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  • Book
  • © 2013

Spider Ecophysiology

  • Comprehensive reviews of all relevant recent research results

  • With contributions by renowned spider experts

  • Presents basic biological data and potential industrial applications

  • With numerous excellent illustrations

  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

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Table of contents (37 chapters)

  1. Venom

    1. The Cytotoxic Mode of Action of the Venom of Cupiennius salei (Ctenidae)

      • Lucia Kuhn-Nentwig, Wolfgang Nentwig
      Pages 217-228
    2. Spider Venoms Potentially Lethal to Humans

      • Wolfgang Nentwig, Lucia Kuhn-Nentwig
      Pages 253-264
  2. Silk

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 265-265
    2. Aggregate Silk Gland Secretions of Araneoid Spiders

      • Mark A. Townley, Edward K. Tillinghast
      Pages 283-302
    3. Cribellar Thread

      • Brent D. Opell
      Pages 303-315
  3. Colouration

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 317-317
    2. Structural Colors in Spiders

      • Rainer F. Foelix, Bruno Erb, David E. Hill
      Pages 333-347
    3. UV and Camouflage in Crab Spiders (Thomisidae)

      • Marie E. Herberstein, Felipe M. Gawryszewski
      Pages 349-359
    4. Rapid Colour Change in Spiders

      • Judith Wunderlin, Christian Kropf
      Pages 361-370
  4. Nutrition

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 371-371
    2. Nutritional Aspects of Spider Feeding

      • Søren Toft
      Pages 373-384
    3. Herbivory in Spiders

      • Dirk Sanders
      Pages 385-391
    4. Artificial Diets for Spiders

      • Divina M. Amalin
      Pages 393-400
  5. Ecotoxicology

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 401-401
    2. Effects of Heavy Metal Contamination

      • PaweÅ‚ Migula, Grażyna Wilczek, Agnieszka BabczyÅ„ska
      Pages 403-414

About this book

With over 43,000 species, spiders are the largest predacious arthropod group. They have developed key characteristics such as multi-purpose silk types, venoms consisting of hundreds of components, locomotion driven by muscles and hydraulic pressure, a highly evolved key-lock mechanism between the complex genital structures, and many more unique features. After 300 million years of evolutionary refinement, spiders are present in all land habitats and represent one of the most successful groups of terrestrial organisms.

Ecophysiology combines functional and evolutionary aspects of morphology, physiology, biochemistry and molecular biology with ecology. Cutting-edge science in spiders focuses on the circulatory and respiratory system, locomotion and dispersal abilities, the immune system, endosymbionts and pathogens, chemical communication, gland secretions, venom components, silk structure, structure and perception of colours as well as nutritional requirements. Spiders are valuable indicator species in agroecosystems and for conservation biology. Modern transfer and application technologies research spiders and their products with respect to their value for biomimetics, material sciences, and the agrochemical and pharmaceutical industries.

Editors and Affiliations

  • Inst. Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

    Wolfgang Nentwig

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access