RISKIN, D.K.*; HERMANSON, J.H.; BERTRAM, J.E.A.; Cornell Univ.; Cornell Univ.; Florida State Univ.: The role of the hindlimbs in non-aerial locomotion of bats While a few bat species like the common vampire (Desmodus rotundus) crawl and jump in a coordinated fashion, bats like Pteronotus parnellii and Carollia perspicillata crawl very poorly, and others like Macrotus […]

LAMMERS, A R; EARLS, K D; BIKNEVICIUS, A R; Ohio University: The effects of substrate diameter on locomotor biodynamics in gray short-tailed opossums (Monodelphis domestica) The effects of substrate diameter (contour) on locomotor biodynamics were studied in the gray short-tailed opossum (Monodelphis domestica). Two horizontal substrates were used: a flat trackway with a force platform […]

ZANI, P.A.*; GOTTSCHALL, J.S.; LAFAVE, A.A.; KRAM, R.; Univ. of Colorado; Univ. of Colorado; Univ. of Colorado; Univ. of Colorado: The Biomechanics of Giant-Tortoise Locomotion: Walking Without an Inverted Pendulum Tortoises are derived terrestrial forms of turtles, some of which have evolved into gigantic forms that walk extremely slowly. To date, all walking vertebrates studied […]

BLOB, R.W.*; WILLEY, J.S.; LAUDER, G.V.; Clemson Univ.; Clemson Univ.; Harvard Univ.: Swimming in painted turtles: particle image velocimetry reveals different propulsive roles for the forelimb and hindlimb. Because most of their body axis is fused to a rigid shell, turtles rely primarily on the limbs to generate propulsive forces. Kinematic data indicate that swimming […]

MCGOWAN, C.P.*; BAUDINETTE, R.V.; BIEWENER, A.A.; Harvard University, Concord Field Station; University of Adelaide, Australia; Harvard University, Concord Field Station: Leaping and Landing; Mechanical Power in Yellow-foot Rock Wallabies. Much of what we know about animal locomotion has come from studies of animals moving at steady speeds over level surfaces. Yet in the wild animals […]

CHAPPELL , M.A.*; REZENDE, E.L.; GOMES, F.; Univ. of California, Riverside; Univ. of California, Riverside; Univ. of California, Riverside: Energetics of voluntary running in deer mice Energy costs of locomotion in small mammals have been extensively studied, but the cost versus speed relationship is known only for forced exercise and it is unclear if the […]

RIBAK, G*; ARAD, Z; KLEIN, N; WEIHS, D; Technion – Israel Institute of Technology; Technion – Israel Institute of Technology; Technion – Israel Institute of Technology; Technion – Israel Institute of Technology: Buoyancy resisting mechanisms applied by cormorants in submerged swimming Buoyancy is a destabilizing force for diving cormorants that forage at shallow depths, increasing […]

MOESER, G.; LEBA, H.; CARRINGTON*, E.; University of Rhode Island; University of Rhode Island; University of Rhode Island: When mussels don�t go with the flow: seasonal variation in byssal thread production and mechanics The attachment strength of the blue mussel, Mytilus edulis, follows an annual cycle on New England temperate rocky shores, increasing two-fold in […]

BELTR�N, Jennie L.; BLACKLEDGE, Todd A.; SUMMERS, Adam P.; HAYASHI, Cheryl Y.; University of California-Irvine; University of California-Riverside; University of California-Irvine; University of California-Riverside: The effect of spider size and amino acid composition on the mechanical properties of dragline silk Many studies have explored the material properties, composition, and genetics of the dragline silk spun […]

SMITH, A.M.*; LEGG, S.; MORRISON, T.; SIMON, C.; Ithaca College: Sticky, fast-setting glues vs. dried, long-lasting glues: functional differences among gastropod glue proteins. Many molluscs form strong attachments using gel-based glues. These dilute gels are structurally similar to the mucous gels used in locomotion, but they have additional proteins that we have named �glue proteins�. […]