Gradients of precipitation and ant abundance may contribute to the altitudinal range limit of subsocial spiders: insights from a transplant experiment.

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_C800BEFA7F6E
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Title
Gradients of precipitation and ant abundance may contribute to the altitudinal range limit of subsocial spiders: insights from a transplant experiment.
Journal
Proceedings. Biological sciences
Author(s)
Purcell J., Avilés L.
ISSN
0962-8452 (Print)
ISSN-L
0962-8452
Publication state
Published
Issued date
22/11/2008
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
275
Number
1651
Pages
2617-2625
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Publication Status: ppublish
Abstract
Species range boundaries often form along environmental gradients that dictate the success of the phenotypes present in each habitat. Sociality may allow colonization of environments where related species with a solitary lifestyle cannot persist. Social spiders in the genus Anelosimus appear restricted to low- and mid-elevation moist environments in the tropics, while subsocial spiders, common at higher elevations and latitudes, appear to be absent from the lowland tropical rainforest. Here, we seek factors that may simultaneously prevent subsocial Anelosimus species from colonizing the lowland rainforest while favouring species with large social groups in this habitat. To this end, we transplanted small groups of a subsocial species, which contain the offspring of a single female, from cloud forest habitat in the centre of its natural range to lower montane rainforest on the range margin and to lowland rainforest outside of the species range. Groups transplanted at the range margin and below their range limit were less likely to disperse and experienced increased mortality. This was correlated with greater rainfall intensity and ant abundance. We show that protection from rainfall enhances the performance of small groups of spiders in the lowland rainforest, and suggest that predation or disturbance by ants may influence the geographical range limits of this species.
Keywords
Altitude, Animals, Ants/physiology, Demography, Ecosystem, Rain, Social Behavior, Spiders/physiology, Trees
Pubmed
Web of science
Create date
05/02/2010 11:56
Last modification date
26/07/2023 12:04
Usage data