1
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Oufiero CE, Garikipati L, McMillan E, Katherine Sullivan M, Turnbaugh R. Modulation of prey capture kinematics in relation to prey distance helps predict success. J Exp Biol 2024; 227:jeb247311. [PMID: 38785337 PMCID: PMC11213525 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.247311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Predators are not perfect, as some of their prey capture attempts result in failure. Successful attempts may be partly due to predators modulating their capture kinematics in relation to variation in the visual cues of the prey to increase the probability of success. In praying mantises, which have been suggested to possess stereoscopic vision, variation in prey distance has been shown to elicit variation in the probability of an attempt. However, it remains to be examined whether variation in prey distance results in mantises modulating their attempt to successfully capture prey. The goals of this study were to examine these relationships using the praying mantis system. Using 11 adult female Sphodromantis lineola, we recorded 192 prey capture attempts at 1000 Hz with two cameras to examine the 3D kinematics of successful and unsuccessful prey capture attempts. Using a combination of principal component analysis (PCA) and logistic regression, our results show that as prey distance increases, mantises adjust through greater and faster expansion of the forelegs and body (PC1), which significantly predicts capture success. However, PC1 only explains 22% of the variation in all prey capture attempts, suggesting that the other components may be related to additional aspects of the prey. Our results suggest that the distances at which mantises prefer to attempt to capture prey may be the result of their greater probability of successfully capturing the prey. These results highlight the range of motions mantises use when attempting to capture prey, suggesting flexibility in their prey capture attempts in relation to prey position.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Elizabeth McMillan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Towson University, Towson, MD 21252, USA
| | | | - Ryan Turnbaugh
- Department of Biological Sciences, Towson University, Towson, MD 21252, USA
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2
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Tan S, Wu Y, Wang J, Lyu B, Yu M, Zhang H, Guo P, Shi L. Spatial ecology and microhabitat selection of the nocturnal pitviper Viridovipera stejnegeri (Squamata: Viperidae) in relation to prey. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11445. [PMID: 38779528 PMCID: PMC11109613 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Habitat is fundamental for facilitating various life activities in animals, for instance, snakes procure essential energy for survival and reproduction by selecting ambush microhabitats. While there has been extensive research on the selection of microhabitat for feeding in terrestrial and aquatic snakes, little is known about arboreal snakes. In the present study, we analyzed the ambush microhabitat preferences of Viridovipera stejnegeri, a widely distributed Asian pitviper in China, conducted association analysis between snake microhabitat and prey microhabitat and abundance to determine the ro5le of microhabitat selection in feeding. Employing random forest analysis and habitat selection functions, we further constructed a predictive framework for assessing the probability of ambush site selection by V. stejnegeri. Our results revealed that V. stejnegeri exhibited a distinct microhabitat preference for ambush prey. Among the 13 environmental factors assessed, V. stejnegeri showed pronounced preferences towards 12 of these factors, including climatic factors, geographical factors, and vegetation factors. Furthermore, although the preferences of V. stejnegeri overlapped substantially with those of its prey across multiple habitat factors, food abundance shows no significant association with various habitat factors of V. stejnegeri, and does not have significant predictive effect on habitat selection of V. stejnegeri. Therefore, we infer that V. stejnegeri does not preferentially select microhabitats with the highest food abundance, which does not support the hypothesis that "snakes select habitats based on the spatial distribution of prey abundance." By analyzing the characteristics of vegetation, geography, and climate, we conclude that V. stejnegeri tends to choose microhabitats with better ambush conditions to increase attack success rate, thereby achieving the optimal feeding success rate at the microhabitat scale, which is in line with the predictions of optimal foraging theory. This study provides new insights into the predation ecology and habitat selection of snakes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Song‐Wen Tan
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory for Ecological Adaptation and Evolution of Extreme Environment Biology, College of Life SciencesXinjiang Agricultural UniversityUrumqiChina
- Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Food EngineeringYibin UniversityYibinChina
| | - Ya‐Yong Wu
- Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Food EngineeringYibin UniversityYibinChina
| | - Jia‐Jun Wang
- Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Food EngineeringYibin UniversityYibinChina
| | - Bing Lyu
- Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Food EngineeringYibin UniversityYibinChina
| | - Min Yu
- Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Food EngineeringYibin UniversityYibinChina
| | - He Zhang
- Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Food EngineeringYibin UniversityYibinChina
| | - Peng Guo
- Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Food EngineeringYibin UniversityYibinChina
| | - Lei Shi
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory for Ecological Adaptation and Evolution of Extreme Environment Biology, College of Life SciencesXinjiang Agricultural UniversityUrumqiChina
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Bradley-Cronkwright M, Moore S, Hou L, Cote S, Rolian C. Impact of hindlimb length variation on jumping dynamics in the Longshanks mouse. J Exp Biol 2024; 227:jeb246808. [PMID: 38634230 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.246808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Distantly related mammals (e.g. jerboa, tarsiers, kangaroos) have convergently evolved elongated hindlimbs relative to body size. Limb elongation is hypothesized to make these species more effective jumpers by increasing their kinetic energy output (through greater forces or acceleration distances), thereby increasing take-off velocity and jump distance. This hypothesis, however, has rarely been tested at the population level, where natural selection operates. We examined the relationship between limb length, muscular traits and dynamics using Longshanks mice, which were selectively bred over 22 generations for longer tibiae. Longshanks mice have approximately 15% longer tibiae and 10% longer femora compared with random-bred Control mice from the same genetic background. We collected in vivo measures of locomotor kinematics and force production, in combination with behavioral data and muscle morphology, to examine how changes in bone and muscle structure observed in Longshanks mice affect their hindlimb dynamics during jumping and clambering. Longshanks mice achieved higher mean and maximum lunge-jump heights than Control mice. When jumping to a standardized height (14 cm), Longshanks mice had lower maximum ground reaction forces, prolonged contact times and greater impulses, without significant differences in average force, power or whole-body velocity. While Longshanks mice have longer plantarflexor muscle bodies and tendons than Control mice, there were no consistent differences in muscular cross-sectional area or overall muscle volume; improved lunge-jumping performance in Longshanks mice is not accomplished by simply possessing larger muscles. Independent of other morphological or behavioral changes, our results point to the benefit of longer hindlimbs for performing dynamic locomotion.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah Moore
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, AB, Canada, T2N 4N1
| | - Lily Hou
- Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, Canada, T2N 1N4
| | - Susanne Cote
- Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, Canada, T2N 1N4
| | - Campbell Rolian
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, AB, Canada, T2N 4N1
- McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, Calgary, AB, Canada, T2N 4N1
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada, H3A 0C7
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4
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Amichai E, Boerma DB, Page RA, Swartz SM, ter Hofstede HM. By a whisker: the sensory role of vibrissae in hovering flight in nectarivorous bats. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20222085. [PMID: 36722088 PMCID: PMC9890094 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.2085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Whiskers are important tactile structures widely used across mammals for a variety of sensory functions, but it is not known how bats-representing about a fifth of all extant mammal species-use them. Nectar-eating bats typically have long vibrissae (long, stiff hairs) arranged in a forward-facing brush-like formation that is not present in most non-nectarivorous bats. They also commonly use a unique flight strategy to access their food-hovering flight. Here we investigated whether these species use their vibrissae to optimize their feeding by assisting fine flight control. We used behavioural experiments to test if bats' flight trajectory into the flower changed after vibrissa removal, and phylogenetic comparative methods to test whether vibrissa length is related to nectarivory. We found that bat flight trajectory was altered after vibrissae removal and that nectarivorous bats possess longer vibrissae than non-nectivorous species, providing evidence of an additional source of information in bats' diverse sensory toolkit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eran Amichai
- Ecology, Evolution, Environment & Society Graduate Program, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - David B. Boerma
- Department of Mammalogy, Division of Vertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY 10024, USA
| | - Rachel A. Page
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Ancón, Apartado 0843-03092, Republic of Panama
| | - Sharon M. Swartz
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Brown University, Providence, RI 012912, USA
- School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, RI 012912, USA
| | - Hannah M. ter Hofstede
- Ecology, Evolution, Environment & Society Graduate Program, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Ancón, Apartado 0843-03092, Republic of Panama
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5
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Padrón DF, Mebert K, Pareja-Mejía D, Bauer A, Fernandes Vasconcelos LD, Correia D, Fernandez Giné GA, Solé M. Living in a mosaic of Brazilian Atlantic Forest and plantations: spatial ecology of five bushmaster Lachesis muta (Viperidae Crotalinae). ETHOL ECOL EVOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/03949370.2022.2123860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Diego F. Padrón
- Department of Biological Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Rodovia Jorge Amado, km 16, 45662-900 Salobrinho, Ilhéus, Brazil
| | - Konrad Mebert
- Department of Biological Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Rodovia Jorge Amado, km 16, 45662-900 Salobrinho, Ilhéus, Brazil
- IDECC, Institute of Development, Ecology, Conservation and Cooperation, Via G. Tomasi di Lampedusa 33, Rome 00144, Italy
| | - Daniela Pareja-Mejía
- Department of Biological Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Rodovia Jorge Amado, km 16, 45662-900 Salobrinho, Ilhéus, Brazil
| | - Arthur Bauer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Rodovia Jorge Amado, km 16, 45662-900 Salobrinho, Ilhéus, Brazil
| | - Laise D. Fernandes Vasconcelos
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Rodovia Jorge Amado, km 16, 45662-900 Salobrinho, Ilhéus, Brazil
| | - Diego Correia
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Rodovia Jorge Amado, km 16, 45662-900 Salobrinho, Ilhéus, Brazil
| | - Gastón A. Fernandez Giné
- Department of Biological Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Rodovia Jorge Amado, km 16, 45662-900 Salobrinho, Ilhéus, Brazil
| | - Mirco Solé
- Department of Biological Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Rodovia Jorge Amado, km 16, 45662-900 Salobrinho, Ilhéus, Brazil
- Herpetology Section, Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, Adenauerallee 160, Bonn 53113, Germany
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6
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Gibb AC, Amplo H, Struble M, Kawano SM. A Step Forward: Functional Diversity and Emerging Themes of Slow-Speed Locomotion in Vertebrates. Integr Comp Biol 2022; 62:icac139. [PMID: 36124746 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icac139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Walking can be defined broadly as a slow-speed movement produced when appendages interact with the ground to generate forward propulsion. Until recently, most studies of walking have focused on humans and a handful of domesticated vertebrates moving at a steady rate over highly simplified, static surfaces, which may bias our understanding of the unifying principles that underlie vertebrate locomotion. In the last few decades, studies have expanded to include a range of environmental contexts (e.g., uneven terrain, perturbations, deformable substrates) and greater phylogenetic breadth (e.g., non-domesticated species, small and/or ectothermic tetrapods and fishes); these studies have revealed that even a gait as superficially simple as walking is far more complex than previously thought. In addition, technological advances and accessibility of imaging systems and computational power have recently expanded our capabilities to test hypotheses about the locomotor movements of extant and extinct organisms in silico. In this symposium, scientists showcased diverse taxa (from extant fishes to extinct dinosaurs) moving through a range of variable conditions (speed perturbations, inclines, and deformable substrates) to address the causes and consequences of functional diversity in locomotor systems and discuss nascent research areas and techniques. From the symposium contributions, several themes emerged: (1) slow-speed, appendage-based movements in fishes are best described as walking-like movements rather than true walking gaits, (2) environmental variation (e.g., deformable substrates) and dynamic stimuli (e.g., perturbations) trigger kinematic and neuromuscular changes in animals that make defining a single gait or the transition between gaits more complicated than originally thought, and (3) computational advances have increased the ability to process large data sets, emulate the 3D motions of extant and extinct taxa, and even model species interactions in ancient ecosystems. Although this symposium allowed us to make great strides forward in our understanding of vertebrate walking, much ground remains to be covered. First, there is a much greater range of vertebrate appendage-based locomotor behaviors than has been previously recognized and existing terminology fails to accurately capture and describe this diversity. Second, despite recent efforts, the mechanisms that vertebrates use modify locomotor behaviors in response to predictable and unpredictable locomotor challenges are still poorly understood. Third, while computer-based models and simulations facilitate a greater understanding of the kinetics and kinematics of movement in both extant and extinct animals, a universal, one-size-fits-all, predictive model of appendage-based movement in vertebrates remains elusive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice C Gibb
- Department of Biology; Northern Arizona University; Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - Haley Amplo
- Department of Biological Sciences; New Jersey Institute of Technology; Newark, NJ 07102, USA
| | - Mikayla Struble
- Department of Biology; Northern Arizona University; Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - Sandy M Kawano
- Department of Biological Sciences; The George Washington University; Washington, DC 20052, USA
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7
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Holding ML, Trevine VC, Zinenko O, Strickland JL, Rautsaw RM, Mason AJ, Hogan MP, Parkinson CL, Grazziotin FG, Santana SE, Davis MA, Rokyta DR. Evolutionary allometry and ecological correlates of fang length evolution in vipers. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20221132. [PMID: 36300520 PMCID: PMC9449470 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.1132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Traits for prey acquisition form the phenotypic interface of predator-prey interactions. In venomous predators, morphological variation in venom delivery apparatus like fangs and stingers may be optimized for dispatching prey. Here, we determine how a single dimension of venom injection systems evolves in response to variation in the size, climatic conditions and dietary ecology of viperid snakes. We measured fang length in more than 1900 museum specimens representing 199 viper species (55% of recognized species). We find both phylogenetic signal and within-clade variation in relative fang length across vipers suggesting both general taxonomic trends and potential adaptive divergence in fang length. We recover positive evolutionary allometry and little static allometry in fang length. Proportionally longer fangs have evolved in larger species, which may facilitate venom injection in more voluminous prey. Finally, we leverage climatic and diet data to assess the global correlates of fang length. We find that models of fang length evolution are improved through the inclusion of both temperature and diet, particularly the extent to which diets are mammal-heavy diets. These findings demonstrate how adaptive variation can emerge among components of complex prey capture systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew L. Holding
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Vivian C. Trevine
- Laboratório de Coleções Zoológicas, Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Oleksandr Zinenko
- V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, 4 Svobody square, Kharkiv 61022, Ukraine
| | - Jason L. Strickland
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, 190 Collings street, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Rhett M. Rautsaw
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, 190 Collings street, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Andrew J. Mason
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, 190 Collings street, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Michael P. Hogan
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Christopher L. Parkinson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, 190 Collings street, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Felipe G. Grazziotin
- Laboratório de Coleções Zoológicas, Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Sharlene E. Santana
- Department of Biology and Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - Mark A. Davis
- Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL 61820, USA
| | - Darin R. Rokyta
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
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8
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Ferry LA, Higham TE. Ecomechanics and the Rules of Life: a Critical Conduit Between the Physical and Natural Sciences. Integr Comp Biol 2022; 62:icac114. [PMID: 35878412 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icac114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Nature provides the parameters, or boundaries, within which organisms must cope in order to survive. Therefore, ecological conditions have an unequivocal influence on the ability of organisms to perform the necessary functions for survival. Biomechanics brings together physics and biology to understand how an organism will function under a suite of conditions. Despite a relatively rich recent history linking physiology and morphology with ecology, less attention has been paid to the linkage between biomechanics and ecology. This linkage, however, could provide key insights into patterns and processes of evolution. Ecomechanics, also known as ecological biomechanics or mechanical ecology, is not necessarily new, but has received far less attention than ecophysiology or ecomorphology. Here, we briefly review the history of ecomechanics, and then identify what we believe are grand challenges for the discipline and how they can inform some of the most pressing questions in science today, such as how organisms will cope with global change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara A Ferry
- Arizona State University, School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, Glendale, AZ, USA
| | - Timothy E Higham
- University of California Riverside, Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, Riverside, CA, USA
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9
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Freymiller GA, Whitford MD, Schwaner MJ, McGowan CP, Higham TE, Clark RW. Comparative analysis of Dipodomys species indicates that kangaroo rat hindlimb anatomy is adapted for rapid evasive leaping. J Anat 2022; 240:466-474. [PMID: 34648184 PMCID: PMC8819043 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 10/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Body size is a key factor that influences antipredator behavior. For animals that rely on jumping to escape from predators, there is a theoretical trade-off between jump distance and acceleration as body size changes at both the inter- and intraspecific levels. Assuming geometric similarity, acceleration will decrease with increasing body size due to a smaller increase in muscle cross-sectional area than body mass. Smaller animals will likely have a similar jump distance as larger animals due to their shorter limbs and faster accelerations. Therefore, in order to maintain acceleration in a jump across different body sizes, hind limbs must be disproportionately bigger for larger animals. We explored this prediction using four species of kangaroo rats (Dipodomys spp.), a genus of bipedal rodent with similar morphology across a range of body sizes (40-150 g). Kangaroo rat jump performance was measured by simulating snake strikes to free-ranging individuals. Additionally, morphological measurements of hind limb muscles and segment lengths were obtained from thawed frozen specimens. Overall, jump acceleration was constant across body sizes and jump distance increased with increasing size. Additionally, kangaroo rat hind limb muscle mass and cross-sectional area scaled with positive allometry. Ankle extensor tendon cross-sectional area also scaled with positive allometry. Hind limb segment length scaled isometrically, with the exception of the metatarsals, which scaled with negative allometry. Overall, these findings support the hypothesis that kangaroo rat hind limbs are built to maintain jump acceleration rather than jump distance. Selective pressure from single-strike predators, such as snakes and owls, likely drives this relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace A. Freymiller
- Department of BiologySan Diego State UniversitySan DiegoCaliforniaUSA
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaRiversideCaliforniaUSA
| | - Malachi D. Whitford
- Department of BiologySan Diego State UniversitySan DiegoCaliforniaUSA
- Graduate Group in EcologyUniversity of CaliforniaDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - M. Janneke Schwaner
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaIrvineCaliforniaUSA
| | - Craig P. McGowan
- Keck School of MedicineUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Timothy E. Higham
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaRiversideCaliforniaUSA
| | - Rulon W. Clark
- Department of BiologySan Diego State UniversitySan DiegoCaliforniaUSA
- Chiricahua Desert MuseumRodeoNew MexicoUSA
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10
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Higham TE, Ferry LA, Schmitz L, Irschick DJ, Starko S, Anderson PSL, Bergmann PJ, Jamniczky HA, Monteiro LR, Navon D, Messier J, Carrington E, Farina SC, Feilich KL, Hernandez LP, Johnson MA, Kawano SM, Law CJ, Longo SJ, Martin CH, Martone PT, Rico-Guevara A, Santana SE, Niklas KJ. Linking ecomechanical models and functional traits to understand phenotypic diversity. Trends Ecol Evol 2021; 36:860-873. [PMID: 34218955 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2021.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Physical principles and laws determine the set of possible organismal phenotypes. Constraints arising from development, the environment, and evolutionary history then yield workable, integrated phenotypes. We propose a theoretical and practical framework that considers the role of changing environments. This 'ecomechanical approach' integrates functional organismal traits with the ecological variables. This approach informs our ability to predict species shifts in survival and distribution and provides critical insights into phenotypic diversity. We outline how to use the ecomechanical paradigm using drag-induced bending in trees as an example. Our approach can be incorporated into existing research and help build interdisciplinary bridges. Finally, we identify key factors needed for mass data collection, analysis, and the dissemination of models relevant to this framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy E Higham
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
| | - Lara A Ferry
- School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, Arizona State University, Glendale, AZ 85306, USA
| | - Lars Schmitz
- W.M. Keck Science Department, 925 N. Mills Avenue, Claremont McKenna, Pitzer, and Scripps Colleges, Claremont, CA, 91711, USA
| | - Duncan J Irschick
- Organismic and Evolutionary Biology Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Samuel Starko
- Botany Department and Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada
| | - Philip S L Anderson
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Philip J Bergmann
- Biology Department, Clark University, 950 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01610, USA
| | - Heather A Jamniczky
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Leandro R Monteiro
- Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense. Av. Alberto Lamego 2000, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, cep 28013-602, Brazil
| | - Dina Navon
- Human Genetics Institute of NJ, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Julie Messier
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave. W., Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Emily Carrington
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Stacy C Farina
- Department of Biology, Howard University, 415 College Street NW, Washington, DC 20059, USA
| | - Kara L Feilich
- Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, University of Chicago, 1027 E 57th Street, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - L Patricia Hernandez
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Michele A Johnson
- Department of Biology, Trinity University, San Antonio, TX 78212, USA
| | - Sandy M Kawano
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Chris J Law
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Department of Mammalogy and Division of Paleontology, Richard Gilder Graduate School, American Museum of Natural History, 200 Central Park West, New York, New York 10024, USA
| | - Sarah J Longo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Towson University, Towson, MD 21252, USA
| | - Christopher H Martin
- Integrative Biology and Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - Patrick T Martone
- Botany Department and Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | | | | | - Karl J Niklas
- School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
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11
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Teshera MS, Clark RW. Strike-Induced Chemosensory Searching in Reptiles: A Review. HERPETOLOGICAL MONOGRAPHS 2021. [DOI: 10.1655/0733-1347-35.1.28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mark S. Teshera
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA
| | - Rulon W. Clark
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
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12
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Schwaner MJ, Freymiller GA, Clark RW, McGowan CP. How to Stick the Landing: Kangaroo Rats Use Their Tails to Reorient during Evasive Jumps Away from Predators. Integr Comp Biol 2021; 61:442-454. [PMID: 33940620 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icab043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tails are widespread in the animal world and play important roles in locomotor tasks, such as propulsion, maneuvering, stability, and manipulation of objects. Kangaroo rats, bipedal hopping rodents, use their tail for balancing during hopping, but the role of their tail during the vertical evasive escape jumps they perform when attacked by predators is yet to be determined. Because we observed kangaroo rats swinging their tails around their bodies while airborne following escape jumps, we hypothesized that kangaroo rats use their tails to not only stabilize their bodies while airborne, but also to perform aerial re-orientations. We collected video data from free-ranging desert kangaroo rats (Dipodomys deserti) performing escape jumps in response to a simulated predator attack and analyzed the rotation of their bodies and tails in the yaw plane (about the vertical-axis). Kangaroo rat escape responses were highly variable. The magnitude of body re-orientation in yaw was independent of jump height, jump distance, and aerial time. Kangaroo rats exhibited a stepwise re-orientation while airborne, in which slower turning periods corresponded with the tail center of mass being aligned close to the vertical rotation axis of the body. To examine the effect of tail motion on body re-orientation during a jump, we compared average rate of change in angular momentum. Rate of change in tail angular momentum was nearly proportional to that of the body, indicating that the tail reorients the body in the yaw plane during aerial escape leaps by kangaroo rats. Although kangaroo rats make dynamic 3D movements during their escape leaps, our data suggest that kangaroo rats use their tails to control orientation in the yaw plane. Additionally, we show that kangaroo rats rarely use their tail length at full potential in yaw, suggesting the importance of tail movement through multiple planes simultaneously.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Janneke Schwaner
- Department of Biology, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive, Moscow, ID 83844, USA
| | - Grace A Freymiller
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182, USA.,Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California Riverside, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Rulon W Clark
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
| | - Craig P McGowan
- Department of Biology, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive, Moscow, ID 83844, USA.,WWAMI Medical Education Program, 875 Perimeter Drive, Moscow, ID 83844, USA
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13
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Ryerson WG, Van Valkenburg T. Linking Tooth Shape to Strike Mechanics in the Boa constrictor. Integr Comp Biol 2021; 61:759-771. [PMID: 33713127 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icab009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Snakes, with the obvious exception of the fangs, are considered to lack the regional specialization of tooth shape and function which are exemplified by mammals. Recent work in fishes has suggested that the definition of homodont and heterodont are incomplete without a full understanding of the morphology, mechanics, and behavior of feeding. We investigated this idea further by examining changes in tooth shape along the jaw of Boa constrictor and integrating these data with the strike kinematics of boas feeding on rodent prey. We analyzed the shape of every tooth in the skull, from a combination of anesthetized individuals and CT scanned museum specimens. For strike kinematics, we filmed eight adult boas striking at previously killed rats. We determined the regions of the jaws that made first contact with the prey, and extrapolated the relative positions of those teeth at that moment. We further determined the roles of all the teeth throughout the prey capture process, from the initiation of the strike until constriction began. We found that the teeth in the anterior third of the mandible are the most upright, and that teeth become progressively more curved posteriorly. Teeth on the maxilla are more curved than on the mandible, and the anterior teeth are more linear or recurved than the posterior teeth. In a majority of strikes, boas primarily made contact with the anterior third of the mandible first. The momentum from the strike caused the upper jaws and skull to rotate over the rat. The more curved teeth of the upper jaw slid over the rat unimpeded until the snake began to close its jaws. In the remaining strikes, boas made contact with the posterior third of both jaws simultaneously, driving through the prey and quickly retracting, ensnaring the prey on the curved posterior teeth of both jaws. The curved teeth of the palatine and pterygoid bones assist in the process of swallowing.
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Affiliation(s)
- William G Ryerson
- Department of Biology, Saint Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester, NH 03102, USA
| | - Tate Van Valkenburg
- Department of Biology, Saint Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester, NH 03102, USA
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14
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Is There Always a Need for Speed? Testing for Differences in the Striking Behavior of Western Ratsnakes (Pantherophis obsoletus) When Encountering Predators and Prey. J HERPETOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1670/20-105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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15
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Arboreal Prey-Handling of Endothermic Prey by Captive Boa Constrictors. J HERPETOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1670/20-039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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16
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Whitford MD, Freymiller GA, Higham TE, Clark RW. The Effects of Temperature on the Kinematics of Rattlesnake Predatory Strikes in Both Captive and Field Environments. Integr Org Biol 2020; 2:obaa025. [PMID: 33791566 PMCID: PMC7671150 DOI: 10.1093/iob/obaa025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The outcomes of predator-prey interactions between endotherms and ectotherms can be heavily influenced by environmental temperature, owing to the difference in how body temperature affects locomotor performance. However, as elastic energy storage mechanisms can allow ectotherms to maintain high levels of performance at cooler body temperatures, detailed analyses of kinematics are necessary to fully understand how changes in temperature might alter endotherm-ectotherm predator-prey interactions. Viperid snakes are widely distributed ectothermic mesopredators that interact with endotherms both as predator and prey. Although there are numerous studies on the kinematics of viper strikes, surprisingly few have analyzed how this rapid movement is affected by temperature. Here we studied the effects of temperature on the predatory strike performance of rattlesnakes (Crotalus spp.), abundant new world vipers, using both field and captive experimental contexts. We found that the effects of temperature on predatory strike performance are limited, with warmer snakes achieving slightly higher maximum strike acceleration, but similar maximum velocity. Our results suggest that, unlike defensive strikes to predators, rattlesnakes may not attempt to maximize strike speed when attacking prey, and thus the outcomes of predatory strikes may not be heavily influenced by changes in temperature.
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Affiliation(s)
- M D Whitford
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA.,Ecology Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - G A Freymiller
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA.,Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - T E Higham
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - R W Clark
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA.,Chiricahua Desert Museum, Rodeo, NM, USA
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17
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Crofts SB, Smith SM, Anderson PSL. Beyond Description: The Many Facets of Dental Biomechanics. Integr Comp Biol 2020; 60:594-607. [DOI: 10.1093/icb/icaa103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Synopsis
Teeth lie at the interface between an animal and its environment and, with some exceptions, act as a major component of resource procurement through food acquisition and processing. Therefore, the shape of a tooth is closely tied to the type of food being eaten. This tight relationship is of use to biologists describing the natural history of species and given the high instance of tooth preservation in the fossil record, is especially useful for paleontologists. However, correlating gross tooth morphology to diet is only part of the story, and much more can be learned through the study of dental biomechanics. We can explore the mechanics of how teeth work, how different shapes evolved, and the underlying forces that constrain tooth shape. This review aims to provide an overview of the research on dental biomechanics, in both mammalian and non-mammalian teeth, and to synthesize two main approaches to dental biomechanics to develop an integrative framework for classifying and evaluating dental functional morphology. This framework relates food material properties to the dynamics of food processing, in particular how teeth transfer energy to food items, and how these mechanical considerations may have shaped the evolution of tooth morphology. We also review advances in technology and new techniques that have allowed more in-depth studies of tooth form and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- S B Crofts
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior, University of Illinois, 515 Morrill Hall, 505 S. Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - S M Smith
- Field Museum of Natural History, Negaunee Integrative Research Center, 1400 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605-2496, USA
| | - P S L Anderson
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior, University of Illinois, 515 Morrill Hall, 505 S. Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
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18
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Bauer U, Poppinga S, Müller UK. Mechanical Ecology-Taking Biomechanics to the Field. Integr Comp Biol 2020; 60:820-828. [PMID: 32275745 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icaa018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Synopsis Interdisciplinary research can have strong and surprising synergistic effects, leading to rapid knowledge gains. Equally important, it can help to reintegrate fragmented fields across increasingly isolated specialist sub-disciplines. However, the lack of a common identifier for research "in between fields" can make it difficult to find relevant research outputs and network effectively. We illustrate and address this issue for the emerging interdisciplinary hotspot of "mechanical ecology," which we define here as the intersection of quantitative biomechanics and field ecology at the organism level. We show that an integrative approach crucially advances our understanding in both disciplines by (1) putting biomechanical mechanisms into a biologically meaningful ecological context and (2) addressing the largely neglected influence of mechanical factors in organismal and behavioral ecology. We call for the foundation of knowledge exchange platforms such as meeting symposia, special issues in journals, and focus groups dedicated to mechanical ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrike Bauer
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Simon Poppinga
- Plant Biomechanics Group, Botanic Garden, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany.,Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF), University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Ulrike K Müller
- Department of Biology, California State University Fresno, Fresno, CA, USA
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19
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Ye D, Gibson JC, Suarez AV. Effects of Abdominal Rotation on Jump Performance in the Ant Gigantiops destructor (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Integr Org Biol 2019; 2:obz033. [PMID: 33791584 PMCID: PMC7671114 DOI: 10.1093/iob/obz033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Jumping is an important form of locomotion, and animals employ a variety of mechanisms to increase jump performance. While jumping is common in insects generally, the ability to jump is rare among ants. An exception is the Neotropical ant Gigantiops destructor (Fabricius 1804) which is well known for jumping to capture prey or escape threats. Notably, this ant begins a jump by rotating its abdomen forward as it takes off from the ground. We tested the hypotheses that abdominal rotation is used to either provide thrust during takeoff or to stabilize rotational momentum during the initial airborne phase of the jump. We used high speed videography to characterize jumping performance of G. destructor workers jumping between two platforms. We then anesthetized the ants and used glue to prevent their abdomens from rotating during subsequent jumps, again characterizing jump performance after restraining the abdomen in this manner. Our results support the hypothesis that abdominal rotation provides additional thrust as the maximum distance, maximum height, and takeoff velocity of jumps were reduced by restricting the movement of the abdomen compared with the jumps of unmanipulated and control treatment ants. In contrast, the rotational stability of the ants while airborne did not appear to be affected. Changes in leg movements of restrained ants while airborne suggest that stability may be retained by using the legs to compensate for changes in the distribution of mass during jumps. This hypothesis warrants investigation in future studies on the jump kinematics of ants or other insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dajia Ye
- School of Integrative Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- E-mail:
| | - Joshua C Gibson
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Entomology, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- E-mail:
| | - Andrew V Suarez
- Department of Entomology, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behavior, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
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20
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Penning DA, Sawvel B, Moon BR. The scaling of terrestrial striking performance in western ratsnakes (
Pantherophis obsoletus
). JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART 2019; 333:96-103. [DOI: 10.1002/jez.2328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Revised: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David A. Penning
- Department of Biology and Environmental Health Missouri Southern State University Joplin Missouri
| | - Baxter Sawvel
- Department of Biology University of Louisiana at Lafayette Lafayette Louisiana
| | - Brad R. Moon
- Department of Biology University of Louisiana at Lafayette Lafayette Louisiana
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21
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Mizsei E, Boros Z, Lovas‐Kiss Á, Szepesváry C, Szabolcs M, Rák G, Ujszegi J, Gál Z, Lengyel S, Puskás G. A trait‐based framework for understanding predator–prey relationships: Trait matching between a specialist snake and its insect prey. Funct Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Edvárd Mizsei
- Department of Tisza River Research Danube Research Institute Centre for Ecological Research Hungarian Academy of Sciences Debrecen Hungary
- Department of Ecology University of Debrecen Debrecen Hungary
| | | | - Ádám Lovas‐Kiss
- Department of Tisza River Research Danube Research Institute Centre for Ecological Research Hungarian Academy of Sciences Debrecen Hungary
| | - Csaba Szepesváry
- Department of Tisza River Research Danube Research Institute Centre for Ecological Research Hungarian Academy of Sciences Debrecen Hungary
- GINOP Sustainable Ecosystems Group Centre for Ecological Research Hungarian Academy of Sciences Tihany Hungary
| | - Márton Szabolcs
- Department of Tisza River Research Danube Research Institute Centre for Ecological Research Hungarian Academy of Sciences Debrecen Hungary
- GINOP Sustainable Ecosystems Group Centre for Ecological Research Hungarian Academy of Sciences Tihany Hungary
| | - Gergő Rák
- Department of Ecology University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest Hungary
| | - János Ujszegi
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group Plant Protection Institute Centre for Agricultural Research Hungarian Academy of Sciences Budapest Hungary
| | - Zoltán Gál
- NARIC Agricultural Biotechnology Institute Gödöllő Hungary
| | - Szabolcs Lengyel
- Department of Tisza River Research Danube Research Institute Centre for Ecological Research Hungarian Academy of Sciences Debrecen Hungary
- GINOP Sustainable Ecosystems Group Centre for Ecological Research Hungarian Academy of Sciences Tihany Hungary
| | - Gellért Puskás
- Department of Zoology Hungarian Natural History Museum Budapest Hungary
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22
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Coelho CM, Suttiwan P, Faiz AM, Ferreira-Santos F, Zsido AN. Are Humans Prepared to Detect, Fear, and Avoid Snakes? The Mismatch Between Laboratory and Ecological Evidence. Front Psychol 2019; 10:2094. [PMID: 31572273 PMCID: PMC6749087 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Since Seligman (1971) statement that the vast majority of phobias are about objects essential to the survival of a species, a multitude of laboratory studies followed, supporting the finding that humans learn to fear and detect snakes (and other animals) faster than other stimuli. Most of these studies used schematic drawings, images, or pictures of snakes, and only a small amount of fieldwork in naturalistic environments was done. We address fear preparedness theories and automatic fast detection data from mainstream laboratory data and compare it with ethobehavioral information relative to snakes, predator-prey interaction, and snakes' defensive kinematics strikes in order to analyze their potential matching. From this analysis, four main findings arose, namely that (1) snakebites occur when people are very close to the snake and are unaware or unable to escape the bite; (2) human visual detection and escape response is slow compared to the speed of snake strikes; (3) in natural environments, snake experts are often unable to see snakes existing nearby; (4) animate objects in general capture more attention over other stimuli and dangerous, but recent objects in evolutionary terms are also able to be detected fast. The issues mentioned above pose several challenges to evolutionary psychology-based theories expecting to find special-purpose neural modules. The older selective habituation hypothesis (Schleidt, 1961) that prey animals start with a rather general predator image from which specific harmless cues are removed by habituation might deserve reconsideration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos M. Coelho
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Panrapee Suttiwan
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Abul M. Faiz
- Department of Psychology, Dev Care Foundation, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Fernando Ferreira-Santos
- Department of Psychology, Laboratory of Neuropsychophysiology, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Andras N. Zsido
- Department of General and Evolutionary Psychology, Institute of Psychology, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
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23
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Seamone S, McCaffrey T, Syme D. Disc starts: the pectoral disc of stingrays promotes omnidirectional fast starts across the substrate. CAN J ZOOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2018-0054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
We explored how the flattened and rounded pectoral disc of the ocellate river stingray (Potamotrygon motoro (Müller and Henle, 1841)) enables them to use the benthic plane during fast-start escape. Escape responses were elicited via prodding different locations around the pectoral disc and were recorded using video. Modulation of pectoral-fin movements that power swimming enabled omnidirectional escape across the substrate, with similar performance in all directions of escape. Hence, translation of the body did not necessarily have to follow the orientation of the head, overcoming the constraint of a rigid body axis. An increase in prod speed was associated with an increase in initial translational speed and acceleration away from the prod. As prod location shifted towards the snout, yaw rotation increased, eventually reorienting the fish into a forward swimming position away from the prod. Furthermore, P. motoro yawed with essentially zero turning radius, allowing reorientation of the head with simultaneous rapid translation away from the prod, and yaw rate during escape was substantially greater than reported during routine swimming for stingrays. We conclude that stingrays employ a distinctive approach to escape along the substrate, which we have termed disc starts, that results in effective manoeuvrability across the benthic environment despite limited longitudinal flexibility of the body and that challenges the concept of manoeuvrability typically used for fishes.
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Affiliation(s)
- S.G. Seamone
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - T.M. McCaffrey
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - D.A. Syme
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
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24
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Evans DA, Stempel AV, Vale R, Branco T. Cognitive Control of Escape Behaviour. Trends Cogn Sci 2019; 23:334-348. [PMID: 30852123 PMCID: PMC6438863 DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2019.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Revised: 01/24/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
When faced with potential predators, animals instinctively decide whether there is a threat they should escape from, and also when, how, and where to take evasive action. While escape is often viewed in classical ethology as an action that is released upon presentation of specific stimuli, successful and adaptive escape behaviour relies on integrating information from sensory systems, stored knowledge, and internal states. From a neuroscience perspective, escape is an incredibly rich model that provides opportunities for investigating processes such as perceptual and value-based decision-making, or action selection, in an ethological setting. We review recent research from laboratory and field studies that explore, at the behavioural and mechanistic levels, how elements from multiple information streams are integrated to generate flexible escape behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominic A Evans
- Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, UCL, London, UK; These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - A Vanessa Stempel
- Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, UCL, London, UK; These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Ruben Vale
- Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, UCL, London, UK; These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Tiago Branco
- Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, UCL, London, UK.
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25
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Whitford MD, Freymiller GA, Higham TE, Clark RW. Determinants of predation success: How to survive an attack from a rattlesnake. Funct Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Malachi D. Whitford
- Department of Biology San Diego State University San Diego California
- Ecology Graduate Group University of California Davis California
| | - Grace A. Freymiller
- Department of Biology San Diego State University San Diego California
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology University of California Riverside California
| | - Timothy E. Higham
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology University of California Riverside California
| | - Rulon W. Clark
- Department of Biology San Diego State University San Diego California
- Chiricahua Desert Museum Rodeo New Mexico
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26
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Freymiller GA, Whitford MD, Higham TE, Clark RW. Escape dynamics of free-ranging desert kangaroo rats (Rodentia: Heteromyidae) evading rattlesnake strikes. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blz027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Grace A Freymiller
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Malachi D Whitford
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
- Graduate Group in Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Timothy E Higham
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Rulon W Clark
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
- Chiricahua Desert Museum, Rodeo, NM, USA
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27
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Moon BR, Penning DA, Segall M, Herrel A. Feeding in Snakes: Form, Function, and Evolution of the Feeding System. FEEDING IN VERTEBRATES 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-13739-7_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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28
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McGowan CP, Collins CE. Why do mammals hop? Understanding the ecology, biomechanics and evolution of bipedal hopping. J Exp Biol 2018; 221:221/12/jeb161661. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.161661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Bipedal hopping is a specialized mode of locomotion that has arisen independently in at least five groups of mammals. We review the evolutionary origins of these groups, examine three of the most prominent hypotheses for why bipedal hopping may have arisen, and discuss how this unique mode of locomotion influences the behavior and ecology of modern species. While all bipedal hoppers share generally similar body plans, differences in underlying musculoskeletal anatomy influence what performance benefits each group may derive from this mode of locomotion. Based on a review of the literature, we conclude that the most likely reason that bipedal hopping evolved is associated with predator avoidance by relatively small species in forested environments. Yet, the morphological specializations associated with this mode of locomotion have facilitated the secondary acquisition of performance characteristics that enable these species to be highly successful in ecologically demanding environments such as deserts. We refute many long-held misunderstandings about the origins of bipedal hopping and identify potential areas of research that would advance the understanding of this mode of locomotion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig P. McGowan
- University of Idaho, Department of Biological Sciences, Life Sciences Building, University Avenue, Moscow, ID 83844, USA
- University of Washington School of Medicine, WWAMI Regional Medical Education Program, Moscow, ID 83844, USA
| | - Clint E. Collins
- University of Idaho, Department of Biological Sciences, Life Sciences Building, University Avenue, Moscow, ID 83844, USA
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29
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Ryerson WG, Tan W. Strike kinematics and performance in juvenile ball pythons (Python regius
). JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART 2017; 327:453-457. [DOI: 10.1002/jez.2131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2017] [Accepted: 10/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Weimin Tan
- Biology Department; Saint Anselm College; Manchester New Hampshire
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30
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Individuals of the common Namib Day Gecko vary in how adaptive simplification alters sprint biomechanics. Sci Rep 2017; 7:15595. [PMID: 29142272 PMCID: PMC5688112 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-15459-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2017] [Accepted: 10/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Locomotion inextricably links biomechanics to ecology as animals maneuver through mechanically challenging environments. Faster individuals are more likely to escape predators, surviving to produce more offspring. Fast sprint speed evolved several times in lizards, including geckos. However, the underlying mechanisms determining performance await discovery in many clades. Novel morphological structures influence these mechanisms by adding complexity to the government of locomotion. Gecko adhesion coevolves with modified muscles, tendons, and reflexes. We explored how the Namib Day Gecko, Rhoptropus afer, sprints on ecologically relevant substrates. Locomotion requires that many moving parts of the animal work together; we found knee and ankle extension are the principal drivers of speed on a level surface while contributions to sprinting uphill are more evenly distributed among motions of the femur, knee, and ankle. Although geckos are thought to propel themselves with specialized, proximally located muscles that retract and rotate the femur, we show with path analysis that locomotion is altered in this secondarily terrestrial gecko. We present evidence of intraspecific variation in the use of adhesive toe pads and suggest that the subdigital adhesive toe pad may increase sprint speed in this species. We argue kinematics coevolve with the secondarily terrestrial lifestyle of this species.
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Freymiller GA, Whitford MD, Higham TE, Clark RW. Recent interactions with snakes enhance escape performance of desert kangaroo rats (Rodentia: Heteromyidae) during simulated attacks. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blx091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
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Orr TJ, Garland T. Complex Reproductive Traits and Whole-Organism Performance. Integr Comp Biol 2017; 57:407-422. [DOI: 10.1093/icb/icx052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Whitford MD, Freymiller GA, Clark RW. Avoiding the serpent's tooth: predator–prey interactions between free-ranging sidewinder rattlesnakes and desert kangaroo rats. Anim Behav 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2017.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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