Characterizing the vibratory and acoustic signals of the "purring" wolf spider, Gladicosa gulosa (Araneae: Lycosidae). Issue 3 (1st September 2016)
- Record Type:
- Journal Article
- Title:
- Characterizing the vibratory and acoustic signals of the "purring" wolf spider, Gladicosa gulosa (Araneae: Lycosidae). Issue 3 (1st September 2016)
- Main Title:
- Characterizing the vibratory and acoustic signals of the "purring" wolf spider, Gladicosa gulosa (Araneae: Lycosidae)
- Authors:
- Sweger, Alexander L.
Uetz, George W. - Abstract:
- Abstract: Both airborne acoustic signals and substrate-borne vibrations are prevalent modes of animal communication, particularly in arthropods. While a wide variety of animals utilize one or both of these modalities, the connection between them is still ambiguous in many species. Spiders as a group are not known for using, or even perceiving, acoustic signals, despite being well-adapted for vibratory communication. Males of the "purring" wolf spider Gladicosa gulosa are reported to produce audible signals during courtship, although the literature on this species is largely anecdotal. Using a laser Doppler vibrometer and an omnidirectional microphone in controlled conditions, we recorded and characterized the visual and mechanical (both substrate-borne and airborne) signals of this species in an attempt to provide a qualitative and quantitative overview of its signal properties. We found that the vibratory signal is composed of two primary repeating and alternating elements, consisting of pulses of stridulation and percussive strikes, as well as a less common, but repeatable, third element. We also characterized a measurable airborne component to the signal that is significantly correlated with the amplitude of the vibratory signal, which we suggest is a by-product of the strong vibration. Neither modality correlated significantly with male body size or condition. Although the exact role of the acoustic component is unclear, we speculate that the unique properties ofAbstract: Both airborne acoustic signals and substrate-borne vibrations are prevalent modes of animal communication, particularly in arthropods. While a wide variety of animals utilize one or both of these modalities, the connection between them is still ambiguous in many species. Spiders as a group are not known for using, or even perceiving, acoustic signals, despite being well-adapted for vibratory communication. Males of the "purring" wolf spider Gladicosa gulosa are reported to produce audible signals during courtship, although the literature on this species is largely anecdotal. Using a laser Doppler vibrometer and an omnidirectional microphone in controlled conditions, we recorded and characterized the visual and mechanical (both substrate-borne and airborne) signals of this species in an attempt to provide a qualitative and quantitative overview of its signal properties. We found that the vibratory signal is composed of two primary repeating and alternating elements, consisting of pulses of stridulation and percussive strikes, as well as a less common, but repeatable, third element. We also characterized a measurable airborne component to the signal that is significantly correlated with the amplitude of the vibratory signal, which we suggest is a by-product of the strong vibration. Neither modality correlated significantly with male body size or condition. Although the exact role of the acoustic component is unclear, we speculate that the unique properties of signalling in this species may have value in answering new questions about animal communication. … (more)
- Is Part Of:
- Bioacoustics. Volume 25:Issue 3(2016:Sep.)
- Journal:
- Bioacoustics
- Issue:
- Volume 25:Issue 3(2016:Sep.)
- Issue Display:
- Volume 25, Issue 3 (2016)
- Year:
- 2016
- Volume:
- 25
- Issue:
- 3
- Issue Sort Value:
- 2016-0025-0003-0000
- Page Start:
- 293
- Page End:
- 303
- Publication Date:
- 2016-09-01
- Subjects:
- Vibration -- spider -- acoustic -- communication
Bioacoustics -- Periodicals
Sound production by animals -- Periodicals
Animal sounds -- Periodicals
Sound recordings -- Periodicals
591.59405 - Journal URLs:
- http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tbio20/current ↗
http://www.tandfonline.com/tbio ↗
http://www.bioacoustics.info/ ↗
http://search.ebscohost.com/direct.asp?db=a9h&jid=GC7&scope=site ↗
http://www.tandfonline.com/ ↗ - DOI:
- 10.1080/09524622.2016.1160328 ↗
- Languages:
- English
- ISSNs:
- 0952-4622
- Deposit Type:
- Legaldeposit
- View Content:
- Available online (eLD content is only available in our Reading Rooms) ↗
- Physical Locations:
- British Library DSC - 2066.679000
British Library DSC - BLDSS-3PM
British Library HMNTS - ELD Digital store - Ingest File:
- 1176.xml