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Hernandez AM, Sandoval JA, Yuen MC, Wood RJ. Stickiness in shear: stiffness, shape, and sealing in bioinspired suction cups affect shear performance on diverse surfaces. BIOINSPIRATION & BIOMIMETICS 2024; 19:036008. [PMID: 38528733 DOI: 10.1088/1748-3190/ad2c21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
Aquatic organisms utilizing attachment often contend with unpredictable environments that can dislodge them from substrates. To counter these forces, many organisms (e.g. fish, cephalopods) have evolved suction-based organs for adhesion. Morphology is diverse, with some disc shapes deviating from a circle to more ovate designs. Inspired by the diversity of multiple aquatic species, we investigated how bioinspired cups with different disc shapes performed in shear loading conditions. These experiments highlighted pertinent physical characteristics found in biological discs (regions of stiffness, flattened margins, a sealing rim), as well as ecologically relevant shearing conditions. Disc shapes of fabricated cups included a standard circle, ellipses, and other bioinspired designs. To consider the effects of sealing, these stiff silicone cups were produced with and without a soft rim. Cups were tested using a force-sensing robotic arm, which directionally sheared them across surfaces of varying roughness and compliance in wet conditions while measuring force. In multiple surface and shearing conditions, elliptical and teardrop shapes outperformed the circle, which suggests that disc shape and distribution of stiffness may play an important role in resisting shear. Additionally, incorporating a soft rim increased cup performance on rougher substrates, highlighting interactions between the cup materials and surfaces asperities. To better understand how these cup designs may resist shear, we also utilized a visualization technique (frustrated total internal reflection; FTIR) to quantify how contact area evolves as the cup is sheared.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa M Hernandez
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Project CETI, New York, NY 10003 United States of America
| | - Jessica A Sandoval
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Project CETI, New York, NY 10003 United States of America
| | - Michelle C Yuen
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Project CETI, New York, NY 10003 United States of America
| | - Robert J Wood
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Project CETI, New York, NY 10003 United States of America
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2
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Zhang D, Xu J, Liu X, Zhang Q, Cong Q, Chen T, Liu C. Advanced Bionic Attachment Equipment Inspired by the Attachment Performance of Aquatic Organisms: A Review. Biomimetics (Basel) 2023; 8:biomimetics8010085. [PMID: 36810416 PMCID: PMC9944885 DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics8010085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
In nature, aquatic organisms have evolved various attachment systems, and their attachment ability has become a specific and mysterious survival skill for them. Therefore, it is significant to study and use their unique attachment surfaces and outstanding attachment characteristics for reference and develop new attachment equipment with excellent performance. Based on this, in this review, the unique non-smooth surface morphologies of their suction cups are classified and the key roles of these special surface morphologies in the attachment process are introduced in detail. The recent research on the attachment capacity of aquatic suction cups and other related attachment studies are described. Emphatically, the research progress of advanced bionic attachment equipment and technology in recent years, including attachment robots, flexible grasping manipulators, suction cup accessories, micro-suction cup patches, etc., is summarized. Finally, the existing problems and challenges in the field of biomimetic attachment are analyzed, and the focus and direction of biomimetic attachment research in the future are pointed out.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dexue Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130022, China
- Shandong Academy of Agricultural Machinery Sciences, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Jin Xu
- Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130022, China
| | - Xuefeng Liu
- Shandong Academy of Agricultural Machinery Sciences, Jinan 250100, China
- Institute of Modern Agriculture on Yellow River Delta, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Dongying 257300, China
| | - Qifeng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130022, China
- Shandong Academy of Agricultural Machinery Sciences, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Qian Cong
- Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130022, China
- State Key Laboratory of Automotive Simulation and Control, Jilin University, Changchun 130022, China
- Correspondence: (Q.C.); (T.C.)
| | - Tingkun Chen
- Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130022, China
- Correspondence: (Q.C.); (T.C.)
| | - Chaozong Liu
- Institute of Orthopaedic & Musculoskeletal Science, University College London, London HA7 4LP, UK
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Nicholson-Jack AE, Harris JL, Ballard K, Turner KME, Stevens GMW. A hitchhiker guide to manta rays: Patterns of association between Mobula alfredi, M. birostris, their symbionts, and other fishes in the Maldives. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0253704. [PMID: 34260626 PMCID: PMC8279400 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0253704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite being among the largest and most charismatic species in the marine environment, considerable gaps remain in our understanding of the behavioural ecology of manta rays (Mobula alfredi, M. birostris). Manta rays are often sighted in association with an array of smaller hitchhiker fish species, which utilise their hosts as a sanctuary for shelter, protection, and the sustenance they provide. Species interactions, rather than the species at the individual level, determine the ecological processes that drive community dynamics, support biodiversity and ecosystem health. Thus, understanding the associations within marine communities is critical to implementing effective conservation and management. However, the underlying patterns between manta rays, their symbionts, and other hitchhiker species remain elusive. Here, we explore the spatial and temporal variation in hitchhiker presence with M. alfredi and M. birostris throughout the Maldives and investigate the factors which may influence association using generalised linear mixed effects models (GLMM). For the first time, associations between M. alfredi and M. birostris with hitchhiker species other than those belonging to the family Echeneidae are described. A variation in the species of hitchhiker associated with M. alfredi and M. birostris was identified, with sharksucker remora (Echeneis naucrates) and giant remora (Remora remora) being the most common, respectively. Spatiotemporal variation in the presence of manta rays was identified as a driver for the occurrence of ephemeral hitchhiker associations. Near-term pregnant female M. alfredi, and M. alfredi at cleaning stations, had the highest likelihood of an association with adult E. naucrates. Juvenile E. naucrates were more likely to be associated with juvenile M. alfredi, and a seasonal trend in E. naucrates host association was identified. Remora were most likely to be present with female M. birostris, and a mean number of 1.5 ± 0.5 R. remora were observed per M. birostris. It is hoped these initial findings will serve as the basis for future work into the complex relationships between manta rays and their hitchhikers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aimee E. Nicholson-Jack
- The Manta Trust, Dorset, United Kingdom
- School of Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Joanna L. Harris
- The Manta Trust, Dorset, United Kingdom
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | | | - Katy M. E. Turner
- School of Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
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4
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Flammang BE, Marras S, Anderson EJ, Lehmkuhl O, Mukherjee A, Cade DE, Beckert M, Nadler JH, Houzeaux G, Vázquez M, Amplo HE, Calambokidis J, Friedlaender AS, Goldbogen JA. Remoras pick where they stick on blue whales. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 223:223/20/jeb226654. [PMID: 33115921 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.226654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Animal-borne video recordings from blue whales in the open ocean show that remoras preferentially adhere to specific regions on the surface of the whale. Using empirical and computational fluid dynamics analyses, we show that remora attachment was specific to regions of separating flow and wakes caused by surface features on the whale. Adhesion at these locations offers remoras drag reduction of up to 71-84% compared with the freestream. Remoras were observed to move freely along the surface of the whale using skimming and sliding behaviors. Skimming provided drag reduction as high as 50-72% at some locations for some remora sizes, but little to none was available in regions where few to no remoras were observed. Experimental work suggests that the Venturi effect may help remoras stay near the whale while skimming. Understanding the flow environment around a swimming blue whale will inform the placement of biosensor tags to increase attachment time for extended ecological monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brooke E Flammang
- Federated Department of Biological Sciences, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102, USA
| | - Simone Marras
- Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102, USA.,Center for Applied Mathematics and Statistics, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102, USA
| | - Erik J Anderson
- Department of Applied Ocean Physics and Engineering (Guest Investigator), Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA.,Department of Mechanical Engineering, Grove City College, Grove City, PA 16127, USA
| | - Oriol Lehmkuhl
- Department of Computer Applications in Science and Engineering, Barcelona Supercomputing Center, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Abhishek Mukherjee
- Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102, USA
| | - David E Cade
- Hopkins Marine Station, Department of Biology, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA.,Institute for Marine Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, 15 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95003, USA
| | - Michael Beckert
- Advanced Concepts Research Laboratory, Georgia Tech Research Institute, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA.,Exponent Engineering and Scientific Consulting, 3350 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1125, Atlanta, GA 30326, USA
| | - Jason H Nadler
- Advanced Concepts Research Laboratory, Georgia Tech Research Institute, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Guillaume Houzeaux
- Department of Computer Applications in Science and Engineering, Barcelona Supercomputing Center, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mariano Vázquez
- Department of Computer Applications in Science and Engineering, Barcelona Supercomputing Center, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Haley E Amplo
- Federated Department of Biological Sciences, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102, USA
| | | | - Ari S Friedlaender
- Institute for Marine Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, 15 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95003, USA
| | - Jeremy A Goldbogen
- Hopkins Marine Station, Department of Biology, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
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Cohen KE, Flammang BE, Crawford CH, Hernandez LP. Knowing when to stick: touch receptors found in the remora adhesive disc. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2020; 7:190990. [PMID: 32218935 PMCID: PMC7029896 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.190990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Remoras are fishes that piggyback onto larger marine fauna via an adhesive disc to increase locomotor efficiency, likelihood of finding mates and access to prey. Attaching rapidly to a large, fast-moving host is no easy task, and while research to date has focused on how the disc supports adhesion, no attention has been paid to how or if remoras are able to sense attachment. We identified push-rod-like mechanoreceptor complexes embedded in the soft lip of the remora adhesive disc that are known in other organisms to respond to touch and shear forces. This is, to our knowledge, the first time such mechanoreceptor complexes are described in fishes as they were only known previously in monotremes. The presence of push-rod-like mechanoreceptor complexes suggests not only that fishes may be able to sense their environment in ways not heretofore described but that specialized tactile mechanoreceptor complexes may be a more basal vertebrate feature than previously thought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karly E. Cohen
- Biology Department, University of Washington, Life Sciences Building, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Science and Engineering Hall, Suite 6000, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Brooke E. Flammang
- Department of Biological Sciences, New Jersey Institute of Technology, University Heights, Newark, NJ 07102, USA
| | - Callie H. Crawford
- Department of Biological Sciences, New Jersey Institute of Technology, University Heights, Newark, NJ 07102, USA
| | - L. Patricia Hernandez
- Biology Department, University of Washington, Life Sciences Building, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
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6
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Cohen KE, Flammang BE, Crawford CH, Hernandez LP. Knowing when to stick: touch receptors found in the remora adhesive disc. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2020. [PMID: 32218935 DOI: 10.5061/dryad.t9d744k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Remoras are fishes that piggyback onto larger marine fauna via an adhesive disc to increase locomotor efficiency, likelihood of finding mates and access to prey. Attaching rapidly to a large, fast-moving host is no easy task, and while research to date has focused on how the disc supports adhesion, no attention has been paid to how or if remoras are able to sense attachment. We identified push-rod-like mechanoreceptor complexes embedded in the soft lip of the remora adhesive disc that are known in other organisms to respond to touch and shear forces. This is, to our knowledge, the first time such mechanoreceptor complexes are described in fishes as they were only known previously in monotremes. The presence of push-rod-like mechanoreceptor complexes suggests not only that fishes may be able to sense their environment in ways not heretofore described but that specialized tactile mechanoreceptor complexes may be a more basal vertebrate feature than previously thought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karly E Cohen
- Biology Department, University of Washington, Life Sciences Building, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Science and Engineering Hall, Suite 6000, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Brooke E Flammang
- Department of Biological Sciences, New Jersey Institute of Technology, University Heights, Newark, NJ 07102, USA
| | - Callie H Crawford
- Department of Biological Sciences, New Jersey Institute of Technology, University Heights, Newark, NJ 07102, USA
| | - L Patricia Hernandez
- Biology Department, University of Washington, Life Sciences Building, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
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Fleischle CV, Sander PM, Wintrich T, Caspar KR. Hematological convergence between Mesozoic marine reptiles (Sauropterygia) and extant aquatic amniotes elucidates diving adaptations in plesiosaurs. PeerJ 2019; 7:e8022. [PMID: 31763069 PMCID: PMC6873879 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Plesiosaurs are a prominent group of Mesozoic marine reptiles, belonging to the more inclusive clades Pistosauroidea and Sauropterygia. In the Middle Triassic, the early pistosauroid ancestors of plesiosaurs left their ancestral coastal habitats and increasingly adapted to a life in the open ocean. This ecological shift was accompanied by profound changes in locomotion, sensory ecology and metabolism. However, investigations of physiological adaptations on the cellular level related to the pelagic lifestyle are lacking so far. Using vascular canal diameter, derived from osteohistological thin-sections, we show that inferred red blood cell size significantly increases in pistosauroids compared to more basal sauropterygians. This change appears to have occurred in conjunction with the dispersal to open marine environments, with cell size remaining consistently large in plesiosaurs. Enlarged red blood cells likely represent an adaptation of plesiosaurs repeated deep dives in the pelagic habitat and mirror conditions found in extant marine mammals and birds. Our results emphasize physiological aspects of adaptive convergence among fossil and extant marine amniotes and add to our current understanding of plesiosaur evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corinna V. Fleischle
- Section Paleontology, Institute of Geosciences, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - P. Martin Sander
- Section Paleontology, Institute of Geosciences, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Dinosaur Institute, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Tanja Wintrich
- Section Paleontology, Institute of Geosciences, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Kai R. Caspar
- Section Paleontology, Institute of Geosciences, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Department of General Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
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