We are interested in the factors that allow some organisms to thrive in the wake of human disturbance (e.g. urbanization), while others are driven locally extinct.  Widows and Phoenix's alteration of the Sonoran desert provide an excellent model system for this.  

 

deTranaltes C. et al. (In Press) Desert spiders increase cannibalism under urban heat conditions more than their

urban counterparts.  Urban Ecosystems

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Johnson JC, Garver E*, Martin T* (2020) Black widows on an urban heat island: extreme heat affects spider development

and behaviour from egg to adulthood. Animal Behaviour, 167:77-84, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2020.07.005

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Johnson JC, *Urcuyo J, *Moen C, *Stevens D (2019)  Urban heat island conditions experienced by the Western           black widow spider (Latrodectus hesperus):  extreme heat slows development in an urban arthropod pest but results in

behavioral accommodations  PLOS One  https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0220153

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Johnson JC, *Miles L & *Trubl P  (2012)  Black widows in an urban desert: city-living  compromises spider fecundity and egg investment despite urban prey abundance.  American Midland Naturalist, 168(2): 333-340. Link Here

 

Trubl P, *Highfill T, Miles L, Johnson JC  (2012)  Black widows in an urban desert: population variation in an arthropod pest across metropolitan Phoenix.  Urban Ecosystems , 15: 599-609.  DOI: 10.1007/s11252-011-0223-2

 

*Johnson A,  *Revis O, & Johnson JC  (2011) Chemical cues left by prey influence urban microhabitat selection by black widow spiders (Latrodectus hesperus).  Journal of Arachnology, 39:  449-453. Link Here