SECOR, S.M.; Univ. of Alabama, Tuscaloosa: Allometry of SDA, scaling the metabolic response to digestion The attention on the allometric effects of body mass on metabolism has predominately been focused on basal (or standard) and maximum metabolic rates. The growing interest in the metabolic states associated with meal digestion warrants an investigation of their allometric […]

DILLON, M.E.*; Univ. of Washington, Seattle: Wingbeat kinematics of bumblebees hovering at simulated high altitude Bumblebees (genus Bombus) thrive in alpine ecosystems, regularly flying to flowers above 4000 m despite the difficulty of producing lift in low-density air. Bumblebees may respond to this challenge by evolving increased wing area, muscle mass or efficiency. Individual bees […]

BAIER, David B.; GATESY, Stephen M.; Brown University; Brown University: Shoulder Mechanics in Gliding Birds: Implications for the Evolution of Forelimb Aerodynamics The avian shoulder joint is highly mobile to permit flapping, yet also stable enough to prevent dislocation. Bony and soft tissues making up the joint must accommodate loads to balance muscular, aerodynamic, gravitational, […]

BYRNES, G.T.*; HORISAWA, S.; GOLDBOGEN, J.A.; University of Texas, Austin; University of Texas, Austin; University of Texas, Austin: Hummingbird Flight Maneuverability: A Three-Dimensional Analysis Hummingbirds exhibit a suite of complex flight-based behaviors including hovering, evasive maneuvers, territorial defense, and long-distance migration. Such diverse tasks potentially impose conflicting mechanical demands on the flight apparatus. We quantitatively […]

ESSNER, R. L.; Ohio University, Athens: Fluttering: A novel locomotor behavior in flying squirrels Aerial locomotion in mammalian gliders has never been fully investigated using the techniques of high-speed video and three-dimensional kinematic analysis. Consequently, descriptions of gliding behavior have remained relatively simplistic. This study quantifies limb and tail movements during the airborne phase of […]

ENSTROM, M.R.; LONGNION, J.K.*; DANIEL, T.L.; TU, M.S.; DIORIO, C.; WILLIS, M.A.; Univ. of Washington, Seattle; Univ. of Washington, Seattle; Univ. of Washington, Seattle; Univ. of Washington, Seattle; Univ. of Washington, Seattle; Case Western Reserve, Cleveland: Abdominal ruddering and the control of flight in the hawkmoth Hawkmoth flight follows from a complex interplay between sensory […]

KOJESZEWSKI, T. B. *; FISH, F. E.; West Chester University; West Chester University: Swimming of the Florida manatee: Mechanics and efficiency of an aquatic grazer Swimming performance is associated with the foraging ecology of aquatic animals. Marine mammal predators may be characterized based on prey capture techniques that affects how efficient the animal needs to […]

HAMILTON, J.L.; Brown University, Providence, RI: Surface descent in Thick-billed murres (Uria lomvia): Are wings enough? Thick-billed murres (Uria lomvia; Family Alcidae) are able to dive to depths exceeding 200 meters. Murres are positively buoyant and, thus, must overcome their own buoyancy when diving. My study investigates how murres use their limbs as they descend […]

BUNDLE, M. W.; University of Montana: Muscle efficiency during bird flight The efficiency with which muscle converts chemical energy into mechanical energy is a basic parameter of muscle function. Yet, empirical measurements for the efficiency of vertebrate muscle exist only for isolated muscle preparations. The difficulty in measuring muscle efficiency at the whole animal level […]

HEDRICK, TL; BIEWENER, AA; CFS, Harvard University: Linear Accelerations in the Flapping Flight of Cockatiels We quantified whole body vertical, horizontal, and lateral accelerations in the flapping flight of cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus, n=4) in order to examine the mechanisms they employ in producing forces within a wingbeat and across a range of speeds. Accelerations were […]