Meeting Abstract

PLE.1    Putting the Organism in its Environment: Ecological Biomechanics KOEHL, M. A. R. ; University of California, Berkeley cnidaria@socrates.berkeley.edu

Organisms function in environments where they interact with the fluids, objects, and other organisms around them. We can gain insights about how organisms work if we couple knowledge of their physical and biotic environments, ecological roles, and life history strategies with our laboratory analyses of their function. For example, measurements of the spatial and temporal distribution of loads on an organism in nature reveal the magnitudes and rates at which biologically-relevant biomechanical tests should be performed in the laboratory. Furthermore, the size, shape, and material properties of an individual change during ontogeny, as can its habitat, activities, and ecological role. Therefore, knowledge of the population biology and ecological interactions of organisms being studied is crucial to determine when during the life of an individual particular aspects of mechanical performance should be measured. The environment can also affect which aspects of an organism�s morphology determine performance, as well as which aspects of performance are biologically important (i.e. affect survivorship or reproductive success). I will discuss each of these points using examples from my research in order to illustrate how ecological studies can enhance or change our understanding of biomechanical function.