Caught In a Sticky Situation:The Orb-Weaving SpiderwebEmily Gastelum and Taylor StinchcombBiology 342 Fall 2011 |
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The Facinating Orb Web
Spiders of the Araneidae and Nephilidae families spin circular "orb-shaped" webs, suspended vertically and made of fine silk. The basic web architecture consists of a stiff foundation of radial threads branching out from the center and a series of repeated circular threads creating the orb shape. These webs act as a foraging mechanism to catch fast flying prey. While the general orb shape remains relatively universal, details in the design of the web such as radial spacing, mesh size, and decorations can vary within and across sepcies depending on their preference for prey. Smaller webs catch insects, and some species are known to build webs large enough to capture small birds and bats! What makes these webs such efficient foraging tools and where do their origins lie? Using Niko Tinebergen's "four questions" as a guide we seek to provide a comprehensive study of these fascinating spider webs. Studying Behavior
When the four areas of inquiry are considered together, they provide a comprehensive analysis of behavior on both proximate and ultimate timescales that draws from many different scientific disciplines.
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