Meeting Abstract
The biomechanics of fast mantis shrimp (Stomatopoda) strikes involves an uneven and extreme flow of energy from muscle contraction, spring-loading, latch-release, to a final, intense impact. Slowly-contracting, force-modified muscles load springs that are controlled by latches. These slowly-loaded springs ultimately drive the extraordinary accelerations of mantis shrimp strikes – shifting actuation from muscle to a springy material. Here I examine how extremely fast biological systems, particularly mantis shrimp, offer an insightful lens on fundamental issues in integrative, organismal biology, facilitated by features such as the spatial and temporal separation of the muscle, spring, latch, and weapon. I consider the implications of extreme movement in behavioral contexts ranging from fights to feeding, and across multiple scales of analysis ranging from individual variation in behavior on up to the tempo and mode of evolutionary change. Nonetheless, these systems present significant challenges, such as requiring exceptional technology for visualizing movements over sub-millisecond and millimeter scales, and obtaining measurements of the power output of elastic structures. The burgeoning interest in biomimetics and bioinspiration, alongside a growing field of evolutionary biomechanics, is propelling forward integrative and interdisciplinary insights from extreme biological movements.
