The role of high-contrast male facial stripes in mitigating female aggression in the jumping spider, Plexippus paykulli
Data files
Sep 28, 2023 version files 34.40 KB
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1_PREY_CHOICE_EXPT.R
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2_COURTSHIP_EXPT1_DIET_STRIPES.R
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3_COURTSHIP_EXPT2_REPRO_STRIPES.R
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expt1_prey_choice_x2.csv
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expt1_prey_choice.csv
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female_cond_origin.csv
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Plexippus_results_diet_plus_eggdata.csv
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Plexippus_results_repro_v3.csv
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README.md
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SUPP_COURTSHIP_EXPTS_DURATION.R
Abstract
Vibrant male coloration and energetic courtship displays set jumping spiders apart from most arachnids, which typically rely on non-visual stimuli. Like many other spiders, female salticids engage in sexual cannibalism, making courtship a risky but necessary endeavor for males. In this study, we investigated the relationship between male coloration and female aggression to better understand the interplay of attraction and aversion during courtship.
Many male jumping spiders sport conspicuous coloration or high-contrast patterns that are reminiscent of the coloration of many aposematic insects. The faces of Plexippus paykulli males are adorned with bold vertical stripes they direct toward females during courtship. We hypothesized that these stripes could function as a sensory trap, leveraging female aversion to the signal to reduce the likelihood of cannibalism.
We tested whether spiders exhibit an aversion to stripes in the context of predation by manipulating prey coloration and testing spider preference for prey based on the presence or absence of stripes. Then we conducted two courtship experiments by manipulating male facial coloration to determine whether the presence of male stripes affects female aggression and likelihood of mating. We also manipulated female foraging drive in each courtship experiment (either diet or mating status) to see whether common sources of natural variation among females influenced response to courting males. We found that spiders showed an aversion to stripes while foraging but that this aversion does not confer reduced aggression from females toward striped males vs. males with stripes obscured. However, stripes did affect the likelihood of male reproductive success, as striped males mounted females more frequently than non-striped males. Finally, female condition influenced female response to courting males, with hungrier females showing higher aggression and previously mated females being mounted less frequently than non-mated females.
README: Title of Dataset: The role of high-contrast male facial stripes in mitigating female aggression in the jumping spider, Plexippus paykulli
Description of the Data and file structure
'expt1_prey_choice.csv' & 'expt1_prey_choice_x2.csv'
These datasheets contain the same data but are formatted differently for analyses we performed in R. The spreadsheet, 'expt1_prey_choice.csv' is a long format wherein each trial (represented by 'spider_id') has two rows (one for each prey treatment, Grey or Striped). The other has a single row per trial and the chosen prey is listed under 'chosen_treatment'.
Variable descriptions by column (expt1_prey_choice.csv'):
spider_id - unique identifier for spiders used in trials (also serves as Trial ID since no spiders were used repeatedly)
treatment - color treatment applied to termite prey (Grey or Striped)
choice_binary - Yes/no outcome of trial (1 = Yes, indicating the spider struck the termite treatment indicated (grey or striped); 0 = No, the spider did not strike the termite in the corresponding row (grey or striped)
n_orientations - count data; number of times spider faced (oriented toward) each prey treatment
trial_date - date trial was performed
sex_binary - sex of spider in each trial; 0 = female; 1 = male
age_days - number of days since the spider emerged from its egg sac
maturity - categorical classification of maturity (whether the spider reached its final molt prior to trial)
strike_latency_min - amount of time passed between the release of the spider and it striking a termite (in minutes)
expt1_prey_choice_x2.csv contains the same variables except for:
orient_grey - number of times a spider oriented toward termites with Grey treatment
orient_striped - number of times a spider oriented toward termites with Striped treatment
(These data are the same as those in the other spreadsheet, just oriented differently)
Associated R file: '1_PREY_CHOICE_EXPT.R'
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'female_cond_origin.csv'
This datasheet includes measurements of mature female spiders that were captured from the field or reared from eggsacs in the lab for the purposes of comparing body condition. Measurements include the mass of the spider and the width of the carapace (or prosoma). In the case of field-collected spiders, measurements were taken the day of capture.
Variable descriptions by column (female_cond_origin.csv)
female_cw_um: width at widest part of carapace (prosoma) in micrometers (later converted to millimeters in R); 'cw' stands for 'carapace width'
female_mass_g = mass of spider in grams
id = trial/spider ID
Associated R file: '2_COURTSHIP_EXPT1_DIET_STRIPES.R'
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'Plexippus_results_diet_plus_eggdata.csv'
This datasheet contains data associated with courtship trials in which we manipulated the facial stripes of male spiders and the diet of female spiders (Plexippus paykulli). We tested female spiders' response to courting males. For each trial (column: 'name_video'), we recorded body measurements for each participating male and female (mass (g); width of the carapace (mm). The difference between the carapace widths of paired male and female spiders is listed for each trial under 'cw_diff' and is calculated by subtracting male carapace width from female carapace width. Thus negative values indicate a larger male.
Count data for each scored behavior can be found in columns labeled 'n_behavior' (e.g., 'n_stalk'). Instances of each behavior over the duration of the trial can be found in columns labeled 'behavior_time'. Time is measured in minutes. All trials that did not culminate in cannibalization of a male were 30 minutes long, so a female spider that stalked a male six times during a trial has an 'stalk_time' value of 0.2 (6 instances of stalking/30 minute trial).
Variable descriptions by column ('Plexippus_results_diet_plus_eggdata.csv')
name_video - ID used for each trial recording (interchangeable with trial ID)
female_treatment - female diet treatment (Standard diet vs. Reduced diet)
male_treatment - male stripe treatment (Stripes concealed vs. Stripes intact)
female_mass - mass of female on day of trial (in grams)
male_mass - mass of male on day of trial (in grams)
n_attack - number of times female directed propulsive behaviors (lunging and grappling) at males; (count data)
attack_time - count data (n_attack) divided by trial duration (see explanation above)
n_display - number of times female raised first two pairs of legs at male; (count data)
display_time - count data (n_display) divided by trial duration (see explanation above)
n_stalk - number of times female stalked male during a trial (count data)
stalk_time - count data (n_stalk) divided by trial duration (see explanation above)
n_mount - number of times male mounted female during a trial (count data)
mount_time - count data (n_mount) divided by trial duration (see explanation above)
female_cw_mm - width of widest point of carapace in millimeters (female spiders) *
male_cw_mm - width of widest point of carapace in millimeters (male spiders) *
cw_diff - difference between male and female carapace width in millimeters (female - male) *
eggs_yn - indicates whether female spider deposited an eggsac after the trial (0 = no eggs produced; 1 = eggs produced)
eggs_yesno - redundant (coded Yes/No instead of 1/0 as above)
mount_yn - did male mount female (1 = yes; 0 = no)
* : variables containing NAs (where data not available); data were not entered into the database following pre-trial measurement phase
Associated R files: '2_COURTSHIP_EXPT1_DIET_STRIPES.R'; 'SUPP_COURTSHIP_EXPTS_DURATION.R'
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#'Plexippus_results_repro_v3.csv'
Associated R files: '3_COURTSHIP_EXPT1_REPRO_STRIPES.R'; 'SUPP_COURTSHIP_EXPTS_DURATION.R'
This datasheet contains data associated with courtship trials in which we manipulated the facial stripes of male spiders and the mating status of female spiders (Plexippus paykulli). This set of data is structurally identical to 'Plexippus_results_diet_plus_eggdata.csv' save for the following exceptions:
Trial IDs are listed as numbers under 'video_id' (instead of 'name_video') and there are no data associated with eggsac deposition by females. This variable was not relevant in this experiment because paternity of offspring could not be determined in the 'mated' female treatment. Female treatment is either 'Mated' or 'Virgin' (instead of diet manipulations (Standard diet or Reduced diet)). This datasheet does not contain NA values.