Light dictates animal behavior through light dependent systems such as circadian rhythms and vision. Circadian rhythms dictate metabolism and motivate foraging whereas visual abilities guide foraging, mating, and many other vital behaviors. Most behaviors of arthropods are cyclical and entrained by light environment, which varies throughout the day. Wolf spiders are a great example of arthropods that rely upon light for foraging and dictating behaviors. Many species of wolf spiders forage visually in brighter light environments and time their activity with light levels. However, natural light levels are being masked by artificial light at night and it is currently unknown how wolf spiders will respond to different levels of artificial light at night. This project led by LEC postdoc Brett Seymoure tests the foraging abilities of nocturnal wolf spiders under differing levels of light that correspond to different phases of the lunar cycle as well as different levels of artificial light at night. The results will inform us on both the natural ecology of wolf spider behaviors as well as illuminate the effects of artificial light at night on a very important predator in food webs.
Natural and artificial light alter foraging behavior and visual physiology in wolf spiders