BioOne.org will be down briefly for maintenance on 17 December 2024 between 18:00-22:00 Pacific Time US. We apologize for any inconvenience.
How to translate text using browser tools
1 June 2011 Correlated Morphological, Ecological, and Behavioral Aspects of the Microhabitat Associations in Geolycosa Wolf Spiders of Florida (Araneae, Lycosidae)
Samuel D. Marshall, Katherine A. Martin
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Species of Geolycosa (burrowing wolf spider) found in the eastern USA exhibit one of two species-specific microhabitat associations with associated burrow architectures: “turricolous” species burrow in areas covered in leaf litter and construct a distinct turret of silk and debris at the burrow mouth, while “aturricolous” species locate their burrows in more barren areas and do not construct a turret. Our research goal was to document the relationship between spider coloration, burrow-site selection, and burrow-construction behaviors in five Geolycosa species in Florida (G. micanopy, G. hubbelli, G. xera, G. patellonigra, and G. escambiensis). Discriminant analysis of morphological data supports our contention that each ecomorph has a distinct pattern of pigmentation, with the barren-substrata species being paler. Field studies of species pairs at three sites in Florida (Archbold Biological Station, Ocala National Forest, and the Panhandle) documented the species-specific association with one of the two microhabitats. Field enclosure tests with five of these species demonstrated that the observed microhabitat association was due to active burrow-site choice. Finally, tests we conducted in the laboratory documented that these species will build the predicted species-specific burrow types under controlled conditions.

Samuel D. Marshall and Katherine A. Martin "Correlated Morphological, Ecological, and Behavioral Aspects of the Microhabitat Associations in Geolycosa Wolf Spiders of Florida (Araneae, Lycosidae)," Southeastern Naturalist 10(2), 357-364, (1 June 2011). https://doi.org/10.1656/058.010.0214
Published: 1 June 2011
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top