How does temperature affect the resource-dependent development of sexual traits in wolf spiders?
Yennhi Phan, Noah Leith, Kasey Fowler-Finn. Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO, United States

Food availability is an important factor that shapes the expression and evolution of reproductive traits across all animal species. Individuals that attain more resources can typically produce more colorful ornaments and display more attractive courtship behaviors. However, temperature also can shape traits related to mating and reproduction and could interact with food availability to shape mating outcomes. Here we test how variation in temperature influences the relationship between nutrition, sexual trait expression, and reproductive fitness in wolf spiders. We manipulated food availability and the temperature experienced during development. After spiders reached maturity, we quantified variation in male morphological and behavioral sexual traits and determined how those traits predicted mating success. The results of this experiment will reveal how arthropod populations may respond to multiple simultaneous anthropogenic stressors, including climate change and food scarcity. Given the importance of arthropods for our ecosystem, understanding responses to anthropogenic stressors is critical for predicting how animal communities will respond to our rapidly changing world.�