Sex Role–Dependent Behavioral and Architectural Divergence in a Jumping Spider

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  Sex Role–Dependent Behavioral and Architectural Divergence in a Jumping Spider ABSTRACT Sex differences in behavior and functional traits are often attributed to differences in mating effort intensity, but the role of sex-specific parental demands remains poorly understood. Using the jumping spider Toxeus maxillosus —where males engage in mate searching and courtship without providing parental care, while females provide extended maternal care from egg attendance to offspring maturity (around 3 months)—we conducted an exploratory investigation into whether these distinct selective pressures led to divergence in spatial behaviors and nest architecture. Results revealed that males and females showed equivalent accuracy, latency, and learning-related performance in both a route-planning test under water stress and a color-pattern associative memory task. In contrast, during nest-construction assays, females built complex, multi-entrance structures that closely matched the container'...

Arthropod-related vehicle collisions increase harvestmen populations along road verges

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Arthropod-related vehicle collisions increase harvestmen populations along road verges

Abstract

The expansion of road networks has been instrumental in facilitating human mobility and economic development. However, this infrastructure presents significant challenges to ecological systems. While most research focusses on the ecology of vertebrates, the potential effects on invertebrates remain understudied. This study investigated the impact of roads on the abundance and diversity of ground-dwelling arthropods, specifically harvestmen (Arachnida: Opiliones) and ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae). The results showed that the distance from the road positively influenced the abundance (but not diversity) of beetles, while both the abundance and diversity of the harvestmen were highest near the roads. Further analysis revealed that dead insects were significantly more common near high-speed road sections compared to low-speed sections, probably due to increased road collisions. The abundance of harvestmen (but not beetles) was significantly affected by the presence of dead insects. Mediation analysis showed that high speed roads influence harvestmen abundance indirectly through its effect on dead insects abundance. It seems that the carabid beetles avoided the high-speed sections of the roads. Our findings suggest that roads causes mortality of flying insects via collisions but also serve as an important food source for scavengers such as harvestmen. Thus, road collisions with arthropods generate conditions similar to those observed for vertebrate scavengers feeding on roadkill.
Litavský, J., Prokop, P., Majzlan, O., & Žarnovičan, H. (2025). Arthropod-related vehicle collisions increase harvestmen populations along road verges. Acta Oecologica, 128, 104114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actao.2025.104114