Meeting Abstract 14-2  Monday, Jan. 4 10:30  Antebrachial muscle contraction counteracts tendon elastic action in hovering bat flight KONOW, N*; HEDBERG, ML; ROBERTS, TJ; SWARTZ, SM; Brown University nkonow@brown.edu http://www.brown.edu/Research/Functional_Biology/ The long forearm and handwing bones of bats are moved by antebrachial muscles via tendons that often exceed half of the total length of the muscle tendon […]

Meeting Abstract 14-2  Thursday, Jan. 5 10:30 – 10:45  With every fiber: the effects of collagen fiber orientation on the body mechanics of six species of elongate fishes SANDERS, EK*; DONATELLI, CM; TYTELL, ED; Tufts University; Tufts University; Tufts University erin.sanders@tufts.edu Fish skin has many components that contribute to its protective, yet flexible structure. The dermis of […]

Meeting Abstract 14-1  Thursday, Jan. 5 10:15 – 10:30  Structural and Functional Differences in the Penile Tendons of the American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) KELLY, D.A.*; MOORE, B.C.; University of Massachusetts; Sewanee: The University of the South dianek@psych.umass.edu Two collagenous structures, the ventral penile tendon (VPT) and the ligamentum rami (LR), are critical to normal phallic eversion and […]

Meeting Abstract 14-7  Thursday, Jan. 5 11:45 – 12:00  Physical Properties and Anisotropy in the Central Tissue Layer of Cetacean Tail Flukes GOUGH, WT*; FISH, FE; LEWIS, GT; BART-SMITH, H; West Chester Univ., PA; West Chester Univ., PA; University of Virginia; University of Virginia wgough0788@gmail.com During swimming, cetaceans generate hydrodynamic thrust with dorso-ventral oscillations of flexible tail […]

Meeting Abstract 14-5  Thursday, Jan. 5 11:15 – 11:30  Mechanics of Fish Skin: Contrasting Material Properties Within and Between Functional Systems KENALEY, C*; SANIN, A; Boston College kenaley@bc.edu The skin of non-tetrapod fishes provides several important functions, including protection from the external environment, water balance, and gas exchange. The role skin plays in biomechanical systems such as […]

Meeting Abstract 14-3  Thursday, Jan. 5 10:45 – 11:00  It’s only a flesh wound! Puncture force scaling in flatfishes MINICOZZI, M*; PEREZ, J; SUMMERS, A; GIBB, A C; Northern Arizona University; University of Washington mrm539@nau.edu Fish scales interact with the external environment and have evolved to meet the physical demands of the animal, including attacks from predators. […]

Meeting Abstract 14-4  Thursday, Jan. 5 11:00 – 11:15  Hagfish Houdinis: Biomechanics and Behavior of Squeezing Through Small Openings FREEDMAN, C; FUDGE, DS*; University of Guelph; Chapman University fudge@chapman.edu Hagfishes are able to squeeze through small openings to gain entry to crevices, burrows, hagfish traps, and carcasses, but little is known about how they do this, or […]

Meeting Abstract 14-6  Thursday, Jan. 5 11:30 – 11:45  A Comparative Study on the Tensile Properties of Shark Skin CREAGER, SB; PORTER, ME*; Florida Atlantic University; Florida Atlantic University me.porter@fau.edu In sharks, the skin acts as an exotendon, controlled by internal muscular pressures produced during extension and relaxation enhancing body stiffness during swimming. The surface of shark […]

Meeting Abstract 14-3  Thursday, Jan. 4 10:30 – 10:45  Mysterious Snail Hosts: Distribution, Host Use, and Consequences of Acanthocephalans in Freshwater Snails KOCH, RW*; SHANNON, RP; GOEPPNER, S; BOLEK, MG; Oklahoma State University; Oklahoma State University; Oklahoma State University; Oklahoma State University ryan.koch@okstate.edu In many acanthocephalan life cycles, a vertebrate paratenic host is used to bridge the […]

Meeting Abstract 14-8  Thursday, Jan. 4 11:45 – 12:00  Withering-syndrome induced gene expression changes in pinto abalone, Haliotis kamtschatkana FREDERICK, AR*; FREIDMAN, CS; GERMAN, DP; University of California, Irvine; University of Washington; University of California, Irvine alyssa.frederick@uci.edu http://alyssafrederick.weebly.com In the abalone and Rickettsiales-like organism (RLO) system, the RLO infects abalone digestive tissues and leads to extreme starvation […]