Date of Award

2023

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Wetterer, James

Abstract

The spiny-backed orb weaver, Gasteracantha cancriformis, is widely distributed in the Americas. Females are recognizable by their crab-like back plate with six spines. The back plate may be white, red, yellow, or black, and the spines may be red or black. I analyzed the geographic distribution of various color morphs using geo-tagged photographs posted to the iNaturalist website. I found great differences in which color morphs are most prominent in certain areas. For example, morphs with white back and red spines are dominant in the Florida peninsula, yet appear to be almost nonexistent in South America. This analysis may be useful in further research to determine what genetic and/or environmental factors influence this geographic distribution.

Comments

Thesis (B.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, 2023

Extent

12:00 PM

Identifier

FAUHT00260

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