We have solved a long-standing and seemingly paradoxical set of questions that relate to the conditions which govern spider ballooning. We show that observations of spider ballooning excursions are best explained by meteorological conditions which maximize dispersal. Dispersal is predicted to be most effective in terms of distance when the stability of the atmosphere is non-ideally convective and is less effective during purely convective or neutrally stable conditions. Ballooners are most likely to travel a few hundred metres, but dispersal distances of several hundred kilometres are possible.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2464704 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2007.0109 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
How dispersal rates depend on the prey capture strategy: A case study of Georgia's spiders.
Ecol Evol
May 2024
LIB - Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change, Biodiversity Center Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig Bonn Germany.
Large-scale barcoding projects help to aggregate information on genetic variability of multiple species throughout their ranges. Comparing DNA sequences of both non-conspecific and conspecific individuals from distant parts of their ranges helps to compare level of genetic isolation-by-distance patterns in different species and adaptive types. We compared mitochondrial CO1 gene sequences of 223 spiders from Georgia (Caucasus), representing 124 species and eight families, with 3097 homological sequences from spiders mostly from Europe, but also from other parts of the World.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe Andes as a semi-permeable geographical barrier: Genetic connectivity between structured populations in a widespread spider.
Mol Ecol
June 2024
Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia.
Geographical barriers like mountain ranges impede genetic exchange among populations, promoting diversification. The effectiveness of these barriers in limiting gene flow varies between lineages due to each species' dispersal modes and capacities. Our understanding of how the Andes orogeny contributes to species diversification comes from well-studied vertebrates and a few arthropods and plants, neglecting organisms unable to fly or walk long distances.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEffects of mowing on body size patterns in spider assemblages of mesic meadows.
Ecol Evol
February 2024
Independent Researcher Wendlingen Germany.
Habitat disturbance affects not only the abundance, species richness and species composition of the local fauna, but also the body size of specific individuals and body size patterns in animal assemblages. Particularly large disturbances occur in agroecosystems, where many agricultural treatments are carried out. One of them, which is most commonly applied to grasslands and which significantly damages the habitat structure, is mowing.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIndian monsoon drove the dispersal of the group of spitting spiders.
Zool Res
January 2024
Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
We examined the global biogeography of the group of spitting spiders based on 23 years of sampling at the species level (61 species in the group and 84 species of ) using DNA data from six loci. Our results indicated that the group initially dispersed from Southeast Asia to East Africa between 46.5 and 33.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFResponse of Spider and Epigaeic Beetle Assemblages to Overwinter Planting Regimes and Surrounding Landscape Compositions.
Insects
December 2023
School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China.
The rotation patterns of summer rice-winter oil seed rape and summer rice-winter fallow are the main planting regimes in the rice ecosystem in southern China. However, the impact of local rotation patterns and landscape factors on the overwintering conservation of predators in spider and epigaeic beetle assemblages remains poorly understood. Here, we investigate the diversity and density of spiders and beetles over two consecutive winters (2019/2020 and 2020/2021), focusing on the impact of two rotation patterns (rice-fallow and rice-oilseed rape) and surrounding landscape compositions on predator diversity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!