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Dryad

Dataset:Female state and condition-dependent chemical signalling revealed by male choice of silk trails

Abstract

We ask whether males of the nuptial gift-giving spider Pisaura mirabilis exert preferences for mates varying in their reproductive potential based on chemical information during mate search. Males were presented with binary trails consisting of silk lines and substrate-borne chemicals deposited while females were walking, from females varying in a) body condition (high vs. low), b) developmental state (subadult vs. adult) and c) mating state (unmated vs. mated). If female chemical signaling co-varies with individual state, we expect males to choose trails of females that are a) in higher body condition, indicating higher fecundity, b) adults, which can successfully reproduce, and c) unmated, to avoid sperm competition. We show that female signaling is condition-dependent, with males being more likely to follow trails of higher body condition females, but not dependent on female mating state. Males also tended to prefer trails of adults over subadults. Choice did not depend on male individual body condition.