Sarah Carpentier
Project
Selection on web structure and trophic specialization in Latrodectus hesperusIndividuals in the same population do not all feed in the same way: some exploit a wide variety of prey, while others are more specialized. This variation, known as trophic specialization, influences community dynamics and their response to environmental change. Yet we still have little understanding of how it emerges and is maintained over time. Web-weaving spiders offer an excellent model for studying these mechanisms, as their hunting behavior leaves a visible and measurable trace. This project aims to analyze how selection shapes web structure in black widows (Latrodectus hesperus) in desert and urban environments. By comparing different populations in Arizona and California, I aim to understand the links between web structure, life history strategy and feeding specialization in these spiders.
