The Design, Diversity, and Performance of Viscous Capture Threads Produce by Araneoid Orb-weaving Spiders

蜘蛛球织蜘蛛产生的粘性捕获线的设计、多样性和性能

• 批准号: 0445137
• 负责人: Brent Opell
• 金额: $ 23.5万
• 依托单位: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2005
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2005-05-01 至 2009-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0445137&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Design; Diversity; Performance; Viscous; Capture

This project examines the design and function of viscous capture threads that are found in orb-webs produced by over 4,000 species of spiders. These sticky threads are formed of small adhesive droplets suspended on elastic fibers. Studies determine: 1. What adhesive forces contribute to droplet stickiness, 2. How these forces are recruited by fibers in a manner that resists crack propagation, 3. How droplet size, plasticity, and spacing optimize thread adhesion, 4. How well threads with different droplet profiles hold insect surfaces of different textures, and 5. How well orb-webs with different capture thread characteristics retain insects. This is done by: 1. Measuring how threads that have different droplet features stick to surfaces of different widths and textures, 2. Developing models that describe thread performance, 3. Conducting a survey and comparative analysis of the features of threads and orb-webs produced by many spider species, and 4. Measuring the time that insects are retained by orb-webs that have different capture thread features. These complementary approaches explain how viscous thread operates as an integrated adhesive system that recruits the compound adhesion of discrete units and resists crack prorogation, a set of serious challenges to both natural and manufactured adhesive systems. The principles and insights from these studies will help materials scientists develop new products and applications. These studies also show how capture thread design enhances prey capture by orb-weaving spiders and how it may facilitate prey specialization. These are important issues, as spiders are key predators in natural ecosystems and are receiving increasing attention as agents of biological insect control. Educational exercises are developed that involve grade school and high school students in field and laboratory studies that use microscopes, digital cameras, computer program, and simple, homemade instruments to collect and analyze data on the features of spider orb-webs and their threads.

这个项目研究了在4,000多种蜘蛛产生的圆网中发现的粘性捕获线的设计和功能。 这些粘性线由悬浮在弹性纤维上的小粘合剂滴形成。 研究确定：1.什么样的粘附力有助于液滴粘性，2。这些力是如何被纤维以抵抗裂纹扩展的方式吸收的。液滴尺寸、可塑性和间距如何优化螺纹附着力; 4.具有不同液滴轮廓的线如何保持不同纹理的昆虫表面，以及5. 具有不同捕捉线特征的圆网如何留住昆虫。 这是通过：1.测量具有不同液滴特征的线如何粘附到不同宽度和纹理的表面，2.开发描述线程性能的模型，3.对多种蜘蛛的蛛丝和圆网特征进行了调查和比较分析;测量昆虫被具有不同捕获线特征的球网保留的时间。 这些互补的方法解释了粘性线如何作为一个集成的粘合剂系统，招募离散单元的复合粘合和抵抗裂纹proorogation，一组严重的挑战，天然和制造的粘合剂系统。 这些研究的原理和见解将有助于材料科学家开发新产品和应用。 这些研究还显示了捕获线的设计如何提高猎物的捕获球织蜘蛛和它如何可能促进猎物的专业化。 这些都是重要的问题，因为蜘蛛是自然生态系统中的主要捕食者，作为生物昆虫控制的媒介，正受到越来越多的关注。 开发了教育练习，让小学和高中学生参与实地和实验室研究，使用显微镜、数码相机、计算机程序和简单的自制仪器收集和分析关于蜘蛛圆网及其线的特征的数据。