Cohort dependent life-history traits in a wolf spider (Araneae : Lycosidae) with a bimodal life cycle

Abstract

Life-cycle polymorphism within single populations has been reported in a variety of arthropods including insects and spiders. Most individuals within polymorphic populations overwinter in a species-specific stage, which plays an important role in synchronizing the life cycle within a population. Here, we report the first case of a life-cycle polymorphism in spiders that differs in the overwintering stages between two coexisting cohorts, and test if the variation in timing of these two cohorts (autumn and spring maturing) results in expected differences between key life-history characteristics, namely size at maturity, adult survival and reproductive output. A 3-year mark and recapture study ..