Incluye bibliografía e índice: páginas 511-529

Part I Respiration and Circulatory System.. 1 Evolution and Adaptation of Hemocyanin Within Spiders.. 2 The Circulatory System of Spiders.. 3 Tracheae in Spiders: Respiratory Organs for Special Functions.. Part II Locomotion and Dispersal.. 4 Hydraulic System of Locomotion.. 5 Functional Aspects of Spider Scopulae.. 6 Cost-Benefit Balance of Dispersal and the Evolution of Conditional Dispersal Strategies in Spiders.. Part III Immune System and Pathogens.. 7 The Immune System of Spiders.. 8 Endosymbiont Infections in Spiders.. 9 Fungal Pathogens of Spiders.. Part IV Chemical Communication and Reproduction.. 10 Chemical Communication and Contact Cuticular Compounds in Spiders.. 11 Spider Olfaction: Attracting, Detecting, Luring and Avoiding.. 12 Karyotypes, Sex Chromosomes, and Meiotic Division in Spiders.. 13 Male Reproductive System of Spiders.. Part V Venom.. 14 Main Components of Spider Venoms.. 15 The Neurotoxic Mode of Action of Venoms from the Spider Family Theraphosidae.. 16 The Cytotoxic Mode of Action of the Venom of Cupiennius salei (Ctenidae.. 17 The Evolution of a Toxic Enzyme in Sicariid Spiders.. 18 Predation by Spitting Spiders: Elaborate Venom Gland, Intricate Delivery System.. 19 Spider Venoms Potentially Lethal to Humans.. Part VI Silk.. 20 Spider Silk: Molecular Structure and Function in Webs.. 21 Aggregate Silk Gland Secretions of Araneoid Spiders.. 22 Cribellar Thread.. Part VII Colouration.. 23 Insect View of Orb Spider Body Colorations.. 24 Structural Colors in Spiders.. 25 UV and Camouflage in Crab Spiders (Thomisidae.. 26 Rapid Colour Change in Spiders.. Part VIII Nutrition.. 27 Nutritional Aspects of Spider Feeding.. 28 Herbivory in Spiders.. 29 Artificial Diets for Spiders.. Part IX Ecotoxicology.. 30 Effects of Heavy Metal Contamination.. 31 Side Effect of Synthetic Pesticides on Spiders.. 32 Side Effects of Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins on Spiders.. 33 Effects of Neem on Spiders

Part X Applications.. 34 Modelling and Application of the Hydraulic Spider Leg Mechanism.. 35 Adhesion to Flat Surfaces: From Spiders to Stickers.. 36 Technical and Biomedical Uses of Nature's Strongest Fiber: Spider Silk.. 37 Spider Venom Components as Drug Candidates.. Appendix. Spider Phylogeny.. Subject Index

With over 43,000 species, spiders are the largest predacious arthropod group. They have developed key characteristics such as multi-purpose silk types, venoms consisting of hundreds of components, locomotion driven by muscles and hydraulic pressure, a highly evolved key-lock mechanism between the complex genital structures, and many more unique features. After 300 million years of evolutionary refinement, spiders are present in all land habitats and represent one of the most successful groups of terrestrial organisms. Ecophysiology combines functional and evolutionary aspects of morphology, physiology, biochemistry and molecular biology with ecology. Cutting-edge science in spiders focuses on the circulatory and respiratory system, locomotion and dispersal abilities, the immune system, endosymbionts and pathogens, chemical communication, gland secretions, venom components, silk structure, structure and perception of colours as well as nutritional requirements. Spiders are valuable indicator species in agroecosystems and for conservation biology. Modern transfer and application technologies research spiders and their products with respect to their value for biomimetics, material sciences, and the agrochemical and pharmaceutical industries. Inglés