Trapped in her web: Integrative biology researcher receives funds for spider cannibalism research

Trapped in her web: Integrative biology researcher receives funds for spider cannibalism research

Wednesday, August 21, 2024

Media Contact: Elizabeth Gosney | CAS Marketing and Communications Manager | 405-744-7497 | [email protected]

Dr. Shawn Wilder, an associate professor in Oklahoma State University's Department of Integrative Biology, was awarded $541,373 from the National Science Foundation for his project "Testing How Nutrients Affect Offspring Traits Using Cannibalism as a Model System."

Wilder and his Ph.D. student, Colton Herzog, will use the NSF funds to advance knowledge of spider species that engage in sexual cannibalism, which is when the female eats the male before, during or after mating.

"Studies have shown that females benefit from eating the male, including in some spiders where the male is very small compared to the female," Wilder said. "This implies that there's some nutrient in the male body that can increase female fitness when consumed at low concentrations, such as a micronutrient or other type of dietary essential nutrient.

"My students and I will be conducting experiments to identify which chemicals in the male body are responsible for the benefits of sexual cannibalism to females."

Wilder said that by further developing an understanding of these nutrients, comparisons could be made to other animals.

"Nutrition can be complex, as there are many potential chemicals that could affect the fitness of animals," Wilder said. "The goal of this study is to identify which micronutrients or dietary essential nutrients contribute to offspring success in spiders, with the hope that some of these chemicals are also beneficial to other animals."

As the duo builds their web of researchers, Wilder is focused on giving students unique experiences that will benefit their academic and professional careers.

"This research will provide an opportunity to train undergraduate and graduate students in research," Wilder said. "In addition, this work will provide public outreach events about spiders to educate the public about the importance of spiders in ecosystems and train students in how to effectively run those public outreach events."

Herzog said what was initially a side project for him and Wilder has come full circle.

"Now that a large grant for this project has been secured, we can investigate if any biomolecules are responsible for sexual cannibalism," Herzog said. "Overall, having funding opens a door up for the different type of nutrients we can investigate, and their effects - if any - in sexual cannibalism.

"For me personally, I'm most excited to begin utilizing nutritional ecology to address these advanced questions. I think in nature, animal behaviors that we may view as odd could have a nutritional reason behind it, and that is where Shawn and I come in."

To learn more about Wilder's research, visit his experts page.

Story By: Erin Weaver, CAS Communications Coordinator | [email protected]

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