Prey capture tactics of spiders: An analysis based on a simulation model for spider's growth |
| |
Authors: | Kazuo Nakamura |
| |
Institution: | (1) Division of Entomology, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Yatabe, 305 Ibaraki, Japan;(2) Present address: Ornithological Laboratory, Agricultural Research Center, Yatabe, 305 Ibaraki, Japan |
| |
Abstract: | Summary The prey capture tactics of spiders was analyzed, considering the energy gained by the capture of prey and that required for
it. For the purpose of it, a growth model of spiders was constructed, expressing the flow rate of prey biomass to the spider's
body by differential equations. Solving these equations under the differing values of three parameters, growth curves of spiders
was obtained. These three parameters are the amount of prey biomass supplied daily to spiders,x
0, the rate of prey capture of spiders, α, and a coefficient of the respiration rate required for the capture of prey,k. When the value ofk increased, spiders could grow only at high value ofx
0. These results suggest that habitats with small prey biomass are preferred by spiders adopting a sit-and-wait tactics for
prey capture, which requires small values ofk. Wolf spiders are one of these spiders showing that tactics. On the other hand, web-builders which require large amount of
energy for spinning webs (namely, take large value ofk), are able to grow only in the habitats with large prey biomass. Each species of spiders are considered to locate in a certain
point between both extremes of these tactics for the capture of prey. |
| |
Keywords: | |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|