Does building activity influence web construction and web characteristics in the orb-web spider Zygiella x-notata (Araneae, Araneidae)?

Zoological Studies

Table 2 Mean (SD) of parameters measured or calculated on webs built by the spiders reared in frames

Parameters	Mean (SD)		t test ( p)
Parameters	Test 1	Test 2	t test ( p)
Length of the spiral thread (cm)	492 (40)	358 (32)	5.05 (<0.001)
Surface of the capture area (cm²)	132 (12)	86 (12)	6.58 (<0.001)
Asymmetry	0.29 (0.02)	0.19 (0.02)	3.30 (0.004)
Number of radii	25 (1)	22 (1)	3.29 (0.004)
Length of the lower part (cm)	8.4 (0.5)	5.7 (0.4)	6.24 (<0.001)
Number of spiral turns	30 (2)	25 (2)	2.08 (0.049)
Mesh height (mm)	2.6 (0.1)	2.3 (0.2)	1.43 (0.165)
Anomaly ratio (A/CTL)	8 (0)	12 (1)	3.39 (0.002)

Comparisons were made between tests 1 and 2 (t test for paired data, n = 25). Italicised characters indicate that the difference is significant at least at p < 0.05.