Summary
Descriptive studies reveal that web-site characteristics of two sympatric species of sheet-web spiders, Linyphia triangularis and L. tenuipalpis are similar, even though their body sizes and web sizes are significantly different. The hypothesis of identical web-sites were tested by a species exchange experiment in the field. Here the residence times of adult females of each species released in webs of the other species were compared to the residence times of other females released in own species' webs. As there was no differences between the species-exchange series and the control series, the experimental results supported the conclusions of the descriptive studies. The utility of testing habitat parameter differences experimentally, and the significance of the results to the ecology of the species, in particular to their interspecific interactions, are discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Enders F (1977) Web-site selection by orb-web spiers, particularly Argiope aurantia Lucas. Anim Behav 25:694–712
Ford MJ (1977) Energy costs of the predation strategy of the webspinning spider Lepthyphantes zimmermanni Bertkau (Linyphiidae). Oecologia (berlin) 28:341–349
Gillespie RG (1981) The quest for prey by the web building spider Amaurobius similis (Blackwall). Anim Behav 29:953–954
Olive CW (1982) Behavioral response of a sit-and-wait predator to spatial variation in foraging gain. Ecology 63:912–920
Pianka ER (1981) Competition and niche theory. In: May RM (ed) Theoretical ecology, 2nd ed. Blackwell, Oxford, pp 167–196
Pyke DA, Thompson JN (1986) Statistical analysis of survival and removal rate experiments. Ecology 67:240–245
Schoener TW (1974) Resource partitioning in ecological communities. Science 185:27–39
Toft S (1978) Phenology of some Danish beech-wood spiders. Natura Jutlandica 20:285–301
Toft S (1980a) Body size relations of sheet-web spiders in Danish Calluna heaths. Abh. 8. Internat. Arachnol. Kongress, Wien 1980, pp 161–164
Toft S (1980b) Linyphia tenuipalpis Simon (Araneae: Linyphiidae) on Danish heaths. Ent Meddr 48:17–18
Turnbull AL (1964) The search for prey by a web-building spider: Achaearanea tepidariorum (Araneae, Theridiidae). Can Entomol 96:568–579
Vollrath F (1985) Web spider's dilemma: a risky move or site dependent growth. Oecologia (Berlin) 68:69–72
Wise DH (1984) The role of competition in spider communities: Insights from field experiments with a model organisms. In: Strong DR, Simberloff D, Abele LG, Thistle AB (eds) Ecological communities: Conceptual issues and the evidence. Princeton Univ Press, Princeton, NJ, pp 42–53
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Toft, S. Microhabitat identity of two species of sheet-web spiders: field experimental demonstration. Oecologia 72, 216–220 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00379271
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00379271