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Nature's Best Architect
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Dear all,
This photo was taken last Sunday afternoon during a walk to the Peak of Hong Kong.
Spring not only brings Hong Kong much rain, it also reveals the masterpieces of nature's best architect.
I hope you'd like this photo.
Cheers,
Man Yee
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spider_web
A spider web, spiderweb, spider's web or cobweb (from the obsolete word "coppe", meaning "spider" sometimes with the connotation of being a dusty, abandoned web) is a device built by a spider out of proteinaceous spider silk extruded from its spinnerets.
Insects can get trapped in spider webs, providing nutrition to the spider; however, not all spiders build webs to catch prey, and some do not build webs at all.
Spiders have several spinneret glands located at their abdomen which produce the silken thread. Each gland produces a thread for a special purpose. Seven different gland types have currently been identified, although each species of spider will possess only a few of these types, never all seven at once.
Normally a spider has three pairs of spinnerets, but there are spiders with just one pair or as many as four pairs of spinnerets, with each spinneret having its own function.
During the process of making a web the spider will use its own body for measurements, a very practical and ergonomic design feature of any web. This will allow the spider to move quickly around its own web with very few faults.
It will start with the most difficult part of construction, the first thread. The spider effectively uses the wind to carry its initial adhesive thread. With some luck the silk is released from its spinners and carried by the wind to a suitable adherable surface. When it sticks to a surface the spider will carefully walk over the thread and strengthen it with a second thread. This process is repeated until the primary thread is strong enough to support the rest of the netting.
After strengthening the first thread the spider will continue to make a Y shaped netting. The first three radials of the web are now constructed. More radials are added making sure that the distance between each radial is small enough to cross. This means that the number of radials in a web directly depends on the size of the spider plus the size of the web.
After the radials are complete the spider will fortify the center of the web with about five circular threads. Then a spiral of non-sticky, evenly spaced, circular threads are made for the spider to easily move around its own web during construction. The spider then, beginning from the outside in, will methodically create the adhesive spiral threads. It will utilize the initial radiating lines as well as the non-sticky spirals as guide lines. The spaces between each spiral will be directly proportional to the distance from the tip of its back legs to its spinners. This is one way the spider will use its own body as a measuring/spacing device. While the sticky spirals are formed the non-adhesive spirals are removed as there is no need for them anymore.
After the spider has completed its web it will chew off the initial three center spiral threads then sit and wait. If the web is broken without any structural damage during the construction the spider does not make any initial attempts to rectify the problem.
Webs allow a spider to catch prey without having to expend energy by running it down. Thus it is an efficient method of gathering food. However, constructing the web is in itself an energetically costly process due to the large amount of protein required, in the form of silk. In addition, after a time the silk will lose its stickiness and thus become inefficient at capturing prey. It is not uncommon for spiders to eat their own web daily to recoup some of the energy used in spinning. The silk proteins are thus 'recycled'.
The tensile strength of spider silk is greater than the same weight of steel and has much greater elasticity. Its microstructure is under investigation for potential applications in industry, including bullet-proof vests, and artificial tendons.
Researchers have used genetically modified mammals to produce the proteins needed to make this material. |
Mikolaj, red45, matatur, eqshannon, CeltickRanger, caroze, mala-zaba has marked this note useful
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Hello Seabird! Excellent macro. Perfect contrast. Ideal sharpness. Great effect. Good luck!
- red45
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2705 W: 74 N: 8864]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(30243) - [2009-04-01 0:56]
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Hello ManYee!
Agree, nature is best inspiration for human. I like your picture with natural colours and strong 3D effect. Droplets look like floating in space. Very arty shot.
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- KOMSIS
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 236 W: 0 N: 583]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(1987) - [2009-04-01 1:29]
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Hello Man Yee,
Spider web and a successful composition...
Water drops, in the light like a pearl.
Greetings,
Seyfi
A very good capture of a fine architecture in 3-D Man, I had proposed some other interesting architectures in nature which you can see in my gallery, probably you will like them too!
Cheers,
Mehmet
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- foozi
(9077)
- [2009-04-01 5:34]
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Hi Man Yee,
a very unique composition from you. Excellent clarity in abstract presentation.
Clear and sharp droplets and nice greenish background.
Regards,
Foozi
It is something out of space and time...3D for sure and in a spoofing way it confounds teh eye..which is the start and the end...patterns in nature or Wu-li right? Patterns of organic energy? Wuli..correct me on that one..
Bob
hello Man Yee
i love your words : « nature's best architect »,
excellent macro photo with fine POV, superb focus
and excellent sharpness and details, TFS
Asbed
Ciao Man Yee, great macro with fantastic drops on web, splendid light and colors, very well done, ciao Silvio
Wonderful macro and details. Nice contrast and colours. Well done. Well done.
Best wishes,
Achim
Beautifull pic! Very nice comment as well. Thanks. CarOze
Hi Man Yee,
This is very artistic picture. I like all those water droplets. I do not have much time for the forum, I am increasingly rare ...
TFS
Eric
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- elif
(458)
- [2009-08-20 12:22]
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Hello Man Yee,
a very unique composition....ıt is excellent macro photo with fine POV
BEst wishes
Elif
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 941 W: 0 N: 40]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-s.gif)
(3247)![Silver Star Critiquer [C: 31 W: 0 N: 9]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/s-n-n.gif)
(95)![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 97 W: 10 N: 140]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-s-g.gif)
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