Spiders' Webs as Bioindicators of Environmental Pollution

Format: Video Full HD 1080p 16:9 25fps .mov / .mp4

Lenght: 3:38 min

Language: English

VO: British English

Footage source: 100% original

Background music: royalty free

Tags: bioindication, innovative research , spiders, spiders’ web, environmental toxicology,

Synopsis

Spider's web is a wonderful material with many great applications. Spiders use their webs to catch prey, build shelters, or move over large distances. Spider silk is stronger than nylon or Kevlar. It is self-organizing and biodegradable. But also it can be a great bioindicator. It means that it can be used to collect valid information about the environment.

Dr. Justyna Rybak from Wrocław University of Science and Technology specialises in environmental toxicology. Dr. Rybak’s work demonstrates that spiders' webs can serve as superior bioindicators compared to commonly used lichens and mosses. Spider webs can be collected throughout the year and are not dependent on the vegetation season.

“Another adventage of spiders’ web is that it is very common and compared to the technical equipment the cost of collecting samples is low. Additionally spiders build their webs in secluded places to protect them from weather impacts such as rain or wind.” says dr. Justyna Rybak.

Through the analysis of a spider's web, we can gather information about pollutants like suspended particles, among others. We can determine particulate matter morphology and the content of potentially toxic elements.

What also makes a spider web a very efficient bioindicator is its flexibility. When destroyed, it will be rebuilt by a spider, allowing us to precisely determine the period during which pollutants were collected in the web.

Observations imply that certain spider families are better suited for this task. “Spiders from the Pholcidae family can be good for bioindication as they weave very dense webs. Spiders from the Disderidae family can also be good, as they inhabit secluded places and their webs are stretched on the walls of basements.” says dr. Justyna Rybak. However, some spiders, such as those from the Araneidae family and generally all orb weavers, are not well-suited for bioindication. Their webs are sparse, and they also consume their destroyed webs, allowing older pollutants to pass through to the new web.

“Here we breed spiders to obtain spider’s web. We strech it on a petri dish. The petri dishes are later placed in homes or offices allowing us to collect information about indoor polutants.” explains dr. Justyna Rybak.

Despite the marvel of spiders’ web humans have not yet been able to replicate its intricacies artificially or establish large scale spiders’ breeding for web production. “Spiders are very sensitive. Most spiders don’t survive under breeding conditions and also they fail to reproduce.”

While still a source of dread for many, spiders should finally gain the rightful appreciation they deserve in our perception.