Cuticular antifungals in spiders: density- and condition dependence

Area of Science:

• Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
• Chemical Ecology
• Animal Behavior

Background:

• Group living in animals increases disease transmission risk.
• Cuticular antimicrobials are a primary defense against infection in arthropods.
• Group-living spiders were investigated for their production of antifungal compounds.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if group-living spiders modulate cuticular antifungal activity based on population density.
• To assess the relationship between antifungal activity, spider body condition, and density.
• To investigate the energetic costs associated with producing cuticular antifungals.

Main Methods:

• Quantified cuticular antifungal activity in the crab spider *Diaea ergandros*.
• Studied spiders in natural and experimentally manipulated nests of varying densities.
• Assessed spider body condition and its correlation with antifungal activity and density.

Main Results:

• Cuticular antifungal activity was not dependent on spider density or body condition.
• Spider body condition decreased with density in natural nests but increased in experimental nests.
• Pathogen pressure in nature may maintain high antifungal activity, potentially at an energetic cost.

Conclusions:

• Group living in *Diaea ergandros* does not alter antifungal chemical production in response to density.
• A potential trade-off exists between disease prevention and individual energetic condition in social spiders.
• Further research is needed to identify antifungal compounds and understand their physiological impact.