Meeting Abstract
70.5 Thursday, Jan. 6 Multidimensional analysis of locomotion and feeding in cottids KANE, EA*; HIGHAM, TE; Clemson University; Clemson University ekane@clemson.edu
Fishes often rely on the integration of feeding and locomotion in order to successfully capture prey. Although swimming speed is widely used to characterize locomotion during prey capture, multidimensional measures are necessary to determine how diversity influences the integration of locomotion and feeding. Marine cottids of the Northeastern Pacific are extremely abundant and exhibit considerable diversity in morphology, ecology, and feeding performance, making them an ideal group for exploring the integration of locomotion and feeding. We quantified the feeding kinematics, feeding performance and integration of locomotion and feeding in Blepsias cirrhosus (silver-spotted sculpin) and Oligocottus maculosus (tidepool sculpin). These species exhibit similar feeding morphology (peak gape, peak cranial expansion, and peak jaw protrusion) and attack velocity. However, they differed in peak acceleration, peak deceleration, and several timing variables. Traditional measures of attack kinematics are inadequate given that additional kinematic and timing variables reveal functionally and ecologically relevant differences. Peak gape accurately predicts ram velocity and suction use in both species, and fits within the paradigm described previously for cottids. However, the mechanisms underlying differences in locomotor strategy likely result from unexplored morphological or ecological differences between species. Additionally, peak predator velocity, peak acceleration, and peak deceleration were correlated with peak gape in B. cirrhosus, but not O. maculosus, indicating greater integration of locomotion and feeding in B. cirrhosus. Integration might be more apparent in ancestral, subtidal cottids such as B. cirrhosus, and the need for integration might be superceded by demands from the habitat in more derived, shallow water forms such as O. maculosus.
