DOI: 10.5061/dryad.76hdr7t4j
title: Data from: Spider venom potency exhibits phylogenetic prey-specificity but does not trade-off with body size or silk use in prey capture

description: Spiders employ a diverse range of predator traits including potent venoms,
 complex silk hunting strategies and mechanical strength coupled with
 larger body sizes to capture prey. This trait diversity, along with the
 quantifiable nature of venom potency, makes spiders an excellent group to
 study evolutionary trade-offs. Yet, comparative approaches have been
 historically confounded by the use of atypical prey models to measure
 venom potency. Here, we account for such confounding issues by
 incorporating the phylogenetic similarity between a spider's diet and
 the species used to measure its venom potency. Using a phylogenetic
 comparative analysis of 75 spider species to test how diet, silk use in
 prey capture and body size drive venom yield and potency (LD50), we show
 that spider venoms are generally more potent against models more closely
 related to their natural prey, reflecting prey-specific patterns. We find
 that venom yield scales sublinearly with size, reflecting the 0.75
 allometric scaling predicted by metabolic theory, suggesting venom is
 metabolically expensive in spiders. Our approach demonstrates how
 contemporary comparative approaches can be applied to historic venom
 potency measures to test fundamental evolutionary patterns in predator
 traits.
description: To test our hypotheses, we collated data on venom potency, body
 size, silk use in prey capture (yes/no), venom yield,
 LD<sub>50</sub> model species and natural diet from literature
 sources using the Web of Science search engine using the key words “LD50”
 “Venom”, “Spider” “Arachnid” “Yield” and following key references and
 databases such as The World Spider Trait database. All data was stored and
 organised in Microsoft Excel (S1-S2). The data has been
 processed prior to analysis. See Supplementary document S6 for a detailed
 description of both the methodology used and data descriptions, in the
 form of column heading descriptions for both dataset files, S1 (Main
 dataset) and S2 (length to mass conversion data). To
 reproduce the results and phylogeny, see S3 and S4 (knowledge of R coding
 language required). To see full model outputs (results) in the form of
 tables and figures, see S5. To recap: S1 and S2 are the
 datasets, S1 being the main dataset and S2 being separate data used to
 convert spider body size to spider body mass; S3 is the R script to
 reproduce the results; S4 is the R script and files required to reproduce
 the phylogeny; S5 is a word document containing all analyses outputs
 (results) for both main and supplementary analyses; and S6 is a word
 document explaining the methodology used in greater detail and data
 descriptions.
description: # Data from: Spider venom potency exhibits phylogenetic prey-specificity
 but does not trade-off with body size or silk use in prey capture Dataset
 DOI: [10.5061/dryad.76hdr7t4j](10.5061/dryad.76hdr7t4j) ## Description of
 the data and file structure #### The following abbreviations are used to
 refer to supplementary files: S1 = Main dataset. S2 = Spider body length
 and body mass dataset for calculating Mass = Length*2.6. S3 = R studio
 script to reproduce both main and supplementary models. S4 = R studio
 script and files to reproduce phylogenetic tree (adapted from Wolff et
 al., 2022). S5 = Main and Supplementary model outputs (results). S6 =
 Detailed Methodology and Data Descriptions ### Files and variables ####
 The following describes how the supplementary files are to be used in
 relation to this study: There are two dataset files, Dataset S1 (main) and
 Dataset S2 (Supplementary). Dataset S1 is to be used in conjunction with
 S3 R Studio script to reproduce the models and results for the tables and
 plots in the main manuscript. Dataset S1 is also to be used in conjunction
 with S4 R Studio script to reproduce the phylogenetic tree, along with
 other files (base phylogeny adapted from Wolff et al 2022) in the S4
 folder. Dataset S2 is to be used in conjunction with S3 R Studio script to
 reproduce supplementary model S1, the results of which were used to
 convert the mean spider length (mm) data found in dataset S1 to body mass
 (g) via the power law Mass = Length*2.6. See main manuscript or S6 file
 for more details. #### File: S1\_main\_dataset\_25.csv Dataset S1 contains
 all the data for the main analyses including: venom potency data (median
 lethal dose or LD50). total spider body length (mm). silk use in prey
 capture, broken down into two categories: “yes” or “no” and “silk
 primary”. venom yield (milligram of lyophilized (dried) venom per spider
 or mg dried/spider). LD50 model species injected and associated data
 (injection method and LD50 model mass (g)). DLD50Diet [EVO_DIST], the mean
 phylogenetic distance between the LD50 model species and natural prey
 species, measured in hundreds of millions of years (Hundreds of Mya) and
 is weighted by the proportion of each prey item in the diet. The
 associated references for the data collected. Detailed column name
 descriptions for Dataset S1 can be found below. Also note, any blanks
 found in the S1 dataset are represented by "null". #####
 Variables for dataset S1 * species = Spider species scientific name (genus
 + species). - taxa = Spider family. * reported_sp._name = Spider species
 name as reported from source. - animal = One of several columns used for
 producing phylogeny. * species_matched = One of several columns used for
 producing phylogeny. - silk_yn = Silk use in prey capture, listing a
 species as a silk hunter (yes) or non-silk hunter (no). * silk_use_ref =
 Reference for silk hunting strategy source. - body_length_mm = Mean spider
 body length in mm. * body_length_mm_min = Minimum spider body length in
 mm. - body_length_mm_max = Maximum spider body length in mm. *
 body_length_ref = Reference for spider body length source. -
 venom_yield_mg_spider_dried = Venom yield measured in mg dried per spider.
 * venom_yield_mg_spider_min = Minimum mg dried per spider. -
 venom_yield_mg_spider_max = Maximum mg dried per spider. *
 venom_extraction_method = Method used to obtain venom samples from
 spiders. - dried_or_not_dried = If venom sample was lyophilised or not
 during the preparation process. * venom_yield_and_extraction_ref =
 Reference for spider venom yield and extraction method source. -
 venom_yield_ref_2 = Reference for Venom yield value collected for spiders
 where the LD50 study did not report the venom yield. * ld50_raw = Raw
 venom yield reported (ul). - ld50_raw_unit = Unit raw venom yield was
 reported as e.g. mg venom per kg of test subject. * ld50_mgkg_converted =
 The converted LD50 recorded in mg/kg. This measure was used for LD50
 analysis. - ld50_mgkg_converted_min = Converted LD50 mgkg minimum. *
 ld50_mgkg_converted_max = Converted LD50 mgkg maximum. -
 ld50_measurement_error_type = Reported range of error type. *
 ld50_method_summarised = LD50 injection method with 5 categories, 3 for
 vertebrates (iv, ip and sc) and 2 for invertebrates (t/c and abdomen). -
 ld50_model = Injected model species scientific name. *
 ld50_model_mass_g_mean = Mean mass for injected model species measured in
 grams. - ld50_model_mass_g_max = Maximum mass for injected model species
 measured in grams. * ld50_ref = Reference for spider LD50 and associated
 data source. - EVO_DIST = Total evolutionary distance between injected
 test model and spider’s focal prey (i.e. DLD50Diet). *
 number_classes_in_diet = The number of taxonomic classes reported in the
 diet of a given species (1 class = 1). - diet_ref1-10 = References for
 quantitative and qualitative diet data sources. * diet_inferred = Lists if
 spider diet was partially (part), fully (all) or not (no) inferred from
 other closely related species. - number_of_species_diets\_ = Lists number
 of species diet data was obtained from. For example, if one species had
 part of its diet inferred from two closely related species of which the
 diet is reported to be similar, the number of species diet data was
 obtained from would equal 3. * quan_or_qual = Lists if diet data was
 “quantitative” only, “qualitative” only or includes “both”. -
 diet_include_vert_yn = Factor for model s3, denoting if vertebrates were
 reported in a spider species diet or not (yes/no). #### File:
 S2\_body\_mass\_length\_dataset.csv Dataset S2 is to be used in
 conjunction with S3 R Studio script to reproduce supplementary model S1,
 containing data on spider body length (mm) and spider body mass (g).
 Detailed column name descriptions for Dataset S2 can be found below. Also
 note, any blanks found in the S2 dataset are represented by
 "null". ##### Variables for dataset S2 * species = Spider
 species scientific name (genus + species). - family = Spider family. *
 genus_syn = Alternate spider genus name as reported from sources. -
 species_syn = Alternate spider species name as reported from sources. *
 body_mass_g_mean = Mean spider body mass measured in grams. -
 body_mass_g_min = Minimum spider body mass measured in grams. *
 body_mass_g_max = Maximum spider body mass measured in grams. - measure =
 Denotes what type of measurement is reported, either a single observation
 or the mean of multiple individuals. * sex = If females only, males only
 or both are included in the reported measurement. - life_stage = If the
 reported measurement included adults only or different life stages. *
 sample_size = The number of individuals measured. - reference and
 reference_2 = References for body mass measurement sources. *
 body_length_mm_mean = Mean spider body length measured in millimetres. -
 body_length_mm_min = Minimum spider body length measured in millimetres. *
 body_length_mm_max = Maximum spider body length measured in millimetres. -
 measure = Denotes what type of measurement is reported, either a single
 observation or the mean of multiple individuals (body length). * sex = If
 females only, males only or both are included in the reported measurement
 (body length). - life_stage = If the reported measurement included adults
 only or different life stages (body length). * sample_size = The number of
 individuals measured (body length). - Reference – reference_7 = References
 for body length measurement sources. There are two R Studio Script files,
 one to reproduce the results (S3) and another to reproduce the phylogeny
 (S4). S3 R Studio script is to be used in conjunction with dataset files
 S1 and S2 to reproduce model results including tables and figures. S4 R
 Studio script is to be used in conjunction with dataset S1 to reproduce
 the phylogeny used for the main analysis. In addition to dataset S1, the
 phylogenetic tree from Wolff et al., 2022 is also required and can be
 found within the S4 folder. The finished phylogeny used in the main
 analysis "Lyons_et_al_2025_Phylo.tre" is also found in the S4
 folder so readers do not have to run S4 code to run S3 code if they so
 choose. Alternatively, a figure of the phylogeny can be found in file S6.
 Step by step instructions to run both scripts can be found within the
 script files themselves. There are two documents, one containing plots and
 tables of the results (S5) and another detailing the methodology in
 greater detail, including literature descriptions (S6). The S5 document
 contains the results of all the models including main models 1 and 2 and
 supplementary models 1-5. The purpose of the document is to provide easy
 access to the all results in one place, so the reader does not have to run
 the S3 code files to check the results of these models. The S6 document
 contains a detailed description of the methodologies used for the study
 and data descriptions, in the form of column heading descriptions. The
 purpose of this document is to provide more detailed explanations for the
 methodologies used for readers that want to know more about them.##
 Code/software #### Code/Software Both R Studio script files, S3 and S4,
 were run in R software version 4.4.**2 but can likely be run in newer
 versions as they release.  It is worth noting that a basic level
 understanding of how to use R Studio is required to run either code files.
 Instructions are provided for each step within the scripts but they may
 not always be clear to those unfamiliar with R. For S3 and S4, the main
 points to know are: **How to upload the datasets.** The code is provided
 but some operations outside of the script are required. Instructions for
 how to do this are provided within the script. Make sure you know where
 the required files are located within your computer and that they are
 easily accessed. **How to adapt the script for your specific model runs.**
 The script contains summaries of the results obtained during our model
 runs but every time a model is run the result numbers will differ
 slightly. For the plots in particular, you will need to change specific
 numbers included for the "abline" code to the numbers you
 obtained during your model run. Instructions for what numbers need to be
 changed (e.g. Intercept, body size slope) for which plots are provided
 within the script. As mentioned previously, S3 R Studio script is to be
 used in conjunction with dataset files S1 and S2 to reproduce results
 including the tables and figures. As mentioned previously, S4 R Studio
 script is to be used in conjunction with dataset S1 to reproduce the
 phylogeny used for the main analysis. In addition to dataset S1, the
 phylogenetic tree from Wolff et al., 2022 is also required and can be
 found within the S4 folder. The finished phylogeny used in the main
 analysis "Lyons_et_al_2025_Phylo.tre" is also found in the S4
 folder so readers do not have to run S4 code to run S3 code if they so
 choose. A figure of the phylogeny can be found in file S6. ## Access
 information Other publicly accessible locations of the data: * The body
 size, venom yield and LD50 data can be found in the World Spider Trait
 database
 ([https://doi.org/10.57758/4A6E-QJ04](https://doi.org/10.57758/4A6E-QJ04)). Data was derived from the following sources: * All data was sourced from the scientific literature through the search engines "Google Scholar" and "Web of Science". Some data was also obtained from the "World Spider Trait Database". However, all references for each datapoint can be found within the respective "ref" column for the associated trait, in both datasets S1 and S2. Any questions you have about the supplementary files that are not answered here can be sent to the corresponding author at [k.lyons7@universityofgalway.ie](mailto:k.lyons7@universityofgalway.ie) or [keith.lyons.uog@gmail.com](mailto:keith.lyons.uog@gmail.com)