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，都有每日的生物节律。这种“内部时钟”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个假设，即内部时钟通过允许个体预测和适应不断变化的条件而给个体带来优势。 该项目将探索侵略和警惕的节奏与圆织蜘蛛的内部时钟之间的联系。 蜘蛛是一个特别好的模式生物，因为它们既是捕食者，也是猎物，因此，必须平衡侵略和警惕才能成功。 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，本研究将描述各种攻击相关行为的内部时钟和外部线索的相对影响。大脑化学和调节侵略的作用也将通过测量个体的激素水平来研究。 最后，这项研究将测试攻击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奏的调节以及环境如何影响它们提供急需的见解。 沿着基础研究的成果，该项目将为南阿巴拉契亚地区的学生提供大量的教育机会。 该项目将资助三名研究生，并为本科生提供六个夏季奖学金。

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.