Topic
Metellina segmentata
About: Metellina segmentata is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 10 publications have been published within this topic receiving 289 citations.
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated the influence of relative male righting ability and resource value on fighting behavior by staging interactions in the field on webs occupied by females of the Metellina segmentata (Araneac: Metidae).
Abstract: Males of the autumn spider, Metellina segmentata (***Araneac: Metidae), compete for access to mates by guarding the orb webs of mature females. We investigated the influences of relative male righting ability and resource value on fighting behaviour by staging interactions in the field on webs occupied by females. In these contests, the larger male nearly always defeated its opponent when it was at least 10% greater in size. For smaller size asymmetries between opponents, the male previously resident on the female's web usually won the contest. Contest duration decreased exponentially with increasing size asymmetry between opponents, as predicted if each male assessed its relative size and adjusted its fighting strategy according to its likelihood of winning. Contest duration was also greater when the prior resident was the lighter opponent, or when size and residency asymmetries favoured different opponents as winners. Prior residents fought longer over larger, more fecund females, indicating an adjustment of fighting effort according to assessments of resource value. In contrast, intruders did not increase their fighting effort over larger females, suggesting an inability to assess female size quickly and accurately. Assessment appears to reduce the costs of settling conflicts, but imperfect information can result in inaccurate assessments and unexpected outcomes. Assessment strategies are used by other types of spiders to resolve contests, but this appears to be the first evidence for such strategies among orb-web-building spiders.
85 citations
43 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a common orb-weaving spider of Ireland and northern Europe, Metellina segmentata (Clerck, 1757) (Araneae, Metidae), was investigated for sexual dimorphism in body size and leg length.
Abstract: Sexual dimorphism in body size and leg length was investigated in a common orb-weaving spider of Ireland and northern Europe, Metellina segmentata (Clerck, 1757) (Araneae, Metidae). Univariate and multivariate analyses of sexual dimorphism revealed that a greater proportion of between sex variation (sexual dimorphism) was attributable to variation in shape than in size. Significant differences were found in the scores for males and females for the first two principal components. PC1 (shape) accounted for 44.25% of the variation and PC2 (size) 13.01% of the variation. Although M. segmentata has been attributed with minimal sexual size dimorphism, females were markedly heavier, possibly a reflection of differential reproductive investment between the sexes, but males had markedly longer legs and broader prosoma. The results are discussed with regard to existing theories of natural and sexual selection, particularly those concerning sexual cannibalism and differential life history traits in males and females. Models that attempt to explain the evolution of sexual size dimorphism in spiders and of the web builders in particular, fail to account for the multivariate nature of dimorphism, especially with respect to shape.
38 citations
TL;DR: Assessments and decision-making underlying the initiation of mate guarding in a common web-building spider, Metellina segmentata, are examined and it is found that Guarded females were heavier, larger and carried more mature eggs than solitary females.
Abstract: Assessments and decision-making underlying the initiation of mate guarding in a common web-building spider, Metellina segmentata, are examined in a series of field and laboratory studies. Adult males do not build webs but wander in search of females and mating opportunities. Adult males then wait at the edge of the webs of females and guard them prior to courtship and mating. Guarded females were heavier, larger and carried more mature eggs than solitary females. An active process of information gathering is apparent from introductions of males to the webs of females. Males make accurate assessments about female quality, even in the absence of the resident female. Cues involving web architecture are not used. Males may assess pheromonal cues on the web of the female in deciding whether to guard or abandon a female.
38 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: Investigation of sexual dimorphism in a common orb-weaving spider of Ireland and northern Europe found that females were markedly heavier, possibly a reflection of differential reproductive investment between the sexes, but males had markedly longer legs and broader prosoma.
33 citations