Anatomy, plasticity and functional roles of spider brain areas

Project description

The central nervous system (CNS) of animals integrates and coordinates information in specific processing areas and is responsible for behavioural decisions. On the one hand, behavioural responses can be plastic depending on the amount and type of information received, and on the other hand, the anatomy of the CNS areas themselves is subject to plasticity depending on the stimuli provided by the environment during development or adulthood.

In this project, we study spider species with different modes of life and investigate the anatomy of their brains and the functional role and plasticity of the processing areas within their brains. The project is carried out in collaboration with Prof. Jutta M. Schneider and Dr. Jannis Liedtke from Hamburg University, Prof. Dr. Steffen Harzsch from Greifswald University, Dr. Andy Sombke from the University of Vienna and Prof. Dr. Ronald R. Hoy from Cornell University. We use a suit of complemental methods, such as histology, microCT analysis, immunohistology, differentially stimulating environments and electrophysiology.

In order to further study the adaptive flexibility of spider brains, we are investigating the brains of different cave-living spiders of the genus Pinelema. This project is carried out in collaboration with Dr. Andy Sombke from Greifswald University and Prof. Dr. Shuqiang Li from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing. Specifically, we compare species that have eyes, with other species of the same genus that do not have eyes. Our preliminary results strongly suggest that ecological diversity has led to structural disparity in spider brains.

 

 

Project-related publications:

Steinhoff, P.O.M.; Uhl, G.; Harzsch, S. & Sombke, A. (2020): Visual pathways in the brain of the jumping spider Marpissa muscosa. Journal of Comparative Neurology

Steinhoff P.O.M.,Liedtke J., Sombke A., Schneider J.M., Uhl G. (2018): Early environmental conditions affect the volume of higher-order brain centers in a jumping spider. Journal of Zoology  (Blogpost)

Steinhoff P.O.M.*, Sombke A.*, Liedtke J., Schneider J.M., Harzsch S., Uhl G. (2017): The synganglion of the jumping spider Marpissa muscosa (Arachnida: Salticidae): insights from histology, immunohistochemistry and microCT analysis. Arthropod Structure & Development 46: 156-170 *shared first authorship

 

Contact:

Philip O.M. Steinhoff

Gabriele Uhl

Collaboration partners:

Prof. Dr. Ronald R. Hoy
Prof. Dr. Steffen Harzsch
Dr. Andy Sombke
Prof. Dr. Shuqiang Li
Prof. Dr. Jutta M. Schneider
Dr. Jannis Liedtke