A5026118906- Spider Taxonomy and Behavior Studies
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Hymenoptera taxonomy and phylogeny
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Silk-based biomaterials and applications
- Plant and animal studies
- Subterranean biodiversity and taxonomy
- Scarabaeidae Beetle Taxonomy and Biogeography
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Fossil Insects in Amber
- Orthoptera Research and Taxonomy
- Silkworms and Sericulture Research
- Invertebrate Taxonomy and Ecology
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Mollusks and Parasites Studies
- Ichthyology and Marine Biology
- Marine animal studies overview
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Insect behavior and control techniques
University of Iceland
1999-2025
Smithsonian Institution
2014-2024
National Museum of Natural History
2015-2024
Hubei University
2018-2024
University of Vermont
2014-2023
Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts
2008-2016
University of Ljubljana
2016
University of British Columbia
2005-2012
University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras
2009-2012
University of Puerto Rico System
2008-2012
The evolutionary diversification of spiders is attributed to spectacular innovations in silk. Spiders are unique synthesizing many different kinds silk, and using silk for a variety ecological functions throughout their lives, particularly make prey-catching webs. Here, we construct broad higher-level phylogeny combining molecular data with traditional morphological behavioral characters. We use this test the hypothesis that spider orb web evolved only once. then examine relation...
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...
Spiders (Order Araneae) are massively abundant generalist arthropod predators that found in nearly every ecosystem on the planet and have persisted for over 380 million years. long served as evolutionary models studying complex mating web spinning behaviors, key innovation adaptive radiation hypotheses, been inspiration important theories like sexual selection by female choice. Unfortunately, past major attempts to reconstruct spider phylogeny typically employing “usual suspect” genes unable...
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...
This paper offers the first cladistic analysis of a wide selection theridiid genera based on morphological data.The treats 53 taxa representing 32 ( Achaearanea , Anelosimus Ameridion Argyrodes Ariamnes Carniella Cerocida Chrysso Coleosoma Dipoena Emertonella Enoplognatha Episinus Euryopis Faiditus
Despite their obvious utility, detailed species-level phylogenies are lacking for many groups, including several major mammalian lineages such as bats. Here we provide a cytochrome b genealogy of over 50% bat species (648 terminal taxa). Based on prior analyzes related mammal cytb emerges particularly reliable phylogenetic marker, and given that our results broadly congruent with knowledge, the phylogeny should be useful tool comparative analyzes. Nevertheless, stress single-gene analysis...
Evolutionary ‘dead ends’ result from traits that are selectively advantageous in the short term but ultimately lowered diversification rates of lineages. In spiders, 23 species scattered across eight families share a social system which individuals live colonies and cooperate nest maintenance, prey capture, brood care. Most these inbred have highly female‐biased sex ratios. Here we show Theridiidae this originated to nine times independently among 11 12 for remarkable 18 19 origins spiders....
Six new Colombian species of Otiothops (O. besotes sp. n., O. doctorstrange chicaque vaupes n.) and Fernandezina (F. andersoni F. eduardoi are described. Diagnostic illustrations distribution maps provided for all the species, along with records macleayi Banks, 1929 amazonicus Simon, 1887 from Colombia.
The abrupt halt of a bumble bee's flight when it impacts the almost invisible threads an orb web provides elegant example amazing strength and toughness spider silk. Spiders depend upon these properties for survival, yet impressive performance silk is not limited solely to tensile mechanics. Here, we show that also exhibits powerful cyclic contractions, allowing act as high mimic biological muscles. These contractions are actuated by changes in humidity alone repeatedly generate work 50...
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 We present a new phylogeny of the spider family Araneidae based on five genes (28S, 18S, COI , H3 and 16S) for 158 taxa, identified mainly sequenced by us. This includes 25 outgroups 133 araneid ingroups representing subfamilies Zygiellinae Simon, 1929, Nephilinae 1894, typical araneids, here informally named “ ARA Clade”. The genera analysed include roughly 90% all currently species. Clade is primary focus this analysis. In taxonomic terms, comprise 22 11 families, ingroup...
Evolution in profound darkness often leads to predictable, convergent traits, such as the loss of vision. Yet, consequences repeated evolutionary experiments remain obscure, especially regarding fundamental regulatory behaviors like circadian rhythms. We studied clocks blind cave spiders and their sighted relatives. In field, exhibit low per expression maintain constant activity levels. Curiously, are not permanently lost; exposure monochromatic blue light restores both gene behavioral...
Kleptoparasitism, the theft of resources from another organism, is a survival strategy found across animal kingdom. Many argyrodinae cobweb spiders (Theridiidae) are obligatory kleptoparasites that have largely abandoned web building, relying instead on webs larger hosts. Theory predicts, and limited prior research indicates, not randomly distributed among host webs, studies indicate architecture (size tenure) prey availability impact kleptoparasite abundance choice. We investigate...
Mechanical performance of biological structures, such as tendons, byssal threads, muscles, and spider webs, is determined by a complex interplay between material quality (intrinsic properties, larger scale morphology) proximate behaviour. Spider orb webs are system in which fibrous biomaterials--silks--are arranged design resulting from stereotypical behavioural patterns, to produce effective energy absorbing traps for flying prey. Orb show an impressive range designs, some at capturing tiny...
It is widely held that in toothed whales, high frequency tonal sounds called 'whistles' evolved association with 'sociality' because delphinids they are used a social context. Recently, whistles were hypothesized to be an evolutionary innovation of dolphins (the 'dolphin hypothesis'). However, both and broad concepts each representing conglomerate characters. Many non-delphinids, whether solitary or social, produce share most the acoustic characteristics delphinid whistles. Furthermore,...