A5047409335- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Plant and animal studies
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Spider Taxonomy and Behavior Studies
- Hemiptera Insect Studies
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Forest Insect Ecology and Management
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Morphological variations and asymmetry
- Hymenoptera taxonomy and phylogeny
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Entomological Studies and Ecology
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Subterranean biodiversity and taxonomy
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
University of Waikato
2020-2025
Te Pūnaha Matatini
2024-2025
Brain Research New Zealand
2024-2025
University of Auckland
2013-2021
National University of Singapore
2016-2017
Australian National University
2016
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,...
Spiders are a highly diversified group of arthropods and play an important role in terrestrial ecosystems as ubiquitous predators, which makes them suitable to test variety eco-evolutionary hypotheses. For this purpose, knowledge diverse range species traits is required. Until now, data on spider have been scattered across thousands publications produced for over two centuries written languages. To facilitate access such data, we developed online database archiving accessing at global scale....
Sexual selection has driven the evolution of exaggerated traits among diverse animal taxa. The production can come at a cost to other through trade-offs when resources allocated trait development are limited. Alternatively some be selected for in parallel support or compensate bearing trait. Male giraffe weevils (Lasiorhynchus barbicornis) display an extremely elongated rostrum used as weapon during contests mates. Here we characterise scaling relationship between and body size show that...
Abstract Understanding variation in trait allometry and the drivers of sexually selected traits is a major theme evolutionary biology. The static allometries are often positive due to disproportional investment by large individuals into size. Comparative studies weapon rare, typically focus on along single dimension (e.g. length), despite weapons diverging dramatically shape. Furthermore, predominantly groups where have evolved as novel structures horns), most arising from modifications...
Abstract Alternative reproductive tactics in animals are commonly associated with distinct male phenotypes resulting polymorphism of sexually selected weapons such as horns and spines. Typically, morphs divided between small (unarmed) large (armed) males according to one or more developmental thresholds association body size. Here, we describe remarkable weapon trimorphism within a single species, where two exaggerated third morph reduced weaponry present. Male Pantopsalis cheliferoides...
Sexually selected weapons often function as honest signals of fighting ability. If poor-quality individuals produce high-quality weapons, then receivers should focus on other, more reliable signals. Cost is one way to maintain signal integrity. The costs tend increase with relative weapon size, and thereby restrict large who can them. Weapon cost, however, appears be unpredictably variable both within across taxa, the mechanisms underlying this variation remain unclear. We suggest in cost...
During agonistic contests, males may assess the relative differences between their own and opponent's resource-holding potential or simply persist in a contest according to an internal threshold. Game theory models such as sequential assessment model, energetic war of attrition, cumulative model were developed place strategy evolutionary framework. Distinguishing these requires one document structure test predictions relationship size contestants duration probability escalation. This study...
Abstract Pisauridae Simon, 1890 or “nursery web spiders” are a global and heterogenous assemblage of spider genera with diverse lifestyles, containing builders webless species, as well terrestrial semi-aquatic notably “fishing spiders”, genus Dolomedes Latreille, 1804. Incomplete, unresolved, conflicting phylogenies have so far hampered testing for pisaurid monophyly evolution. Here, we broadly address these questions within phylogenomic comparative framework. Our goals i) reconstruction...
Abstract Mass media plays an important role in the construction and circulation of risk perception associated with animals. Widely feared groups such as spiders frequently end up spotlight traditional social media. We compiled expert-curated global database on online newspaper coverage human-spider encounters over past ten years (2010–2020). This includes information about location each encounter reported news article a quantitative characterisation content—location, presence photographs...
Alternative reproductive tactics (ARTs) occur in many species where there is intense competition for mates and substantial variation success between males of different size, age, or condition. Males the giraffe weevil Lasiorhynchus barbicornis display an elongated rostrum used as a weapon during contests with other males. In addition, both sexes are extremely variable body size. We determined presence ARTs this using extensive field observations. Larger were found to rely only on aggressive...
Abstract Larger individuals typically have lower mass‐specific metabolic rates compared to small ones (hypometric scaling). This trend is most evident across species where body size differences can be extreme. Yet, within‐species studies are critical decipher the morphological and physiological mechanisms responsible. However, in species, relatively range appendage of same life stage often precludes such intraspecific comparisons. Sexually selected weapons among exaggerated traits nature;...
Invasive populations cause adverse impacts on ecosystems, agriculture, and economic activities. Advancing understanding of how respond to environmental changes develop their invasive status will enable improved prediction, prevention, management ecological invasions. Here, we review recent literature find that behavioural shifts within species across native are common during invasion. We collate examples which demonstrate behaviours associated with invasion can be an outcome plastic,...
Abstract In many species, competition for mates has led to exaggerated male sexually-selected traits. Sexually-selected weapons are used in male-male combat and include structures like horns, antlers enlarged teeth. Weapons often vary intraspecifically size, resulting either a continuum of weapon sizes or discrete polymorphisms. More rarely, complex polymorphisms can also variation shape; however, these difficult quantify. Here we first use traditional linear morphometrics describe...
The Neopilionidae is a highly diversified harvestman family in New Zealand, comprising eight genera and 28 species. Although individuals of many species are abundant the field, basic information on their natural history absent. Here we describe diet, predators, defensive behaviors 13 across three genera, Forsteropsalis Taylor, 2013, Mangatangi Pantopsalis Simon, 1879. Using years field observations, first identify food items for this family, finding that Zealand neopilionids opportunistic,...
In aggressive mimicry, a predator accesses prey by mimicking the appearance and/or behavior of harmless or beneficial model in order to avoid being correctly identified its prey. The crab spider genus Phrynarachne is often cited as textbook example masquerading bird droppings (BDs) predation. However, spiders may also aggressively mimic BDs deceive potential To date, there no experimental evidence support mimicry spiders; therefore, we performed field survey, manipulative experiment, and...
The New Zealand giraffe weevil (Lasiorhynchus barbicornis) is an endemic, wood-boring insect (Coleoptera: Brentidae). Despite being a large and charismatic species, very little known about its life history. We conducted observations of L. barbicornis behaviour ecology in wild population west Auckland developed marking system preparation for future large-scale observational experiment. found that weevils were easily located observable the field, therefore provide useful model species...
Animal body size commonly shows a relationship with latitude to the degree that this phenomenon is one of few 'rules' discussed in evolutionary ecology: Bergmann's rule. Although exaggerated secondary sexual traits frequently exhibit interesting relationships (allometries) and are expected evolve rapidly response environmental variation, way which allometry might interact has not been addressed. We present data showing latitudinal variation weapon for New Zealand giraffe weevil...
Abstract Both the sex ratio and extent of sexual size dimorphism ( SSD ) can have important implications for mating system a species. In particular, that is limited (generally female) often subject intense competition, which drive changes in behaviour morphology to increase competitive ability more abundant sex. The N ew Z ealand giraffe weevil, L asiorhynchus barbicornis F abricius, 1775), large charismatic species found across much ealand, but very little known about its natural history....
Sexual selection has repeatedly driven the evolution of exaggerated secondary sexual traits in male animals. When multiple are used competitive contexts, producing or bearing one trait may be costly and come at expense other via trade-offs. Conversely, sexually selected show positively correlated patterns relative investment. Males sheetweb spider, Cambridgea plagiata, have chelicerae use their forelegs male–male contest behaviour. In present study, we describe linear scaling relationship...
When an individual's reproductive success relies on winning fights to secure mating opportunities, bearing larger weapons is advantageous. However, sexual selection can be extremely complex, and over animal's life the opportunity mate influenced by numerous factors. We studied a wild population of giraffe weevils (Lasiorhynchus barbicornis) that exhibit enormous intra intersexual size variation. Males bear elongated rostrum used as weapon in for opportunities. small males also employ...