A5004156550- Spider Taxonomy and Behavior Studies
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Hymenoptera taxonomy and phylogeny
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Orthoptera Research and Taxonomy
- Silk-based biomaterials and applications
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Subterranean biodiversity and taxonomy
- Coleoptera Taxonomy and Distribution
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Scarabaeidae Beetle Taxonomy and Biogeography
- Botany and Plant Ecology Studies
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Mediterranean and Iberian flora and fauna
- Fossil Insects in Amber
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology and Behavior
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Silkworms and Sericulture Research
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
National Museum of Natural History
2016-2025
Smithsonian Institution
2016-2025
Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts
2016-2025
University of Ljubljana
2020-2025
National Institute of Biology
2018-2025
Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts
2013-2025
Hubei University
2016-2025
Karst Research Institute
2015-2024
Jovan Hadži Institute of Biology
2020-2024
HUN-REN Szegedi Biológiai Kutatóközpont
2021
1. Frequency of singletons - species represented by single individuals is anomalously high in most large tropical arthropod surveys (average, 32%). 2. We sampled 5965 adult spiders 352 (29% singletons) from 1 ha lowland moist forest Guyana. 3. Four common hypotheses (small body size, male-biased sex ratio, cryptic habits, clumped distributions) failed to explain singleton frequency. Singletons are larger than other species, not gender-biased, share no particular lifestyle, and at 0.25-1...
Background Combining high strength and elasticity, spider silks are exceptionally tough, i.e., able to absorb massive kinetic energy before breaking. Spider silk is therefore a model polymer for development of performance biomimetic fibers. There over 41.000 described species spiders, most spinning multiple types silk. Thus we have available some 200.000+ unique that may cover an amazing breadth material properties. To date, however, from only few tens been characterized, chosen haphazardly...
Spider silks are the toughest known biological materials, yet lightweight and virtually invisible to human immune system, they thus have revolutionary potential for medicine industry. largely composed of spidroins, a unique family structural proteins. To investigate spidroin genes systematically, we constructed first genome an orb-weaving spider: golden orb-weaver (Nephila clavipes), which builds large webs using extensive repertoire with diverse physical properties. We cataloged 28 Nephila...
The philosophical basis and utility of DNA barcoding have been a subject numerous debates. While most literature embraces it, some studies continue to question its use in dipterans, butterflies marine gastropods. Here, we explore the identifying spider species that vary taxonomic affiliation, morphological diagnosibility geographic distribution. Our first test searched for 'barcoding gap' by comparing intra- interspecific means, medians overlap more than 75,000 computed Kimura 2-parameter...
The Pantropical spider clade Nephilidae is famous for its extreme sexual size dimorphism, constructing the largest orb‐webs known, and unusual behaviors, which include emasculation polygamy. We synthesize available data genera Nephila , Nephilengys Herennia Clitaetra to produce first species level phylogeny of family. score 231 characters (197 morphological, 34 behavioral) 61 taxa: 32 37 known nephilid plus two Phonognatha one Deliochus species, 10 tetragnathid outgroups, nine araneids,...
Instances of sexual size dimorphism (SSD) provide the context for rigorous tests biological rules evolution, such as Cope's rule (phyletic increase), Rensch's (allometric patterns male and female size), well body optima. In certain spider groups, golden orbweavers (Nephilidae), extreme female-biased SSD (eSSD, female:male length $\ge$2) is norm. Nephilid genera construct webs exaggerated proportions, which can be aerial, arboricolous, or intermediate (hybrid). First, we established backbone...
Abstract Europe’s obligate cave-dwelling amphibian Proteus anguinus inhabits subterranean waters of the north-western Balkan Peninsula. Because only fragments its habitat are accessible to humans, this endangered salamander’s exact distribution has been difficult establish. Here we introduce a quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction-based environmental DNA (eDNA) approach detect presence using water samples collected from karst springs, wells or caves. In survey conducted along...
Abstract Pisauridae are a global and heterogeneous assemblage of spider genera with diverse morphologies lifestyles. So far, the monophyly inclusion fishing spiders ( Dolomedes ) in this family have not been thoroughly tested. Here, we amend systematics classification these lineages within UCE phylogenomic framework through detailed morphological reappraisal. For estimations their evolutionary age, perform compare outcomes from two divergence estimation approaches, an posteriori likelihood,...
Genital morphology is informative phylogenetically and strongly selected sexually. We use a recent species-level phylogeny of nephilid spiders to synthesize phylogenetic patterns in genital evolution that document generalized conflict between male female interests. Specifically, we test the intersexual coevolution hypothesis by defining gender-specific indices complexity summarize all relevant traits. then independent contrasts show correlate significantly positively across rather than among...
Abstract Darwin’s bark spider ( Caerostris darwini ) produces giant orb webs from dragline silk that can be twice as tough other silks, making it the toughest biological material. This extreme toughness comes increased extensibility relative to draglines. We show C. dragline-producing major ampullate (MA) glands highly express a novel gene transcript (MaSp4) encoding protein diverges markedly closely related proteins and contains abundant proline, known confer extensibility, in unique GPGPQ...
The concept of environmental DNA (eDNA) utilizes nucleic acids organisms directly from the environment. Recent breakthrough studies have successfully detected a wide spectrum prokaryotic and eukaryotic eDNA variety environments, ranging ancient to modern, terrestrial aquatic. With their diversity ubiquity in nature, spider webs might act as powerful biofilters could thus represent promising new source eDNA, but utility under natural field conditions is severely understudied. Here, we bridge...
Higher-level classifications often must account for monotypic taxa representing depauperate evolutionary lineages and lacking synapomorphies of their better-known, well-defined sister clades. In a ranked (Linnean) or unranked (phylogenetic) classification system, discovering such taxon does not necessarily invalidate the rank Named higher be monophyletic to phylogenetically valid. Ranked above species level should also maximize information content, diagnosability, utility (e.g., in...
This study revises the taxonomy, biology, phylogeny, and biogeography of basal‐most nephilid spider lineage, Clitaetrinae, with least known genus Clitaetra . The five previously species are redescribed: clathrata Simon from western Africa, C. simoni Benoit central episinoides Comoro Islands Mayotte, perroti Madagascar, thisbe Sri Lanka first descriptions males Additionally, irenae sp. nov. is described in both sexes southern Africa. so far largely unknown, presented here based on...
Abstract The nephilid genus Nephilengys , known for its synanthropic habits, large webs with a retreat and the extreme sexual size dimorphism, is revised. Of twenty‐three available names, only four species globally allopatric distribution are recognized, illustrated described from both sexes: N. cruentata ( Fabricius, 1775 ) inhabits tropical Africa South America, where it has probably been introduced; borbonica Vinson, 1863 found on Madagascar, Comoros, Seychelles Mascarene Islands;...
More than 41,000 spider species are known with about 400-500 added each year, but for some well-known groups, such as the giant golden orbweavers, Nephila, last valid described dates from 19(th) century. Nephila renowned being largest web-spinning spiders, making orb webs, and model organisms study of extreme sexual size dimorphism (SSD) biology. Here, we report on discovery a new, Africa Madagascar, review evolution SSD in Nephilidae.
The origin and diversification patterns of lineages across the Indian Ocean islands are varied due to interplay complex geographic geologic island histories, varying dispersal abilities biotas, proximity major continental landmasses. Our aim was reconstruct phylogeographic history giant orbweaving spider (Nephila) on western (Madagascar, Mayotte, Réunion, Mauritius, Rodrigues), test its route dispersal, examine consequences good for colonization diversification, in comparison with related...
Abstract Pre‐copulatory cannibalism – females devouring males during courtship may bring no benefit to either sex. The ‘aggressive spillover hypothesis’ ( ASH ) posits that pre‐copulatory represents a of female aggressiveness from the juvenile foraging context, when is advantageous, adult mating be non‐adaptive or maladaptive. suggests individuals exhibit limited plasticity in aggressive behaviours because they are genetically canalised for indiscriminate towards prey and conspecifics,...
Kuntner, M., May‐Collado, L. J. & Agnarsson, I. (2010). Phylogeny and conservation priorities of afrotherian mammals (Afrotheria, Mammalia). — Zoologica Scripta , 40 1–15. Phylogenies play an increasingly important role in biology providing a species‐specific measure biodiversity – evolutionary distinctiveness (ED) or phylogenetic diversity (PD) that can help prioritize effort. Currently, there are many available methods to integrate phylogeny extinction risk, with ongoing debate on...