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First published online March 2, 2006
Journal of Experimental Biology 209, 1074-1084 (2006)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2006
doi: 10.1242/jeb.02104

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Seismic signal production in a wolf spider: parallel versus serial multi-component signals

Damian O. Elias^1,2,*, Norman Lee¹, Eileen A. Hebets³ and Andrew C. Mason¹

¹ Division of Life Sciences, Integrative Behaviour and Neuroscience, University of Toronto at Scarborough, Ontario, M1C 1A4, Canada
² Departments of Zoology and Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z4, Canada
³ School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA

View larger version (35K): [in a new window]   Fig. 1. Seismic rev displays of Schizocosa stridulans. (A) Bout of rev displays. (B) Detail from red box in A. Top panel (i) shows body positions, with letters (a–d) illustrating movements of the palpal tibio-cymbial joint and abdomen. Middle panels (ii) show the oscillogram of rev displays. Bottom panels (iii) show a spectrogram of rev displays. Panels are shown in the same time scale, with letters (a–d) corresponding to the body movements illustrated in i. Signals begin with a flexion of the palpal tibio-cymbial joint (b–c) followed by abdominal vibrations (c–d). Palpal movements correspond to the production of high frequencies, and abdominal movements correspond with the production of low frequencies.

View larger version (29K): [in a new window]   Fig. 2. Effects of male experimental manipulation on power spectra of rev displays. (i) Oscillogram of rev display; (ii) power spectra of rev display; (iii) experimental treatment. (A) Control treatment. (B) Palpal treatment. Experimental treatment consisted of waxing the tibio-cymbial joint of the palp, rendering the joint immovable. High frequencies were attenuated following manipulation. (C) Abdominal treatment. Experimental treatment consisted of waxing the cephalothorax–abdomen joint, rendering the joint immovable. Low frequencies were attenuated following manipulation. (D) Palpal and abdominal treatment. Experimental treatment consisted of waxing the tibio-cymbial joint of the palp and waxing the cephalothorax–abdomen joint, rendering both joints immovable relative to each other. All signals were attenuated following manipulation.

View larger version (11K): [in a new window]   Fig. 3. Effects of experimental treatments on rev displays. Within treatment pairs (control and experimental), peak intensities were normalized to the maximum intensity produced. Graphs show average dB differences for each treatment type. (A) Palpal treatment. Experimental treatment attenuated high frequencies (**P<0.001, paired t-test). No significant difference was observed for low frequencies (ns, not significant). (B) Abdominal treatment. Experimental treatment attenuated low frequencies (*P<0.05, paired t-test). No significant difference was observed for high frequencies (ns). (C) Palpal and abdominal treatment. Experimental treatment attenuated both low and high frequencies (**P<0.001, paired t-test).

View larger version (35K): [in a new window]   Fig. 4. Seismic idle displays of Schizocosa stridulans. (A) Body positions with columns (i–iii) illustrating movements of the palpal tibio-cymbial joint. (B) Oscillogram of idle displays. (C) Spectrogram of idle displays. Panels are shown in the same time scale, with columns corresponding to the body movements illustrated in A. Signals begin with leg tapping, followed by flexions of the palpal tibio-cymbial joint. Palpal movements correspond to the production of high frequencies.

View larger version (29K): [in a new window]   Fig. 5. Effects of male experimental manipulation on power spectra of idle displays. (i) Oscillogram of idle display; (ii) power spectra of idle display; (iii) experimental treatment. (A) Control treatment. (B) Palpal treatment. Experimental treatment consisted of waxing the tibio-cymbial joint of the palp, rendering the joint immovable. Percussive components were unaffected while stridulatory components were attenuated following manipulation. (C) Abdominal treatment. Experimental treatment consisted of waxing the cephalothorax–abdomen joint, rendering the joint immovable. No seismic components were affected following manipulation. (D) Palpal and abdominal treatment. Experimental treatment consisted of waxing the tibio-cymbial joint of the palp and waxing the cephalothorax–abdomen joint, rendering both joints immovable relative to each other. Percussive components were unaffected while stridulatory/tremulation components were attenuated following manipulation.

View larger version (70K): [in a new window]   Fig. 6. SEM of tibio-cymbial joint on the male palp of S. stridulans. (A) S. stridulans courtship posture. Arrow shows position of the tibio-cymbial joint. (B) Scraper on the dorsal surface of male cymbium. (C) File on the inner ventral surface of the base of the tarsus.