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Variation in offspring size within a population of the web‐building spider Agelena limbata
Author(s) -
Tanaka Koichi
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
population ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.819
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1438-390X
pISSN - 1438-3896
DOI - 10.1007/bf02515820
Subject(s) - biology , nymph , avian clutch size , carapace , offspring , population , brood , zoology , wolf spider , instar , variation (astronomy) , body weight , spider , ecology , reproduction , demography , larva , crustacean , endocrinology , sociology , pregnancy , genetics , physics , astrophysics
Within a population of the web‐building spider Agelena limbata , the weight of the first instar nymphs ranged from 1.187 to 6.559 mg. Both intraclutch and interclutch variation were recorded. The mean weights were different among clutches and the coefficients of variation within a clutch ranged from 3.3 to 29.2%. Variation in the nymphal weight was certainly derived from variation in the egg weight because there was a high correlation between the two weights. Factors affecting interclutch variation in nymphal weight were examined by multiple regression analysis. Nymphal weight was positively correlated with the body size and food conditions of female parents, and negatively correlated with the clutch size. Among these three factors, the food conditions of female parents had the largest apparent effect on the interclutch variation. The results suggest that females with larger body size and more food produce larger offspring, and that there is a trade‐off between offspring size and clutch size. Heavier nymphs had larger body size (carapace width) and may have larger energy reserves. Heavier nymphs survived experimental starvation for a significantly longer period.