The predatory memory of the spider Argiope argentata: prey localization and size / Memória predatória da aranha Argiope argentata: localização e tamanho da presa
AUTOR(ES)
Fausto Assumpção Fernandes
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO
2008
RESUMO
Orbweb spiders perform searching movements when a prey attached to the hub or hoarded at the periphery of the web is suppressed. We here examined the question of a possible memory representation of the attachment site and of prey size in three experiments with Argiope argentata (Fabricius, 1775). In Experiment 1, we looked for differences between search sequences performed when a domestic fly was suppressed, when attached to the hub or hoarded at the periphery of the web. The procedure of Experiment 1 was replicated in Experiment 2, but prey was then part of a larva of tenebrium, heavier than a fly. In Experiment 3, we tested the hypothesis that a spider would spend more time searching for a prey when the hoarding site of this prey is changed relatively to initial experience. Results show that A. argentata perform different searching sequences according to the site of attachment of a prey (hub vs. periphery) and tends to spend more time searching for heavier prey (Experiments 1 and 2). There was however no discrimination of upper or lower parts of the web as to searching behavior (Experiment 3). The present results contribute to the formulation of memory models in spiders.
ASSUNTO(S)
memory arachnida comportamento predatório (animal) ethology memória aracnídeos etologia animal predatory behavior
