ABR: Fitness Consequences of Variable Foraging

莫尔斯博士将继续研究 在一个种群中， 蜘蛛Misumena vatia，一种常见的马利筋捕食者 马利筋 来自于 不同成功的觅食母亲， 将测量纳塔尔部位。 Misumena是理想的为此目的 因为它只产一窝蛋，而觅食的成功， 可以很容易地量化的离合器大小。 本研究将评估纳塔尔离合器的作用 大小和微生境对后代扩散的影响 B）父母选择筑巢的重要性 基质对幼鱼扩散的影响 这项工作至关重要，因为它将有助于 来确定觅食模式和 适应性和促进觅食和生活史的整合 理论 这是生态学的两个主要研究领域， 今天的人口生物学 实际上，它将确定 生命周期中的关键和非关键阶段，并提供 深入了解哪里存在脆弱的窗口。 这 知识将普遍适用于其他系统， 与农业害虫一样。

Dr. Morse will continue studies on the consequences of differential foraging success within a population, using the crab spider Misumena vatia, a common predator on common milkweed Asclepias syriaca. The tendencies of offspring from differentially successful foraging mothers to disperse from their natal site will be measured. Misumena is ideal for this purpose because it lays only one clutch of eggs, and foraging success can be readily quantified in terms of clutch size. This research will a) evaluate the roles of natal clutch size and microhabitat on the offsprings' dispersal away from the nest, and b) the importance of parents' choice of nesting substrates on juvenile dispersal. This work is of fundamental importance because it will help to determine the relationship between foraging patterns and fitness and facilitate integration of foraging and life-history theory. These are two of the major research areas in ecology and population biology today. In practical terms it will identify critical and non-critical periods in life cycles and provide insight into where windows of vulnerability exist. This knowledge will have general applicability to other systems, such as those involving agricultural pests.