Data from: Web building and silk properties functionally covary among species of wolf spider

The web building and non-web building species were from disparate subfamilies so we estimated a genetic phylogeny to perform appropriate comparisons. For all of the properties measured we found differences between web building and non-web building species. A phylogenetic regression model confirmed that web building and not phylogenetic inertia influences silk properties.

Our study definitively showed an ecological influence over spider silk properties. We expect that the presence of the MaSp2-like proteins and the subsequent nanostructures improves the mechanical performance of silks within the webs. Our study furthers our understanding of spider web and silk co-evolution and the ecological implications of spider silk properties.