Summary
The tenacity of the orb spider Nephila clavipes to a web site was studied in the laboratory. No differences were found between the giving-up-times and the site tenacity of spiders reared in the laboratory or those caught in the field, nor between spiders raised under a poor or a richt diet. The animals left sites at random and seemed to ignore experiences gained at previous sites.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Charnov EL (1976) Optimal foraging: the marginal value theorem. Theor Popul Biol 9:129–136
Enders F (1975) Change in web site in Argiope spiders (Araneidae). Am Midl Nat 94:484–490
Houston AI, McNamara JM (1984) Imperfectly optimal animals: a correction. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 15:61–64
Houston AI, McNamara JM (1986) The influence of mortality on the behaviour that maximizes reproductive success in a patchy environment. Oikos (in press)
Janetos AC, Cole BJ (1981) Imperfectly optimal animals. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 9:23–30
Janetos AC (1982 a) Foraging tactics of two guilds of web-spinning spiders. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 10:19–27
Janetos AC (1982 b) Active foragers vs. sit-and-wait predators: a simple model. J Theor Biol 95:381–386
LeBerre M, Ramousse R, LeGuelte L (1981) Eco-Ethologie des Argiopides: 1. Evolution temporelle d'une population d'Araneus diadematus Clerck dans son milieu naturel. Atti Soc Tosc Sci Nat Mem (B) 88:71–83
Levi H (1980) The orb-weaver genus Mecynogea, the subfamily Metinae and the genera Pachygnatha, Glenogantha and Azilia of the subfamily Tetragnathinae north of Mexico. Bull Mus Comp Zool 149:1–75
McNamara JM (1982) Optimal patch use in a stochastic environment. Theor Pop Biol 21:269–288
McNamara JM, Houston AI (1980) The application of statistical decision theory to animal behaviour. J Theor Biol 85:673–690
McNamara JM, Houston AI (1985) A simple model of information use in the exploitation of patchily distributed food. Anim Behav 33:553–560
McNamara JM, Houston AI (1986) Foraging in patches — there's more to life than the marginal value theorem. In: Quantitative analysis of behaviour, Vol 6, Foraging, Commons ML, Kacelnik A, Shettleworth SJ (eds.) Lawrence Erlbaum Assoc, Hillsdale NJ (in press)
Nentwig W (1985) Prey analysis of tropical orb-weaving spiders (Araneae: Araneidae) and a comparison with araneids of the temperate zone. Oecologia (Berl) 66:580–594
Oaten A (1977) Optimal foraging in patches: a case for stochasticity. Theor Pop Biol 12:263–285
Parker GA, Stuart RA (1976) Animal Behaviour as a strategy optimizer: evolution of resource assessment strategies and optimal emigration thresholds. Am Nat 110:1055–1076
Ramousse R, LeGuelte L, LeBerre M (1981) Organisation temporelle du Comportement constructeur chez les Argiopidae. Atti Soc Tosc Sci Nat Mem (B) 88:159–172
Vollrath F (1980) Male body size and fitness in the web-building spider Nephila clavipes. Z Tierpsych 53:61–78
Vollrath F (1981) Energetic considerations of a spider parasite — spider host system. Rev Arachnol 3:37–44
Vollrath F (1983) Relative and absolute growth in Nephila clavipes. Verh naturwiss Ver Hamburg 26:277–289
Vollrath F (1985) Foraging and growth: decisions in a sit-and-wait predator. Oecologia (Berl) 68:69–72
Vollrath F (1986) Foraging, growth and reproductive success. In: Ecophysiology and Biochemistry of spiders, Nentwig W (ed) Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York (in press)
Witt PN, Reed ChF, Peakall DB (1968) A spider's web: problems in regulatory biology. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Vollrath, F., Houston, A. Previous experience and site tenacity in the orb spider Nephila (Araneae, Araneidae). Oecologia 70, 305–308 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00379256
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00379256