Meeting Abstract S5.10  Wednesday, Jan. 5  Biomechanical Analyses of Goats and Dogs in the BigDog Project LEE, David/V*; BIEWENER, Andrew/A; University of Nevada Las Vegas; Harvard University david.lee@unlv.edu Biomechanical experiments to inform the design and locomotor dynamics of Boston Dynamic’s BigDog robot have proceeded along two main lines. Analysis of limb mechanics in dogs and goats has […]

Meeting Abstract S5.3  Wednesday, Jan. 5  At-scale artificial insect wings by microfabrication techniques TANAKA, H*; WOOD, R J; Harvard University; Harvard University tanaka@seas.harvard.edu Insect wings have complex morphologies such as vein networks and 3-D surface profiles. Since wings lack muscles to actively change the wing shape, these wing structures determine the stiffness and hence the deformations due […]

Meeting Abstract S4.3  Wednesday, Jan. 5  Variation, Selection, and Ecological Constraints in the Sensory-Motor Systems of Fishes TRICAS, T.C.; Hawaii Inst of Marine Biology and Univ. Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu tricas@hawaii.edu The field of modern ecology attempts to define processes and interactions responsible for the distribution and abundance of organisms in their environment. These spatial distributions are […]

Meeting Abstract S4.9  Wednesday, Jan. 5  The neuroecology of competitor recognition GRETHER, Greg; Univ. of California, Los Angeles ggrether@ucla.edu Territorial animals must decide whether to respond aggressively to intruders. Some intruders represent a competitive threat while others represent no threat or possible mating opportunities. Failing to evict resource competitors is costly but so is evicting potential mates […]

Meeting Abstract S4.4  Wednesday, Jan. 5  The Neuroecology of Chemical Defenses DERBY, Charles; Georgia State University cderby@gsu.edu Neuroecological approaches to the study of chemical defenses include identifying natural products released by an individual, describing the cellular and molecular mechanisms of action of these chemicals including effects on sensory neural pathways of recipient individuals, and understanding the consequences […]

Meeting Abstract S4.1  Wednesday, Jan. 5  The ‘Neuroecology’ of Sperm-Egg Interactions ZIMMER, Richard; Univ. of California, Los Angeles z@biology.ucla.edu Chemically mediated behavior is a key component of sperm-egg dynamics in habitats ranging from the turbulent ocean to the mammalian reproductive tract. Recent discoveries of the sperm attractants, bourgeonal in Homo sapiens and L-tryptophan in abalone (Haliotis rufescens), […]

Meeting Abstract S4.8  Wednesday, Jan. 5  Sensory perception, behavioral adaptations and the neuroecology of predator avoidance in planktonic copepods BUSKEY, E.J.*; LENZ, P.H.; HARTLINE, D.K.; GEMMELL, B.; BRADLEY, C.; SHENG, J.; STRICKLER, J.R.; University of Texas at Austin; University of Hawaii; University of Hawaii; University of Texas at Austin; University of Hawaii; University of Minnesota; University of […]

Meeting Abstract S4.2  Wednesday, Jan. 5  Perceptual Biology and Social Ecology RYAN, MJ; University of Texas/STRI mryan@mail.utexas.edu The manner by which an animal senses its surrounding biological and abiological environment influences where, how, and with whom it fits. Different animals might occur in the same place and have similar social systems, but their Umwelts might differ substantially. […]

Meeting Abstract S4.5  Wednesday, Jan. 5  Neural basis of a pollinator’s buffet: olfactory specialization and learning in the Manduca sexta moth RIFFELL, Jeffrey A.; Univ. of Washington jriffell@uw.edu Plant-pollinator systems range from specialized to generalized, with pollinators interacting with diverse flower species while still maintaining specialized associations. Although floral scents have been implicated in mediating these interactions, […]

Meeting Abstract S4.0  Wednesday, Jan. 5  Introduction Derby, C.; Zimmer, R.