Ballooning dispersal in arthropod taxa: conditions at take-off

Reynolds, Andy M; Bohan, David A; Bell, James R

Abstract

We have solved a long-standing and seemingly paradoxical set of questions that relate to the conditions which govern spider ballooning. We show that observations of spider ballooning excursions are best explained by meteorological conditions which maximize dispersal. Dispersal is predicted to be most effective in terms of distance when the stability of the atmosphere is non-ideally convective and is less effective during purely convective or neutrally stable conditions. Ballooners are most likely to travel a few hundred metres, but dispersal distances of several hundred kilometres are possible.

Citation

Reynolds, A. M., Bohan, D. A., & Bell, J. R. (2007). Ballooning dispersal in arthropod taxa: conditions at take-off. Biology Letters, 3(3), https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2007.0109

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 9, 2007
• Online Publication Date: Mar 27, 2007
• Publication Date: Jun 22, 2007
• Deposit Date: Feb 9, 2024
• Journal: Biology Letters
• Publisher: The Royal Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 3
• Issue: 3
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2007.0109
• Publisher URL: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsbl.2007.0109