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Nutritional requirements for web synthesis in the tetragnathid spider Nephila clavipes
Author(s) -
Higgins Linden,
Rankin MarY. AnN.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
physiological entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.693
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1365-3032
pISSN - 0307-6962
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-3032.1999.00135.x
Subject(s) - foraging , biology , spider , limiting , choline , ecology , function (biology) , zoology , biochemistry , evolutionary biology , engineering , mechanical engineering
Summary Trap‐constructing organisms provide a unique opportunity for the study of resource allocation, because an observer can unambiguously determine the allocation to foraging. In species that synthesize a trap from physiologically important compounds, there is the further advantage that there may be direct trade‐offs between allocation of resources to foraging and physiological functions. We examined the ability of the spider Nephila clavipes (L.; Araneae: Tetragnathidae) to synthesize resources that are known to be used for both web synthesis and non‐foraging physiological functions. We found that choline, required for both web function and physiological function, is an essential nutrient: it is not synthesized by this spider. Under laboratory conditions with a diet of fruit flies, choline is limiting, and the spiders make allocation trade‐offs between investing choline in foraging (the web) or in their body.