Abstract
Spiders in different ontogenetic stages vary in their predatory behavior. The more advanced the development of an individual, the more similar is its behavior to that of the adult. Studies have shown that the behavior of subadult and adult spiders are similar, but the similarity may be superficial, since the analytical approach usually adopted cannot evaluate important features, such as the organization of the foraging system. Systems are characterized by a modular organization, which needs appropriate analytical approaches to be properly evaluated. We tested whether there is a difference between the predatory sequences of adult and subadult spiders (Azilia histrio) and identified the most appropriate methodological procedure for the characterization of this difference. We used multivariate analysis, contrasting an approach that focuses on frequency of behavioral categories, taken independently, with an approach that directly evaluates the sequential organization of behavioral categories, thus allowing the analysis of the structure of the foraging system. While the independent variables approach did not show differences between ontogenetic stages, the organizational analytical approach resulted in a number of important differences between the ontogenetic stages. We describe the foraging system for the first time in the genus Azilia, while discussing hypotheses for the observed organizational change.
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Notes
We have not performed a complete revision of the subject, but any attempt to completeness will inevitably be an underestimate, simply because of the difficulty of publishing negative results.
Note that we used Bonferroni’s correction, which decreased the p value by a factor of 25 (alpha equal to 0.002).
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Acknowledgments
We thank the Federal University of Bahia, the Foundation for Research Support of the State of Bahia, and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development for funding this study (Grants BOL1401/2011, APP0049/2009, PNX0016/2009 and PDE232691/2014-2); the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources and the State Secretariat of the Environment of Bahia for logistical support; Rio Tinto and Odebrecht for providing the cars; and Antônio Brescovit for identifying the spiders. We also thank Carlos Frederico Rocha, Thiago Amorim, Catarina da Rocha Marcolin and Stephen Francis Ferrari for useful comments.
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Tourinho, L., de Almeida Mendonça, A. & Japyassú, H.F. Ontogenetic variation in the predatory behavior of the orb-weaver spider Azilia histrio: detecting changes in behavioral organization. J Ethol 34, 219–229 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10164-016-0467-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10164-016-0467-7