What can you learn from a spider?

That is the question isn't it?  Another way to phrase it might be, "Why bother studying spiders, especially those "icky" jumping ones?  Good question!  Read on for an answer.

Lots, tons even, of research has been done on spiders in general.  As with much of reality, the things we humans focus on are often those that catch our eye or make us afraid.  Jumping spiders, being the charismatic mini-fauna that they are, are no exception.  With that in mind it is no wonder that salticids have been studied so extensively.  What may not be readily obvious to most people though, is that the scientists often have other motivating factors as well.  For instance, as was discussed in the previous post, salticids are pretty dang odd for a spider and if there is one thing that scientists love to study, it is an exception.

So what have we learned from salticids so far?  Well one thing we have definitely learned is that in spite of having a brain that would fit on the head of a pin with room to spare, salticids are actually quite capable learners.  In fact, research during the last few decades has shown that salticids are capable of learning from their mistakes in a trial-and-error fashion (Jackson & Wilcox 1993), learning to avoid many different kinds of noxious (unpleasant) stimuli (Skow 2006), and even how to take detours in order to reach a goal(Carducci & Jakob 2000).  If that list isn't too impressive sounding, think about how long it can take some dogs to learn a new trick; some spiders show learning after only 2-3 attempts!

This lovely diagram was borrowed from the "Find a Spider Guide."
 http://www.findaspider.org.au/info/spiderNS.htm

We have also learned that the environment a spider is reared in effects how it develops (Carducci & Jakob 2000).  While much of what has been learned from salticids is not directly applicable to humans, this particular finding is definitely applicable!  For example, using the findings from Carducci and Jakob's study, we can draw inferences about how the environment we raise our children in will effect their future mental development. Not bad for a little spider research!

This list of salticid (and spider) based contributions goes on but suffice to say, these little animals are teaching us quite a lot about our world and how things work within it.  My personal research on jumping spiders is about their ability to learn by watching each other.  While much of my work is still in progress, I can say that so far, they definitely seem to be among the handful of non-human organisms that are capable of learning this way.  Stay tuned for more updates!

What does it mean to be a jumping spider?

Have you ever wondered what it means to be a jumping spider?  If you're like most people, then the answer is very likely no.  If, however, you are one of those rare souls who have pondered such a point, then I say good for you!  Either way, today's post will focus on jumping spiders and what makes them so special as a family of spiders.

First and foremost, as with many rules in science there are exceptions. Today, however, we will stick to the traits common to most jumping spiders.

Jumping spiders are unique in several ways, but our focus will be on the three biggest differences that set them apart from other spiders. These differences are:

1. No webs
2. Excellent vision
3. Very smart

No webs
Unlike most other spiders, jumping spiders do not spin webs for prey capture, but rather hunt them like miniature, eight-legged cats.  They do still produce silk, and it is used in hunting, but not for prey capture.  Rather, they use the silk as a safety line, similar to a rock climber's rope.

Dragline and attachment point on glass. (Frank's Photo Essays)

The dragline ensures that when they jump, either after a prey item or to cross a gap, they have a backup if they miss.  Salticids also use silk to make retreats (the spider equivalent of a sleeping bag)
and for egg sacs, which are usually deposited in the females retreat.

Salticid in retreat. (Brisbane Insects and Spiders)

Excellent Vision
Jumping spiders have quite excellent vision which they use to find and stalk their prey.  They are able to see a broad range of colors, and some even in UV!  While they can see at a fairly high level of resolution, it is not quite as good as ours. Also, how they process things visually is a bit different from humans as well.  Here are two examples that might help you better understand their vision. Please bear in mind that the examples are only approximations.

Example 1:
Jumping spiders see a lot detail, but not as well as us.  If we see in 1080p, then a jumping spider sees what a normal television would display.  Compare the two pictures below, one in "Human vision" (High res) and one in "Spider vision" (Low res). 

"Human vision" vs. "Spider vision" (Borrowed from Wedding by Color)

Example 2:
To get all of the detail that they are able, jumping spiders sacrifice the speed of image acquisition.  In other words, when you look at a picture, you see it all  at one and process it almost instantly.  Jumping spiders, on the other hand, have to process things line by line.  I often use the comparison of a cable modem versus an old dial up 28k modem.  If human vision is high-speed internet, then jumpers are confined to the slow, but effective world of dial-up. 




Very Smart

Jumping spiders are able to do some very interesting and complex behavior considering their tiny size and even tinier "brains". Some of the more interesting things we've discovered these little predators can do include planning routes to prey items, trial and error learning, adaptive hunting techniques that vary based on previous experience with prey items, and my own research suggests that they are even capable of learning about something just by watching it.  Pretty amazing considering the brain of most of these little guys is smaller than the head of a pin!

So remember, the next time you see one of these fascinating little creatures, think twice before you decide that it needs to meet the bottom of your shoe.  The life you spare may just make your own more interesting