Sexual cohabitation as mate-guarding in the leaf-curling spider Phonognatha graeffei Keyserling (Araneoidea, Araneae) |
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Authors: | Babette F Fahey M A Elgar |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Zoology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia, AU |
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Abstract: | The leaf-curling spider Phonognatha graeffei incorporates a twisted leaf into the central hub of its orb-web that is used as a retreat. This species is unusual among orb-weaving
spiders because males cohabit in the leaf retreat with both immature and mature females, mating with the former shortly after
the female molts. Cohabitation appears to be a form of mate-guarding because cohabiting males respond agonistically to rival
males that venture onto the web, and their behaviour depends upon the reproductive status of the female; males defending immature
females are more aggressive than those defending virgin, adult females. Males copulate with previously mated females for significantly
longer than with virgin females. Females may cannibalise cohabiting males, which occurs independently of whether the female
has been deprived of food. Females that cannibalise a single male do not have a higher fecundity than non-cannibalistic females.
Received: 2 February 1996 / Accepted after revision: 27 October 1996 |
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Keywords: | Male-male competition Mate-guarding Orb-weaving spiders Sexual cannibalism Sperm competition |
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