Dear all,
this has just been published online:
*Molecular diagnostics reveal spiders that exploit prey vibrational
signals used in sexual communication*
Virant-Doberlet M., King, Andrew R., Polajnar J., Symondson W.O.C.
/Molecular Ecology/ (early view), DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294X.2011.05038.x
*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. 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.
Keywords: eavesdropping; generalist predators; gut content analysis;
leafhoppers; predatorâprey interactions; vibrational communication
--
Jernej Polajnar
Oddelek za entomologijo / Department of entomology
Nacionalni inÅtitut za biologijo / National institute of biology
VeÄna pot 111
SI-1000 Ljubljana
Slovenija
Tel.: +386 (0)59 232 788
Fax: +386 (0)1 2412 980
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