Geographical differences in information use and plasticity of male mating decisions in a sexually cannibalistic spider

行为可塑性允许对新的条件做出快速反应，例如由全球变化引起的。然而，可塑性反应需要在使用从环境中提取的信息时充分考虑个体状态的决策。当环境的不确定性如此之大，以至于硬连线的解决方案不适用时，就需要这样的决策过程。 众所周知的情况下，决策和信息的使用减少环境的不确定性，捕食者回避，觅食和交配。相对较少的研究已经调查了灵活的决策过程中的交配背景下，同时也考虑到可塑性的地理差异和信号或线索的决策过程。我们建议使用自然模型系统来解决这些问题，该系统在实验上是可访问的，并且具有覆盖多种环境条件的分布。圆网蜘蛛Argiope bruennichi最近扩大了其范围，并成功地殖民了新的栖息地。系统地理学，种群遗传学，交配系统和物种的行为是众所周知的。在整个物种范围内的物候差异导致不同的空间和时间的选择制度有关的最佳交配策略的男性易于处理的差异。A的男性。bruennichi适应非常低的交配率，并遵循单雌或二雌交配策略，它们可塑性地适应性地调整以适应普遍的条件。该项目将整合多个层次的研究，并将提供新的见解（1）交配策略，交配质量阈值和潜在的表型变异的地理差异;（2）在交配和生活史决策中对个人信息的不同使用，（3）基因型与环境相互作用对生命表达的潜在相关性-历史性状负责选择制度和健身回报的交配策略。

Behavioral plasticity allows rapid responses to novel conditions as for example caused by global change. However, plastic responses require decisions that adequately consider the individual state when using information extracted from the environment. Such decision-making processes are required when environmental uncertainty is so large that hard-wired solutions are unsuitable. Well known contexts in which decision making and information use reduce environmental uncertainty are, predator avoidance, foraging and mating. Relatively few studies have investigated flexible decision-making processes in a mating context while also considering geographic differences in plasticity and the signals or cues underlying the decision process. We propose to address these questions using a natural model system, which is experimentally accessibly and has a distribution that covers several environmental conditions. The orb-web spider Argiope bruennichi has recently expanded its range and successfully colonized new habitats. Phylogeography, population genetics, the mating system and behavior of the species are well known. Differences in phenology across the species range result in different spatial and temporal selection regimes relevant to tractable differences in optimal mating strategies of males. Males of A. bruennichi are adapted to very low mating rates and follow mono- or bigynous mating strategies that they plastically and adaptively adjust to prevailing conditions. The proposed project will integrate several levels of research and shall provide novel insights into (1) geographical differences in mating strategies, mate quality thresholds and the underlying phenotypic variation; (2) the differential use of personal information underlying mating and life-history decisions and (3) the potential relevance of genotype by environment interactions for the expression of life-history traits responsible for selection regimes and fitness returns of mating strategies.