Ecophysiology of Spiders

Recently another book on insect physiology was published. It was restricted to a few focal points as are many of these new insect physiology books, but there was considerable depth in its specialized point of view. We were dis­ cussing the structure of this book and of insect physiology books, in general, when Prof. Remmert asked me " . . . and what about books on spider physio­ logy?" Silence. Then I started to explain "oh yes, there is a congress pro­ ceedings volume on this topic and there is a group with excellent publica­ tions on another topic . . . ", but I felt that this answer was weak. One can no longer buy the proceedings volume in a bookshop and to read a series of publications on a given topic one must search in a library for a dozen journals. Why is there not a single book on spider physiology comparable with the many books on insect physiology? Are spiders a scientific ivory tower, far from public interest and commercial importance? I do not think so, although spiders are one of the many "forgotten" animal groups which always grew in the shadow of the insects. There are research groups working on spider physiology, there are fascinating phenomena in this animal group and there are plenty of exciting results. Spiders may have been always underresearch­ ed, but research is progressing. In the last few years, new books have been published, e. g.

A Cuticle, Temperature and Respiration.- I Chelicerate Cuticle Structure.- II Coloration and Chromes.- III Thermal and Water Relations.- IV Behavioural Temperature Regulation.- V Behavioural and Physiological Adaptations to Cold.- VI Respiratory System: Structure and Function.- VII Heart Rate and Physiological Ecology.- VIII Moulting Hormones.- B Glands, Silk and Webs.- I Glandular Aspects of Sexual Biology.- II Communication with Chemicals: Pheromones and Spiders.- III Spider Venoms and Their Effect.- IV Comparative Structure and Histochemistry of Silk-Producing Organs in Arachnids.- V Fine Structure and Function of Capture Threads.- VI Chemistry, Physical Properties, and Synthesis of Araneidae Orb Webs.- VII Ecological Aspects of Spider Webs.- C Feeding Ecology.- I Structure and Function of the Digestive Tract.- II Excretory Organs.- III The Prey of Spiders.- IV Feeding Ecology of Winter-Active Spiders.- V Kleptobiosis in Spiders.- VI Hunger and Starvation.- D Parasites.- I Nematode Parasites of Spiders.- II Spider-Hunting Sphecid Wasps.- III The Biology of Acroceridae (Diptera): True Endoparasitoids of Spiders.- E Environment and Life History.- I Life Cycles and Diapause.- II Dispersal: Ballooning and Other Mechanisms.- III Growth, Foraging and Reproductive Success.- IV The Biorhythms of Spiders.- References.