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Papers by Rosannette Quesada
We describe the genital morphology of females of the Entelegyne spider Leucauge argyra Walckenaer... more We describe the genital morphology of females of the Entelegyne spider Leucauge argyra Walckenaer, 1842. Externally, L. argyra has a unique coned shaped epigynal process. On each side of the epigynum there is an atrium that leads internally into a copulatory fold-like-duct, which connects with the first of two chambers of the spermathecae. The second chamber is surrounded by glandular tissue, which may produce mating plugs. The conspicuous epigynum and the copulatory fold-like-duct may be unique traits in this genus.
Tesis (maestria academica en biologia)--Universidad de Costa Rica. Sistema de Estudios de Posgrad... more Tesis (maestria academica en biologia)--Universidad de Costa Rica. Sistema de Estudios de Posgrado, 2013
PLOS ONE, 2021
The brains of smaller animals are smaller than those of their larger relatives, but it is not cle... more The brains of smaller animals are smaller than those of their larger relatives, but it is not clear whether their adaptive behavioral flexibility is more limited. Previous interspecific comparisons found that aspects of web construction behavior of very small orb weaving spiders (0.005 mg) were no less precise than those of much larger related orb weavers (30 mg), but the behaviors tested were relatively simple. Here we perform a more sensitive intraspecific test involving the multiple behavioral adjustments of orb web designs made by Leucauge argyra to confinement in very small spaces. Web adjustments of spiderlings as small as ~0.1 mg were compared to previously published observations of ~80 mg conspecific adults. Spiderlings in constrained spaces made all of the complex adjustments made by adults in at least seven independent web design variables, and their adjustments were no less precise. Rough estimates based on previously published data on total brain volumes and the mean dia...
Arthropod Structure & Development, 2011
Allometric studies of the gross neuroanatomy of adults from nine species of spiders from six webw... more Allometric studies of the gross neuroanatomy of adults from nine species of spiders from six webweaving families (Orbicularia), and nymphs from six of these species, show that very small spiders resemble other small animals in having disproportionately larger central nervous systems (CNSs) relative to body mass when compared with large-bodied forms. Small spiderlings and minute adult spiders have similar relative CNS volumes. The relatively large CNS of a very small spider occupies up to 78% of the cephalothorax volume. The CNSs of very small spiders extend into their coxae, occupying as much as 26% of the profile area of the coxae of an Anapisona simoni spiderling (body mass < 0.005 mg). Such modifications occur both in species with minute adults, and in tiny spiderlings of species with largebodied adults. In at least one such species, Leucauge mariana, the CNS of the spiderling extends into a prominent ventral bulge of the sternum. Tiny spiders also have reduced neuronal cell body diameters. The adults of nearly all orbicularian spiders weave prey capture webs, as do the spiderlings, beginning with second instar nymphs. Comparable allometric relations occur in adults of both orb-weaving and cleptoparasitic species, indicating that this behavioral difference is not reflected in differences in gross CNS allometry.
Journal of Arachnology, 2010
Published descriptions of egg sac construction behavior in araneids are scarce. We describe egg s... more Published descriptions of egg sac construction behavior in araneids are scarce. We describe egg sac construction and oviposition in one individual of the poorly known araneid Pozonia nigroventris (Bryant 1936) and two individuals of Micrathena sp. These spiders folded dead leaves to protect their eggs. All individuals pulled up and hung a dead leaf above the forest floor, oviposited on the leaf, and then folded the leaf around the egg sac. They then deposited the enclosed egg sac in the leaf litter below. The use of dead leaves in this way probably evolved convergently, since these genera are only distantly related.
Arthropod Structure & Development, 2011
Allometric studies of the gross neuroanatomy of adults from nine species of spiders from six webw... more Allometric studies of the gross neuroanatomy of adults from nine species of spiders from six webweaving families (Orbicularia), and nymphs from six of these species, show that very small spiders resemble other small animals in having disproportionately larger central nervous systems (CNSs) relative to body mass when compared with large-bodied forms. Small spiderlings and minute adult spiders have similar relative CNS volumes. The relatively large CNS of a very small spider occupies up to 78% of the cephalothorax volume. The CNSs of very small spiders extend into their coxae, occupying as much as 26% of the profile area of the coxae of an Anapisona simoni spiderling (body mass < 0.005 mg). Such modifications occur both in species with minute adults, and in tiny spiderlings of species with largebodied adults. In at least one such species, Leucauge mariana, the CNS of the spiderling extends into a prominent ventral bulge of the sternum. Tiny spiders also have reduced neuronal cell body diameters. The adults of nearly all orbicularian spiders weave prey capture webs, as do the spiderlings, beginning with second instar nymphs. Comparable allometric relations occur in adults of both orb-weaving and cleptoparasitic species, indicating that this behavioral difference is not reflected in differences in gross CNS allometry.
We describe the genital morphology of females of the Entelegyne spider Leucauge argyra Walckenaer... more We describe the genital morphology of females of the Entelegyne spider Leucauge argyra Walckenaer, 1842. Externally, L. argyra has a unique coned shaped epigynal process. On each side of the epigynum there is an atrium that leads internally into a copulatory fold-like-duct, which connects with the first of two chambers of the spermathecae. The second chamber is surrounded by glandular tissue, which may produce mating plugs. The conspicuous epigynum and the copulatory fold-like-duct may be unique traits in this genus.
Tesis (maestria academica en biologia)--Universidad de Costa Rica. Sistema de Estudios de Posgrad... more Tesis (maestria academica en biologia)--Universidad de Costa Rica. Sistema de Estudios de Posgrado, 2013
PLOS ONE, 2021
The brains of smaller animals are smaller than those of their larger relatives, but it is not cle... more The brains of smaller animals are smaller than those of their larger relatives, but it is not clear whether their adaptive behavioral flexibility is more limited. Previous interspecific comparisons found that aspects of web construction behavior of very small orb weaving spiders (0.005 mg) were no less precise than those of much larger related orb weavers (30 mg), but the behaviors tested were relatively simple. Here we perform a more sensitive intraspecific test involving the multiple behavioral adjustments of orb web designs made by Leucauge argyra to confinement in very small spaces. Web adjustments of spiderlings as small as ~0.1 mg were compared to previously published observations of ~80 mg conspecific adults. Spiderlings in constrained spaces made all of the complex adjustments made by adults in at least seven independent web design variables, and their adjustments were no less precise. Rough estimates based on previously published data on total brain volumes and the mean dia...
Arthropod Structure & Development, 2011
Allometric studies of the gross neuroanatomy of adults from nine species of spiders from six webw... more Allometric studies of the gross neuroanatomy of adults from nine species of spiders from six webweaving families (Orbicularia), and nymphs from six of these species, show that very small spiders resemble other small animals in having disproportionately larger central nervous systems (CNSs) relative to body mass when compared with large-bodied forms. Small spiderlings and minute adult spiders have similar relative CNS volumes. The relatively large CNS of a very small spider occupies up to 78% of the cephalothorax volume. The CNSs of very small spiders extend into their coxae, occupying as much as 26% of the profile area of the coxae of an Anapisona simoni spiderling (body mass < 0.005 mg). Such modifications occur both in species with minute adults, and in tiny spiderlings of species with largebodied adults. In at least one such species, Leucauge mariana, the CNS of the spiderling extends into a prominent ventral bulge of the sternum. Tiny spiders also have reduced neuronal cell body diameters. The adults of nearly all orbicularian spiders weave prey capture webs, as do the spiderlings, beginning with second instar nymphs. Comparable allometric relations occur in adults of both orb-weaving and cleptoparasitic species, indicating that this behavioral difference is not reflected in differences in gross CNS allometry.
Journal of Arachnology, 2010
Published descriptions of egg sac construction behavior in araneids are scarce. We describe egg s... more Published descriptions of egg sac construction behavior in araneids are scarce. We describe egg sac construction and oviposition in one individual of the poorly known araneid Pozonia nigroventris (Bryant 1936) and two individuals of Micrathena sp. These spiders folded dead leaves to protect their eggs. All individuals pulled up and hung a dead leaf above the forest floor, oviposited on the leaf, and then folded the leaf around the egg sac. They then deposited the enclosed egg sac in the leaf litter below. The use of dead leaves in this way probably evolved convergently, since these genera are only distantly related.
Arthropod Structure & Development, 2011
Allometric studies of the gross neuroanatomy of adults from nine species of spiders from six webw... more Allometric studies of the gross neuroanatomy of adults from nine species of spiders from six webweaving families (Orbicularia), and nymphs from six of these species, show that very small spiders resemble other small animals in having disproportionately larger central nervous systems (CNSs) relative to body mass when compared with large-bodied forms. Small spiderlings and minute adult spiders have similar relative CNS volumes. The relatively large CNS of a very small spider occupies up to 78% of the cephalothorax volume. The CNSs of very small spiders extend into their coxae, occupying as much as 26% of the profile area of the coxae of an Anapisona simoni spiderling (body mass < 0.005 mg). Such modifications occur both in species with minute adults, and in tiny spiderlings of species with largebodied adults. In at least one such species, Leucauge mariana, the CNS of the spiderling extends into a prominent ventral bulge of the sternum. Tiny spiders also have reduced neuronal cell body diameters. The adults of nearly all orbicularian spiders weave prey capture webs, as do the spiderlings, beginning with second instar nymphs. Comparable allometric relations occur in adults of both orb-weaving and cleptoparasitic species, indicating that this behavioral difference is not reflected in differences in gross CNS allometry.