Meeting Abstract 102.3  Thursday, Jan. 7  What makes a great footballer? Trade-offs between athleticism and skill in human performance WILSON, R S*; SMITH, M D; Univ. of Queensland, Australia; Univ. of Queensland, Australia r.wilson@uq.edu.au Animal performance during critical behaviours such as predator-escape, prey-capture and fighting is determined by a complex assortment of underlying traits. Maximal physical capacity […]

Meeting Abstract 102.6  Thursday, Jan. 7  I can score more than you! Investigating the importance of skill on whole organism performance in a complex environment DAVID, Gwendolyn*; ORTIZ-BARRIENTOS, Daniel; SMITH, Michelle; WILSON, Robbie; Univ. of Queensland, Brisbane g.david@uq.edu.au Skill, the ability to effectively execute a learned motor task, plays a fundamental role in the ecology and evolution […]

Meeting Abstract 102.2  Thursday, Jan. 7  High-Speed Horizontal to Vertical Transitions in Running Cockroaches Reveals a Principle of Robustness JAYARAM, K.*; MONGEAU, J. M.; MCRAE, B.; FULL, R.J.; Univ. of California, Berkeley; Univ. of California, Berkeley; Univ. of California, Berkeley; Univ. of California, Berkeley kaushikj@berkeley.edu We marvel at the gracefulness of large animals as they maneuver over […]

Meeting Abstract 102.1  Thursday, Jan. 7  Galloping at high speed: insights from cheetahs and racing greyhounds HUDSON, P.E.*; CORR, S.A.; WILSON, A.M.; Royal Veterinary College; Royal Veterinary College; Royal Veterinary College phudson@rvc.ac.uk High speed locomotion is essential for the survival and success of many species. The cheetah is the fastest living land mammal with a reported maximum […]

Meeting Abstract 102.5  Thursday, Jan. 7  Explaining the 1/tc relation to locomotion cost in terms of constrained optimization or How metabolic cost rate can appear to both increase and decrease with time of force application GUTMANN, A.K.; BERTRAM, J.E.A.*; University of Calgary; University of Calgary annegutmann@gmail.com Kram and Taylor (1990) hypothesized that ‘the rate of energy consumed […]

Meeting Abstract 102.4  Thursday, Jan. 7  Chasing the Cockroach: How reflexes enhance running PROCTOR, Joshua/L*; HOLMES, Philip; Princeton University jproctor@princeton.edu Neuromuscular systems are stabilized and controlled by both feedforward and feedback signals. Feedforward pathways driven by central pattern generators (CPGs), in conjunction with mechanical reaction forces and nonlinear muscle properties, suffice to produce stable stereotypical gaits. (1) […]

Meeting Abstract 102.3  Saturday, Jan. 7  Phylogenetic implications of the morphology of the braincase of caecilian amphibians (Gymnophiona) MADDIN, HC*; RUSSELL, AP; ANDERSON, JS; University of Calgary; University of Calgary; University of Calgary hcmaddin@ucalgary.ca Currently, phylogenetic analyses of characters drawn from the morphology of caecilians lack resolution, as well as complementarity, with results of phylogenetic analyses that […]

Meeting Abstract 102.1  Saturday, Jan. 7  Molecular and Morphological Variation in the Barnacle Predator Nemertopsis bivitatta (Nemertea, Hoplonemertea) CAPLINS, S. A.; NORENBURG, J. L.; TURBEVILLE, J. M.*; Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA; National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC; Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA jmturbeville@vcu.edu The nemertean Nemertopsis bivitatta is a suctorial barnacle feeder abundant in hard-bottom […]

Meeting Abstract 102.2  Saturday, Jan. 7  Evolution of albinism in a captive population of cavefish GROSS, Joshua B.*; WILKENS, Horst; University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Zoological Institute and Zoological Museum, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany grossja@ucmail.uc.edu One of the most common traits shared among cave-dwelling animals is the loss of pigmentation. This form of phenotypic regression […]

Meeting Abstract 102.4  Saturday, Jan. 7  Evolution and integration of weapons in horned lizards (Phrynosoma) BERGMANN, P.J.*; BERK, C.P.; Clark University; University of Arizona pbergmann@clarku.edu Many animals posses weapons for defense, prey procurement, and competition for resources. Many of these structures, including horns, antlers, spines, and venom glands exhibit positive allometry, being disproportionately larger and more effective […]