Who Wants It More?

Phidippus clarus (jumping spider) is a spider species that is bound to fight. When the males fight usually the bigger, stronger, heavier spider wins, but even before they fight they "dance". Before getting into a full blown fight the two males circle each other and put on displays of strength to show how bad they are and to find out about thier opponent. If they don't think they can handle it they walk away which is normally the case. When the females fight it's a different story, they jump right in, no "dance" and no displays. When the female spiders fight scientists observed that strength, weight and size have nothing to do with who wins. With the girls it's a matter of who wants it more. When fighting the two female spiders would fight to the death if necessary. The scientists who studied the spiders found out that the female spiders who are closer to the maturation age would usually win because of the need for a nest. When close to maturation the female spiders would build a nest in order to reproduce, care for thier young, and to keep them safe during thier molting stage before reproducing. Female spiders close to maturing have a higher need for a nest than female spiders younger or older that the maturing age.

This study of the phidippus clarus is biology related because it studies the behavoir of the spider. If the behavoir of the male and female spiders of this species is how it is who says it can't be the same for another species of spider. Maybe the phidippus clarus has some crazy relatives in another part of the world who act just like they do.

We should be intersted in this study because it gives us insight on how important certain things are to other species and how far they will go to protect themselves and what they want. It also shows that spiders and humans have something in common. When it's time for us to have our children we want them in a safe environment, whether the environment is a nest in a bush or a house in the city. So in the case of female phidippus spiders it all comes down to one question...Who wants it more?

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100607101658.htm