Temporal and spatial patterns of morph-frequency variation among coastal Maine populations of the polymorphic spider Enoplognatha ovata (Araneae: Theridiidae)
Article
Reillo, PR, Wise, DH. (1988). Temporal and spatial patterns of morph-frequency variation among coastal Maine populations of the polymorphic spider Enoplognatha ovata (Araneae: Theridiidae)
. AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST, 120(2), 337-354. 10.2307/2426006
Reillo, PR, Wise, DH. (1988). Temporal and spatial patterns of morph-frequency variation among coastal Maine populations of the polymorphic spider Enoplognatha ovata (Araneae: Theridiidae)
. AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST, 120(2), 337-354. 10.2307/2426006
Enoplognatha ovata exhibits a conspicuous color polymorphism characterized by 3 distinct phenotypes: lineata (yellow abdomen), redimita (2 red stripes on abdomen) and ovata (solid red shield on abdomen). For coastal Maine populations distributed from Boothbay to Acadia National Park, all populations censused showed the same rank order of morph frequencies: % lineata > % redimita > % ovata. Males and females exhibited similar phenotypic frequencies within populations. Maine E. ovata populations exhibited patterns of regional and local morph-frequency variation similar to those exhibited by the species in Europe. The southernmost Maine populations had few redimita and ovata phenotypes. Morph frequencies for most populations were stable between yearly censuses. Frequencies among females did not change significantly during the summer season, suggesting an absence of selection on adult phenotypes. Observations of male-female pairs suggest that the color morphs experience similar mating success and mate randomly. Fecundity was correlated with female body size, and significant fecundity and size differences were detected between two of the populations sampled. Fecundity estimates for one population in 1987 revealed significant fecundity differences among phenotypes, with ovata females producing most eggs. -from Authors
