Research Projects

Social spider webs are fascinating extended phenotypes with a chaotic web structure. We compare and contrast three specific social spider species with vastly different length scales in nature in this project. While their phylogeny is closely related, their web-building strategies are vastly different. This research will bring together the complementary strengths of behavioural ecologists, and evolutionary and mechanicians to understand the mechanics, dynamics and social behaviour of spider webs. Using a slew of imaging techniques and corresponding finite element analysis, we will use lab-based behaviour experimental assays to study how strategies evolve in closely related species using a mechanistic approach.

Social spiders, web, extended phenotype, image analysis, finite element analysis