Photoreflectance/scattering measurements of spider silks informed by standard optics.

Blamires, SJ; Little, DJ; White, TE; Kane, DM

Photoreflectance/scattering measurements of spider silks informed by standard optics.

Blamires, SJ Little, DJ White, TE Kane, DM

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Publisher:: ROYAL SOC
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: R Soc Open Sci, 2020, 7, (4), pp. 192174
Issue Date:: 2020-04

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Blamires, SJ
dc.contributor.author	Little, DJ
dc.contributor.author	White, TE
dc.contributor.author	Kane, DM
dc.date.accessioned	2022-09-26T04:10:59Z
dc.date.available	2020-03-30
dc.date.available	2022-09-26T04:10:59Z
dc.date.issued	2020-04
dc.identifier.citation	R Soc Open Sci, 2020, 7, (4), pp. 192174
dc.identifier.issn	2054-5703
dc.identifier.issn	2054-5703
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/162077
dc.description.abstract	The silks of certain orb weaving spiders are emerging as high-quality optical materials. This motivates study of the optical properties of such silk and particularly the comparative optical properties of the silks of different species. Any differences in optical properties may impart biological advantage for a spider species and make the silks interesting for biomimetic prospecting as optical materials. A prior study of the reflectance of spider silks from 18 species reported results for three species of modern orb weaving spiders (Nephila clavipes, Argiope argentata and Micrathena Schreibersi) as having reduced reflectance in the UV range. (Modern in the context used here means more recently derived.) The reduced UV reflectance was interpreted as an adaptive advantage in making the silks less visible to insects. Herein, a standard, experimental technique for measuring the reflectance spectrum of diffuse surfaces, using commercially available equipment, has been applied to samples of the silks of four modern species of orb weaving spiders: Phonognatha graeffei, Eriophora transmarina, Nephila plumipes and Argiope keyserlingi. This is a different technique than used in the previous study. Three of the four silks measured have a reduced signal in the UV. By taking the form of the silks as optical elements into account, it is shown that this is attributable to a combination of wavelength-dependent absorption and scattering by the silks rather than differences in reflectance for the different silks. Phonognatha graeffei dragline silk emerges as a very interesting spider silk with a flat 'reflectance'/scattering spectrum which may indicate it is a low UV absorbing dielectric micro-fibre. Overall the measurement emerges as having the potential to compare the large numbers of silks from different species to prospect for those which have desirable optical properties.
dc.format	Electronic-eCollection
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	ROYAL SOC
dc.relation.ispartof	R Soc Open Sci
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1098/rsos.192174
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.title	Photoreflectance/scattering measurements of spider silks informed by standard optics.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	7
utslib.location.activity	England
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.date.updated	2022-09-26T04:10:56Z
pubs.issue	4
pubs.publication-status	Published online
pubs.volume	7
utslib.citation.issue	4

Abstract:

The silks of certain orb weaving spiders are emerging as high-quality optical materials. This motivates study of the optical properties of such silk and particularly the comparative optical properties of the silks of different species. Any differences in optical properties may impart biological advantage for a spider species and make the silks interesting for biomimetic prospecting as optical materials. A prior study of the reflectance of spider silks from 18 species reported results for three species of modern orb weaving spiders (Nephila clavipes, Argiope argentata and Micrathena Schreibersi) as having reduced reflectance in the UV range. (Modern in the context used here means more recently derived.) The reduced UV reflectance was interpreted as an adaptive advantage in making the silks less visible to insects. Herein, a standard, experimental technique for measuring the reflectance spectrum of diffuse surfaces, using commercially available equipment, has been applied to samples of the silks of four modern species of orb weaving spiders: Phonognatha graeffei, Eriophora transmarina, Nephila plumipes and Argiope keyserlingi. This is a different technique than used in the previous study. Three of the four silks measured have a reduced signal in the UV. By taking the form of the silks as optical elements into account, it is shown that this is attributable to a combination of wavelength-dependent absorption and scattering by the silks rather than differences in reflectance for the different silks. Phonognatha graeffei dragline silk emerges as a very interesting spider silk with a flat 'reflectance'/scattering spectrum which may indicate it is a low UV absorbing dielectric micro-fibre. Overall the measurement emerges as having the potential to compare the large numbers of silks from different species to prospect for those which have desirable optical properties.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/162077