Mate quality, not aggressive spillover, explains sexual cannibalism in a size dimorphic spider

• Authors: KRALJ-FIŠER Simona; SCHNEIDER J.M.; JUSTINEK Z.; KALIN S.; GREGORIČ M.; PEKÁR Stanislav; KUNTNER M.
• Year of publication: 2012
• Type: Article in Periodical
• Magazine / Source: Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology
• MU Faculty or unit: Faculty of Science
• Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00265-011-1262-7
• Field: Zoology
• Keywords: Personality; Mate choice; Sexual conflict; Aggressiveness; Behavioral syndromes; Boldness
• Description: We tested several hypotheses on a sexually dimorphic nephilid spider Nephilengys livida, known for male monopolization of females via genital damage, female genital plugging, and mate guarding, by staging mating trials during which we recorded mating behaviors and occurrences of pre- and postcopulatory cannibalism.

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