Impact of Negative Environmental Exposures on Brush-legged Wolf Spider Male Courtship Behavior

Abstract

Record ID: 227

Award(s): Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentorship; Excellence in Research Communication

Program Affiliation: Capstone

Presentation Type: Poster

Abstract: Physiological stressors, such as pathogenic infection from bacteria and environmental contaminants like the heavy metal Lead (Pb) , can impact a wide range of animal taxa. Wolf spiders in the genus Schizocosa have been used as model species due to their complex mating systems, in which physiology and health of individuals is a factor. The effects of lead exposure, pathogenic infection, and a combination of both on male-female mating interactions was tested. Juvenile spiders were collected in autumn and reared to maturity in the lab. These spiders were assigned to several treatments: infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, exposed to 5k PPM lead in soil, both infected and exposed, and a control (uninfected, unexposed). Males and females from each treatment were paired (Infected x Control, Pb x Control, Pb x Infected, Control x Control) in mating trials. Videos of interactions were recorded for up to 30 minutes and were then scored using the animal behavior software BORIS.  Results suggest that lead exposure and infection may impact the complex courtship behaviors of males, as well as female receptivity and resistance to mating.