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Kampowski T, Schuler B, Speck T, Poppinga S. The effects of substrate porosity, mechanical substrate properties and loading conditions on the attachment performance of the Mediterranean medicinal leech ( Hirudo verbana). J R Soc Interface 2022; 19:20220068. [PMID: 35317649 PMCID: PMC8941423 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2022.0068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The ectoparasitic lifestyle of the Mediterranean medicinal leech (Hirudo verbana) requires reliable functioning of its attachment organs (i.e. anterior and posterior suction discs) on multiple habitat- and host-specific surfaces under both normal and shear stresses. In addition to some intrinsic properties of the attachment devices, however, only a few extrinsic factors (e.g. substrate roughness and porosity) have been considered in previous studies on leech suckers. Using centrifugal force experiments, we analysed the attachment performance of H. verbana under different types of loading on artificial substrates differing in porosity and their mechanical properties. Whereas the substrate porosity significantly influenced leech attachment under normal and shear loading, the different mechanical properties did not noticeably affect attachment within the considered parameter limits. Furthermore, suction was confirmed to be the primary attachment mechanism independent of the prevailing loading condition. The question of whether the suction cups of H. verbana are adapted to a specific loading condition could not be answered. In any case, our results again highlight the high functional resilience of leech suckers guaranteeing a successful ectoparasitic lifestyle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Kampowski
- Plant Biomechanics Group (PBG), Botanic Garden, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestr. 1, 79104 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF), University of Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Str. 21, 79104 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Benedikt Schuler
- Plant Biomechanics Group (PBG), Botanic Garden, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestr. 1, 79104 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Thomas Speck
- Plant Biomechanics Group (PBG), Botanic Garden, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestr. 1, 79104 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF), University of Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Str. 21, 79104 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence livMatS@ FIT – Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 105, 79110 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Simon Poppinga
- Plant Biomechanics Group (PBG), Botanic Garden, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestr. 1, 79104 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF), University of Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Str. 21, 79104 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence livMatS@ FIT – Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 105, 79110 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Current address: Botanical Garden, Technical University of Darmstadt, Department of Biology, Schnittspahnstr. 2, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
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