Mutual Detection in Predator-Prey Interactions

所有捕食者-猎物相互作用的一个基本特征是在捕食者定位猎物的能力和猎物躲避捕食者的能力之间进行权衡。编织空中蛛网的蜘蛛和它们的昆虫猎物是探索这种权衡的理想系统。一张网，捕食者觅食模式的物理表现，可以被操纵，猎物的反应可以被量化。此外，虽然大多数关于捕食者-猎物相互作用的研究都集中在捕食者对猎物种群的影响上，但对蜘蛛和昆虫的研究应该能够深入了解共同进化的机制。克雷格博士的研究旨在展示猎物的回避行为如何影响捕食者的觅食模式。具体地说，她问(1)昆虫学习和记忆蛛网位置的能力是否受到热带蜘蛛编织的蛛网装饰每天变化的抑制，(2)如果装饰的颜色和设计在吸引猎物方面同样重要，以及(3)学会避开一种蜘蛛网的无刺蜜蜂是否能够识别和避开其他蜘蛛物种结出的蜘蛛网，这些蜘蛛物种的结构不同，但由具有相似光谱特性的丝绸吐丝而成。这项研究将在研究昆虫的感知能力和行为方面迈出第一步，这些感知能力和行为可能影响了航空编织觅食模式的进化。这些结果将对研究昆虫感知、学习和觅食行为的研究人员以及那些对捕食者-猎物相互作用的进化感兴趣的人产生普遍的兴趣。

A basic feature of all predator-prey interactions is the trade- off between predator ability to locate prey and prey ability to avoid predators. Spiders that weave aerial webs and their insect prey are an ideal system for exploring this trade-off. A web, the physical manifestation of the foraging mode of a predator, can be manipulated and the response of the prey can be quantified. Moreover, while most studies on predator-prey interactions focus on the effect of predators on prey populations, studies on spiders and insects should yield insight into mechanisms of co-evolution. Dr. Craig's research is designed to show how the avoidance behavior of prey may affect the foraging modes of a predator. Specifically, she asks (1) if the ability of insects to learn and remember web locations is inhibited by the day-to-day variation in the web decorations spun by a species of tropical spider, (2) if color and design of the decorations are equally important in attracting prey, and (3) if stingless bees that have learned to avoid one type of spider web are able to recognize and avoid webs spun by other spider species that differ in architecture but are spun from silks with similar spectral properties. This research will take an initial step in studying the perceptual capabilities and behaviors of insects that may have affected the evolution of the aerial-web-weaving foraging mode. The results will be of general interest to investigators studying insect perception, learning, and foraging behavior and to those interested in the evolution of predator-prey interactions.