Silk versus venom: alternative capture strategies employed by closely related myrmecophagous spiders

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00027006%3A_____%2F19%3A00005404" target="_blank" >RIV/00027006:_____/19:00005404 - isvavai.cz</a>

Alternative codes found

RIV/00216224:14310/19:00107937

Result on the web

<a href="https://academic.oup.com/biolinnean/article-abstract/126/3/545/5248554?redirectedFrom=fulltext" target="_blank" >https://academic.oup.com/biolinnean/article-abstract/126/3/545/5248554?redirectedFrom=fulltext</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/biolinnean/bly181" target="_blank" >10.1093/biolinnean/bly181</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Silk versus venom: alternative capture strategies employed by closely related myrmecophagous spiders

Original language description

Predators that prey on dangerous species have evolved effective capture traits. In spiders, venom and silk represent distinct substances associated with prey capture. However, the use of such adaptations comes at a cost. Based on a possible trade-off, the use of only one effective capture mechanism should be optimized if a predator is to specialize on a single type of dangerous prey. We investigated hunting strategies in two Callilepis spp. and one Nomisia species, Nomisia exornata, closely related ant-eating spiders from the family Gnaphosidae. We hypothesized that specialized Callilepis spiders would adopt a more stereotyped capture strategy compared with less specialized Nomisia. We also expected that Callilepis would rely on only one subjugation mechanism. To test this, we compared their hunting efficacy and hunting strategies, with an emphasis on venom vs. silk utilization. Nomisia restrained ants with silk (then bit them), whereas Callilepis relied solely on its venom. This was also reflected in trophic traits connected with silk and venom utilization; Callilepis had larger venom glands than Nomisia, whereas Nomisia had more piriform silk glands than Callilepis. Callilepis was more effective because it subdued prey more quickly, presumably owing to ant-specific venom. Callilepis and Nomisia handled ants from two subfamilies with different degrees of success; Callilepis was more successful with Formicinae ants, whereas Nomisia handled Myrmicinae ants better. We show that sole reliance on venom allows Callilepis to be more efficient in overcoming ants than Nomisia, which uses both silk and venom. However, such specific adaptations might restrict specialized predators from exploiting alternative prey.

Czech name

—

Czech description

—

Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

—

OECD FORD branch

10613 - Zoology

Project

Result was created during the realization of more than one project. More information in the Projects tab.

Continuities

P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)

Publication year

2019

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Biological Journal of the Linnean Society

ISSN

0024-4066

e-ISSN

—

Volume of the periodical

126

Issue of the periodical within the volume

3

Country of publishing house

GB - UNITED KINGDOM

Number of pages

10

Pages from-to

545-554

UT code for WoS article

000461134900013

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-85062883217