Mediation of a plant-spider association by specific volatile compounds

Type of content
Journal Article
Thesis discipline
Degree name
Publisher
University of Canterbury. Biological Sciences
University of Canterbury. Chemistry
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Language
Date
2012
Authors
Nelson, X.J.
Pratt, A.J.
Cheseto, X.
Torto, B.
Jackson, R.R.
Abstract

Evarcha culicivora, an East African jumping spider (Salticidae), is the only spider for which there is evidence of innate olfactory affinity for particular plant species. E. culicivora also actively chooses as preferred prey the females of Anopheles mosquitoes, and both sexes of Anopheles are known to visit plants for nectar meals. Here we identify compounds present in the headspace of one of these species in Kenya, Lantana camara, and then use 11 of these compounds in olfactometer experiments. Our findings show that three terpenes ((E)-β-caryophyllene, α-humulene and 1,8 cineole) can be discriminated by, and are salient to, E. culicivora. The spiders experienced no prior training with plants or the compounds we used. This is the first experimental demonstration of specific phytochemicals being innately attractive to a spider, a group normally characterized as predators.

Description
Citation
Nelson, X.J., Pratt, A.J., Cheseto, X., Torto, B., Jackson, R.R. (2012) Mediation of a plant-spider association by specific volatile compounds. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 38(9), pp. 1081-1092.
Keywords
plant-arthropod interactions, Evarcha culicivora, Lantana camara, Salticidae, sensory ecology, plant volatiles
Ngā upoko tukutuku/Māori subject headings
ANZSRC fields of research
Fields of Research::31 - Biological sciences::3109 - Zoology::310913 - Invertebrate biology
Fields of Research::31 - Biological sciences::3101 - Biochemistry and cell biology::310101 - Analytical biochemistry
Fields of Research::31 - Biological sciences::3109 - Zoology::310901 - Animal behaviour
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