Degree Name
MS (Master of Science)
Program
Biology
Date of Award
12-2010
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Thomas C. Jones
Committee Members
David S. Roane, Darrell J. Moore
Abstract
Anelosimus studiosus is a socially polyphenic spider. Individuals can be classified as social/tolerant or solitary/aggressive. These behavioral differences are associated with considerable variation in social structure. Here, we begin to examine the physiological differences that may underlie the behavioral dimorphism in this species and possible implications for the evolution of sociality. Octopamine is a neurotransmitter that has been found to elevate aggression in invertebrates. Serotonin has been shown, in some cases, to interact antagonistically with octopamine. We used High Pressure Liquid Chromatography with Electrochemical Detection to quantify levels of these neurochemicals among adult females from social (multi-female) and solitary (single-female) webs in east Tennessee. A subset of spiders was scored for individual social tendency. We found that higher octopamine levels are associated with a greater degree of aggression and intolerance, both at the individual level and the population level, while higher levels of serotonin are found in multi-female colonies and social individuals.
Document Type
Thesis - unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Price, Jennifer Bryson, "Neurochemical Levels Correlate with Population Level Differences in Social Structure and Individual Behavior in the Polyphenic Spider, Anelosimus studiosus." (2010). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 1760. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1760
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.