A Spider Species Is Becoming More Aggressive Due to Hurricanes
A Spider Species Is Becoming
More Aggressive Due to Hurricanes.
A new study says habitat loss caused by the storms
is causing the arachnid to evolve through
natural selection.
The analysis was documented in
'Nature Ecology and Evolution.'.
According to the study, the number of
flying insects decline in areas struck by hurricanes.
This has left aggressive members of the species Anelosimus studiosus to be more likely to survive.
It is due to them being more efficient hunters
and re-producers than calmer versions.
The spiders are known for hanging around bodies of water and their colonies are often in areas
where a tropical cyclone has struck.
For the study, researchers observed colonies throughout three storms last year.
They then discovered that groups who behaved
more aggressively had a better chance of survival.
Researchers add that the spiders do not
express their aggressive attitude
towards humans, but to only rivals in nature.
If our goal is to anticipate future conditions of the planet, we have to get a handle on what these extreme events do. It might turn out that hurricanes are great for organisms, but we don't know whether that is true or not, Study lead author Jonathan Pruitt, via 'USA Today'
More Aggressive Due to Hurricanes.
A new study says habitat loss caused by the storms
is causing the arachnid to evolve through
natural selection.
The analysis was documented in
'Nature Ecology and Evolution.'.
According to the study, the number of
flying insects decline in areas struck by hurricanes.
This has left aggressive members of the species Anelosimus studiosus to be more likely to survive.
It is due to them being more efficient hunters
and re-producers than calmer versions.
The spiders are known for hanging around bodies of water and their colonies are often in areas
where a tropical cyclone has struck.
For the study, researchers observed colonies throughout three storms last year.
They then discovered that groups who behaved
more aggressively had a better chance of survival.
Researchers add that the spiders do not
express their aggressive attitude
towards humans, but to only rivals in nature.
If our goal is to anticipate future conditions of the planet, we have to get a handle on what these extreme events do. It might turn out that hurricanes are great for organisms, but we don't know whether that is true or not, Study lead author Jonathan Pruitt, via 'USA Today'