dc.contributor.author |
Lapinski, Witold |
en |
dc.contributor.author |
Tschapka, Marco |
en |
dc.date.accessioned |
2015-02-25T18:30:15Z |
|
dc.date.available |
2015-02-25T18:30:15Z |
|
dc.date.issued |
2014 |
|
dc.identifier.citation |
Lapinski, Witold and Tschapka, Marco. 2014. "Desiccation resistance reflects patterns of microhabitat choice in a Central American assemblage of wandering spiders." <em>Journal of experimental biology</em>. 217 (15):2789–2795. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.102533">https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.102533</a> |
en |
dc.identifier.issn |
0022-0949 |
|
dc.identifier.uri |
http://hdl.handle.net/10088/24475 |
|
dc.description.abstract |
The lowland rainforest of northeastern Costa Rica harbours an assemblage of large wandering spider species belonging to three habitat subguilds: (1) semi-aquatic, (2) forest ground dwelling and (3) vegetation dwelling. We hypothesized that desiccation resistance should differ among species preferring different microhabitats and the associated microclimate. Desiccation resistance was assessed by: (1) measuring water loss rates of the spiders under relatively dry experimental conditions, and (2) recording desiccation susceptibility, i.e. the reactions of the spiders to a relatively dry environment. High water loss rates and desiccation susceptibility of the semi-aquatic and forest-ground-dwelling subguilds clearly mirrored the relatively humid microclimate of the understory. Significantly lower water loss rates and desiccation susceptibility of the vegetation-dwelling species reflected the highly variable, often dry and hot conditions of the rainforest canopy and forest edge habitats. Vegetation-dwelling wandering spiders are therefore physiologically better adapted to dry conditions than the semi-aquatic and forest-ground-dwelling species. The results illustrate the significance of physiological characteristics for explaining both species-specific habitat use and, in a larger context, niche partitioning within a community. |
en |
dc.relation.ispartof |
Journal of experimental biology |
en |
dc.title |
Desiccation resistance reflects patterns of microhabitat choice in a Central American assemblage of wandering spiders |
en |
dc.type |
Journal Article |
en |
dc.identifier.srbnumber |
127585 |
|
dc.identifier.doi |
10.1242/jeb.102533 |
|
rft.jtitle |
Journal of experimental biology |
|
rft.volume |
217 |
|
rft.issue |
15 |
|
rft.spage |
2789 |
|
rft.epage |
2795 |
|
dc.description.SIUnit |
research associate |
en |
dc.description.SIUnit |
STRI |
en |
dc.description.SIUnit |
Peer-reviewed |
en |
dc.citation.spage |
2789 |
|
dc.citation.epage |
2795 |
|