Cbiology

Hey there, we are in the same evo class. I just wanted to try out this talk thing. -David(sluology) Sluology (talk) 03:13, 30 August 2015 (UTC)

Welcome!

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If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me on my talk page. Ian (Wiki Ed) (talk) 15:54, 28 August 2015 (UTC)

References: Sexual Dimorphism in spider Nephila species

You should move these to the talk page of the study species so that more users will come across them and can comment on them! Also, you might consider diversifying your authors: Elgar is on 3 of the 4. Might there be a popsci article on spider size dimorphism that is useful? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Evol&Glass (talk • contribs) 18:53, 21 September 2015 (UTC)

Below are my references to the sexual dimorphism in the spider Nephila species along with my own comments on the articles. Feel free to comment!

1. Elgar, Mark A., and Babette F. Fahey. "Sexual Cannibalism, Competition, and Size Dimorphism in the Orb-weaving Spider Nephila Plumipes Latreille (Araneae: Araneoidea)." Behavioral Ecology 7.2 (1996): 195. Environment Complete. Web. 20 Sept. 2015.

Link: http://ezp.slu.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eih&AN=8479804&site=eds-live

1. Kuntner, Matjaž, and Mark A. Elgar. "Evolution and Maintenance of Sexual Size Dimorphism: Aligning Phylogenetic and Experimental Evidence." Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution Front. Ecol. Evol. 2 (2014). Google Scholar. Web. 19 Sept. 2015.

Link: http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2014.00026

1. Kuntner, Matjaž, Shichang Zhang, Matjaž Gregorič, and Daiqin Li. "Nephila Female Gigantism Attained through Post-maturity Molting." Journal of Arachnology 40.3 (2012): 345-47. JSTOR Journals. Web. 19 Sept. 2015.

Link: http://www.jstor.org.ezp.slu.edu/stable/41758984

1. Schneider, Jutta, and Mark Elgar. "The Combined Effects of Pre- and Post-Insemination Sexual Selection on Extreme Variation in Male Body Size." Evolutionary Ecology 19.5 (2005): 419. Edb. Web. 20 Sept. 2015.

Link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10682-005-8310-6

I found several citations which help link the sexual dimorphism in spiders to several tested possibilities. There seems to be some disagreement in the scientific community in the cause of the difference in size of males and females, with females being smaller. The Journal of Arachnology article titled "Nephila Female Gigantism Attained through Post-maturity Molting." gave evidence for the Nephila pilipes that the large size difference was significantly affected by the female spiders continued molting after maturity which increased there carapaces, outer shell, size. While Nephila plumipes Latreille spider study in the Behavioral Ecology article "Sexual Cannibalism, Competition, and Size Dimorphism in the Orb-weaving Spider” explained the sexual dimorphism as a product of two competing selections, one that smaller males are preferred by females as they are less likely to be cannibalized but, that when males compete between each other the larger males win. Other evidence of the species sexual dimorphism comes from the Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution article which explained through an examination of the species as a whole that the size selection for both males and females is moving toward larger animals but, that the rate of male spider growth is less than that of female spiders. Then the article from Evolutionary Ecology also supported the idea that there are different forces acting on the selection of males which males reproductive success favor larger and smaller spiders in different ways whereas females reproductive success was greater when they are larger not smaller. These articles are all a starting point for further examination of what are the key factors influencing sexual dimorphism in the golden orb weaver.

You should move all of this to the talk page of the study organism so the wikipedia community can weigh in! 24.217.36.222 (talk)

Hi I have just added the following section to Nephila_pilipes page:

Sexual Dimorphism

Nephila pilipes displays sexual dimorphism, where there is distinct difference between male and females of the species. This can be seen in Nephila pilipes as the female spiders are much larger than their male counterparts. Some research, such as that done by Dr. Kuntner, Dr. Zhang, Dr. Gregorič, and Dr. Li suggests that the females are able to become larger than males is due to their continued molting, shedding and outgrowing of skin to make way for new skin after growth. Males have been observed to have less frequent molts after reaching maturity while females continue to molt at a higher frequency. These molting continue to occur in females as they age except during times of high copulation where it may be a non-advantageous to continue to grow as sperm is fertilizing eggs.