Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Kinship and food availability influence cannibalism tendency in early-instar wolf spiders (Araneae: Lycosidae)

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

For potentially cannibalistic animals such as spiders, the ability to recognize and avoid kin and/or preferentially cannibalize non-relatives would permit exploiting conspecifics as prey while minimizing loss of inclusive fitness. We investigated the effects of relatedness and availability of alternative food on cannibalism tendency in pairs of juvenile Hogna helluo (Walckenaer), a North American wolf spider (Araneae: Lycosidae). For second-instar spiderlings (dispersing stage), cannibalism was more likely among pairs of non-sibs than pairs of sibs and, interestingly, was also more likely when other prey were available. We found no evidence of increased cannibalism in pairings involving broods of greatest average size disparity, indicating that size differences are unlikely to explain differences in cannibalism tendency. Additionally, the relative number of deaths from cannibalism or other causes did not increase with increasing risk of starvation. For third-instar spiderlings, which had lived independently of their mother and sibs following dispersal, cannibalism rates were very high in all treatments and there were no significant effects of relatedness or food availability. Our results suggest that spiders with predominantly solitary lifestyles may bias cannibalism toward non-kin during the juvenile associative period, and that this effect is lost in the subsequent instar. Results are discussed in the context of several potential mechanisms that might result in differential cannibalism.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anderson JF (1974) Responses to starvation in the spiders Lycosa lenta Hentz and Filistata hibernalis (Hentz). Ecology 55:576–585

    Google Scholar 

  • Andrade MCB (1996) Sexual selection for male sacrifice in the Australian redback spider. Science 271:70–72

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Andrade MCB (1998) Female hunger can explain variation in cannibalistic behavior despite male sacrifice in redback spiders. Behav Ecol 9:33–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Anthony CD (2003) Kinship influences cannibalism in the wolf spider, Pardosa milvina. J Insect Behav 16:23–36

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arnqvist G, Henriksson S (1997) Sexual cannibalism in the fishing spider and a model for the evolution of sexual cannibalism based on genetic constraints. Evol Ecol 11:255–273

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bilde T, Lubin Y (2001) Non-kin biased cannibalism in a subsocial spider. J Evol Biol 14:959–966

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Conover RJ (1966) Factors affecting the assimilation of organic matter by zooplankton and the question of superfluous feeding. Limnol Oceanogr 11:346–354

    Google Scholar 

  • Crespi BJ (1992) Cannibalism and trophic eggs in subsocial and eusocial insects. In: Elgar MA, Crespi BJ (eds) Cannibalism: ecology and evolution among diverse taxa. Oxford University Press, New York, pp 176–213

  • Dong Q, Polis GA (1992) The dynamics of cannibalistic populations: a foraging perspective. In: Elgar MA, Crespi BJ (eds) Cannibalism: ecology and evolution among diverse taxa. Oxford University Press, New York, pp 13–37

  • Dou S, Seikai T, Tsukamoto K (2000) Cannibalism in Japanese flounder juveniles, Paralichthys olivaceus, reared under controlled conditions. Aquaculture 182:149–159

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Edgar WD (1969) Prey and predators of the wolf spider Lycosa lugubris. J Zool Lond 159:405–411

    Google Scholar 

  • Elgar MA (1992) Sexual cannibalism in spiders and other invertebrates. In: Elgar MA, Crespi BJ (eds) Cannibalism: ecology and evolution among diverse taxa. Oxford University Press, New York, pp 128–155

  • Elgar MA, Crespi BJ (1992) Ecology and evolution of cannibalism. In: Elgar MA, Crespi BJ (eds) Cannibalism: ecology and evolution among diverse taxa. Oxford University Press, New York, pp 1–12

  • Elwood R (1992) Pup-cannibalism in rodents: causes and consequences. In: Elgar MA, Crespi BJ (eds) Cannibalism: ecology and evolution among diverse taxa. Oxford University Press, New York, pp 299–322

  • Evans TA (1999) Kin recognition in a social spider. Proc R Soc Lond B 266:287–292

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evans TA, York-Main B (1993) Attraction between social crab spiders: silk pheromones in Diaea socialis. Behav Ecol 4:99–105

    Google Scholar 

  • Fletcher DJC (1987) The behavioral analysis of kin recognition: perspectives on methodology and interpretation. In: Fletcher DJC, Michener CD (eds) Kin recognition in animals. Wiley, Chichester, pp 19–54

  • Foelix RF (1996) Biology of spiders, 2nd edn. Oxford University Press, New York

  • Greenstone MH (1978) The numerical response to prey availability of Pardosa ramulosa (McCook) (Araneae: Lycosodae) and its relationship to the role of spiders in the balance of nature. Symp Zool Soc Lond 42:183–193

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenstone MH (1979) Spider behaviour optimises dietary essential amino acid composition. Nature 282:501–503

    Google Scholar 

  • Gundermann JL, Horel A, Krafft B (1993) Experimental manipulations of social tendencies in the subsocial spider, Coelotes terrestris. Insect Soc 40:219–229

    Google Scholar 

  • Hallander H (1970) Prey, cannibalism and microhabitat selection in the wolf spiders Pardosa chelata O. F. Müller and P. pullata Clerck. Oikos 21:337–340

    Google Scholar 

  • Hauber ME, Sherman PW (2000) The armpit effect in hamster kin recognition. Trends Ecol Evol 15:349–350

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hepper PG (1991) Recognizing kin: ontogeny and classification. In: Hepper PG (ed) Kin recognition. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 259–288

  • Jackson RR (1980a) Cannibalism as a factor in the mating strategy of the jumping spider Phidippus johnsoni (Araneae, Salticidae). Bull Br Arachnol Soc 5:129–133

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson RR (1980b) Comparative studies of Dictyna and Mallos. V. Tolerance and resistance to starvation. Psyche 87:211–220

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson RR (1987) Comparative study of releaser pheromone associated with the silk of jumping spiders (Araneae, Salticidae). N Z J Zool 14:1–10

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson RR, Pollard S (1997) Jumping spider mating strategies: sex among cannibals in and out of webs. In: Choe JC, Crespi BJ (eds) The evolution of mating systems in insects and arachnids. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 340–351

  • Johnson JC (2001) Sexual cannibalism in fishing spiders (Dolomedes triton): an evaluation of two explanations for female aggression towards potential mates. Anim Behav 61:905–914

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones JS (1982) Of cannibals and kin. Nature 299:202–203

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones TC, Parker PG (2002) Delayed juvenile dispersal benefits both mother and offspring in the cooperative spider Anelosimus studiosus (Araneae: Theridiidae). Behav Ecol 13:142–148

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim KW (2000) Dispersal behaviour in a subsocial spider: group conflict and the effect of food availability. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 48:182–187

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim KW, Horel A (1998) Matriphagy in the spider Amaurobius ferox (Araneidae, Amaurobiidae): an example of mother-offspring interactions. Ethology 104:1021–1037

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim KW, Roland C, Horel A (2000) Functional value of matriphagy in the spider Amaurobius ferox. Ethology 106:729–742

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klahn JE, Gamboa GJ (1983) Social wasps: discrimination between kin and nonkin brood. Science 221:482–484

    Google Scholar 

  • Komdeur J, Hatchwell BJ (1999) Kin recognition: function and mechanism in avian societies. Trends Ecol Evol 14:237–241

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Krafft B, Horel A, Julita J-M (1986) Influence of food supply on the duration of the gregarious phase of a maternal-social spider, Coelotes terrestris (Araneae, Agelenidae). J Arachnol 14:219–226

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindstrom K, Sargent RC (1997) Food access, brood size, and filial cannibalism in the fantail darter, Etheostoma flabellare. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 40:107–110

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maupin JL, Riechert SE (2001) Superfluous killing in spiders: a consequence of adaptation to food-limited environments? Behav Ecol 12:569–576

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller GL (1989) Subsocial organization and behavior in broods of the obligate burrowing wolf spider Geolycosa turricola (Treat). Can J Zool 67:819–824

    Google Scholar 

  • Nossek ME, Rovner JS (1984) Agonistic behavior in female wolf spiders (Araneae, Lycosidae). J Arachnol 11:407–422

    Google Scholar 

  • Oelbermann K, Scheu S (2002) Effects of prey type and mixed diets on survival, growth and development of a generalist predator, Pardosa lugubris (Araneae: Lycosidae). Basic Appl Ecol 3:285–291

    Google Scholar 

  • Olsen KH (1992) Kin recognition in fish mediated by chemical cues. In: Hara TJ (ed) Fish chemoreception. Chapman and Hall, London, pp 229–248

  • Panek LM, Gamboa GJ (2000) Queens of the paper wasp Polistes fuscatus (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) discriminate among larvae on the basis of relatedness. Ethology 106:159–170

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pfennig DW (1997) Kinship and cannibalism: understanding why animals avoid preying on relatives offers insights into the evolution of social behaviour. BioScience 47:667–675

    Google Scholar 

  • Pfennig DW, Reeve HK, Sherman PW (1993) Kin recognition and cannibalism in spadefoot toad tadpoles. Anim Behav 46:87–94

    Google Scholar 

  • Pfennig DW, Sherman PW, Collins JP (1994) Kin recognition and cannibalism in polyphonic salamanders. Behav Ecol 5:225–232

    Google Scholar 

  • Polis G (1981) The evolution and dynamics of intraspecific predation. Annu Rev Ecol Syst 12:225–251

    Google Scholar 

  • Pourie G, Trabalon M (1999) Agonistic behaviour of female Tegenaria atrica in the presence of different aged spiderlings. Physiol Entomol 24:143–149

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riechert SE (1981) The consequences of being territorial: spiders, a case study. Am Nat 117:871–892

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riechert SE, Harp JM (1987) Nutritional ecology of spiders. In: Slansky F, Rodriguez JG (eds) Nutritional ecology of insects, mites and spiders. Wiley, New York, pp 645–672

  • Ruttan LM (1990) Experimental manipulations of dispersal in the subsocial spider, Theridion pictum. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 27:169–173

    Google Scholar 

  • Rypstra AL (1986) High prey abundance and a reduction in cannibalism: the first step to sociality in spiders (Arachnida). J Arachnol 14:193–200

    Google Scholar 

  • Sadler LM, Elgar MA (1994) Cannibalism among amphibian larvae: a case of good taste. Trends Ecol Evol 9:5–6

    Google Scholar 

  • Samu F, Toft S, Kiss B (1999) Factors influencing cannibalism in the wolf spider Pardosa agrestis (Araneae, Lycosidae). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 45:349–354

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sasaki T, Iwahashi O (1995) Sexual cannibalism in an orb-weaving spider Argiope aemula. Anim Behav 49:1119–1121

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schausberger P, Croft BA (2001) Kin recognition and larval cannibalism by adult females in specialist predaceous mites. Anim Behav 61:459–464

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schneider JM (1995) Survival and growth in groups of a subsocial spider (Stegodyphus lineatus). Insect Soc 42:237–248

    Google Scholar 

  • Schneider JM (1996) Food intake, growth and relatedness in the subsocial spider, Stegodyphus lineatus (Eresidae). Ethology 102:386–396

    Google Scholar 

  • Schneider JM, Lubin Y (1996) Infanticidal male eresid spiders. Nature 381:655–656

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schneider JM, Lubin Y (1997) Infanticide by males in a spider with suicidal maternal care, Stegodyphus lineatus (Eresidae). Anim Behav 54:305–312

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Searcy LE, Rypstra AL, Persons MH (1999) Airborne chemical communication in the wolf spider Pardosa milvina. J Chem Ecol 25:2527–2533

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Seibt U, Wickler W (1987) Gerontophagy versus cannibalism in the social spiders Stegodyphus mimosarum Pavesi and Stegodyphus dumicola Pocock. Anim Behav 35:1903–1904

    Google Scholar 

  • Tang-Martinez Z (2001) The mechanisms of kin discrimination and the evolution of kin recognition in vertebrates: a critical re-evaluation. Behav Process 53:21–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor PW (1998) Dragline-mediated mate-searching in Trite planiceps (Araneae, Salticidae). J Arachnol 26:330–334

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor PW, Jackson RR (1999) Habitat-adapted communication in Trite planiceps, a New Zealand jumping spider (Araneae, Salticidae). N Z J Zool 26:127–154

    Google Scholar 

  • Tietjen WJ (1979a) Tests for olfactory communication in four species of wolf spiders (Araneae, Lycosidae). J Arachnol 6:197–206

    Google Scholar 

  • Tietjen WJ (1979b) Is the sex pheromone of Lycosa rabida (Araneae: Lycosidae) deposited on a substratum? J Arachnol 6:207–212

    Google Scholar 

  • Toft S, Wise DH (1999a) Growth, development and survival of a generalist predator fed single- and mixed-species diets of different quality. Oecologia 119:191–197

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Toft S, Wise DH (1999b) Behavioral and ecophysiological responses of a generalist predator to single- and mixed-species diets of different quality. Oecologia 119:198–207

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trabalon M, Bagneres AG, Hartmann N, Vallet AM (1996) Changes in cuticular compounds composition during the gregarious period and after dispersal of the young in Tegenaria atrica (Araneae, Agelenidae). Insect Biochem Mol Biol 26:77–84

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Uetz GW, Bischoff J, Raver J (1992) Survivorship of wolf spiders (Lycosidae) reared on different diets. J Arachnol 20:207–211

    Google Scholar 

  • Wagner JD (1995) Egg sac inhibits filial cannibalism in the wolf spider, Schizocosa ocreata. Anim Behav 50:555–557

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wagner JD, Wise DH (1996) Cannibalism regulates densities of young wolf spiders: evidence from field and laboratory experiments. Ecology 77:639–652

    Google Scholar 

  • Wagner JD, Wise DH (1997) Influence of prey availability and conspecifics on patch quality for a cannibalistic forager: laboratory experiments with the wolf spider Schizocosa. Oecologia 109:474–482

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walker SE, Marshall SD, Rypstra AL, Taylor DH (1999) The effects of hunger on locomotory behaviour in two species of wolf spider (Araneae, Lycosidae). Anim Behav 58:515–520

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Walls SC, Roudebush RE (1991) Reduced aggression toward siblings as evidence of kin recognition in cannibalistic salamanders. Am Nat 138:1027–1038

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yeargan KV (1975) Prey and periodicity of Pardosa ramulosa (McCook) in alfalfa. Environ Entomol 4:137–141

    Google Scholar 

  • Zar JH (1999) Biostatistical analysis. Prentice-Hall, New Jersey, pp 486–515

Download references

Acknowledgements

For financial support during this research, we thank the National Science Foundation (grant IBN 9906446 to G.W.U.); P.W.T. was awarded a University of Cincinnati post-doctoral fellowship. We are grateful to the Cincinnati Nature Center, Rowe Woods, for permission to collect spiders on their property. Kelly Roberts provided invaluable assistance with rearing and maintenance of spiders and staging of experiments. We are especially grateful to Trine Bilde and Yael Lubin for access to their previously unpublished data. We appreciate the editorial comments of Mark Elgar, Casey Harris, Jerald Hinn, Bruce Jayne, Scott Sakaluk, Sean Walker, and three anonymous reviewers. The work presented here adheres to all relevant laws and guidelines pursuant to the use of invertebrates in research in the United States of America.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Phillip W. Taylor

    Present address: Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Sydney, Australia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0006, USA

    J. Andrew Roberts, Phillip W. Taylor & George W. Uetz

Authors
  1. J. Andrew Roberts
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Phillip W. Taylor
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. George W. Uetz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. Andrew Roberts.

Additional information

Communicated by M. Elgar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Roberts, J.A., Taylor, P.W. & Uetz, G.W. Kinship and food availability influence cannibalism tendency in early-instar wolf spiders (Araneae: Lycosidae). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 54, 416–422 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-003-0646-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-003-0646-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation