Sail or sink: novel behavioural adaptations on water in aerially dispersing species

摘要: Long-distance dispersal events have the potential to shape species distributions and ecosystem diversity over large spatial scales, influence processes such as population persistence pace scale of invasion. How strategies evolved are maintained within is, however, often unclear. We studied long-distance in a range pest-controlling terrestrial spiders that important predators agricultural ecosystems. These persist heterogeneous environments through their ability re-colonise vacant habitat by repeated aerial (“ballooning”) using spun silk lines. Individuals strictly terrestrial, not thought tolerate landing on water, no control where they land once airborne. Their tendency spread via has thus been be limited costs encountering which is frequent hazard landscape. In our study we find ballooning subset individuals from two groups widely-distributed phylogenetically distinct (linyphiids one tetragnathid) associated with hitherto undescribed those same survive encounters both fresh marine water. showed high adopt ‘ballooning’ behaviour adopted elaborate postures seemingly take advantage wind current whilst water surface. The capable allows them disperse repeatedly, thereby increasing can subsequently exert an ecosystems into migrate. for genetic connectivity between populations, rate localized adaptation, exists much larger geographic scales than previously thought. Newly available may particularly influenced given degree disturbance known follow new predator introductions.