Exploration behaviour and behavioural flexibility in orb-web spiders： A review  

作　　者：Thomas HESSELBERG 

机构地区：[1]Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK

出　　处：《Current Zoology》2015年第2期313-327,共15页动物学报（英文版）

摘　　要：Orb-web spiders and their webs constitute an ideal model system in which to study behavioural flexibility and spatial cognition in invertebrates due to the easily quantifiable nature of the orb web. A large number of studies demonstrate how spiders are able to modify the geometry of their webs in response to a range of different conditions including the ability to adapt their webs to spatial constraints. However, the mechanisms behind this impressive web-building flexibility in these cognitively limited animals remain poorly explored. One possible mechanism though may be spatial learning during the spiders＇ exploration of their immediate surroundings. This review discusses the importance of exploration behaviour, the reliance on simple behavioural rules, and the use of already laid threads as guidelines for web-building in orb-web spiders. The focus is on the spiders＇ ability to detect and adapt their webs to space limitations and other spatial disruptions. I will also review the few published studies on how spatial information is gathered during the exploration phase and discuss the possibility of the use of ＇cognitive map＇-like processes in spiders. Finally, the review provides suggestions for designing experimental studies to shed light on whether spiders gather metric information during the site exploration （cognitive map hypothesis） or rely on more simple binary information in combination with previously laid threads to build their webs （stigmergy hypothesis）.

关 键 词：Animal cognition Spider web-building STIGMERGY Cognitive maps Exploration behaviour Behavioural plasticity 

分 类 号：TP18[自动化与计算机技术—控制理论与控制工程] TS246.4[自动化与计算机技术—控制科学与工程]