KOEHL, Mimi/ A. R.: Effects of Ambient Flow on Locomotion

Ambient currents and waves in marine habitats, and wind in terrestrial habitats, impose forces on organisms. The locomotory performance of organisms swimming in the water column, of animals flying or gliding in the air, and of creatures moving across the substratum is affected by these environmental fluid dynamic forces. Water or air movement can be measured in field habitats on spatial scale scales relevant to a locomoting organism using techniques such as acoustic doppler velocimetry, and can be recreated in laboratory flumes, wave tanks, or wind tunnels in which locomotory performance, fluid dynamic forces, and fine-scale fluid movements can be measured using techniques such as planar laser-induced fluorescence and particle image velocimetry. Examples will be discussed of how ambient flow is utilized in the locomotion of veliger larvae and horseshoe crabs, and how it affects the locomotion of brachyuran crabs and gliding frogs.