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Microhabitat and spatial complexity predict group size of the whip spider Heterophrynus batesii in Amazonian Ecuador

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 December 2013

Kenneth James Chapin
Kenneth James Chapin*
Affiliation:
Department of Life, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, West Texas A&M University, Canyon, TX 79016, USA
*
1Postal address: UCLA – Hershey Hall, 612 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, CA 90095-7246, USA. Email: [email protected]
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Abstract:

The process by which solitary animals evolve to live in groups is a central question in biology. Conspecifics that compete for patchy resources may evolve incipient social behaviours such as group formation and conspecific tolerance when persistent aggressive interactions reduce resource access. In this investigation, a facultative group living species of whip spider was studied to understand the microhabitat resources that support group formation. Although most species of whip spider are solitary and oftentimes cannibalistic, Heterophrynus batesii sometimes aggregate in small groups at the bases of tree trunks. Twenty-five groups of whip spiders and associated tree buttress microhabitats were surveyed at Tiputini Biodiversity Station bordering Yasuní National Park in Eastern Amazonian Ecuador. Tree buttress complexity, surface area and other microhabitat variables were recorded. Heterophrynus batesii aggregated in groups of 2–8 animals and used large, buttressing, complex trees with more leaf litter relative to those available in the environment. This study showed that large groups of whip spiders require more complex microhabitats than smaller groups that were associated with more variable microhabitat parameters. These microhabitats act as patches of limited resources important for the species, and may have led to the evolution of tolerance and facultative group living.

Keywords

AmazonAmblypygiArachnidabuttressEcuadorgroup livinghabitat preferencePhrynidaePhrynusYasuní
Type
Short Communication
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 30 , Issue 2 , March 2014 , pp. 173 - 177
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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