Stridulation can suppress cannibalism in a specialised araneophagous predator

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216208%3A11310%2F18%3A10383790" target="_blank" >RIV/00216208:11310/18:10383790 - isvavai.cz</a>

Alternative codes found

RIV/00216224:14310/18:00103795

Result on the web

<a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-018-2541-3" target="_blank" >https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-018-2541-3</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00265-018-2541-3" target="_blank" >10.1007/s00265-018-2541-3</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Stridulation can suppress cannibalism in a specialised araneophagous predator

Original language description

Acoustic signalling is widespread in arthropods and appears to be common in spiders, but the function is still unknown in many species. Acoustic signals have several functions and can be used both in interspecific (e.g., to threaten potential predators) and intraspecific (during courtship) communication. In our study, we investigated the intraspecific role of stridulation in the araneophagous Palpimanus spider (Araneae: Palpimanidae). These spiders are specialised in hunting other spiders at all ontogenetic stages. We hypothesised that stridulation is used to avoid cannibalism. We investigated the morphology of the stridulatory apparatus, analysed the acoustic signals that various stages produce, and found two types of stridulation, low- and high-intensity stridulation. Then, we investigated the presence of cannibalism between individuals of variable body size and the use of stridulation during interactions. We found that cannibalism occurred only when the prosoma size difference between the two opponents was more than 200%. Then, we paired conspecific large control Palpimanus with smaller control individual or with individual whose stridulatory organs were impaired and found that impaired spiders suffered significantly higher cannibalism than the control spiders. Our study reveals a novel role of acoustic communication in the conspecific recognition of araneophagous spiders. Cannibalism is widespread among predatory animals. However, cannibalism might not be an optimal strategy for several reasons and should be a less preferred option for predators. Palpimanus spiders are prey specialised predators preying primarily on other spiders thus the risk of cannibalism is even higher than in generalist predators. These spiders possess stridulatory apparatus and they often stridulate following a contact with conspecifics. We found that cannibalism occasionally occurred during contact with conspecifics and that the probability of cannibalism increased with the size difference between the interacting individuals. When the spiders were not able to stridulate during contact, the probability of cannibalism increased significantly. Our results thus show that Palpimanus spiders use stridulation to reduce cannibalism among unequally sized individuals.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

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

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

10613 - Zoology

Project

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Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2018

Confidentiality

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

Name of the periodical

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology

ISSN

0340-5443

e-ISSN

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Volume of the periodical

72

Issue of the periodical within the volume

8

Country of publishing house

DE - GERMANY

Number of pages

11

Pages from-to

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UT code for WoS article

000438316800001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-85049664494