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Molecular diagnostics reveal spiders that exploit prey vibrational signals used in sexual communication

Vibrational signalling is a widespread form of animal communication and, in the form of sexual communication, has been generally regarded as inherently short-range and a private communication channel, free from eavesdropping by generalist predators. A combination of fieldwork and laboratory experime...

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Published in:Molecular ecology 2011-05, Vol.20 (10), p.2204-2216
Main Authors: Virant-Doberlet, Meta, King, R. Andrew, Polajnar, Jernej, Symondson, William O.C
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King, R. Andrew
Polajnar, Jernej
Symondson, William O.C
description Vibrational signalling is a widespread form of animal communication and, in the form of sexual communication, has been generally regarded as inherently short-range and a private communication channel, free from eavesdropping by generalist predators. A combination of fieldwork and laboratory experiments was used to test the hypothesis that predators can intercept and exploit such signals. First, we developed and characterized PCR primers specific for leafhoppers of the genus Aphrodes and specifically for the species Aphrodes makarovi. Spiders were collected from sites where leafhoppers were present and screened with these primers to establish which spider species were significant predators of this species during the mating period of these leafhoppers. Analysis using PCR of the gut contents of tangle-web spiders, Enoplognatha ovata (Theridiidae), showed that they consume leafhoppers in the field at a greater rate when signalling adults were present than when nymphs were dominant, suggesting that the spiders were using these vibrations signals to find their prey. Playback and microcosm experiments then showed that E. ovata can use the vibrational signals of male leafhoppers as a cue during foraging and, as a result, killed significantly more male than female A. makarovi. Our results show, for the first time, that arthropod predators can exploit prey vibrational communication to obtain information about prey availability and use this information to locate and capture prey. This may be a widespread mechanism for prey location, one that is likely to be a major unrecognized driver of evolution in both predators and prey.
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Andrew</au><au>Polajnar, Jernej</au><au>Symondson, William O.C</au><format>journal</format><genre>article</genre><ristype>JOUR</ristype><atitle>Molecular diagnostics reveal spiders that exploit prey vibrational signals used in sexual communication</atitle><jtitle>Molecular ecology</jtitle><addtitle>Mol Ecol</addtitle><date>2011-05</date><risdate>2011</risdate><volume>20</volume><issue>10</issue><spage>2204</spage><epage>2216</epage><pages>2204-2216</pages><issn>0962-1083</issn><eissn>1365-294X</eissn><abstract>Vibrational signalling is a widespread form of animal communication and, in the form of sexual communication, has been generally regarded as inherently short-range and a private communication channel, free from eavesdropping by generalist predators. A combination of fieldwork and laboratory experiments was used to test the hypothesis that predators can intercept and exploit such signals. 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subjects Animal Communication
Animal reproduction
Animals
Aphrodes
Araneae
Arthropoda
digestive system
DNA primers
eavesdropping
evolution
Female
generalist predators
gut content analysis
Hemiptera - physiology
imagos
leafhoppers
Male
nymphs
polymerase chain reaction
Predation
predator-prey interactions
predator-prey relationships
predatory arthropods
Predatory Behavior - physiology
Spiders
Spiders - physiology
Theridiidae
Vibration
vibrational communication
title Molecular diagnostics reveal spiders that exploit prey vibrational signals used in sexual communication
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