Scheda di dettaglio – i prodotti della ricerca
| Dato | Valore |
|---|---|
| Title | Cave spiders choose optimal environmental factors with respect to the generated entropy when laying their cocoon |
| Abstract | The choice of a suitable area to spiders where to lay eggs is promoted in terms of Darwinian fitness. Despite its importance, the underlying factors behind this key decision are generally poorly understood. Here, we designed a multidisciplinary study based both on in-field data and laboratory experiments focusing on the European cave spider Meta menardi (Araneae, Tetragnathidae) and aiming at understanding the selective forces driving the female in the choice of the depositional area. Our in-field data analysis demonstrated a major role of air velocity and distance from the cave entrance within a particular cave in driving the female choice. This has been interpreted using a model based on the Entropy Generation Minimization - EGM - method, without invoking best fit parameters and thanks to independent lab experiments, thus demonstrating that the female chooses the depositional area according to minimal level of thermo-fluid-dynamic irreversibility. This methodology may pave the way to a novel approach in understanding evolutionary strategies for other living organisms. |
| Source | Scientific reports (Nature Publishing Group) 5 |
| Keywords | cocoon |
| Journal | Scientific reports (Nature Publishing Group) |
| Editor | Nature Publishing Group, London, Regno Unito |
| Year | 2015 |
| Type | Articolo in rivista |
| DOI | 10.1038/srep07611 |
| Authors | Chiavazzo, Eliodoro; Isaia, Marco; Mammola, Stefano; Lepore, Emiliano; Ventola, Luigi; Asinari, Pietro; Pugno, Nicola Maria |
| Text | 412054 2015 10.1038/srep07611 ISI Web of Science WOS 000347794400002 cocoon Cave spiders choose optimal environmental factors with respect to the generated entropy when laying their cocoon Chiavazzo, Eliodoro; Isaia, Marco; Mammola, Stefano; Lepore, Emiliano; Ventola, Luigi; Asinari, Pietro; Pugno, Nicola Maria Politecn Torino; Univ Turin; Univ Trento; Bruno Kessler Fdn; Queen Mary Univ The choice of a suitable area to spiders where to lay eggs is promoted in terms of Darwinian fitness. Despite its importance, the underlying factors behind this key decision are generally poorly understood. Here, we designed a multidisciplinary study based both on in field data and laboratory experiments focusing on the European cave spider Meta menardi Araneae, Tetragnathidae and aiming at understanding the selective forces driving the female in the choice of the depositional area. Our in field data analysis demonstrated a major role of air velocity and distance from the cave entrance within a particular cave in driving the female choice. This has been interpreted using a model based on the Entropy Generation Minimization EGM method, without invoking best fit parameters and thanks to independent lab experiments, thus demonstrating that the female chooses the depositional area according to minimal level of thermo fluid dynamic irreversibility. This methodology may pave the way to a novel approach in understanding evolutionary strategies for other living organisms. 5 Published version Articolo in rivista Nature Publishing Group 2045 2322 Scientific reports Nature Publishing Group Scientific reports Nature Publishing Group Scientific reports Nature Publishing Group stefano.mammola MAMMOLA STEFANO |