Artificial Lights at Night May be Affecting Black Widow Behavior

Student First Name

Damara

Student Last Name

Willis

School Affiliation (multiple allowed)

ASU other than New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences

Is the research affiliated with NCUIRE

Yes

Project Description

ALAN is an urban stressor that may be affecting black widow spider behavior. Black widows' attack times on live prey stimulus and fake prey (toothbrush) stimulus were tested between normal light conditions and darkness. Widows showed immense variability in their attack times for each prey stimulus. Those in darkness may be attacking live prey faster and fake prey relatively slower than those not in darkness.