Research
Most of our research is on spiders, a mega-diverse invertebrate order with 43,000 species, and covers systematics, taxonomy, behavior, biogeography, and evolution of morphological and behavioral traits. However, our projects also cover topics as diverse as biodiversity estimation, biological nomenclature, phylogenetic diversity and conservation, animal behavioral syndromes, the global state of taxonomy, mammal phylogenetics, and DNA barcoding.
We actively collaborate with numerous labs and colleagues on all continents. We also help train the next generation of evolutionary zoologists through our collaboration with domestic and foreign institutions (University of Ljubljana, Smithsonian Institution, University of Puerto Rico, University of Akron, University of Hamburg, University of Malaya, National University of Singapore) and agencies that sponsor our research (ARRS – Slovenian Research Agency, the European Commission, National Geographic Society, Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft).
Topics
Systematics and Evolution
Most of our ongoing projects have a systematics component, ranging from targeting species discoveries, providing their diagnoses through integrated taxonomy, followed by phylogenetic analyses of morphological, behavioral and molecular data, and their biogeographic implications. We also investigate coevolutionary patterns and causes, e.g. sexual coevolution of anatomical and behavioral features in spiders, coevolution of exceptional spider web ecology with architecture, and the (lack) of coevolution in male and female size and the resulting extreme sexual size dimorphism.
Behavioral Ecology
We are interested in how natural and sexual selection shape behaviors. Small males and gigantic females of nephilid spiders engage in peculiar sexual repertoires such as genital mutilation, amputation and plugging, as well as mate binding and guarding, and sexual cannibalism as the ultimate result of sexual conflict. We also study spider behavioral syndromes (personalities) and how they relate to species invasiveness abilities. Finally, we study spider web building behaviors and their architecture and functional ecology and how these relate to other evolutionary trends including female gigantism.
Biodiversity and Conservation
Our efforts in conservation involve deep freezing of invertebrate animal tissues and their DNA, providing DNA barcodes for these animals as a unique identification tool, and research into conservation priorities of selected taxa using evolutionary distinctiveness and phylogenetic diversity. We have been involved in numerous samplings of spiders globally in an effort to improve diversity estimation techniques and to discover and compare pockets of diversity.
Projects
- Swiss Contribution (Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft), 2011-2012: "Towards permanent conservation of biodiversity: the case of spider fauna of Switzerland and Slovenia" (M. Kuntner, C. Kropf)
- ARRS-Slovenian Research Agency, 2011-2014: “Young Researcher” graduate student funding (M. Kuntner)
- National Geographic Society grant 8655-09, 2009-2010: "Casting spider webs across Malagasy rivers: Extraordinary silk in giant orb webs" (I. Agnarsson, M. Kuntner, T. Blackledge)
- ARRS-Slovenian Research Agency, 2009-2012: “Phylogenetic systematics of Zygiellidae and its implications for spider evolution research” (M. Kuntner)
- ARRS-Slovenian Research Agency, 2009-2012: Bilateral grant Slovenia-USA: “Sexual size dimorphism – its consequences for sexual and foraging biology in spiders” (M. Kuntner, J. Coddington)
- ARRS-Slovenian Research Agency, 2009-2013: “Young Researcher” graduate student funding (M. Kuntner)
- ARRS-Slovenian Research Agency, 2007-2009: “Inbreeding and evolutionary dead-ends: from population-level processes to macroevolutionary patterns” (I. Agnarsson)
- ARRS-Slovenian Research Agency, 2006-2009.PI on “Young Researcher” graduate student funding (M. Kuntner)
- EU 6th Framework Programme Marie Curie International Reintegration Grant, 2006-2008: “Nephilid spider phylogenetics as a test for antagonistic coevolution of sexes” (M. Kuntner)
- ARRS-Slovenian Research Agency, 2006-2007: Bilateral grant Slovenia-USA: “Biodiversity, systematics and evolution of orb-weaving spiders” (M. Kuntner, J. Coddington)
- ARRS-Slovenian Research Agency, 2005-2007: “Nephilid spider phylogeny as a test for antagonistic coevolution of sexes” (M. Kuntner)
- Smithsonian Institution (BDG & Small Grants), 2005: “Estimating Spider Biodiversity in a French Guiana Forest Plot” (J. Coddington, M. Kuntner et al.)
Past and present collaborating labs
- Ingi Agnarsson, University of Puerto Rico, USA
- Gregor Aljančič, Tular Cave Laboratory, Slovenia
- Miquel Arnedo, University of Barcelona, Spain
- Todd Blackledge, University of Akron, USA
- Jonathan Coddington, Smithsonian Institution, USA
- Charles Haddad, University of Free State, South Africa
- Mark Harvey, Western Australian Museum, Australia
- Marie Herberstein, Macquarie University, Australia
- Linden Higgins, University of Vermont, USA
- Gustavo Hormiga, George Washington University, USA
- Christian Kropf, Natural History Museum Berne, Switzerland
- Daiqin Li, National University of Singapore
- Peter Michalik, Zoologisches Institut und Museum, Greifswald, Germany
- Jeremy Miller, Naturalis, Netherlands
- Magda Năpăruş, Tular Cave Laboratory, Slovenia
- Nikolaj Scharff, Natural History Museum of Denmark
- Jutta Schneider, University of Hamburg, Germany
- Peter Trontelj, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
- I-Min Tso, Tunghai University, Taiwan
- Gabriele Uhl, Zoologisches Institut und Museum, Greifswald, Germany
