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Schapker NM, Janisch J, Myers LC, Phelps T, Shapiro LJ, Young JW. From such great heights: The effects of substrate height and the perception of risk on lemur locomotor mechanics. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2024; 184:e24917. [PMID: 38411385 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES An accident during arboreal locomotion can lead to risky falls, but it remains unclear that the extent to which primates, as adept arborealists, change their locomotion in response to the perceived risk of moving on high supports in the tree canopy. By using more stable forms of locomotion on higher substrates, primates might avoid potentially fatal consequences. MATERIALS AND METHODS Using high-speed cameras, we recorded the quadrupedal locomotion of four wild lemur species-Eulemur rubriventer, Eulemur rufifrons, Hapalemur aureus, and Lemur catta (N = 113 total strides). We quantified the height, diameter, and angular orientation of locomotor supports using remote sensors and tested the influence of support parameters on gait kinematics, specifically predicting that in response to increasing substrate height, lemurs would decrease speed and stride frequency, but increase stride length and the mean number of supporting limbs. RESULTS Lemurs did not adjust stride frequency on substrates of varying height. Adjustments to speed, stride length, and the mean number of supporting limbs in response to varying height often ran counter to predictions. Only E. rubriventer decreased speed and increased the mean number of supporting limbs on higher substrates. DISCUSSION Results suggest that quadrupedal walking is a relatively safe form of locomotion for lemurs, requiring subtle changes in gait to increase stability on higher-that is, potentially riskier-substrates. Continued investigation of the impact of height on locomotion will be important to determine how animals assess risk in their environment and how they choose to use this information to move more safely.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole M Schapker
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio, USA
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, USA
| | - Judith Janisch
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio, USA
| | - Lydia C Myers
- Department of Anthropology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Taylor Phelps
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio, USA
| | - Liza J Shapiro
- Department of Anthropology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Jesse W Young
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio, USA
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, USA
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Druelle F, Leti I, Bokika Ngawolo JC, Narat V. Vertical climbing in free-ranging bonobos: An exploratory study integrating locomotor performance and substrate compliance. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2024; 183:e24894. [PMID: 38180148 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Ecological factors and body size shape animal movement and adaptation. Large primates such as bonobos excel in navigating the demanding substrates of arboreal habitats. However, current approaches lack comprehensive assessment of climbing performance in free-ranging individuals, limiting our understanding of locomotor adaptations. This study aims to explore climbing performance in free-ranging bonobos and how substrate properties affect their behavior. METHODS We collected data on the climbing performance of habituated bonobos, Pan paniscus, in the Bolobo Territory, Democratic Republic of Congo. We analyzed 46 climbing bouts (12 ascents, 34 descents) while moving on vertical substrates of varying diameter and compliance levels. This study assessed the average speed, peak acceleration, resting postures, and transitions between climbing and other locomotor modes. RESULTS During climbing sequences and transitions, bonobos mitigate speed variations. They also exhibit regular pauses during climbing and show higher speeds during descent in contrast to their ascent. Regarding the influence of substrate properties, bonobos exhibit higher speed when ascending on thin and slightly flexible substrates, while they appear to achieve higher speeds when descending on large and stiff substrates, by using a "fire-pole slide" submode. DISCUSSION Bonobos demonstrate remarkable abilities for negotiating vertical substrates and substrate properties influence their performance. Our results support the idea that bonobos adopt a behavioral strategy that aligns with the notion of minimizing costs. Overall, the adoption of high velocities and the use of low-cost resting postures may reduce muscle fatigue. These aspects could represent important targets of selection to ensure ecological efficiency in bonobos.
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Affiliation(s)
- François Druelle
- Histoire Naturelle de l'Homme Préhistorique, UMR 7194, CNRS-MNHN-UPVD, Paris, France
- Functional Morphology Laboratory, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Innocent Leti
- NGO Mbou-Mon-Tour, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | | | - Victor Narat
- Eco-Anthropologie, UMR 7206, MNHN-CNRS-Univ. Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Bonobo Eco, Saint Brice sur Vienne, Vienne, France
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Wang Z, Feng Y, Wang B, Yuan J, Zhang B, Song Y, Wu X, Li L, Li W, Dai Z. Device for Measuring Contact Reaction Forces during Animal Adhesion Landing/Takeoff from Leaf-like Compliant Substrates. Biomimetics (Basel) 2024; 9:141. [PMID: 38534826 DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics9030141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
A precise measurement of animal behavior and reaction forces from their surroundings can help elucidate the fundamental principle of animal locomotion, such as landing and takeoff. Compared with stiff substrates, compliant substrates, like leaves, readily yield to loads, presenting grand challenges in measuring the reaction forces on the substrates involving compliance. To gain insight into the kinematic mechanisms and structural-functional evolution associated with arboreal animal locomotion, this study introduces an innovative device that facilitates the quantification of the reaction forces on compliant substrates, like leaves. By utilizing the stiffness-damping characteristics of servomotors and the adjustable length of a cantilever structure, the substrate compliance of the device can be accurately controlled. The substrate was further connected to a force sensor and an acceleration sensor. With the cooperation of these sensors, the measured interaction force between the animal and the compliant substrate prevented the effects of inertial force coupling. The device was calibrated under preset conditions, and its force measurement accuracy was validated, with the error between the actual measured and theoretical values being no greater than 10%. Force curves were measured, and frictional adhesion coefficients were calculated from comparative experiments on the landing/takeoff of adherent animals (tree frogs and geckos) on this device. Analysis revealed that the adhesion force limits were significantly lower than previously reported values (0.2~0.4 times those estimated in previous research). This apparatus provides mechanical evidence for elucidating structural-functional relationships exhibited by animals during locomotion and can serve as an experimental platform for optimizing the locomotion of bioinspired robots on compliant substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhouyi Wang
- College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, China
- Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518063, China
| | - Yiping Feng
- College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, China
| | - Bingcheng Wang
- College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, China
- Institute of Neuroinformatics, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jiwei Yuan
- College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, China
| | - Baowen Zhang
- College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, China
| | - Yi Song
- College of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, 18 Chaowang Road, Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - Xuan Wu
- Robotics Laboratory China Nanhu Academy of Electronics and Information Technology, Jiaxing 314000, China
| | - Lei Li
- Robotics Laboratory China Nanhu Academy of Electronics and Information Technology, Jiaxing 314000, China
| | - Weipeng Li
- Robotics Laboratory China Nanhu Academy of Electronics and Information Technology, Jiaxing 314000, China
| | - Zhendong Dai
- College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, China
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Berles P, Wölfer J, Alfieri F, Botton-Divet L, Guéry JP, Nyakatura JA. Linking morphology, performance, and habitat utilization: adaptation across biologically relevant 'levels' in tamarins. BMC Ecol Evol 2024; 24:22. [PMID: 38355429 PMCID: PMC10865561 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-023-02193-z] [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: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Biological adaptation manifests itself at the interface of different biologically relevant 'levels', such as ecology, performance, and morphology. Integrated studies at this interface are scarce due to practical difficulties in study design. We present a multilevel analysis, in which we combine evidence from habitat utilization, leaping performance and limb bone morphology of four species of tamarins to elucidate correlations between these 'levels'. RESULTS We conducted studies of leaping behavior in the field and in a naturalistic park and found significant differences in support use and leaping performance. Leontocebus nigrifrons leaps primarily on vertical, inflexible supports, with vertical body postures, and covers greater leaping distances on average. In contrast, Saguinus midas and S. imperator use vertical and horizontal supports for leaping with a relatively similar frequency. S. mystax is similar to S. midas and S. imperator in the use of supports, but covers greater leaping distances on average, which are nevertheless shorter than those of L. nigrifrons. We assumed these differences to be reflected in the locomotor morphology, too, and compared various morphological features of the long bones of the limbs. According to our performance and habitat utilization data, we expected the long bone morphology of L. nigrifrons to reflect the largest potential for joint torque generation and stress resistance, because we assume longer leaps on vertical supports to exert larger forces on the bones. For S. mystax, based on our performance data, we expected the potential for torque generation to be intermediate between L. nigrifrons and the other two Saguinus species. Surprisingly, we found S. midas and S. imperator having relatively more robust morphological structures as well as relatively larger muscle in-levers, and thus appearing better adapted to the stresses involved in leaping than the other two. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates the complex ways in which behavioral and morphological 'levels' map onto each other, cautioning against oversimplification of ecological profiles when using large interspecific eco-morphological studies to make adaptive evolutionary inferences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Berles
- AG Vergleichende Zoologie, Institut für Biologie, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Philippstr. 12/13, 10115, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Jan Wölfer
- AG Vergleichende Zoologie, Institut für Biologie, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Philippstr. 12/13, 10115, Berlin, Germany
| | - Fabio Alfieri
- AG Vergleichende Zoologie, Institut für Biologie, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Philippstr. 12/13, 10115, Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, 3012, Switzerland
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz-Institut für Evolutions- und Biodiversitätsforschung, Berlin, Germany
| | - Léo Botton-Divet
- AG Vergleichende Zoologie, Institut für Biologie, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Philippstr. 12/13, 10115, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - John A Nyakatura
- AG Vergleichende Zoologie, Institut für Biologie, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Philippstr. 12/13, 10115, Berlin, Germany
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Plocek MR, Dunham NT. Spatiotemporal walking gait kinematics of semi-arboreal red pandas (Ailurus fulgens). JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART A, ECOLOGICAL AND INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 339:755-766. [PMID: 37395486 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2725] [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: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Semi-arboreal mammals must routinely cope with the differing biomechanical challenges of terrestrial versus arboreal locomotion; however, it is not clear to what extent semi-arboreal mammals adjust footfall patterns when moving on different substrates. We opportunistically filmed quadrupedal locomotion (n = 132 walking strides) of semi-arboreal red pandas (Ailurus fulgens; n = 3) housed at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and examined the effects of substrate type on spatiotemporal gait kinematic variables using linear mixed models. We further investigated the effects of substrate diameter and orientation on arboreal gait kinematics. Red pandas exclusively used lateral sequence (LS) gaits and most frequently utilized LS lateral couplet gaits across terrestrial and arboreal substrates. Red pandas moved significantly slower (p < 0.001), and controlling for speed, had significantly greater relative stride length (p < 0.001), mean stride duration (p = 0.002), mean duty factor (p < 0.001), and mean number of supporting limbs (p < 0.001) during arboreal locomotion. Arboreal strides on inclined substrates were characterized by significantly faster relative speeds and increased limb phase values compared with those horizontal and declined substrates. These kinematics adjustments help to reduce substrate oscillations thereby promoting stability on potentially precarious arboreal substrates. Red panda limb phase values are similar to those of (primarily terrestrial) Carnivora examined to date. Despite the similarity in footfall patterns during arboreal and terrestrial locomotion, flexibility in other kinematic variables is important for semi-arboreal red pandas that must navigate disparate biomechanical challenges inherent to arboreal versus terrestrial locomotion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maura R Plocek
- Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Division of Conservation and Science, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Noah T Dunham
- Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Division of Conservation and Science, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
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Goto R, Kinoshita Y, Shitara T, Hirasaki E. Diagonal-couplet gaits on discontinuous supports in Japanese macaques and implications for the adaptive significance of the diagonal-sequence, diagonal-couplet gait of primates. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2023. [PMID: 37209057 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Diagonal-sequence, diagonal-couplet (DSDC) gaits have been proposed as an adaptation to travel on discontinuously arranged arboreal branches. Only a few studies have examined primate gait adjustment to support discontinuity. We analyzed the gaits of Japanese macaques walking on the "ground" and two discontinuous conditions, "circle" and "point," to better understand the advantages of DSDC gaits on discontinuous supports. MATERIALS AND METHODS Seventy-eight vertical posts, each with a circular upper surface, were arranged in four rows at a spacing of 200 mm. The diameter of the circular upper surface was 150 mm ("circle condition") or 50 mm ("point condition"). We calculated the limb phase, duty factor, and time interval from hindlimb touchdown to ipsilateral forelimb liftoff. The supports the fore- and hindlimbs landed on during walking were identified in the circle and point condition. RESULTS The macaques predominantly used DSDC gaits in the ground and circle conditions and lateral-sequence, diagonal-couplet (LSDC) gaits in the point condition. The macaques usually placed their hindlimbs on the same supports as their ipsilateral forelimbs during the gait cycle. DISCUSSION Japanese macaques overlapped the ipsilateral fore- and hindlimb stance phase in all DSDC and some LSDC gaits to proximate the ipsilateral limbs on the discontinuous support, allowing the forelimb to guide the hindlimb placement to the support. The overlap duration of the ipsilateral limb stance phases may be extended by DSDC gaits longer than by LSDC gaits, allowing for a direct pass of the support being held by the prehensile hand to the prehensile foot.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryosuke Goto
- Faculty of Rehabilitation, Gunma Paz University, Takasaki, Japan
| | - Yuki Kinoshita
- Center for the Evolutionary Origins of Human Behavior, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Shitara
- Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Eishi Hirasaki
- Center for the Evolutionary Origins of Human Behavior, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Japan
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Young MW, Lynch SK, Dickinson E, Currier AA, Davoli EC, Hanna CS, Fischer HM, DiUbaldi GA, Granatosky MC. Patterns of single limb forces during terrestrial and arboreal locomotion in rosy-faced lovebirds (Psittaciformes: Agapornis roseicollis). J Exp Biol 2022; 225:276123. [PMID: 35822351 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.244571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The biomechanical demands of arboreal locomotion are generally thought to necessitate specialized kinetic and kinematic gait characteristics. While such data has been widely collected across arboreal quadrupeds, no study has yet explored how arboreal substrates influence the locomotor behavior of birds. Parrots - an ancient arboreal lineage that exhibit numerous anatomical specializations towards life in the trees - represent an ideal model group within which to examine this relationship. Here, we quantify limb loading patterns within the rosy-faced lovebird (Agapornis roseicollis) across a range of experimental conditions to define under which circumstances arboreal gaits are triggered, and how, during arboreal walking, gait patterns change across substrates of varying diameter. In so doing, we address longstanding questions as to how the challenges associated with arboreality affect gait parameters. Arboreal locomotion was associated with the adoption of a sidling gait, which was employed exclusively on the small- and medium-poles but not terrestrially. When sidling, the hindlimbs are decoupled into a distinct leading limb (which imparts exclusively braking forces) and trailing limb (which generates only propulsive forces). Sidling was also associated with relatively low pitching forces, even on the smallest substrate. Indeed, these forces were significantly lower than mediolateral forces experienced during striding on terrestrial and large-diameter substrates. We propose that the adoption of sidling gaits is a consequence of avian foot morphology and represents a novel form of arboreal locomotion where inversion/eversion is impossible. Such movement mechanics is likely widespread among avian taxa and may also typify patterns of arboreal locomotion in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melody W Young
- New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, New York, USA
| | - Samantha K Lynch
- New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, New York, USA
| | - Edwin Dickinson
- New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, New York, USA.,Department of Anatomy, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, New York, USA
| | - Allen A Currier
- New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, New York, USA
| | - Elizabeth C Davoli
- New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, New York, USA
| | - Christopher S Hanna
- New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, New York, USA
| | - Hannah M Fischer
- New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, New York, USA
| | - Gianluca A DiUbaldi
- New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, New York, USA
| | - Michael C Granatosky
- Department of Anatomy, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, New York, USA.,Center for Biomedical Innovation, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, New York, USA
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