In search of the perfect web? Males of the golden silk orb‐web spider trichonephila clavipes do not aggregate in webs of high‐quality females

• DOI: 10.1111/eth.13132
• Publication Date: 2021-01-25T18:55:20Z
• Authors: João Gabriel Lace...; Paulo Enrique Car...
• Keywords: Orb (optics)

Abstract In many species, the location of females may affect spatial distribution males. If vary in their reproductive quality, and males have to fight for access females, then weaker should aggregate around high‐quality while avoiding areas occupied by high fighting capacity. However, this aggregation pattern only occur if low dispersing costs. Otherwise, preferentially stay near first female they encounter. study, we used golden silk orb‐web spider, Trichonephila clavipes , evaluate following hypotheses: When costs moving between webs are low, at periphery (a) that higher quality (b) central (i.e., stronger guarding web position) with lower To these hypotheses, counted number were aggregated other dispersal among webs) or isolated from (areas webs). We ontogenetic status (mature immature) as a surrogate length pair male legs found that, independently disposition webs, per was unrelated capacity conclude provides an intriguing system which intensity intra‐sexual competition presumably varies unpredictable ways different webs.