Contact with maternal parent and siblings affects hunting behavior,learning, and central nervous system development in spiderlings of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hogna carolinensis</Emphasis> (Araeneae: Lycosidae) |
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Authors: | Fred Punzo Linda Ludwig |
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Institution: | (1) Box 5F – Dept. of Biology, University of Tampa, 401 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, FL 33606, USA,;(2) 803 S. Kings Ave., Brandon, FL 33511, USA, |
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Abstract: | The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of early experience (rearing conditions) on the central nervous system
(CNS) and behavior of spiderlings of Hogna
carolinensis (Lycosidae). We were interested in whether or not spiderlings that were allowed to remain in contact with their maternal
parent and siblings (enriched condition, EC) would exhibit differences in CNS development or subsequent behavior when compared
with those reared in isolation (impoverished condition, IC). Spiderlings emerged from their egg sacs and climbed onto the
dorsal surface of their mother's abdomen where they remained until their yolk supply was depleted (5 days). They dispersed
on day 6 after emergence. We compared the ability of 16-day-old EC and IC spiderlings to capture prey in a linear runway and
to learn a complex maze (spatial learning). We also compared certain aspects of CNS development (brain weight, total number
of brain cells, volume of central body and protocerebral neuropil) in EC and IC spiderlings. Results indicated that EC subjects
are more efficient at capturing moving prey (crickets) and exhibited improved performance (significantly fewer blind alley
errors) in the maze. The volume of the protocerebral neuropil in 6-day-old EC animals increased 30% over a 5-day period after
emergence as compared to IC animals of the same age. The volume of the central body of EC animals increased 34.8% over the
same time period. On day 6 after emergence, the weight of the protocerebrum was significantly greater in EC versus IC subjects.
There were no significant effects of rearing condition (EC vs IC) or age (1- and 6-day-old spiderlings) on the total number
of nerve cells in the protocerebrum, suggesting that the difference in protocerebral weight was due primarily to differences
in supporting glial tissues and neuropil matrix. In conclusion, the data suggest that early contact with the maternal parent
and siblings is of vital importance to CNS development in lycosid spiderlings and can influence the capacity for spatial learning
as well as the ability to capture prey.
Electronic Publication |
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Keywords: | Early experience Hogna carolinensis Hunting behavior Maternal contact Rearing condition |
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