Behavioral and natural history studies of the jumping spider Habronattus oregonensis and inquiry based secondary laboratory lesson development stemming from university research

This study was conducted to determine behavior patterns of the jumping spider Habronattus oregonensis. Time budgets show spiders spend their time out and about, eating, interacting with other spiders, and in hidden behaviors with out and about behaviors dominating. Agonistic encounters occur in the field and were staged in the laboratory. Whether a spider keeps control of the area is determined differently for males than females. In male-male interactions, the size of the spider as measured by weight is important in winning a skirmish regardless of familiarity with an area (residency). For female-female agonistic interactions, however, residency does affect the outcome. In interactions between male-female pairs, the male readily courts the female. Mature virgin females readily accept a mate; other females do not. Finally, experiences from university research were used to develop lesson plans for student study at the secondary level in biology classrooms