A spider researcher, Pia Stålhandske, knew that males of Pisaura mirabilis offer their mates a nuptial gift-a prey item, such as a cricket-whose acceptance by the female is critical for male mating success. Males wrap their generally dark-colored food gifts in white silk. Stålhandske wondered if the males wrapped their gifts to make them look like the white, silk-covered egg sacs that mated females make and protect by holding them in their jaws until the spiderlings hatch.
What theory was Stålhandske using to explore this species' courtship behavior?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Sensory exploitation refers to the idea that certain traits or behaviors in animals evolve because they exploit pre-existing sensory biases or preferences in other animals, often of the opposite sex. In this case, Stålhandske was exploring the possibility that male Pisaura mirabilis spiders wrap their nuptial gifts in white silk to exploit the female's pre-existing bias or preference for white, silk-covered objects, similar to their egg sacs. This would make the gift more attractive to the female, increasing the male's chances of mating success.

A Spider Researcher, Pia Stålhandske, Knew That Males of Pisaura