Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The influence of burrowing and thermoregulatory behaviour on the water relations of Geolycosa godeffroyi (Araneae: Lycosidae), an Australian wolf spider

  • Published:
Oecologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The water loss from the wolf spider Geolycosa godeffroyi (L. Koch) is presented for a wide range of environmental conditions. Water loss is influenced by the size of the spider, temperature, saturation deficit and by relative humidity per se. The spiders thermoregulatory behaviour more than doubled water loss. Water could not be extracted from near saturated air but was available from the soil when the soil water content was greater than 11%. Due to the spiders burrowing habits both the active and passive use of heat differentials were potential sources of free water.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Almquist, S.: Resistance to desiccation in some dune-living spiders. Oikos 22, 225–229 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Beanment, J. W. L.: The effect of temperature on the waterproofing mechanism of an insect. J. exp. Biol. 35, 494–519 (1958)

    Google Scholar 

  • Beanment, J. W. L.: The water relations of insect cuticle. Biol. Rev. 36, 281–320 (1961)

    Google Scholar 

  • Berridge, M. J.: Osmoregulation in terrestrial arthropods. In: Chemical zoology, Arthropoda, vol. 5A, M. Florkin, B. T. Scheer, eds. New York-London: Academic Press 1970

    Google Scholar 

  • Bouyoucos, G. J.: Electrical resistance methods as finally perfected for making continuous measurements of soil moisture content under field conditions. Mich. Agric. Expt. Sta. quart. Bull. 37, 132–149 (1954)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bouyoucos, G. J., Mick, A. H.: An electrical resistance method for the continuous measurement of soil moisture under field conditions. Mich. Agric. Expt. Sta. Tech. Bul. 172 (1940)

  • Bouyoucos, G. J., Mick, A. H.: Improvements in the plaster of paris absorption block electrical resistance method for measuring soil moisture under field conditions. Soil Sci. 63, 455–465 (1947)

    Google Scholar 

  • Burrage, S. W.: Dew and the growth of the uredospore germ tube of Puccinia graminis on the wheat leaf. Ann. appl. Biol. 64, 495–501 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bursell, E.: Environmental aspects: temperature. In: The physiology of insecta, vol. 1, M. Rockstein, ed. New York: Academic Press 1964a

    Google Scholar 

  • Bursell, E.: Environmental aspects: humidity. In: The physiology of insecta, vol. 1, M. Rockstein, ed. New York: Academic Press 1964b

    Google Scholar 

  • Cloudsley-Thompson, J. L.: Studies in diurnal rhythms. V. Nocturnal ecology and water relations of the British cribellate spiders of the genus Ciniflo Bl. J. Linn. Soc. Zool. 43, 134–152 (1957)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cloudsley-Thompson, J. L.: Microclimates and the distribution of terrestrial arthropods. A. Rev. Ent. 7, 199–222 (1962)

    Google Scholar 

  • Davies, M. E., Edney, E. B.: The evaporation of water from spiders. J. exp. Biol. 29, 571–582 (1952)

    Google Scholar 

  • Edney, E. B.: The evaporation of water from woodlice and the millepede Glomeris. J. exp. Biol. 28, 91–115 (1951)

    Google Scholar 

  • Green, B.: Water losses of the sand goanna (Varanus gouldii) in its natural environments. Ecology 53, 452–457 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gunn, D. L.: The temperature and humidity relations of the cockroach (Blatta orientalis). I. Desiccation. J. exp. Biol. 10, 274–285 (1933)

    Google Scholar 

  • Holm, E., Edney, E. B.: Daily activity of Namib desert arthropods in relation to climate. Ecology 54, 45–56 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Huhta, V.: Succession in the spider communities of the forest floor after clear-cutting and prescribed burning. Ann. Zool. Fenn. 8, 483–542 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Humphreys, W. F.: The environment, biology and energetics of the wolf spider Lycosa godeffroyi (L. Koch). Ph.D. thesis, Australian National University, Canberra, 353 pp. (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Humphreys, W. F.: Behavioural thermoregulation in a wolf spider. Nature (Lond.) 251, 502–503 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Humphreys, W. F.: The food consumption of a wolf spider, Geolycosa godeffroyi (Araneae: Lycosidae) in the Australian Capital Territory. Oecologia (Berl.) 18, 343–358 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Humphreys, W. F.: The population dynamics of an Australian wolf spider, Geolycosa godeffroyi (L. Koch 1865) (Araneae: Lycosidae). J. Anim. Ecol. (in press)

  • Lagerspietz, K., Jäynäs, E.: The behavioural regulation of the water content in Linyphia montana (Aran., Linyphiidae) and some other spiders. Ann. Entomol. Fenn. 25, 210–233 (1958)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lasiewski, R. C., Bartholomew, G. A.: Condensation as a mechanism for water gain in nocturnal desert poikilotherms. Copeia 1969, 405–407 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lees, A. D.: The water balance in Ixodes ricinus L. and certain other species of ticks. Parasitology 37, 1–20 (1946)

    Google Scholar 

  • List, R. J.: Smithsonian meteorological tables. Smithson. misc. Collns. 114, 1–527 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Loveridge, J. P.: The control of water loss in Locusta migratoria migratorioides R. & F. I. Cuticular water loss. J. exp. Biol. 49, 1–13 (1968a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Loveridge, J. P.: The control of water loss in Locusta migratoria migratorioides R. & F. II. Water loss through the spiracles. J. exp. Biol. 49, 15–29 (1968b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Macfadyen, A.: Methods of investigation of productivity of invertebrates in terrestrial ecosystems. In: Secondary productivity of terrestrial ecosystems (principles and methods), K. Petrusewicz, ed., p. 383–412. Warsawa-Kraków: Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Ecology and International Biological Programme PT (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Miyashita, K.: Seasonal changes of population density and some characteristics of overwintering nymphs of Lycosa T-insignita Boes. et Str. (Araneae: Lycosidae). Appl. ent. Zool. 4, 1–8 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Murrish, D. E., Schmidt-Nielsen, K.: Exhaled air temperature and water conservation in lizards. Resp. Physiol. 10, 151–158 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nørgaard, E.: Økoloqiske Undersogelser over nogle danske Jagteddekopper. Flora Fauna, Aarhus, 51, 1–37 (1945)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nørgaard, E.: On the ecology of two lycosid spiders (Pirata piraticus and Lycosa pullata) from a Danish sphagnum bog. Oikos 3, 1–21 (1951)

    Google Scholar 

  • Parry, D. A.: On the drinking of soil capillary water by spiders. J. exp. Biol. 31, 218–227 (1954)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramsey, J. A.: Methods of measuring the evaporation of water from animals. J. exp. Biol. 12, 355–372 (1935)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rapoport, E. H., Tschapek, M.: Soil water and soil fauna. Rev. Ecol. Sol. 4, 1–58 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmid, W. D.: Nocturnalism and variance in ambient vapor pressure of water. Physiol. Zool. 45, 302–309 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Shorthouse, D. J.: Studies on the biology and energetics of the scorpion Urodacus yaschenkoi (Birula, 1904). Ph.D. thesis, Australian National University, Canberra (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Snedecor, G. W.: Statistical methods, 5th ed. Ames: Iowa State University Press 1956

    Google Scholar 

  • Sokal, R. R., Rohlf, F. J.: Biometry. San Francisco: Freeman 1959

    Google Scholar 

  • Solomon, M. E.: Control of humidity with potassium hydroxide, sulphuric acid and other solutions. Bull. ent. Res. 42. 543–555 (1951)

    Google Scholar 

  • Solomon, M. E.: Estimation of humidity with cobalt thiocyanate papers and permanent colour standards. Bull. ent. Res. 48, 489–506 (1957)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sterling, A. T., Evans, D. D., Kemper, W. D.: Evaluating soil water. Bull. Agric. Exp. Sta. Utah. State Univ. 426, 1–67 (1961)

    Google Scholar 

  • Stone, E. C.: The ecological importance of dew. Quart. Rev. Biol. 38, 328–341 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Walter, H., Lieth, H.: Klimadiagramm-Weltatlas. Jena: Fischer 1960

    Google Scholar 

  • Wellington, W. G.: Effects of radiation on the temperature of insectan habitats. Sci. Agric. 30, 209–233 (1950)

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, C. B.: Some bioclimatic observations in the Egyptian Desert. In: Biology of deserts, J. L. Cloudsley-Thompson, ed. London: Institute of Biology 1954

    Google Scholar 

  • Winston, P. W., Bates, D. H.: Saturated solutions for the control of humidity in biological research. Ecology 41, 232–237 (1960)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, R. E.: Humidity control by means of sulphuric acid solutions, with critical compilation of vapour pressure data. J. ind. Engng. Chem. 13, 326–331 (1921)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, Australian National University, 2600, Canberra, A.C.T.

    W. F. Humphreys

  2. Department of Zoology, La Trobe University, 3083, Bundoora, Vic

    W. F. Humphreys

Authors
  1. W. F. Humphreys
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Humphreys, W.F. The influence of burrowing and thermoregulatory behaviour on the water relations of Geolycosa godeffroyi (Araneae: Lycosidae), an Australian wolf spider. Oecologia 21, 291–311 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00345823

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00345823

Keywords

Search

Navigation