Developmental response to low diets by giant Nephila clavipes females (Araneae: Nephilidae)

摘要: Abstract Female-biased sexual size dimorphism is common in arthropods, apparently driven by fecundity selection females. Selective pressures that limit growth are less often considered. One factor researchers have rarely considered the possible role of energetic limits on growth. The orb weaving spider Nephila clavipes (Linnaeus 1767) extremely sexually dimorphic. Males “normal” sized spiders and females up to ten times longer, having passed through several additional juvenile instars. This extreme presents opportunity test for intrinsic costs gigantism. Prior studies shown males successfully reach maturity a range diets, while female dietary requirements increase rapidly with increasing size. We here examine effects variation food availability development randomly assigning spiderlings from six different families (from distinct populations) quantitatively varying but qualitatively identic...