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Background Mating generally occurs after individuals reach adulthood. In many arthropods including spiders, the adult stage is marked by a final moult after which the genitalia are fully developed and functional. In several widow spider species (genus Latrodectus), however, immature females may mate a few days before they moult to adulthood, i.e. in their late-subadult stage. While the “adult” mating typically results in cannibalism, males survive the “immature” mating. During both “immature” and “adult” matings, males leave parts of their paired copulatory organs within female genitalia, which may act as mating plugs. To study potential costs and benefits of the two mating tactics, we investigated female genital morphology of the brown widow spider, L. geometricus. Light microscopy, histology and micro-computed tomography of early-subadult, late-subadult and adult females were conducted to determine the overall pattern of genital maturation. We compared genitalia of mated late-subadult and adult females to reveal potential differences in the genitalic details that might indicate differential success in sperm transfer and different environments for sperm storage and sperm competition. Results We found that the paired sperm storage organs (spermathecae) and copulatory ducts are developed already in late-subadult females and host sperm after immature mating. However, the thickness of the spermathecal cuticle and the staining of the secretions inside differ significantly between the late-subadult and adult females. In late-subadult females mating plugs were found with higher probability in both spermathecae compared to adult females. Conclusions Sperm transfer in matings with late-subadult females follows the same route as in matings with adult females. The observed differences in the secretions inside the spermathecae of adult and late-subadult females likely reflect different storage conditions for the transferred sperm which may lead to a disadvantage under sperm competition if the subadult female later re-mates with another male. However, since males mating with late-subadult females typically transfer sperm to both spermathecae they might benefit from numerical sperm competition as well as from monopolizing access to the female sperm storage organs. The assessment of re-mating probability and relative paternity will clarify the costs and benefits of the two mating tactics in light of these findings.
Lenka Sentenská; Aileen Neumann; Yael Lubin; Gabriele Uhl. Functional morphology of immature mating in a widow spider. Frontiers in Zoology 2021, 18, 1 -18.
AMA StyleLenka Sentenská, Aileen Neumann, Yael Lubin, Gabriele Uhl. Functional morphology of immature mating in a widow spider. Frontiers in Zoology. 2021; 18 (1):1-18.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLenka Sentenská; Aileen Neumann; Yael Lubin; Gabriele Uhl. 2021. "Functional morphology of immature mating in a widow spider." Frontiers in Zoology 18, no. 1: 1-18.
Caves share unique conditions that have led to convergent adaptations of cave-dwelling animals. In addition, local factors act as filters on regional species-pools to shape the assemblage composition of local caves. Surveys of 35 Levantine caves, distributed along a climate gradient from the mesic in the north of Israel to hyper-arid areas in the south of Israel, were conducted to test the effect of cave characteristics, location, climate, bat presence, and guano level on the spider assemblage. We found 62 spider species and assigned four species as troglobites, 28 as troglophiles, and 30 as accidentals. Precipitation, elevation, latitude, minimum temperature, and guano levels significantly affected the composition of cave-dwelling spider assemblages. Caves situated in the Mediterranean region had higher species richness and abundance, as well as more troglobite and troglophile arachnids. These discoveries contribute to the knowledge of the local arachnofauna and are important for the conservation of cave ecosystems. By comparing spider assemblages of Levantine caves to European caves, we identified gaps in the taxonomic research, focusing our efforts on spider families that may have additional cryptic or yet to be described cave-dwelling spider species. Our faunistic surveys are crucial stages for understanding the evolutionary and ecological mechanisms of arachnid speciation in Levantine caves.
Efrat Gavish-Regev; Shlomi Aharon; Igor Armiach Steinpress; Merav Seifan; Yael Lubin. A Primer on Spider Assemblages in Levantine Caves: The Neglected Subterranean Habitats of the Levant—A Biodiversity Mine. Diversity 2021, 13, 179 .
AMA StyleEfrat Gavish-Regev, Shlomi Aharon, Igor Armiach Steinpress, Merav Seifan, Yael Lubin. A Primer on Spider Assemblages in Levantine Caves: The Neglected Subterranean Habitats of the Levant—A Biodiversity Mine. Diversity. 2021; 13 (5):179.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEfrat Gavish-Regev; Shlomi Aharon; Igor Armiach Steinpress; Merav Seifan; Yael Lubin. 2021. "A Primer on Spider Assemblages in Levantine Caves: The Neglected Subterranean Habitats of the Levant—A Biodiversity Mine." Diversity 13, no. 5: 179.
Within animal populations, behaviour often varies consistently among individuals, yet it remains unclear what generates and maintains this variation in ‘animal personality’. To understand how multiple sources of variation might combine to promote interindividual differences in behaviour, we examined dispersal behaviour in a colonial spider, Cyrtophora citricola. We measured the repeatability of two behaviours in the laboratory that are associated with dispersal: latency to tiptoe (a dispersal behaviour in spiders) and latency to explore a new environment. We then tested five hypothesized sources of consistent variation across two generations of spiders: sex, food resources, transient internal states, heritability and parental effects. Spiders were modestly consistent in both latency to tiptoe and latency to explore. Males behaved similarly to females of the same size; however, males mature at a smaller size than females, and females became much more hesitant to tiptoe and explore as they grew. Food availability had no effect on either behaviour. Repeatability of exploration was higher within an instar than across instars, suggesting that some aspect of spiders' internal state, other than food, maintained relatively high repeatability over short periods. Tiptoe behaviour was significantly heritable for female relatives, but not for male relatives. For exploratory behaviour, siblings showed significant heritability, while parents and offspring did not, suggesting that early natal environments shared by siblings, rather than genes, might account for their similar behaviour. Finally, although food had no effect on the generation of spiders to which the diet was applied, poorly fed fathers had offspring that tiptoed more readily than well-fed fathers, suggesting paternal effects potentially transmitted through epigenetics. Tiptoe and exploratory behaviours were correlated within individuals, yet the overall modest interindividual variation in these two dispersal behaviours was maintained by disparate effects of different sources of variation.
Eric C. Yip; Deborah R. Smith; Yael Lubin. Causes of plasticity and consistency of dispersal behaviour in a group-living spider. Animal Behaviour 2021, 175, 99 -109.
AMA StyleEric C. Yip, Deborah R. Smith, Yael Lubin. Causes of plasticity and consistency of dispersal behaviour in a group-living spider. Animal Behaviour. 2021; 175 ():99-109.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEric C. Yip; Deborah R. Smith; Yael Lubin. 2021. "Causes of plasticity and consistency of dispersal behaviour in a group-living spider." Animal Behaviour 175, no. : 99-109.
Acacia trees are keystone species in many arid environments, supporting high levels of plant and animal diversity. In Israel, the populations of Vachellia (formerly Acacia) tortilis (Forssk.) and V. raddiana (Savi) are declining at an alarming rate. Severe infestations by bruchid beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) are among the major causes of seed mortality, but additional environmental stressors can reduce the defence level of the seeds, exacerbating their susceptibility to predators. In a hyper-arid desert ecosystem affected by two major oil spills (in 1975 and 2014), we quantified seed predation rates caused by insect granivores before and after the pods dropped to the ground. We recorded predation rates of up to 84% for both tree species, and higher predation rates at the ground level than in the canopy, suggesting that repeated infestations occur. These results reinforce the call to protect the populations of large ungulates such as gazelles, which kill the bruchids by feeding upon the pods, and promote seed germination and dispersion. We found no clear evidence of a negative effect of the oil spill on seed predation, indicating that oil pollution did not increase the vulnerability of the seeds to granivores even in trees affected by the recent oil spill.
Marco Ferrante; Daniella M. Möller; Gabriella M. Möller; Yael Lubin; Michal Segoli. Seed Predation on Oil-Polluted and Unpolluted Vachellia (Acacia) Trees in a Hyper-Arid Desert Ecosystem. Insects 2020, 11, 665 .
AMA StyleMarco Ferrante, Daniella M. Möller, Gabriella M. Möller, Yael Lubin, Michal Segoli. Seed Predation on Oil-Polluted and Unpolluted Vachellia (Acacia) Trees in a Hyper-Arid Desert Ecosystem. Insects. 2020; 11 (10):665.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarco Ferrante; Daniella M. Möller; Gabriella M. Möller; Yael Lubin; Michal Segoli. 2020. "Seed Predation on Oil-Polluted and Unpolluted Vachellia (Acacia) Trees in a Hyper-Arid Desert Ecosystem." Insects 11, no. 10: 665.
We report the discovery of the wasp Tachinobia repanda Bouček collected from egg sacs of the colonial spider Cyrtophora moluccensis (Doleschall) in Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea (PNG) by Lubin, Y.D. in 1980. This is the first record of T. repanda from egg sacs of a colonial spider. The likely host of this eulophid wasp was the larvae of a sarcophagid fly that parasitizes the egg sacs of these spiders. The 67 T. repanda collected were all females and varied little in body size. We suggest that this species is a gregarious hyperparasitoid.
Zoya A Yefremova; Yael Lubin. Tachinobia repanda (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) From Egg Sacs of a Colonial Spider, Cyrtophora moluccensis (Araneae: Araneidae) in Papua New Guinea. Journal of Insect Science 2020, 20, 1 .
AMA StyleZoya A Yefremova, Yael Lubin. Tachinobia repanda (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) From Egg Sacs of a Colonial Spider, Cyrtophora moluccensis (Araneae: Araneidae) in Papua New Guinea. Journal of Insect Science. 2020; 20 (5):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleZoya A Yefremova; Yael Lubin. 2020. "Tachinobia repanda (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) From Egg Sacs of a Colonial Spider, Cyrtophora moluccensis (Araneae: Araneidae) in Papua New Guinea." Journal of Insect Science 20, no. 5: 1.
Deserts, despite being extreme environments, contain multiple habitats of different productivity and vegetation structure, affecting the abundance and diversity of desert arthropods. Predatory arthropods may be exceptionally diverse where scattered vegetation provides micro-habitats, concentrations of prey, and protection from predation risk. We examined the effect of habitat differences and local vegetation structure on abundance, diversity and assemblage composition of ground-active spiders in the Negev desert, Israel. Our monthly pitfall trapping in four main habitat types – dunes, loess plain, rocky slopes and wadis (dry watercourses), collected 5937 adults of 136 species. The abundance of ground-active spiders was highest in the dunes due to two dominant species, Haplodrassus pugnans and Zodarion nitidum. Both habitat and season significantly affected species richness, which peaked in the warm season; wadis had consistently higher species richness (63–74 spp.) than other habitats (48–61 spp.). Vegetation height positively correlated with both species richness and abundance in all habitats. Spider assemblages in the same, but geographically distant, habitats were more similar than those in adjacent but different habitats. Several numerically dominant species were habitat specialists. Our results confirm the need for large- and local-scale habitat management to maintain spider diversity in the face of increasing anthropogenic threats.
Yael Lubin; Marco Ferrante; Iris Musli; Gábor L. Lövei. Diversity of ground-active spiders in Negev desert habitats, Israel. Journal of Arid Environments 2020, 183, 104252 .
AMA StyleYael Lubin, Marco Ferrante, Iris Musli, Gábor L. Lövei. Diversity of ground-active spiders in Negev desert habitats, Israel. Journal of Arid Environments. 2020; 183 ():104252.
Chicago/Turabian StyleYael Lubin; Marco Ferrante; Iris Musli; Gábor L. Lövei. 2020. "Diversity of ground-active spiders in Negev desert habitats, Israel." Journal of Arid Environments 183, no. : 104252.
Spiders are a frequent prey of many vertebrate and invertebrate predators (e.g., Foelix 2011). They also fall prey to a number of hymenopteran and dipteran parasitoids which are often specialised on a certain foraging guild (e.g., Gauld & Dubois 2006, Korenko et al. 2014). While the former are often ectoparasitoids, the latter are mainly endoparasitoids, therefore very difficult to record. Among flies (Diptera), several families species that are known to exploit spiders, but the most important are acrocerids (Gillung & Borkent 2017).
Stano Pekár; Yael Lubin. Pax islamita (Araneae: Zodariidae) as a new host of an acrocerid fly from Israel. Arachnologische Mitteilungen: Arachnology Letters 2020, 59, 5 -7.
AMA StyleStano Pekár, Yael Lubin. Pax islamita (Araneae: Zodariidae) as a new host of an acrocerid fly from Israel. Arachnologische Mitteilungen: Arachnology Letters. 2020; 59 (1):5-7.
Chicago/Turabian StyleStano Pekár; Yael Lubin. 2020. "Pax islamita (Araneae: Zodariidae) as a new host of an acrocerid fly from Israel." Arachnologische Mitteilungen: Arachnology Letters 59, no. 1: 5-7.
Trees host a large share of the global arthropod diversity. Several methodologies have been described to sample arthropods from trees, ranging from active sampling techniques (e.g., visual searching, beating, or shaking the branches) to passive sampling devices. The majority of these collection techniques are destructive, and do not specifically target the tree trunk arthropod fauna. Here, we describe an alternative sampling method called trunk refugia (TR). TR are cylindrical shelters made of corrugated cardboard that can be secured to trees using string, and can remain exposed for varying time periods. These refugia are inexpensive, easy to use, and suitable to monitor a diverse array of insects and arachnids. Moreover, TR are nonlethal sampling tools, and allow collecting live individuals for behavioral studies or for rearing.
Ibrahim N A Salman; Marco Ferrante; Daniella Möller; Efrat Gavish-Regev; Yael Lubin. Trunk Refugia: A Simple, Inexpensive Method for Sampling Tree Trunk Arthropods. Journal of Insect Science 2020, 20, 1 .
AMA StyleIbrahim N A Salman, Marco Ferrante, Daniella Möller, Efrat Gavish-Regev, Yael Lubin. Trunk Refugia: A Simple, Inexpensive Method for Sampling Tree Trunk Arthropods. Journal of Insect Science. 2020; 20 (2):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIbrahim N A Salman; Marco Ferrante; Daniella Möller; Efrat Gavish-Regev; Yael Lubin. 2020. "Trunk Refugia: A Simple, Inexpensive Method for Sampling Tree Trunk Arthropods." Journal of Insect Science 20, no. 2: 1.
Most social species outbreed. However, some have persistent inbreeding with occasional outbreeding, and the decision of the individual regarding whether to stay in the natal group and inbreed or to disperse, with the potential to outbreed, is flexible and may depend on social, genetic and ecological benefits and costs. Few of these factors have been investigated experimentally in these systems. The beetle Coccotrypes dactyliperda Fabricius, 1801 (Scolytidae: Xyloborinae) lives in extended family colonies inside date seeds. The beetles inbreed, but some individuals disperse away from the natal seed and may outbreed. We investigated dispersal behaviour and assessed fitness-related measures in inbred and outbred offspring, in addition to the relative abundance of two endosymbionts. We predicted inbred offspring to have higher fitness-related measures and a reduced tendency to disperse than outbred offspring, owing to fitness benefits of cooperation within the colony, whereas increased endosymbiont abundance will promote dispersal of their hosts, thus enhancing their own spread in the population. Dispersing beetles were more active than ones that remained in the natal seed. As predicted, fewer inbred offspring dispersed than outbred offspring, but they matured and dispersed earlier. Fitness-related measures of inbred mothers were either lower (number of offspring) or not different (body mass) from those of outbred mothers. Inbred dispersers had greater amounts of Wolbachia, suggesting a role in dispersal. The results support the hypothesis that inbred females reduce dispersal and that early maturation and dispersal are likely to be benefits of increased cooperation in brood care.
Martin Tremmel; Hadas Steinitz; Adi Kliot; Ally Harari; Yael Lubin. Dispersal, endosymbiont abundance and fitness-related consequences of inbreeding and outbreeding in a social beetle. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 2020, 129, 717 -727.
AMA StyleMartin Tremmel, Hadas Steinitz, Adi Kliot, Ally Harari, Yael Lubin. Dispersal, endosymbiont abundance and fitness-related consequences of inbreeding and outbreeding in a social beetle. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 2020; 129 (3):717-727.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMartin Tremmel; Hadas Steinitz; Adi Kliot; Ally Harari; Yael Lubin. 2020. "Dispersal, endosymbiont abundance and fitness-related consequences of inbreeding and outbreeding in a social beetle." Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 129, no. 3: 717-727.
Caves are excellent model systems to study the effects of abiotic factors on species distributions due to their selective conditions. Different ecological factors have been shown to affect species distribution depending on the scale of analysis, whether regional or local. The interplay between local and regional factors in explaining the spatial distribution of cave-dwelling organisms is poorly understood. Using the troglophilic subterranean spider Artema nephilit (Araneae: Pholcidae) as a model organism, we investigated whether similar environmental predictors drive the species distribution at these two spatial scales. At the local scale, we monitored the abundance of the spiders and measured relevant environmental features in 33 caves along the Jordan Rift Valley. We then extended the analysis to a regional scale, investigating the drivers of the distribution using species distribution models. We found that similar ecological factors determined the distribution at both local and regional scales for A. nephilit. At a local scale, the species was found to preferentially occupy the outermost, illuminated, and warmer sectors of caves. Similarly, mean annual temperature, annual temperature range, and solar radiation were the most important drivers of its regional distribution. By investigating these two spatial scales simultaneously, we showed that it was possible to achieve an in-depth understanding of the environmental conditions that governs subterranean species distribution.
Stefano Mammola; Shlomi Aharon; Merav Seifan; Yael Lubin; Efrat Gavish-Regev. Exploring the Interplay Between Local and Regional Drivers of Distribution of a Subterranean Organism. Diversity 2019, 11, 119 .
AMA StyleStefano Mammola, Shlomi Aharon, Merav Seifan, Yael Lubin, Efrat Gavish-Regev. Exploring the Interplay Between Local and Regional Drivers of Distribution of a Subterranean Organism. Diversity. 2019; 11 (8):119.
Chicago/Turabian StyleStefano Mammola; Shlomi Aharon; Merav Seifan; Yael Lubin; Efrat Gavish-Regev. 2019. "Exploring the Interplay Between Local and Regional Drivers of Distribution of a Subterranean Organism." Diversity 11, no. 8: 119.
Spiders are effective biological control agents in some agroecosystems. Their ability to control pest insects depends on their species diversity and abundance, which can be affected by environmental variables at different spatial scales. We investigated the effects of climatic gradient, landscape properties and local variables on spider diversity and abundance in pomegranate orchards. Spiders were sampled twice during the pomegranate growing season in 2015 in 12 orchards along the rainfall gradient in Israel. We examined whether spider diversity and abundance are explained by rainfall gradient, insect abundance and habitat structure within the orchard, or the landscape composition surrounding each orchard. Spider diversity and abundance were unrelated to rainfall or habitat structure, but were positively associated with agricultural landscape evenness and its interaction with insect abundance. We propose a novel hypothesis, the agricultural landscape evenness hypothesis, predicting that diversity will increase with greater evenness in the percentage of area occupied by different habitats surrounding the crop. These results point to the potential importance of a diversity of habitat types surrounding a crop field in promoting natural enemy abundance and diversity.
Ibrahim N. A. Salman; Efrat Gavish-Regev; David Saltz; Yael Lubin. The agricultural landscape matters: spider diversity and abundance in pomegranate orchards as a case study. Entomophaga 2019, 64, 583 -593.
AMA StyleIbrahim N. A. Salman, Efrat Gavish-Regev, David Saltz, Yael Lubin. The agricultural landscape matters: spider diversity and abundance in pomegranate orchards as a case study. Entomophaga. 2019; 64 (5):583-593.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIbrahim N. A. Salman; Efrat Gavish-Regev; David Saltz; Yael Lubin. 2019. "The agricultural landscape matters: spider diversity and abundance in pomegranate orchards as a case study." Entomophaga 64, no. 5: 583-593.
Hunting other predators is dangerous, as the tables can turn and the hunter may become the hunted. Specialized araneophagic (spider eating) predators have evolved intriguing hunting strategies that allow them to invade spiders’ webs by adopting a stealthy approach or using aggressive mimicry. Here, we present a newly discovered, specialized hunting strategy of the araneophagic spider Poecilochroa senilis (Araneae: Gnaphosidae), which forces its way into the silk retreat of the potential spider prey and immobilizes it by swathing gluey silk onto its forelegs and mouthparts. Poecilochroa senilis has been reported from the nests of a several, often large, spider species in the Negev desert (Israel), suggesting specialization on spiders as prey. Nevertheless, in laboratory experiments, we found that P. senilis has a wider trophic niche, and fed readily on several small insect species. The specialized nest-invading attack was used more frequently with large spiders, and even small juvenile P. senilis were able to attack and subdue larger spiders. Our observations show that specific hunting tactics, like nest usurpation, allow specialized predators to overcome defences of dangerous prey.
Ondřej Michálek; Yael Lubin; Stano Pekár. Nest usurpation: a specialised hunting strategy used to overcome dangerous spider prey. Scientific Reports 2019, 9, 1 -10.
AMA StyleOndřej Michálek, Yael Lubin, Stano Pekár. Nest usurpation: a specialised hunting strategy used to overcome dangerous spider prey. Scientific Reports. 2019; 9 (1):1-10.
Chicago/Turabian StyleOndřej Michálek; Yael Lubin; Stano Pekár. 2019. "Nest usurpation: a specialised hunting strategy used to overcome dangerous spider prey." Scientific Reports 9, no. 1: 1-10.
Impacts of livestock farming include effects on arthropods and a range of related ecological processes. Grazing by sheep may indirectly affect web spider populations by changing vegetation structures available for web construction, or directly by trampling the spiders or their webs. We tested these two potential impacts by surveying spiders along transects and found that web spider abundance was 52% lower in a sheep grazing area compared with inside the adjacent Tierberg-LTER (Long Term Ecological Research) sheep exclosure. This reduction in web-spider abundance could be due to the 10% lower shrub cover in the sheep pasture than in the exclosure. Further support for the hypothesis that web spider abundance is affected by shrub cover came from spider abundance being higher on densely vegetated mounds, termed heuweltjies, than in the surrounding shrub matrix in both the exclosure and the sheep pasture, with heuweltjies showing cross-fence differences, consistent with grazing impacts. In addition, there may be a direct effect of trampling, as suggested by experimental removal of webs. By depressing spider populations, sheep grazing may affect a number of ecological factors, such as trophic relationships or nutrient cycling.
Joh R Henschel; Yael Lubin. Web spider abundance is affected by sheep farming in the Karoo. African Journal of Range & Forage Science 2018, 35, 319 -324.
AMA StyleJoh R Henschel, Yael Lubin. Web spider abundance is affected by sheep farming in the Karoo. African Journal of Range & Forage Science. 2018; 35 (3-4):319-324.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJoh R Henschel; Yael Lubin. 2018. "Web spider abundance is affected by sheep farming in the Karoo." African Journal of Range & Forage Science 35, no. 3-4: 319-324.
Group living animals invariably risk resource competition. Cooperation in foraging, however, may benefit individuals in groups by facilitating an increase in dietary niche. To test this, we performed a comparative study of social and solitary spider species. Three independently derived social species of Stegodyphus (Eresidae) occupy semi-arid savannas and overlap with three solitary congeners. We estimated potential prey availability in the environment and prey acquisition by spiders in their capture webs. We calculated dietary niche width (prey size) and breadth (taxonomic range) to compare resource use for these six species, and investigated the relationships between group size and average individual capture web production, prey biomass intake rate and variance in biomass intake. Cooperative foraging increased dietary niche width and breadth by foraging opportunistically, including both larger prey and a wider taxonomic range of prey in the diet. Individual capture web production decreased with increasing group size, indicating energetic benefits of cooperation, and variance in individual intake rate was reduced. However, individual biomass intake also decreased with increasing group size. While cooperative foraging did not completely offset resource competition among group members, it may contribute to sustaining larger groups by reducing costs of web production, increasing the dietary niche and reducing the variance in prey capture.
Marija Majer; Christina Holm; Yael Lubin; Trine Bilde. Cooperative foraging expands dietary niche but does not offset intra-group competition for resources in social spiders. Scientific Reports 2018, 8, 11828 .
AMA StyleMarija Majer, Christina Holm, Yael Lubin, Trine Bilde. Cooperative foraging expands dietary niche but does not offset intra-group competition for resources in social spiders. Scientific Reports. 2018; 8 (1):11828.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarija Majer; Christina Holm; Yael Lubin; Trine Bilde. 2018. "Cooperative foraging expands dietary niche but does not offset intra-group competition for resources in social spiders." Scientific Reports 8, no. 1: 11828.
Lior Ventura; Deborah R Smith; Yael Lubin. Crowding leads to fitness benefits and reduced dispersal in a colonial spider. Behavioral Ecology 2017, 28, 1384 -1392.
AMA StyleLior Ventura, Deborah R Smith, Yael Lubin. Crowding leads to fitness benefits and reduced dispersal in a colonial spider. Behavioral Ecology. 2017; 28 (5):1384-1392.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLior Ventura; Deborah R Smith; Yael Lubin. 2017. "Crowding leads to fitness benefits and reduced dispersal in a colonial spider." Behavioral Ecology 28, no. 5: 1384-1392.
Yael Lubin. All about Deserts. Conservation Biology 2017, 31, 733 -735.
AMA StyleYael Lubin. All about Deserts. Conservation Biology. 2017; 31 (3):733-735.
Chicago/Turabian StyleYael Lubin. 2017. "All about Deserts." Conservation Biology 31, no. 3: 733-735.
Yael Lubin. How to Survive in the Desert. Conservation Biology 2015, 30, 233 -237.
AMA StyleYael Lubin. How to Survive in the Desert. Conservation Biology. 2015; 30 (1):233-237.
Chicago/Turabian StyleYael Lubin. 2015. "How to Survive in the Desert." Conservation Biology 30, no. 1: 233-237.
Prey captured by a predator may attract kleptoparasites which could significantly reduce the amount of food consumed. Stegodyphus lineatus, a cribellate spider, builds an energetically costly web. Ants raid the webs of S. lineatus to steal prey and behave as kleptoparasites. We investigated ant raids in a natural population of S. lineatus and their influence on the spider’s foraging behaviour. Considering spiders that had captured a prey, 31.2% suffered an ant raid within 24 h after the prey capture. Experimental tests showed that the response to ant raid is to delay web rebuilding and this was independent of a spider’s previous foraging success. There was a tendency for spiders that were exposed to ants to build larger webs. Neither prey-handling duration nor prey consumption was modified after exposure to ants. These results suggest that Stegodyphus lineatus adapt its web-building behaviour in response to the risk of kleptoparasitism.
R. Leborgne; Y. Lubin; A. Pasquet. Kleptoparasites influence foraging behaviour of the spider Stegodyphus lineatus (Araneae, Eresidae). Insectes Sociaux 2011, 58, 255 -261.
AMA StyleR. Leborgne, Y. Lubin, A. Pasquet. Kleptoparasites influence foraging behaviour of the spider Stegodyphus lineatus (Araneae, Eresidae). Insectes Sociaux. 2011; 58 (2):255-261.
Chicago/Turabian StyleR. Leborgne; Y. Lubin; A. Pasquet. 2011. "Kleptoparasites influence foraging behaviour of the spider Stegodyphus lineatus (Araneae, Eresidae)." Insectes Sociaux 58, no. 2: 255-261.
Cooperatively breeding animals commonly avoid incestuous mating through pre‐mating dispersal. However, a few group‐living organisms, including the social spiders, have low pre‐mating dispersal, intra‐colony mating, and inbreeding. This results in limited gene flow among colonies and sub‐structured populations. The social spiders also exhibit female‐biased sex ratios because survival benefits to large colonies favour high group productivity, which selects against 1 : 1 sex ratios. Although propagule dispersal of mated females may occasionally bring about limited gene flow, little is known about the role of male dispersal. We assessed the extent of male movement between colonies in natural populations both experimentally and by studying colony sex ratios over the mating season. We show that males frequently move to neighbouring colonies, whereas only 4% of incipient nests were visited by dispersing males. Neighbouring colonies are genetically similar and movement within colony clusters does not contribute to gene flow. Post‐mating sex ratio bias was high early in the mating season due to protandry, and also in colonies at the end of the season, suggesting that males remain in the colony when mated females have dispersed. Thus, male dispersal is unlikely to facilitate gene flow between different matrilineages. This is consistent with models of non‐Fisherian group‐level selection for the maintenance of female biased sex ratios, which predict the elimination of male dispersal. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 2009, 97, 227–234.
Yael Lubin; Klaus Birkhofer; Reut Berger‐Tal; Trine Bilde. Limited male dispersal in a social spider with extreme inbreeding. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 2009, 97, 227 -234.
AMA StyleYael Lubin, Klaus Birkhofer, Reut Berger‐Tal, Trine Bilde. Limited male dispersal in a social spider with extreme inbreeding. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 2009; 97 (2):227-234.
Chicago/Turabian StyleYael Lubin; Klaus Birkhofer; Reut Berger‐Tal; Trine Bilde. 2009. "Limited male dispersal in a social spider with extreme inbreeding." Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 97, no. 2: 227-234.
Yael Lubin. Spiders as generalist predators: A dryland agroecosystem perspective. Phytoparasitica 2006, 34, 327 -330.
AMA StyleYael Lubin. Spiders as generalist predators: A dryland agroecosystem perspective. Phytoparasitica. 2006; 34 (4):327-330.
Chicago/Turabian StyleYael Lubin. 2006. "Spiders as generalist predators: A dryland agroecosystem perspective." Phytoparasitica 34, no. 4: 327-330.