Unpicking the signal thread of the sector web spiderZygiella x-notata
Abstract
Remote sensing allows an animal to extend its morphology with appropriate conductive materials and sensors providing environmental feedback from spatially removed locations. For example, the sector web spiderZygiella x-notatauses a specialized thread as both a structural bridge and signal transmitter to monitor web vibrations from its retreat at the web perimeter. To unravel this model multifunctional system, we investigatedZygiella's signal thread structure with a range of techniques, including tensile testing, laser vibrometry, electron microscopy and behavioural analysis. We found that signal threads varied significantly in the number of filaments; a result of the spider adding a lifeline each time it runs along the bridge. Our mechanical property analysis suggests that while the structure varies, its normalized load does not. We propose that the signal thread represents a complex and fully integrated multifunctional structure where filaments can be added, thus increasing absolute load-bearing capacity while maintaining signal fidelity. We conclude that such structures may serve as inspiration for remote sensing design strategies.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2015
- Source ID
- 10.1098/rsif.2015.0633
Entities
People
- Beth Mortimer
- Chris Holland
- Fritz Vollrath
- James F. C. Windmill
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
- European Research Council
- Jesus College
- Leverhulme Trust
- Magdalen College
- University of Oxford
- University of Sheffield
- University of Strathclyde