Non‐Conceptive Sexual Behavior in Spiders: A Form of Play Associated with Body Condition, Personality Type, and Male Intrasexual Selection

摘要: In the socially polymorphic spider Anelosimus studiosus, males mature early in reproductive season and recruit to webs of juvenile females guard them until they mature. During period before mature, engage repeated bouts non-conceptive (play) sexual behavior, where pair courts engages mock copulation; both gain performance-enhancing experience via these encounters. this study, we examined factors that underlie individual variation tendency mating determine whether it impacts male–male competition for females. We found docile females, being less resistant general, are more likely accept male courtship copulation as juveniles. Personality type influenced exhibition behavior well. High body condition aggressive phenotype were than with lower condition. Body did not influence males’ propensity but female size did. Docile engaged displays larger Engaging negatively impacted performance staged contests access This cost was greatest phenotype, which otherwise favored contests. Our findings indicate expression is linked personality results trade-offs A. studiosus.