Adhesive foot pads: an adaptation to climbing? An ecological survey in hunting spiders.

摘要: Hairy pads relying on dry adhesion are fascinating structures that convergently evolved among spiders and lizards. Numerous studies underline the functional aspects leading to their strong smooth surfaces, but rarely has role been studied in context of natural habitats surfaces animals faced with. In hunting spiders, hairy foot (claw tufts) underneath paired claws assumed be an adaptation a climbing lifestyle, particularly plant surfaces. However, too for generate sufficient grip rather rare above-ground occupied by both with without claw tufts. this study we estimated proportion tuft-bearing (ct+ ratio) microhabitat-specific assemblages conducting field meta-analysis approach. The effect surface characteristics, structure fragmentation altitude microhabitat niche ct+ ratio was analyzed. We hypothesized will higher (i) spider obtained from microhabitats above ground than those at (ii) smoother (tree foliage) rougher (barks, stones), lower (iii) more fragmented (small leaves) comparable less (large leaves). found significantly affected microhabitat's distance ground, whereas characteristics substrates were minor importance. This suggests tufts highly beneficial when height exceeds value where additional pad-related costs exceeded dropping. assume benefit mainly due gaining high safety factor energy demand if compared alternative attachment devices (claws, silk). previously presumed enhanced access new sites may play only as present most microhabitats.