J 2022

Ecological specialization and reproductive isolation among closely related sympatric ant-eating spiders

PEKÁR, Stanislav, David ORTIZ MARTÍNEZ, Lenka SENTENSKÁ and Ondrej ŠEDO

Basic information

Original name

Ecological specialization and reproductive isolation among closely related sympatric ant-eating spiders

Authors

PEKÁR, Stanislav (703 Slovakia, guarantor, belonging to the institution), David ORTIZ MARTÍNEZ (724 Spain, belonging to the institution), Lenka SENTENSKÁ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution) and Ondrej ŠEDO (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution)

Edition

Journal of Animal Ecology, Wiley, 2022, 0021-8790

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

10613 Zoology

Country of publisher

United States of America

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

Impact factor

Impact factor: 4.800

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14310/22:00127389

Organization unit

Faculty of Science

DOI

UT WoS

000823297300001

Keywords in English

Araneae; biological divergence; myrmecophagy; reproductive isolation; specialization; Zodarion

Tags

Tags

International impact, Reviewed
Změněno: 2/11/2024 21:09, Ing. Martina Blahová

Abstract

V originále

Biological divergence results from several mechanisms. Defensive mechanisms, such as Batesian mimicry, can cause reproductive isolation via temporal segregation in foraging activity, particularly, in species that closely associate with their model. This seems to be the case of ant-eating spiders, which can be inaccurate Batesian mimics of their prey. Here, we focused on Zodarion nitidum, which has two forms occurring in sympatry, black and yellow. Given the expected noticeable impact of their colour differences on the spiders' interactions with their potential predators and prey, we investigated whether these morphotypes have diverged in other aspects of their biology. We measured the two morphotypes' phenotypic resemblance to a mimetic model, tested whether they were protected from predators, investigated their circadian activity, surveyed the prey they hunted, modelled their distributions, performed crossing experiments and estimated their degree of genetic differentiation. We found that the black morphotype is ant-like, resembling Messor ants, and it was not distinguishable from their ant models by four potential predators. In contrast, the yellow morphotype seems to use predator avoidance as a defensive strategy. Additionally, the two morphotypes differ in their circadian activity, the yellow morphotype being nocturnal and the black one being diurnal. The two morphotypes hunt and associate with different ant prey and possess marked differences in venom composition. Finally, crossing trials showed complete pre-mating isolation between the two morphotypes, but there was no evidence of genetic (mitochondrial data) or environmental niche differentiation. We conclude that the two morphotypes show evidence of a deep differentiation in morphological, behavioural, physiological and ecological traits that evolved together as part of the spider's diverging lifestyles.

Links

EF16_027/0008360, research and development project
Name: Postdoc@MUNI
GA19-09323S, research and development project
Name: Mimetické komplexy a evoluce nepřesných mimetiků
Investor: Czech Science Foundation
GA22-20229S, research and development project
Name: Evoluce potravní specializace u myrmekofágních pavouků
Investor: Czech Science Foundation
LQ1601, research and development project
Name: CEITEC 2020 (Acronym: CEITEC2020)
Investor: Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the CR
90127, large research infrastructures
Name: CIISB II