inbioteca, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Veracruz The Ohio State University at Newark, 1179 University 91090, MEXICO; [email protected] Drive, Newark, Ohio 43055, USA; [email protected] Linda Rayor Nancy Roberts–Volunteer Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, 21900 Co Rd 196, Nathrop, Colorado 81236, USA New York 14853, USA; [email protected] [email protected]
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Mark Robertson Steve Schilling–Volunteer Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, 3278 S. Nepal Way, Aurora, Colorado 80013, USA #4200-6270 University Blvd., Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z4, [email protected] CANADA; [email protected] Jason M. Schmidt Ingrid Catalina Romero Ortiz Biocontrol Lab, UGA Entomology, Coastal Plain Experi- Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de mental Station, 2360 Rainwater Road, Tifton, Georgia Colombia, Bogota 111166, COLOMBIA 31793, USA [email protected] [email protected] Sarah Rose Justin Schmidt The Ohio State University, School of Environment and Southwestern Biological Institute, 1961 W. Brichta Natural Resources, 210 Kottman Hall, 2021 Coffey Road, Drive, Tucson, Arizona 85745, USA Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA [email protected] [email protected] Sarah Schrader Barbara Roth 3031 Baker Rd #1, Dexter, Michigan 48130, USA P.O. Box 16136, Portal, Arizona 85632, USA [email protected] [email protected] Catherine Scott & Sean McCann Jens Runge Integrative Behaviour & Neuroscience Group, Depart- Universitätsplatz 2, Allgemeine & Spezielle Zoologie, ment of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Universität Rostock, D-18055 Rostock, GERMANY Scarborough, Scarborough, Ontario M1C 1A4, CANADA [email protected] [email protected] Ann Rypstra Laura Marcela Segura Hernández Department of Biology, Miami University, Hamilton, Concepción, San Rafael, Heredia 40505, COSTA RICA Ohio 45011, USA; [email protected] [email protected] Hilary Sachs–Volunteer Paul Selden & Maura Selden 1140 Columbine Street, #201, Denver, Colorado 80206, Paleontological Institute, University of Kansas, 1475 USA; [email protected] Jayhawk Blvd., Lawrence, Kansas 66045, USA [email protected] Ferenc Samu Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Lenka Sentenská Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, H-1525 Department of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, Budapest, HUNGARY; [email protected] CZ-61137 Brno, CZECH REPUBLIC [email protected] Jose Sanchez P.O. Box 309, Garrochales, Puerto Rico 00652, USA Emily Setton [email protected] University of Wisconsin–Madison, Birge Hall, 430 Lincoln Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA Warren Savary [email protected] Field Associate, Department of Entomology, California Academy of Sciences, 3902 S Via del Ruisenor, Green Hailey Shannon Valley, Arizona 85622, USA 1858 Weber Way S503, Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania 17870, [email protected] USA; [email protected]
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Prashant Sharma Deborah Smith University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Univer- Zoology, 352 Birge Hall, 430 Lincoln Drive, Madison, sity of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, USA Wisconsin 53706, USA; [email protected] [email protected] Ruth Sharpe Victoria R. Smith Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Department of Ecology, Lincoln University, 6270 University Blvd., Vancouver, British Columbia V6T Christchurch, Canterbury 7647, NEW ZEALAND 1Z4, CANADA; [email protected] [email protected] Cara Shillington Juhyeoung Sohn 441 Mark Jefferson, Dept. of Biology, Eastern Michigan Yuseonggu Jeonmindong Expo Apartment 410-1001, University, Ypsilanti, Michigan 48197, USA Daejeon KS015, SOUTH KOREA; [email protected] [email protected] Lou Sorkin Nina Shilodon–Volunteer American Museum of Naturaly History, Division of 5015 Easley Road, Golden, Colorado 80403, USA Invertebrate Zoology, Central Park West at 79th Street, [email protected] New York, New York 10024, USA; [email protected] Andrew Shoemaker Megan Sprovach 1600 Grand Avenue, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55104, USA UW–Green Bay, 2420 Nicolet Drive, Green Bay, Wiscon- [email protected] sin 54302, USA; [email protected] William Shoenberger Jay Stafstrom Department of Biology, Saint Louis University, 3507 1315 D Street, Lincoln, Nebraska 68502, USA Laclede Ave. Saint Louis, Missouri 63103, USA [email protected] [email protected] Michael Stanley Jeff Shultz 700 East High Street, Oxford, Ohio 45056, USA Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, [email protected] College Park, Maryland 20742, USA Marzena Stańska [email protected] Department of Zoology, Institute of Biology, Siedlce Salvatore Sidoti University of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Prusa The Ohio State University 12, PL-08-110 Siedlce, POLAND Department of Evolution, Ecology & Organismal [email protected] Biology, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA; [email protected] Tomasz Stański Petra Sierwald Romanówka str 1A/16, PL-08-110 Siedlce, POLAND IRC, S&E, Field Museum of Natural History, 1400 S Lake [email protected] Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60605, USA James Starrett [email protected] Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Valentina Silva Pereyra Diego, California 92182, USA; [email protected] UIBLH, Depto. de Biofísica, Facultad de Medicina, Matt Steffenson UdelaR, Montevideo 11600, URUGUAY 208 Edgemont Blvd., Suite 3060, Alamosa, Colorado [email protected] 81101, USA; [email protected]
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Philip Steinhoff Jessica Szabo Anklamer Strasse 20, D-17489 Greifswald, GERMANY Department of Biology, Portland State University, [email protected] Portland, Oregon 97207, USA [email protected] Sarah Stellwagen 2800 Powder Mill Road, Adelphi, Maryland 20902, USA Kaitlyn Tatro [email protected] University of Michigan, 4901 Evergreen Road, Dearborn, Michigan 48128, USA; [email protected] Charles Stephen 331 Funchess Hall, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama Lisa Taylor 36849, USA; [email protected] University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA [email protected] Jeff Stephenson–Volunteer Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Department of Rick Teichler–Volunteer Zoology, 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver, Colorado 80205, 2375 Lavender Hill Ln., Lafayette, Colorado 80026, USA USA; [email protected] [email protected] Margo Stephenson–Volunteer Rebekah Thompson–Volunteer 2561 W. 105th Pl., Westminster, Colorado 80234, USA 1560 Vine St, #5, Denver, Colorado 80206, USA [email protected] [email protected] Brent Stoffer Mark Tiemeier University of Cincinnati, Department of Biological Sci- Cincinnati State Technical and Community ences, P.O. Box 210006, Cincinnati, Ohio 45221, USA College,3520 Central Parkway, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45223 [email protected] USA; [email protected] Martin Streinzer Aaron Tolin Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, 1649 Indian Road, Moscow, Ohio 45153 USA University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, [email protected] AUSTRIA; [email protected] Yanfeng Tong Michelle Strickland Life Science College, Shenyang Normal University, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Not- 253 Huanghe North Street, Huanggu Dist., Shenyang tingham NG7 2RD, UNITED KINGDOM 110034, CHINA; [email protected] [email protected] Victor Townsend Yong-Chao Su Department of Biology, Virginia Wesleyan College, 14F-1, No. 50, Fulian Street, Taichung City 40764, Norfolk, Virginia 23502, USA; [email protected] TAIWAN; [email protected] Łukasz Trębicki Robert Suter Department of Zoology, Siedlce University of Natural 131 Titusville Road, Poughkeepsie, New York 12603, USA Sciences and Humanities, Prusa 12, PL-08-110 Siedlce, [email protected] POLAND; [email protected] Alexander Sweger Nobuo Tsurusaki Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincin- Biology Lab, Faculty of Regional Sciences, Tottori nati, P.O. Box 210006, Cincinnati, Ohio 45221, USA University, Tottori City 680-8551, JAPAN [email protected] [email protected]
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Masaru Tsutsui Beatrice Vogel Laboratory of Biodiversity Science, School of Agriculture 46 S. Howie, Helena, Montana 59601, USA; [email protected] and Life Sciences, University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Julianne Waldock Tokyo, JAPAN; [email protected] Department of Terrestrial Zoology, Western Australian Darrell Ubick Museum, locked bag 49, Welshpool, Western Australia California Academy of Sciences, Department of 6986, AUSTRALIA Entomology, 55 Music Concourse Drive, San Francisco, [email protected] California 94118, USA; [email protected] Leilani Walker George W. Uetz School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auck- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, land, 3a Symonds Street, Auckland 1010, NEW ZEALAND Cincinnati, OH 45221-0006, USA; [email protected] [email protected] Gabriele Uhl & Veronika Uhl Trinity Walls University of Greifswald, General and Systematic 5105 Makena Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina 27615, USA Zoology, D-17489 Greifswald, GERMANY [email protected] [email protected] Joseph Warfel Sebastián Vélez & Mariana Vélez 15 Warwick St., Lowell, Massachusetts 01851, USA Worcester State University, Biology Department, 486 [email protected] Chandler Street, Worcester, Massachusetts 01602, USA [email protected] Colton Watts School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska- Rick Vetter Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, USA Deptartment of Entomology, University of California, [email protected] Riverside, Riverside, California 92521, USA [email protected] Wioletta Wawer Museum and Institute of Zoology Polish Academy of Michael Vickers Sciences, Wilcza 64, PL-00-679 Warsaw, POLAND University of Florida, Entomology & Nematology [email protected] Department, 1881 Natural Area Drive, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA; [email protected] Jill & John Weigel–Volunteers 2296 Zinnia Street, Golden, Colorado 80401, USA Jannelle Vienneau-Hathaway [email protected] 204 W. Washington Street, Washington and Lee Univer- sity, Lexington, Virginia 24450, USA Rachel Miranda Werneck [email protected] Museum Alexander Koenig, Adenauerallee 160, D-53111 Bonn, GERMANY; [email protected] Lenny Vincent 31526 Monterey St., Laguna Beach, California 92651, John Whitinger USA; [email protected] 208 Edgemont Blvd., Suite 3060, Alamosa, Colorado 81101, USA; [email protected] Cor Vink Canterbury Museum, Rolleston Avenue, Christchurch Celia Whitman–Vendor 8013, NEW ZEALAND; [email protected] BioQuip Products, 2321 Gladwick Street, Rancho Dominguez, California 90220, USA; [email protected]
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Julie Whitman-Zai–Volunteer Hannah Wood 10343 Holden Circle, Franktown, Colorado 80116, USA Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural [email protected] History, Smithsonian Institution, PO Box 37012, MRC105, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012, USA; [email protected] Will Wiggins 501 Life Sciences West, Department of Integrative Colin Wright Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Okla- 5562 Hobart Street #415, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania homa 74078, USA; [email protected] 15217, USA; [email protected] Shawn Wilder Kerri Wrinn 501 Life Sciences West, Department of Integrative University of Wisconsin Rock County, 2909 Kellogg Ave., Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Okla- Janesville, Wisconsin 53546, USA; [email protected] homa 74078, USA; [email protected] Xin Xu Dustin Wilgers College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, McPherson College, 1600 E. Euclid Avenue, McPherson, 36 Lushan Road, Yuelu District, Changshan, Hunan Kansas 67460, USA; [email protected] 410081, CHINA; [email protected] Rodrigo Willemart Takeshi Yamasaki Rua Arlindo Bettio, 1000. University of São Paulo, São Makino Herbarium, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1 Paulo 03828-000, BRAZIL; [email protected] Minami-osawa, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo 192-0397, JAPAN [email protected] Rebecca Wilson Department of Biological Sciences, Box 70703, Johnson Tsunemi Yamashita & Mary Ella Yamashita City, Tennessee 37614, USA; [email protected] Department of Biology, Arkansas Tech University, 1701 N. Boulder Avenue, Russellville, Arkansas 72801, USA Brenan Wilson [email protected] 665 Balsam Avenue, Greeley, Colorado 80631, USA [email protected] Eric Yip Department of Entomology, Penn State University, Christian Wirkner University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA Universität Rostock, Institut für Biowissenschaften, [email protected] Allgemeine und Spezielle Zoologie, Universitätsplatz 2, D-18055 Rostock, GERMANY; [email protected] Rafael Yuji Lemos USP - Universidade de São Paulo, LECZ - Instituto Dennis Wojcicki–Volunteer Butantan, São Paulo 05503900, BRAZIL 4500 W. Mineral Drive, Apt. 2036, Littleton, Colorado [email protected] 80128, USA; [email protected] Marek Zabka Jonas Wolff University of Nature and Humanities, Zoology Depart- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie Univer- ment, PL-08-110 Siedlce, POLAND sity, Sydney New South Wales 2109, AUSTRALIA [email protected] [email protected] Hua Zeng Boon Hui Wong Department of Biological Sciences, National University 29 Prince George's Park Residence 3, Block 10 #08-15C, of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543, Singapore 118426, SINGAPORE; [email protected] SINGAPORE; [email protected]
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Shichang Zhang Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, Taic- hung 40704, TAIWAN; [email protected] Zhisheng Zhang School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, No. 2, Tiansheng Road, Beibei District, Chongqing 400715, CHINA; [email protected] Pamela Zobel-Thropp Lewis & Clark College, Department of Biology, 0615 SW Palatine Hill Road, msc 53, Portland, Oregon 97219, USA [email protected] Daniel Zurek University of Pittsburgh, Department of Biological Sciences, 204 Clapp Hall, 4249 5th Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, USA; [email protected]
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NOTES
230 DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE REPORTS | No. 3, July 2, 2016