WESTNEAT, M. W.; Field Museum of Natural History: Biomechanical Models of Feeding in Fishes: New Applications of Lever and Linkage Theory Fishes use a sensational diversity of jaw mechanisms to capture and ingest their food. One of the hallmarks of this diversity is the complexity of the kinetic fish skull, which can have more than […]

VAN WASSENBERGH, S.; AERTS, P.; HERREL, A.; ADRIAENS, D.; University of Antwerp, Belgium; University of Antwerp, Belgium; University of Antwerp, Belgium; Ghent University, Belgium: A forward dynamic model of mouth closing movements in clariid catfishes Some species of Clariidae (air breathing catfishes) have developed extremely large (hypertrophied) adductor mandibulae muscles. As increased forces exerted by […]

CARD, G; DICKINSON, MH; California Institute of Technology; California Institute of Technology: Three dimensional kinematic analysis of flight initiation in Drosophila melanogaster One of the most complex and important maneuvers a fly must perform is the initiation of flight. Relatively little is known about how this action is achieved given the extreme rapidity of the […]

NAUWELAERTS, S.; AERTS, P.; University of Antwerp, Belgium; University of Antwerp, Belgium: Takeoff and landing forces in jumping frogs Most morphological adaptations in frogs are interpreted in the context of their propulsive ability. One selection pressure is their escape behaviour. The most common measure of performance for anurans is jumping distance. However, to escape is […]

PILARSKI, J.Q*; NISHIKAWA, K.C.; PIEROTTI, D.J.; Northern Arizona University; Northern Arizona University; Northern Arizona University: Motor Unit discharge during ballistic movements in an elite jumper, Osteopilus septentrionalis Motor unit (MU) discharge patterns during ballistic movements are almost entirely based on human studies in which fine wire or needle electrodes are inserted into superficial muscles under […]

SRYGLEY, R.B.; Smithsonian & Seoul National University: Locomotor mimicry and energetic costs of aposematic signaling in butterflies Bates hypothesized that some butterfly species that are palatable gain protection from predators by appearing similar to distasteful butterflies. When undisturbed, distasteful butterflies fly slowly and in a straight line, and palatable, Batesian mimics also adopt this nonchalant […]

BYRNES, G. T.; University of California, Berkeley: Landing kinematics of a gliding mammal, Glaucomys volans One selective pressure common to all volant animals, both gliding and flapping is the need to return safely to the substrate. How organisms coordinate their movements to land in a controlled manner is an overlooked aspect of flight biology. Recent […]

PADIAN, K.*; MAZIN, J.-M.; BILLON-BRUYAT, J.-P.; Univ. of California, Berkeley; Univ. of Poitiers, France; Univ. of Poitiers, France: How pterosaurs landed: the first evidence from footprints Pterosaurs, the first known flying vertebrates, were closely related to dinosaurs and contemporaneous with them during the Mesozoic Era (Late Triassic � Late Cretaceous, about 220-65 million years ago). […]

HENRY, H.T.*; MARSH, R.L.; ELLERBY, D.J.; Northeastern University; Northeastern University; Northeastern University: Function of the avian lateral gastrocnemius in jumping The function of the same muscle may vary greatly during different locomotor behaviors. The main function of the avian lateral gastrocnemius (LG) during running is to produce force. During running the LG is active on […]

MILLER, L A; PESKIN, C S; Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University; Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University: Tiny insects, sticking vortices, and clap and fling Although a large number of studies have investigated insect flight at Reynolds numbers of 100 and higher, few studies have considered the aerodynamics of flight […]