Meeting Abstract
The study of gecko adhesion is necessarily interdisciplinary due to the hierarchical nature of the system and the complexity of interactions between animals and their habitats. In nature, Geckos move on a wide range of surfaces including soft sand dunes, smooth trees, and rough rocks, but much of the research over the past two decades has focused on the interaction between geckos and artificial surfaces. The complex interactions between geckos and their natural habitats can likely reveal aspects of the adhesive system that can be applied to biomimetic research, such as the factors that facilitate movement on surfaces with specific microtopography. Additionally, contrasting suites of constraints and topographies are found on rocks and plants, likely driving differences in locomotion and morphology. Our overarching goals are to bring to light several aspects of ecology that are important for gecko-habitat interactions, and to propose a framework for how these interactions can inspire material scientists and functional ecologists. We address the following key questions: 1) What ecological factors drive adhesive performance? 2) How do geckos select the surfaces on which they move in nature? 3) How might geckos and plants co-evolve to facilitate mutualistic relationships? 4) How can ecological studies inform material science research? Recent advances in surface replication techniques that eliminate confounding factors among surface types facilitate the ability to address some of these questions. Using replicates, we determine the functional consequences of ecologically relevant surface features. Finally, we pinpoint gaps in our understanding and identify key initiatives that should be adopted as we move forward.
