BYRNES, G. T.; University of California, Berkeley: Landing kinematics of a gliding mammal, Glaucomys volans

One selective pressure common to all volant animals, both gliding and flapping is the need to return safely to the substrate. How organisms coordinate their movements to land in a controlled manner is an overlooked aspect of flight biology. Recent work has examined take-off performance in gliding squirrels, but the landing kinematics are still undescribed. Preliminary data suggest bilateral symmetry in the deployment of flight surfaces during landing. A symmetrical flight stroke is a requirement for powered flight; therefore selection for controlled landings may have played a role in flight evolution. In order to further understand an understudied mode of locomotion, and to gain possible insight into the early evolution of flight, I quantitatively describe both changes in the flight path of gliding squirrels during landing and the body and limb motions that effect these changes in the flight trajectory. Kinematic data collected using both a three-dimensional motion capture system and high-speed digital video will be discussed.