Nowicki, J.L.*; Takimoto, R.; Foley, A.B.; Burke, A. C.: Global Patterning Information In The Lateral Plate Mesoderm The somitic mesoderm produces the axial skeleton and the striated muscle of both body and limbs of vertebrates. The limb skeleton and connective tissue develops from cells of the lateral plate mesoderm. To function properly, the elements of […]

Carroll, A.M.*; Wainwright, P.C.: Functional morphology of prey capture in the pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus). We examined the anatomical and kinematic basis of prey capture in sturgeon. Sturgeon (Acipenseridae) are a basal actinopterygians with a highly derived cranial morphology. Despite their anatomical singularity and phylogenetic significance, no functional study of the kinematics of sturgeon feeding […]

SELCER, K.W. *: Field ecology laboratory: What to do on a rainy day. Field biology laboratories are intended to provide students with experience at conducting experiments under field conditions. However, actual conditions at the scheluled time of the class may not be suitable or desirable for field experiments. Therefore, laboratory exercises are needed that allow […]

ELLERBY, D.J*; SPIERTS, I.L.Y.; ALTRINGHAM, J.D.: Fast muscle function in the European eel (Anguilla anguilla, L.) during aquatic and terrestrial locomotion Eels are capable both of locomotion in water and on land using undulations of the body axis, powered by the lateral musculature. Differences in kinematics and the underlying patterns of fast muscle activation are […]

Bishop, K. Bishop: Evolutionary Patterns in Bat Wing Shape Among mammals, bats are the only group to have evolved powered flight. The changes which allowed the adoption of this locomotor mode include the modification of the forelimb into a wing. Features of the wing shape such as wing loading, aspect ratio, and tip index affect […]

NICOLAY, C.W.*; SHERWOOD, R.J.: Eigenshape and Biomechanical Analysis of the Phyllostomid Mandibular Symphysis Bats of the family Phyllostomidae are characterized by considerable dietary diversity, which may be reflected in the morphology of the mandibular symphysis. Symphyseal outline shapes and biomechanical properties of the symphysis were compared using bone densitometer (CT) scans (midline sagittal sections) of […]

WELCH, J.M.* *; WALTERS, L.J.; YOUNG, C.M.: Effects of flow on larval release behavior of the bryozoan Bugula neritina The ubiquitous arborescent bryozoan Bugula neritina lives attached to substrata and is subjected to tidal currents in estuarine areas. Itslarvae have a very short planktonic period (minutes to hours), so the timing of release relative to […]

Walter, R. *; Otterstrom, J.; Carrier, D.: Effects of Body Morphology on Vertebrate Rotational Inertia Because the force required to rotate a body about an axis is directly proportional to its rotation inertia about the axis, it is likely that animals with high rotational inertia would be constrained in their turning abilities. Using the fact […]

ZIMMERMAN, B.B.*; TOBALSKE, B.W.: Effect of Flight Distance on Take-Off Mechanics in Zebra Finch Flap-bounding is a flight style that is expected to offer an aerodynamic advantage over continuous flapping at fast flight speeds but not during hovering or slow flight. Therefore, we hypothesized that birds that exclusively flap-bound should maximize take-off velocity to avoid […]

DAVIS, A.P.*; TOBALSKE, B.W.: Effect of Distance on Flap-Bounding Flight Performance Previous studies suggest that flap-bounding does not offer an aerodynamic advantage to birds flying at slow speeds. Therefore, we hypothesized that a bird using this flight style should quickly accelerate after takeoff and maintain or exceed the minimum aerodynamically attractive speed for its morphology. […]