Nutritional Ecology of Predatory Arthropods
Summary
Predatory arthropods occupy pivotal roles in terrestrial and aquatic food webs by regulating prey populations and mediating nutrient flows. Their nutritional ecology encompasses the processes by which they acquire, process and balance macronutrients (proteins, lipids and carbohydrates) and essential elements (notably nitrogen and phosphorus) from diverse prey sources. Many species employ extra-oral digestion, deploying venom or digestive enzymes to liquefy prey tissues and enhance assimilation efficiency. Morphological and behavioural specialisations, such as web architectures, specialised mouthparts or stealthy nest-invasion tactics, enable predators to exploit particular prey types and microhabitats. Nutritional homeostasis drives prey choice, prey-handling strategies and even intersexual niche partitioning, while stoichiometric imbalances between predator and prey can impose constraints on growth, reproduction and ecosystem functioning. Recent advances in proteotranscriptomics, nutritional network analysis and refined biochemical assays have illuminated how nutrient-specific foraging shapes ecological interactions from individual to ecosystem scales and informed applications in biocontrol and biodiversity conservation.
Research from Nature Portfolio
Investigations into extreme dietary specialisation have revealed a true predator that feeds exclusively on a single termite species. Molecular gut-content analysis demonstrated strict monophagy, while laboratory trials confirmed refusal of alternative prey and characterised a precise attack sequence that ensures rapid prey immobilisation. This case highlights evolutionary trade-offs underlying stenophagy and physiological adaptations that support nutrient extraction from a uniform prey resource.
A novel hunting strategy has been described in an araneophagic ground spider that invades silk retreats of larger spiders. By deploying sticky silk around the forelegs and mouthparts, the invader immobilises dangerous prey within minutes. Despite broader trophic potential in laboratory settings, this nest-usurpation tactic exemplifies the interplay between behavioural innovation and nutritional demands when exploiting high-value prey.
Nutritional Ecology of Predatory Arthropods publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in nutritional ecology of predatory arthropods across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Ecological stoichiometry: The study of the balance of multiple chemical elements in ecological interactions and biological processes.
Trophic niche: The range of prey types and feeding strategies employed by a predator within an ecosystem.
Extra-oral digestion: The external secretion of digestive enzymes to liquefy prey tissues prior to ingestion.
Functional response: The relationship between prey density and the rate of prey consumption by a predator.
Monophagy: Dietary specialization where a predator feeds exclusively on a single prey species.
References
- You are what you eat—ecological niche and microhabitat influence venom activity and composition in aquatic bugs. Proceedings of the Royal Society B (2023).
- Networking nutrients: How nutrition determines the structure of ecological networks. Journal of Animal Ecology (2024).
- Discovery of a monophagous true predator, a specialist termite-eating spider (Araneae: Ammoxenidae). Scientific Reports (2015).
- Nest usurpation: a specialised hunting strategy used to overcome dangerous spider prey. Scientific Reports (2019).
- Caught in the web: Spider web architecture affects prey specialization and spider–prey stoichiometric relationships. Ecology and Evolution (2018).
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