WHITENACK, L.B.; MOTTA, P.J.; KOOB, T.J.; University of South Florida; University of South Florida; Shriners Hospital for Children, Tampa: A preliminary analysis of selachian tooth performance Feeding performance plays an important role in overall fitness. An organism must be able to capture prey to grow, survive, and reproduce. Tooth morphology contributes to feeding performance, and […]

YANEGA, G.; RUBEGA, M.A.; Univ. of Connecticut, Storrs; Univ. of Connecticut, Storrs: A comparative study of the functional morphology of insectivory in hummingbirds Hummingbirds (Trochilidae) are a speciose family of birds whose diets are composed of both arthropod prey and floral nectars. It has been hypothesized that the selective pressures driving variation in beak length […]

PAYNE, R. C. *; HUTCHINSON, J. R. ; ROBILLIARD, J. J. ; Royal Veterinary College, London, UK; Royal Veterinary College, London, UK; Royal Veterinary College, London, UK: The relationship of the moment arms of muscle-tendon units to limb orientation in animals. The moments (torques) generated about animal limb joints are the product of muscle-tendon unit […]

HUTCHINSON, J.R.; DENNENY, D.; ROBILLIARD, J.; WILSON, A.; Royal Veterinary College, Univ. London; London South Bank Univ.; Royal Veterinary College, Univ. London; Royal Veterinary College, Univ. London: The function of muscle-tendon units during sit-stand transitions in humans and other animals. Locomotor economy generally relies on keeping muscle fibre length changes low, whereas length changes occur […]

HENRY, H.T.*; RUBENSON, J; HOOGENDYK, T.A.; MARSH, R.L.; Northeastern University, Boston; Northeastern University, Boston; Northeastern University, Boston; Northeastern University, Boston: Storage of elastic energy in guinea fowl lateral gastrocnemius tendon in running versus jumping Muscle function during running and jumping was examined in the guinea fowl lateral gastrocnemius (LG) using in vivo sonomicrometry and electromyographic […]

MCGUIGAN, M.P.*; LEE, D.V.; YOO, E.H.; BIEWENER, A.A.; Harvard University; Harvard University; Harvard University; Harvard University: Proximal hindlimb muscle strain and activation patterns in jumping goats Terrestrial animals are required to move over a variety of different terrains in their natural habitat. Goats are non specialist locomotors who are very proficient runners, jumpers and climbers, […]

ELLERBY, DJ; ASKEW, GN; ALTRINGHAM, JD; University of Leeds; University of Leeds; University of Leeds: Pectoralis muscle power modulation in small birds Most vertebrates are able to modulate the power output of their muscles by recruiting motor units with different intrinsic properties (i.e. fast or slow fibres). In many small birds the pectoralis muscles, the […]

HAMILTON, JL*; RITTER, DA; GOSLOW, GE; Brown University, Providence, RI: Muscle activity patterns during swimming in Thick-billed murres (Uria lomvia) Birds in the Family Alcidae use their wings for propulsion in air and also in water, a medium that is 800x denser and 70x more viscous. As part of a larger project investigating how Alcids […]

HOOGENDYK, T.A.*; CARR, J.A.; HENRY, H.T.; RUBENSON, J.; MARSH, R.L.; Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts: Mechanical and neural determinants of differences in fascicle strain between functionally distinct compartments in M. Iliofibularis during terrestrial locomotion in guinea fowl (Numida meleagris). Although the gross morphology of M. Iliofibularis (IF) in Galliformes is suggestive of an architecturally simple two-joint […]

YOO, E.H.; MCGUIGAN, M.P.; BIEWENER, A.A.; Harvard University, Concord Field Station; Harvard University, Concord Field Station; Harvard University, Concord Field Station: In vivo strain and activation patterns of an ankle extensor in pygmy goats (Capra hircus) during incline versus level locomotion When animals move at different gaits and different slopes, their leg muscles change function […]