Abstract
Time of oviposition and investment in reproduction output are a crucial decision for animals which could affect their fitness. In this study, the factors determining the time of oviposition and the consequences it has for clutch size and juvenile survival were investigated in the orb-web spider Argiope bruennichi. Egg-sacs laid at different times in the field were collected and inspected for eggs, hatching success and presence of parasites. Relationships between spider body condition, clutch size and time of oviposition were established. The influence of supplementary food on the number of eggs in a clutch and on the time of oviposition was determined both in the field and laboratory. Early clutches were larger and the eggs in late clutches were not heavier than those in early clutches indicating that spiders invested more in eggs at the beginning of the reproductive period. Furthermore, eggs in late egg-sacs were less likely to hatch and more likely to be parasitized. Clutch size was linked to spider body condition but not the time of oviposition. In the field, additional food to females resulted in larger clutches but did not influence the time of oviposition. Laboratory experiments showed that the daily rate of prey consumption affected egg oviposition.
Highlights
Fitness in animals is often dependent on time of oviposition and reproductive output
The factors determining the time of oviposition and the consequences it has for clutch size and juvenile survival were investigated in the orb-web spider Argiope bruennichi
Many different factors influence the time of oviposition: level of resources for juveniles, body condition of the female, conflict between the sexes, mating strategy, egg parasitism
Summary
Fitness in animals is often dependent on time of oviposition and reproductive output. Body condition determined by the quantity of food ingested could influence the time of oviposition in two ways: females may complete their development and that of their eggs. In Stegodyphus lineatus females delay time of oviposition to avoid male infanticide (Schneider, 1999) and plasticity in oviposition time may have evolved as a result of this type of conflict (Elgar, 1992; Schneider & Lubin, 1998) This last model is appropriate for species of spiders that exhibit maternal behaviour: i.e. females actively guard and defend their egg-sacs. Males die before the females lay eggs and the females do not guard their egg-sac (Foelix, 1996) In such species, other factors are likely to determine the time of oviposition. We first established that the time of oviposition has a direct effect on reproductive success and secondly that foraging effort affects egg production and the time of oviposition
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