2007/09/06 by Fritz Vollrath, Paul A. Selden · 195 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Materials Science · #Spider Taxonomy and Behavior Studies #Silk-based biomaterials and applications #Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior #Spider #Biology #Taxon #Arms race #Niche #Evolutionary biology #Ecology #Predation #Predator
paper · doi:10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.37.091305.110221
published in Annual Review of Ecology Evolution and Systematics 38(1), 819-846 (Annual Reviews)
openalex publication_date 2007/09/06 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/11
Spiders’ silks and webs have made it possible for this diverse taxon to occupy a unique niche as the main predator for another, even more diverse taxon, the insects. Indeed, it might well be that the spiders, which are older, were a major force driving the insects into their diversity in a coevolutionary arms race. The spiders’ weapons were their silks and here we explore the evidence for the evolution of silk production and web building as traits in spider phylogeny.