The mating strategy of Phidippus johnsoni (Araneae, salticidae)

Abstract

1. ‘Persistence’ is defined as male courtship duration during interactions in which females failed to mate. Males of P. johnsoni were collected from habitats with differing climates, and their persistence was compared in the laboratory. 2. Beach habitats (California, sea level, ca. 100 m from the ocean) had a constant mild climate compared to the Coastal Range (California, 400–900 m elevation). Alpine habitats (Wyoming, 3,000 m) were intermediate. 3. The mating season (months during which adult males and females were simultaneously present) was shortest in the Coastal Range (2 months), longest in Beach populations (8 months), and intermediate in the Alpine population (3–4 months). Interpopulational variation in phenology seems related to differences in local climate. 4. Coastal Range males were the most persistent (mean, 3.3 min); Beach males were the least persistent (1.9 min); and Alpine males were intermediate (2.7 min). This trend seems to be related to interpopulational variation in phenology.