Energy Allocation of the Wolf Spider Pardosa pseudoannulata under Dietary Restriction.

Simple Summary: The phenomenon of food shortage is widespread in spider populations, but the response of Pardosa pseudoannulata to dietary restriction remains unclear. The study aimed to determine (1) whether energy allocation occurs in P. pseudoannulata under dietary restriction by analysing its development and longevity; (2) if there is a trade-off between development, longevity, and nutrient content indicating a trend to energy allocation; (3) how different levels and periods of dietary restriction affect the predatory ability of P. pseudoannulata. The results showed that the continuous dietary restriction has negative impacts on the growth of P. pseudoannulata, and positive impacts on its longevity. When food was severely restricted in the juvenile stage, nutrient contents of the adult spider could return to the same level as the control group, but the predatory ability decreased. These findings suggest a trade-off between growth, longevity, and predatory ability of the P. pseudoannulata under dietary restriction conditions. The phenomenon of food shortage is widespread in spider populations, which has a great impact on their growth, development, and survival. Pardosa pseudoannulata is a dominant spider species in rice fields and has an important controlling effect on rice pests. In this study, three feeding levels were tested at the juvenile stage (H, high feeding; M, medium dietary restriction; L, severe dietary restriction) and two at the adult stage (H and L). A total of six feeding levels were tested to explore the effects of dietary restriction on the development, longevity, nutrient content, and predation by P. pseudoannulata [HH (control group), HL, MH, ML, LH, LL]. The results showed that continuous dietary restriction (ML and LL groups) had negative impacts on the growth of P. pseudoannulata and positive impacts on longevity. Spiderlings suffered from dietary restrictions during the juvenile period, and when the restrictions were removed upon reaching adulthood (MH and LH groups), their lifespan started decreasing whilst their weight began returning to normal. This suggested that there might be a trade-off between the growth and longevity of the spider under dietary restrictions. The study also found that when food was severely restricted in the juvenile stage (LH and LL groups), the nutrient contents of the adult spider could return to the same level as the control group, but the predatory ability decreased. When food was moderately restricted in the juvenile stage (MH and ML groups), the predatory ability of the adult spiders improved, while nutrients of the adult spiders declined. Our results will provide an empirical basis for the protection and effective use of dominant spider species in agricultural fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]