Evolution of aerial spider webs coincided with repeated structural optimization of silk anchorages
Animal architecture; bio-inspiration; evolutionary biomechanics; extended phenotype; macro-evolution; spider silk
0106 biological sciences
0301 basic medicine
macro-evolution
extended phenotype
Silk
Spiders
15. Life on land
bio-inspiration
Biological Evolution
01 natural sciences
Biomechanical Phenomena
03 medical and health sciences
Animal architecture
spider silk
Animals
evolutionary biomechanics
Phylogeny
DOI:
10.1111/evo.13834
Publication Date:
2019-08-23T05:36:13Z
AUTHORS (12)
ABSTRACT
Physical structures built by animals challenge our understanding of biological processes and inspire the development of smart materials and green architecture. It is thus indispensable to understand the drivers, constraints, and dynamics that lead to the emergence and modification of building behavior. Here, we demonstrate that spider web diversification repeatedly followed strikingly similar evolutionary trajectories, guided by physical constraints. We found that the evolution of suspended webs that intercept flying prey coincided with small changes in silk anchoring behavior with considerable effects on the robustness of web attachment. The use of nanofiber based capture threads (cribellate silk) conflicts with the behavioral enhancement of web attachment, and the repeated loss of this trait was frequently followed by physical improvements of web anchor structure. These findings suggest that the evolution of building behavior may be constrained by major physical traits limiting its role in rapid adaptation to a changing environment.
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CITATIONS (29)
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