Orb-Weaving Spiders Display Increased Ability to Reproduce in Urban Areas

Researchers noticed that orb-weaving spiders may grow larger and display an increased ability to reproduce in urban areas.

The study led by Elizabeth Lowe from the University of Sydney, Australia, found that the common orb-weaving spiders may grow larger and have an increased ability to reproduce while residing in urban areas.

Urbanization has brought a dramatic change in landscape, local climate and even the organism that inhabit the region. Most of the organisms fail to survive due to lack of resources in the urban environment and other organisms thrive, at times more than what they do in their native habitat. This is evident by the size of the organism.

In this study, the researchers looked at the alterations of the physical attributes of the orb-weaving spider that is found in both urban and natural areas. This was done using multiple environment variables. The degree of urbanization at various sites such as Sydney in Australia was quantified and they examined the changes in the body size of the orb-weaving spider, the fat reserves and the weight of the ovary.

They noticed that in areas where there was more vegetation cover the spiders had smaller bodies; and in areas where there was urban development the spiders had larger.

They also noticed that the reproductive ability of the spider that was measured by increased ovary weight was increased in higher socioeconomic areas like areas with hard surfaces or leaf litter.

According to the authors, "the larger size and increased reproductive capacity of orb-weaving spiders in urban areas further support the idea that some species may benefit from habitat changes associated with urbanization."

The study documented in the journal PLOS One.