Spiders on the clock: the ecological implications and neurohormonal underpinnings of circadian rhythm in foraging and antipredator behavior

几乎所有的生物，包括人类，都有日常的生物节律。这种“内在时钟”有助于调节24小时内的生理和行为变化。这项研究将检验这样一种假设，即体内生物钟通过允许个人预测并适应不断变化的条件来向他们传达优势。该项目将探索攻击性和戒备性的节奏与编织圆球的蜘蛛体内时钟之间的联系。蜘蛛是这类工作的一个特别好的模式生物，因为它们既是捕食者又是猎物，因此必须平衡攻击性和警惕才能成功。蜘蛛也很实用，因为它们的行为很容易测量和实验改变。首先，这项研究将描述内部时钟和外部线索对各种攻击相关行为的相对影响。还将通过测量个体的荷尔蒙水平来研究大脑化学和调节攻击性的作用。最后，这项研究将测试攻击性水平的日常变化如何与生物体环境的变化相关。这项工作将为行为节律的调节以及环境如何影响它们提供亟需的洞察力。随着基础研究的进展，该项目将为阿巴拉契亚南部地区的学生提供大量的教育机会。该项目将为三名研究生提供支持，并为本科生提供六项暑期奖学金。

Nearly all living things, including humans, have daily biological rhythms. This "internal clock" helps regulate physiological and behavioral changes over the course of a twenty-four hour period. This study will test the hypothesis that the internal clock conveys an advantage to individuals by allowing them to anticipate, and adjust to, changing conditions. The project will explore connections between rhythms in aggression and wariness and the internal clock in orb-weaving spiders. Spiders are a particularly good model organism for such work because they are both predators and prey, and, thus, must balance aggression and wariness to be successful. Spiders are also practical because their behaviors are easily measured and experimentally altered. Initially, this study will describe the relative influences of the internal clock and external cues of a variety of aggression-related behaviors. The role of brain chemistry and in regulating aggression will also be studied by measuring hormone levels in individuals. Finally, this study will test how daily changes in aggression levels relate to changes in the organism's environment. This work will provide much-needed insight into the regulation of behavioral rhythms, and how the environment influences them. Along with gains in basic research, this project will provide substantial educational opportunities for students in the Southern Appalachian region. This project will support three graduate students and provide six summer fellowships for undergraduate students.