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image/svg+xml Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao Closed Access logo, derived from PLoS Open Access logo. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Closed_Access_logo_transparent.svg Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao Animal Behaviourarrow_drop_down
image/svg+xml Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao Closed Access logo, derived from PLoS Open Access logo. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Closed_Access_logo_transparent.svg Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao
Animal Behaviour
Article . 2012 . Peer-reviewed
License: Elsevier TDM
Data sources: Crossref
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Ageing alters spider orb-web construction

Authors: M. Anotaux; J. Marchal; N. Châline; L. Desquilbet; R. Leborgne; C. Gilbert; A. Pasquet;

Ageing alters spider orb-web construction

Abstract

Ageing is known to induce profound effects on physiological functions but only a few studies have focused on its behavioural alterations. Orb-webs of spiders, however, provide an easily analysable structure, the result of complex sequences of stereotypical behaviours that are particularly relevant to the study of ageing processes. We chose the orb spider Zygiella x-notata as an invertebrate organism to investigate alterations in web geometry caused by ageing. Parameters taken into account to compare webs built by spiders at different ages were: the length of the capture spiral (CTL), the number of anomalies per cm, and four parameters of web regularity (the angle between radii, the number of spiral thread units connecting two successive radii, the parallelism and the coefficient of variation of the distances between silk threads of two adjacent spiral turns). All web parameters were related to ageing. Two groups of spiders emerged: short- and long-lived spiders (with a higher body mass), with an average life span of 150 and 236 days, respectively. In both short- and long-lived spiders' webs, the CTL and the silk thread parallelism decreased, while the variation of the distances between silk threads increased. However, the number of anomalies per cm and the angle between radii increased in short-lived spiders only. These modifications can be explained by ageing alterations in silk investment and cognitive and/or locomotor functions. Orb-web spiders would therefore provide a unique invertebrate model to study ageing and its processes in the alterations of behavioural and cognitive functions.

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
21
Top 10%
Top 10%
Top 10%
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