Functional Associations Between Cribellum Features, Cribellar Silk Properties, and Web Architecture in the Spider Family Uloboridae

蜘蛛科包括最原始的 圆织类，以及自旋减少的物种， 三角形气网和不规则网。 的丝 构成这些捕获猎物的网的是 由一个椭圆形的板的spigots（筛）上产生的 蜘蛛的腹部 筛孔的形态变化 使丝的强度和粘性发生变化 博士 布伦特奥佩尔建议研究各种 筛状形态种类，蚕丝特性，纤维网 八种长臂猿的结构和捕食行为 蜘蛛 这些物种代表了减少和正常的网络 来自不同进化分支的纺纱工。 的 拟议中的研究将确定 约束复杂机械系统的功能和行为。 此外，这项研究可能会揭示潜在的普遍性， 形式功能联想的历史发展（为 例如，一个单一的筛状变化是否只能引起某些 Web和行为类型，或者单个Web类型可以容纳 行为改变，但不是丝绸？）。 拟议的研究解决的问题是 是进化生物学的基础 这项研究将使 对当前适应性的相对重要性的新认识 需要和历史的制约，在新的特点演变。 这项研究的结果将是感兴趣的广泛的 功能、系统和进化生物学家

Spiders of the Family Uloboridae include the most primitive orb-weaving groups, as well as species that spin reduced triangular aerial webs and irregular webs. The silk that constitute these prey-capture webs are composites of threads produced by an oval plate of spigots (the cribellum) on the spider's abdomen. Variations in the morphology of the cribellum produces changes in the strength and stickiness of the silk. Dr. Brent Opell proposes to study the associations between various kinds of cribellar morphology, silk characteristics, web architecture, and predatory behavior in eight species of uloborid spiders. These species represent both reduced- and normal-web spinners from different evolutionary branches of the family. The proposed research will establish the degree to which form constrains function and behavior in a complex mechanical system. Further, the study may uncover underlying generalities concerning the historical development of the form-function associations (for instance, can a single cribellar change give rise to only certain web and behavior types, or can a single web type accommodate changes in behavior but not silk?). The proposed research addresses questions that are fundamental to all of evolutionary biology. This study will give new insight into the relative importance of current adaptive needs and historical constraint in the evolution of new features. The results of this study will be of interest to a wide range of functional, systematic, and evolutionary biologists.