Ecophysiology of Spiders

1. Front Matter

   Pages I-XI

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2. Cuticle, Temperature and Respiration

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

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   2. Chelicerate Cuticle Structure

      • John E. Dalingwater

      Pages 3-15

   3. Coloration and Chromes

      • Arthur Holl

      Pages 16-25

   4. Thermal and Water Relations

      • Ralf Pulz

      Pages 26-55

   5. Behavioural Temperature Regulation

      • William F. Humphreys

      Pages 56-65

   6. Behavioural and Physiological Adaptations to Cold

      • Walter Kirchner

      Pages 66-77

   7. Respiratory System: Structure and Function

      • Frauke Strazny, Steven F. Perry

      Pages 78-94

   8. Heart Rate and Physiological Ecology

      • James E. Carrel

      Pages 95-110

   9. Moulting Hormones

      • Jean-Claude Bonaric

      Pages 111-118

3. Glands, Silk and Webs

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 119-119

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   2. Glandular Aspects of Sexual Biology

      • André Lopez

      Pages 121-132

   3. Communication with Chemicals: Pheromones and Spiders

      • Simon D. Pollard, Aynsley M. Macnab, Robert R. Jackson

      Pages 133-141

   4. Spider Venoms and Their Effect

      • Zvonimir Maretić

      Pages 142-159

   5. Comparative Structure and Histochemistry of Silk-Producing Organs in Arachnids

      • Jacqueline Kovoor

      Pages 160-186

   6. Fine Structure and Function of Capture Threads

      • Hans M. Peters

      Pages 187-202

   7. Chemistry, Physical Properties, and Synthesis of Araneidae Orb Webs

      • Edward K. Tillinghast, Mark Townley

      Pages 203-210

   8. Ecological Aspects of Spider Webs

      • Wolfgang Nentwig, Stefan Heimer

      Pages 211-225

4. Feeding Ecology

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 227-227

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   2. Structure and Function of the Digestive Tract

      • Klaus-Günter Collatz

      Pages 229-238

Recently another book on insect physiology was published. It was restricted to a few focal points as are many of these new insect physiology books, but there was considerable depth in its specialized point of view. We were dis­ cussing the structure of this book and of insect physiology books, in general, when Prof. Remmert asked me " . . . and what about books on spider physio­ logy?" Silence. Then I started to explain "oh yes, there is a congress pro­ ceedings volume on this topic and there is a group with excellent publica­ tions on another topic . . . ", but I felt that this answer was weak. One can no longer buy the proceedings volume in a bookshop and to read a series of publications on a given topic one must search in a library for a dozen journals. Why is there not a single book on spider physiology comparable with the many books on insect physiology? Are spiders a scientific ivory tower, far from public interest and commercial importance? I do not think so, although spiders are one of the many "forgotten" animal groups which always grew in the shadow of the insects. There are research groups working on spider physiology, there are fascinating phenomena in this animal group and there are plenty of exciting results. Spiders may have been always underresearch­ ed, but research is progressing. In the last few years, new books have been published, e. g.

• adaptation
• biology
• chemistry
• ecology
• ecophysiology
• environment
• growth
• insects
• parasites
• physiology
• structure
• temperature

• Institut für Zoologie, Universität Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany

  Wolfgang Nentwig

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