Table 1.
Parameters describe individual feeding behaviour in the communal feeding experiment for the subsocial crab spider Australomisidia ergandros.
| parametera | definition | data analyses |
|---|---|---|
| time measurements | ||
| feeding time | total no. of 30 min intervals the ind. was observed feeding over the 10 trials, maxfeeding time = 60 | group-size effect, cluster differences |
| produce.time | proportion of feeding time the ind. spent producing (=feeding communally on a self-captured fly) | group-size effect, cluster analysis, cluster differences |
| alone.time | proportion of feeding time the ind. spent feeding alone (=feeding alone on a self-captured fly) | group-size effect, cluster analysis, cluster differences |
| scrounge.time | proportion of feeding time the ind. spent scrounging (=feeding communally on a fly others captured) | group-size effect, cluster analysis, cluster differences |
| frequency measurements | ||
| feeding frequency | total no. of trials the ind. was observed feeding, maxfeeding frequency = 10 | cluster differences |
| produce.freq | proportion of feeding frequency the ind. spent producing | group-size effect, cluster differences |
| alone.freq | proportion of feeding frequency the ind. spent feeding alone | group-size effect, cluster differences |
| scrounge.freq | proportion of feeding frequency the ind. spent scrounging | group-size effect, cluster differences |
| mass measurements | ||
| body massb | ind. body mass 2 days after the 10th trial in mg | group-size effect |
| mass rank | ranked value of an ind. body mass within its group, divided by the number of group members | group-size effect |
aAll parameters (except feeding time, feeding frequency and body mass) take proportional values to allow for comparison of individuals.
bMeasured with the electronic balance Mettler Toledo New Classic MS.