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The tidy web on the left is the work of a 17-day-old European house spider, less than 5 percent of the way through its average life span of one year. When a middle-aged (188-day-old) house spider took up the same task, however, it produced the more irregular, holey web on the right.
One way to understand how aging affects humans is to examine the same mechanism in organisms with simpler nervous systems—and shorter life spans. Mylène Anotaux of Nancy University, the researcher who took these images, evaluated spiders' webs over the course of their lives, using criteria such as the regularity of the web structure and the presence of holes. Her conclusion, which Anotaux will present on July 2 at the Society for Experimental Biology Annual Conference, indicates that spiders' weaving skills deteriorate as they age.
A declining central nervous system may be causing this breakdown. If so, scientists could look for other examples of how aging affects other animals.
—Sophie Bushwick
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7 Comments
Add CommentI observed the same web building quality decline over a matter of days in a banana spider outside our shop when I was in Okinawa with the USMC. The buffoons I was stationed with would knock the web down, and the spider would rebuild a little deeper in the woods, and noticably sloppier each time.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWas the number of times the spider must rebuild in its lifetime considered in this study? In the case I observed hunger was a likely factor, but this just makes me wonder: is there a difference in quality between a 188 day old spider building its second web and another spider of the same age building its tenth? Twentieth?
Of course, I also wonder if other health factors besides age and hunger make a difference. What other health isues might a spider suffer from. How might one give a spider a "complete physical"? Why do some people seem to think I'm a bit odd?
As noted in "The Secret Life of the Adult Brain" by Barbara Strauch, the mid-life brain is sometimes more adept at discerning the jist of an argument or information more effectively than demonstrated at a younger age. If anything can possibly be inferred (even jokingly) from the research of humans, perhaps through careful observation the older spider has become more proficient in stringing together precisely the right pattern of web necessary for the right type, and amount of prey required. Just a thought.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIn other words, the younger spider expends a great deal of time and energy toward "perfection" while the older spider either demonstrates a great decline - or a preference for doing only what it deems necessary, instinctively or otherwise. I am interested in seeing which one catches the most flies.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisinteresting. Since the web doesn't change location much, and the variables of shape might adjust the chances of catching something different and or possible stronger silk at an older age. Might this adaption lead to catching different types of food?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisBecause of its irregular patterns, I suspect the elder web is better camouflaged and is very likely more effective at catching insects that the tightly woven one: perhaps filtering to catch the specific insects needed in the diet of older spiders. Certainly a rapidly growing younger spider requires a diet that differs from an elder.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIn general, I think people practicing science should have more faith in evolution or God depending on which faith system they hold. That helps ensure the true genius in the design of our world is better understood before a winner is prematurely declared better than a loser. Regardles, its a great article that will contribute to important future research.
I'd be interested to know the age(es) of the researchers and of the author of this article. Perhaps their mental web (intended to catch conclusions) is tightly woven and that it snared a conclusion that should have filtered through until a more substantial conclusion might happen along.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI think maybe the older spider had dropped the small stuff, and, wisely, was only interested in catching the big, juicey insects. A discerning palate. To me, the very real possibility is that the older spider had learned from experience, and was sitting there and chuckling at the young green neighbor, who was making sure that everything was perfect.
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