Draft 2: How Does Climate Affect a Certain Species of Tarantula

This topic submitted by Alison Mouch, Kelly Alter, Audrey MacWood, Nick Anderson (MouchAG@muohio.edu; macwooab@muohio.edu; andersn1@muohio.edu; kellyalter@hotmail.com) at 9:15 pm on 11/11/01. Additions were last made on Monday, January 27, 2003. Section: Cummins

Abstract

This lab is set up to research and observe two different tarantula species and their reaction to the environment around them in varying climates. They will be tested in three different climates, one above average, one below average, and one at room temeperature. Their weight, span, food intake, and beahvior will be closely observed by the four lab members, as well as the rest of the class, for the duration of the semester. The observations will take place once a day, three times a week, for the next four weeks.

I. Introduction

Very little is known about the history of tarantulas because they have no external skeleton to fossilize (tarantulas online).

Tarantulas are different from spiders because:
-They use two sets of booklungs to breathe.
-The fangs of tanrantulas move up and down.
-They have two claws and two adhesive pads on each foot.
(Janssen)
The tarantula has long excited the imagination due to its great size and notorious hunting abilities. Known throughout the world by several different names (ex. the aranus peludas, or hairy spider, in Spanish America), the tarantula can be found in almost any country worldwide, from Central America to Australia(Tarantulas online). Here in North America, where over thirty different species of trantulas make their home, these creatures are considered quite dangerous to humans, although this stigmatism is undeserved(Bear). The majority of tarantulas, while poisonous, will not hurt humans unless thoroughly provoked(desertusa). They harbor formidable fangs that contain poison, and when threatened, the tarantula will assume an attack position by throwing itself back on its haunches and lifting up its front legs (Strener). While this stance is quite intimidating to humans, it serves as a deterant to small mammals and enemy insects(Kevan).

Tarantulas are known as one of the world's most exceptional predators because of their extreme hunting skills. The tarantula has very poor eye sight and must rely on smell to pursue and capture its prey(Douglass). Some Brazilion tarantulas have been known to eat small birds, snakes, lizards, and rodents, but most North American tarantulas feed on insects such as grasshoppers and other such creatures. These eating habits depend greatly on the tarantulas' living climate. Some species resides in areas with heavy undergrowth and dense forest, while other species make their home in very arrid, desert-like climates(Douglass). Still others have evolved to become arboreal and live in trees, which enables them to hunt small birds. Aside from these species, however, almost all tarantulas prefer to burrow into the ground and live in the safety of an earthen nest(Reichling).
The Classification of Tarantulas
Kingtom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropod
Subphlum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnid
Order: Araneae
Suborder: Opisthothelae
Family: Theraphosidae
(tarantulas online)
Tarantulas are very important to our environment because their hunting skills make up an important factor in the food chain(Vener). Tarantulas keep insect and small animal populations at bay while staying out of the way of human activity. Being a fairly anti-social creature, the tarantula poses little threat to humans while providing a much needed service to the environment.

The purpose of this lab is to study the behavior of two species of tarantulas in varied climates. We will be studying their eating consumption, weight, span, and activity level. The tarantulas will be raised each in their own container. There are six tarantulas of each species. One of each species will be put into each established climate. One at normal room temperature, one above, and one below. The containers will also be in normal room light or in an area with little or no light. We will study the tarantulas once a day, three days a week for an extended period of time. Each day the data will be recorded for further use. Our hypothesis is that the Brazilian Salmon Pink Birdeater will be more active than the California Ebony species. The question we are asking is how much, if at all, does a difference in the amount of light or the temperature change the daily activity of two different species of tarantulas. We predict that the tarantulas will be most active at room temperature and in normal light. In the below average temperature we believe that the tarantulas temperature will slow down and therefore consume less food. With this experiment we hope to find out more about tarantulas. In particular, we hope to gain more knowledge on the two specific species of tarantulas that we are raising. We want to learn about their eating habits and how they grow, and at what kind of rates. Ultimately, we hope to successfully raise twelve tarantulas. Our interest in this project stems from a reletive group interest regarding tarantulas and their importance in our ecosystem. Not to mention, we like scary bugs! We just thought that raising our own tarantulas might be more interesting than researching those which other people had already raised, not to mention it would be a good learning experience and we could ultimately start our experiment on a "clean" slate!

II. Relevence

Tarantulas are perhaps the most valuable yet the least understood of all species of spiders found worldwide. They can be located on almost every continent, in practically every country across the globe, and are widely regarded as a supreme yet dangerous hunter(Adams). What humans may not know is that most species of tarantulas are quite docile and harmless, deploying their attack mechanisms only towards their prey and not people. Tarantulas, unlike their spider counterparts, do not weave webs, but prefer to catch their prey by a pursuit and capture technique(Adams). In addition to this information, tarantulas have extremely poor eyesight, and must hunt using their other sense, particulary smell and touch(Janssen). As a group, we decided that researching tarantulas might be beneficial for many reasons. Not only were we all (for the most part) enthralled by the species, but we wanted to know how they were affected by climate change. Taking into the experiment our knowledge on how humans and other mammals react to extreme temperature changes, we were interested to find out what a tarantula's behavior might be, and how the change would affect the species physically. Through research and observation, we hope to come out of the experience with a better understanding of the tarantula species, as well as some specific information that might be helpful in comparing different species of animals worldwide and how they are affected by the changing climate and therefore changing ecosystem.

III. Materials & Methods Presentation

IV. Tarantula Data Sheet

For Further Info On This Topic, Check Out This Website: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/tarantulas/introframe.html.

Bibliography

Choosing Hunting Sites: Preferences of the Orbweaver Spider, Neoscona Crucifera, Relative to Light Cues. Journal of Insect Behavior. Adams, M.R.

Choice of Hunting Site as a Consequence of Experience in Late - Inster Crab Spiers. Oecologia. Morse, Douglass H.

Flower Choice by Naive Young Crab Spiders and the Effect of Subsequence Experience. Animal Behavior. Morse, Douglass H.

Review Behavior and Indirect Interactions in Food Webs of Plant-Inhabiting Arthropods. Experimental and Applied Acarology. Janssen, Arne... etc.

Contrasting Patch Choice Beahvior By Immature Ambush Predators, A Spider and an Insect. Ecological Entimology. Kevan, Peter G. & Grecko, Carlos F.

The Predatory Response of a Stalking Spider to Camoflage and Prey Type. Animal Behavior. Bear, Allen & Hasson, Oren.

Web Building Behavior in the Orb-Weaving Spider: Influence of Experience. Animal Behavior. Venner, Sammuel & Pasquet, Allen & Leborgne, Raymond.

WWW.tarantulas-online.com.uk/index.htm
Tarantulas Online. 24 Oct. 2001

Extreme thermostability of tarantula hemocyanin FEBS Letters Volume: 364, Issue: 1, May 1, 1995, pp. 9-12 Sterner, Reinhard; Vogl, Thomas; Hinz, Hans-Jźrgen; Penz, Franz; Hoff, Rainer; Fšll, Roman; et. al.

Phenotypic consequences of incubation temperature and feeding regimen in captive-bred tarantulas Zoo Biology Volume: 17, Issue: 5, 1998, pp. 405 - 415 Reichling, Steven B.; Gutzke, William H.N.

www.desertusa.com/july96/du_taran.html
Tarantulas. 11 Nov. 2001

Next Article
Previous Article
Return to the Topic Menu