Can Spiders Survive Without Oxygen?
WouterSpiders are creatures of the ocean. They can breathe underwater through passive diffusion or through underwater webs. However, they cannot hold their breath. In some species, a spider can stay underwater for hours at a time.
One of the iconic animals is the diving bell spider, which is found in northern Asia and Europe. In addition to breathing through the air bubble on its web, the diving bell spider acts like a physical gill, extracting oxygen from water.
In contrast, spiders with thick cuticles are less likely to get oxygen from the water. They may use large air spaces under their shells.
However, there are also other methods of obtaining oxygen. They can travel to the surface once a day to replenish their air supply. This is not always possible in cold waters.
The team of researchers set up a series of experiments to test their predictions. They looked at the speed at which sea spiders used oxygen and how their metabolic rates changed. In most cases, spiders could go a few days without air renewal.
They then measured the oxygen concentration of the air inside the bubble and outside the bubble. This information was used to determine the duration of reactivity. They also measured the amount of carbon dioxide released by the silken web.
They found that the spiders’ reactivity was dependent on their oxygen reserves. The more oxygen the spider had available, the more responsive it was. The longer it stayed underwater, the slower its metabolism became.
