Honors Projects

Abstract

Arthropod navigation is known to rely on a variety of multisensory strategies, yet the prioritization of these cues in whip spiders remains poorly understood. This study examined whether Phrynus marginemaculatus prioritizes olfactory cues or idioethic directional cues when the two cues directly conflict with one another. Twelve subjects were trained to associate a shelter with both a specific odor (geraniol or 1‑hexanol) and a consistent directional movement (left or right) from the release site. In a subsequent test trial, odor and direction were dissociated, and subjects’ time spent in front of each shelter was used to determine an association index for odor and direction. Overall, subjects did not show a significant preference for odor or direction. However, subjects conditioned to geraniol were found to have a significant difference from chance in a separate assay, suggesting that cue prioritization may depend on the odor. The results of this experiment indicate that whip spiders may prioritize olfactory or egocentric direction depending on context, though future experimentation utilizing larger sample sizes and control groups is needed.

Department

Biological Sciences

Major

Biology

First Advisor

Dr. Daniel D. Wiegmann

First Advisor Department

Biological Sciences

Second Advisor

Dr. Verner Bingman

Second Advisor Department

Psychology

Publication Date

Spring 5-1-2026

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