The Effects of Diet on Resource Value in Invasive Pholcus manueli
Location
CSU Ballroom
Start Date
10-4-2018 10:00 AM
End Date
10-4-2018 11:30 AM
Student's Major
Biological Sciences
Student's College
Science, Engineering and Technology
Mentor's Name
Christopher Ruhland
Mentor's Department
Biological Sciences
Mentor's College
Science, Engineering and Technology
Description
Invasive species displace native species through various means including preying upon the native species. In Southwest Ohio, Pholcus manueli have begun displacing the native Pholcus phalangioides. P. manueli were a hereto unknown species in the area. Their native habitat and how they are displacing P. phalangioides is unknown. It has already been shown that in normal (lab controlled) circumstances, P. phalangioides wins or ties any aggressive interactions with P. manueli. We investigated whether diet in P. manueli may affect the results of the aggressive encounters. P. manueli were given either High or Low food diet. After the diet P. manueli were introduced to the containers of the P. phalangioides and were observed for aggressive behaviours and placement in the container at the end of the observational period. Size difference between the spiders was the predominant factor in all interactions. When included as a covariate, the diet provided to P. manueli was important; specifically, when P. manueli were well fed the P. phalangioides was more likely to initiate contests earlier and more often. Despite this apparent aggressiveness, the contesting spiders ended up sharing the web more often under these circumstances. This suggests the success of P. manueli may have to do with their interactions with juvenile P. phalangioides.
The Effects of Diet on Resource Value in Invasive Pholcus manueli
CSU Ballroom
Invasive species displace native species through various means including preying upon the native species. In Southwest Ohio, Pholcus manueli have begun displacing the native Pholcus phalangioides. P. manueli were a hereto unknown species in the area. Their native habitat and how they are displacing P. phalangioides is unknown. It has already been shown that in normal (lab controlled) circumstances, P. phalangioides wins or ties any aggressive interactions with P. manueli. We investigated whether diet in P. manueli may affect the results of the aggressive encounters. P. manueli were given either High or Low food diet. After the diet P. manueli were introduced to the containers of the P. phalangioides and were observed for aggressive behaviours and placement in the container at the end of the observational period. Size difference between the spiders was the predominant factor in all interactions. When included as a covariate, the diet provided to P. manueli was important; specifically, when P. manueli were well fed the P. phalangioides was more likely to initiate contests earlier and more often. Despite this apparent aggressiveness, the contesting spiders ended up sharing the web more often under these circumstances. This suggests the success of P. manueli may have to do with their interactions with juvenile P. phalangioides.
Recommended Citation
Salazar, Alexander. "The Effects of Diet on Resource Value in Invasive Pholcus manueli." Undergraduate Research Symposium, Mankato, MN, April 10, 2018.
https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/urs/2018/poster-session-A/18
