title: Octopamine and serotonin have opposite effects on antipredator behavior in the orb-weaving spider, Larinioides cornutus.
abstract: In this study, we experimentally elevated levels of octopamine and serotonin in an orb-weaving spider, and observed the effects on the antipredator behavior thanatosis (death feigning), activity level, and running speed. We found that octopamine significantly shortened the duration of thanatosis, and its effect wore off over 24 h. We also found that serotonin significantly lengthened thanatosis, but in this case, the effect persisted for over 24 h. Neither octopamine nor serotonin affected the general activity or running speed of the spiders. To our knowledge, this is the first study to directly explore the role of biogenic amines on a specific antipredator behavior in spiders. Given that spiders must be both aggressive toward prey, yet wary of predators, we believe that this system will be an outstanding model to explore connections between behavioral ecology and neurochemistry.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA. jonestc@etsu.edu
authors.forename: Thomas C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Tamer S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Akoury
authors.forename: Christopher K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Hauser
authors.forename: Michael F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Neblett
authors.forename: Brent J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Linville
authors.forename: Andrea A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Edge
authors.forename: Nathaniel O
authors.initials: NO
authors.lastname: Weber
mesh_terms: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D006185:Habituation, Psychophysiologic / Q000187:drug effects; D046353:Immobility Response, Tonic / Q000187:drug effects*; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009655:Octopamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011235:Predatory Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013112:Spiders / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D009655:Octopamine; D012701:Serotonin