A Spider's World: Senses and Behavior

ISBN-13: 9783642075575 / Angielski / Miękka / 2011 / 394 str.

Friedrich G. Barth; M. a. Biedermann-Thorson

Opis

Spiders are wonderful creatures. Their varied and complex range of behavior and highly developed sensory systems are excellently adapted to the environmental conditions - as is proven by their evolutionary success. Over 400 million years, spiders have developed their sensory organs to a fascinating technical perfection and complexity.
In his intriguing book, Professor Friedrich G. Barth puts this technical perfection into the context of "biology," in which the interaction between environment and sensory organs and the selectivity of the senses as a link between environment and behavior play a major role.

Recenzje

From the reviews:

"Thanks to Professor Friedrich G. Barth, his numerous co-workers and students we have astonishing details about the sensorial world and behaviour of these large neotropical spiders ... . even a non-arachnologist will find the text easily understandable and instructive. ... The book is richly illustrated with numerous line drawings, diagrams and photographs and also contains 16 magnificent colour plates. Professor Barth's monograph is a very useful book for all students of arthropod sensory physiology and behaviour." (J. Zd'árek, European Journal of Entomology, Vol. 99, 2002)

"This excellent book, written with authority and charm, is a scientific odyssey into the sensory world of spiders. ... The book is very well produced, with a well laid-out text supported by numerous figures and photographs ... . One of this great book's many attractions is the way that the text involves the reader ... . This highly readable and informative book will provide a valuable reference for researchers, students and teachers ... as well as an essential addition to any arachnological bookshelf." (Mike Gray, Lab News, December/January, 2002/2003)

Spis treści

The General Biology of Cupiennius: How it all Began. The Relatives: Who is Who? The Habitat. Daily Activity Rhythm. No Spider Without Poison.- Sensory Systems: The Special Significance of Mechanical Senses. The Measurement of Strain in the Exoskeleton. The Vibration Sense. Trichobothria - the Measurement of Air Movement. Proprioreception. The Eyes. Chemoreception. Hygro- and Thermoreception: Blumenthal's Tarsal Organ.- The Central Nervous System and Its Peripheral Nerves: The Central Nervous System. The Route for Afferent Inputs to the CNS. The Visual Systems in One Brain. Neurotransmitters and Neuromodulators.- Senses and Behavior: Signposts to the Prey: Substrate Vibrations. Signposts to the Prey: Airflow Stimuli. Courtship and Vibratory Communication. Kinesthetic Orientation. Visual Targets. Raising the Body when Walking over an Obstacle. Locomotion and Leg Reflexes. Swinging to a New Plant: the Dispersal of the Spiderlings.-

O autorze

​Professor Friedrich G. Barth was born in Munich, Germany, in 1940. He studied biology and human physiology in Munich and Los Angeles. In 1967, he obtained his doctorate under H. Autrum, 1970 he received his Habilitation in zoology. In 1974, he was offered a chair at the University of Frankfurt/M. Since 1987, he has been professor at the University of Vienna, Austria. His main areas of research are neurobiology, sensory systems, and biomechanics. He is a member of several scientific academies and editor-in-chief of the Journal of Comparative Physiology A.