Table 1. Mean (±SE) web architecture properties and silk tensile properties for webs built in small and large frames.
| Small frame | Large frame | Test statistic | P | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N | 16 | 16 | ||
| Web area (cm2) | 406.4 (21.0) | 1143.9 (70.1) | V = 0 | <0.001 |
| No. radials | 26.1 (0.8) | 30.5 (0.9) | t = −4.72 | <0.001 |
| Radial length (cm) | 10.7 (0.2) | 18.3 (0.5) | V = 0 | <0.001 |
| Total radial length (cm) | 292.1 (13.9) | 607.3 (29.1) | t = −11.30 | <0.001 |
| Total capture spiral length (cm) | 989.9 (72.3) | 2468.8 (174.8) | t = −9.73 | <0.001 |
| Spiral spacing (cm) | 0.3 (0.02) | 0.4 (0.02) | t = −4.02 | 0.001 |
| Relative silk/area (cm/cm2) | 3.2 (0.1) | 2.7 (0.1) | t = 3.64 | 0.002 |
| Max. radial stress (MPa) | 2043.7 (113.2) | 2182.149 (124.6) | t = −0.89 | 0.39 |
| Max. capture spiral stress (MPa) | 181.9 (15.3) | 189.7 (12.0) | t = −0.85 | 0.41 |
| Radial strain (ln(L1/L0)) | 0.25 (0.005) | 0.26 (0.008) | t = −1.08 | 0.30 |
| Capture spiral strain (ln(L1/L0)) | 0.95 (0.03) | 0.91 (0.03) | t = 1.41 | 0.18 |
| Radial Young’s modulus (MPa) | 8022.3 (903.5) | 8074.3 (1182.2) | t = 0.44 | 0.67 |
| Capture spiral Young’s modulus (MPa) | 25.1 (3.9) | 25.3 (3.7) | t = −0.60 | 0.55 |
| Radial toughness (MJ/m3) | 229.2 (26.0) | 222.3 (15.4) | t = −0.02 | 0.98 |
| Capture spiral toughness (MJ/m3) | 24.7 (2.7) | 25.2 (2.4) | t = −0.35 | 0.73 |
Means were compared using paired t tests (log10 transformed where data not normally distributed) or Wilcoxon signed rank tests (where data were not normal after transformation).