Hello, my name is Amr. I am 18 years old...
...and this is my biology entry for the YouTube Space Lab competition.
My experiment is designed to investigate the effect of microgravity...
...on the way the jumping spider...
...specifically the zebra spider, salticus scenicus, catches its prey.
Jumping Spiders
All the spiders that have been in space use webs to trap prey.
Salticus scenicus, however, does not build webs.
You see, jumping spiders are the tigers among the spiders.
The spider locates its prey using its four pairs of large eyes.
Excuse my Poor Drawing skills.
Then, the spider slowly advances towards the prey.
When it is at a reachable distance from its prey...
...the spider jumps on its prey and grabs it with its jaws.
If you notice the spider on a wall, often, the Salticus scenicus...
...seems as if it's mocking gravity.
It jumps off the wall and falls back on it several millimeters further...
...instead of falling down.
This is because of its lifeline.
Before jumping, the spider glues a silk thread...
...to the surface that it's jumping from so that if it misses the target...
...it can climb up the thread and try again.
Experimental Question
Will the Salticus scenicus be able to catch its prey in microgravity?
Hypothesis
I don't think so.
Method
This spider will be placed in the main chamber of Habitat 1.
The habitat should provide the spider with everything it needs to thrive.
Once in space and ready to begin...
...the astronaut should use the plunger system to release fruit flies...
...into the main chamber of Habitat 1.
Expected Results
I suggest that the spider will advance towards its prey and jump...
...but instead of landing on its prey, it will remain floating in space...
...and it may use the lifeline to get back to its original position.
Jumping Spiders
Vote for me.
