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Digest: Behavioral plasticity under nutritional stress in nursery web spiders ensures equal reproductive success
Alissa M Doucet1,2, Ignatius Putra Andika3, Jordy Hernandez3
1Committee on Evolutionary Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States.
Abstract:
How do nursery web spiders balance the costs of mating and foraging to maximize their reproductive success? Toft and Albo (2025) show that female Pisaura mirabilis demonstrate behavioral plasticity in mating strategies dependent on food availability. Females showed flexibility in mating numbers and aggressive behaviors based on hunger, resulting in equal reproductive outcomes. This study reveals an optimal mating strategy shaped by environmental stress, highlighting behavioral plasticity in nuptial gift-giving species and suggesting reproductive success under variable environmental conditions. Key Words: Behavioral plasticity, Pisaura mirabilis, nuptial gift-giving, optimal polyandry.
