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Males mate with multiple females to increase offspring numbers in a nursery web spider

Author

Listed:
  • Alissa G Anderson
  • Eileen A Hebets
  • Bridget M Bickner
  • J Colton Watts

Abstract

Male spiders wrap female’s legs in silk before mating to increase their likelihood of surviving a female’s cannibalistic attack. We demonstrate that surviving such an attack allows males to acquire future matings. Mating with multiple females in the laboratory increased males’ offspring production. Using demographic data, we constructed a mathematical model that suggests that males have the opportunity to mate with multiple partners in our population given that female encounter rates are sufficiently high.

Suggested Citation

  • Alissa G Anderson & Eileen A Hebets & Bridget M Bickner & J Colton Watts, 2018. "Males mate with multiple females to increase offspring numbers in a nursery web spider," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 29(4), pages 918-924.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:beheco:v:29:y:2018:i:4:p:918-924.
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