Tail beat frequency, amplitude, and swimming speed of a shark tracked by sector scanning sonar

1973 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. R. H. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Swimming Speed ◽  
Beat Frequency ◽  
Tail Beat

THE EFFECT OF SOLID AND POROUS CHANNEL WALLS ON STEADY SWIMMING OF STEELHEAD TROUT ONCORHYNCHUS MYKISS

1993 ◽  
Vol 178 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. W. Webb
Keyword(s):  
Swimming Speed ◽  
Swimming Performance ◽  
Beat Frequency ◽  
Regression Coefficients ◽  
Steelhead Trout ◽  
Wall Effects ◽  
Fish Swimming ◽  
Wide Channel ◽  
Solid Walls ◽  
Tail Beat

Kinematics and steady swimming performance were recorded for steelhead trout (approximately 12.2 cm in total length) swimming in channels 4.5, 3 and 1.6 cm wide in the centre of a flume 15 cm wide. Channel walls were solid or porous. Tail-beat depth and the length of the propulsive wave were not affected by spacing of either solid or porous walls. The product of tail-beat frequency, F, and amplitude, H, was related to swimming speed, u, and to harmonic mean distance of the tail from the wall, z. For solid walls: FH = 1.01(+/−0.31)u0.67(+/−0.09)z(0.12+/−0.02) and for grid walls: FH = 0.873(+/−0.302)u0.74(+/−0.08)z0.064(+/−0.024), where +/−2 s.e. are shown for regression coefficients. Thus, rates of working were smaller for fish swimming between solid walls, but the reduction due to wall effects decreased with increasing swimming speed. Porous grid walls had less effect on kinematics, except at low swimming speeds. Spacing of solid walls did not affect maximum tail-beat frequency, but maximum tail-beat amplitude decreased with smaller wall widths. Maximum tail-beat amplitude similarly decreased with spacing between grid walls, but maximum tail-beat frequency increased. Walls also reduced maximum swimming speed. Wall effects have not been adequately taken into account in most studies of fish swimming in flumes and fish wheels.

The Kinematics of Swimming in Larvae of the Clawed Frog, Xenopus Laevis

1986 ◽  
Vol 122 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
KARIN VON SECKENDORFF HOFF ◽  
RICHARD JOEL WASSERSUG
Keyword(s):  
Xenopus Laevis ◽  
Swimming Speed ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Total Mass ◽  
Beat Frequency ◽  
Maximum Amplitude ◽  
Open Water ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Anuran Larvae ◽  
Tail Beat

The kinematics of swimming in larval Xenopus laevis has been studied using computer-assisted analysis of high-speed (200 frames s−1) ciné records. The major findings are as follows. 1. At speeds below 6 body lengths (L) per second, tail beat frequency is approximately 10 Hz and, unlike for most aquatic vertebrates, is not correlated with specific swimming speed. At higher speeds, tail beat frequency and speed are positively correlated. 2. Xenopus tadpoles show an increase in the maximum amplitude of the tail beat with increasing velocity up to approximately 6Ls−1. Above that speed amplitude approaches an asymptote at 20 % of body length. 3. Anterior yaw is absent at velocities below 6Ls−1, unlike for other anuran larvae, but is present at higher speeds. 4. At speeds below 6Ls−1 there is a positive linear relationship between length of the propulsive wave (λ) and specific swimming speed. At higher speeds wavelength is constant at approximately 0.8L. 5. There is a shift in the modulation of wavelength and tail beat frequency with swimming speed around 5.6Ls−1, suggesting two different swimming modes. The slower mode is used during open water cruising and suspension feeding. The faster, sprinting mode may be used to avoid predators. 6. Froude efficiencies are similar to those reported for fishes and other anuran larvae. 7. Unlike Rana and Bufo larvae, the axial muscle mass of Xenopus increases dramatically with size from less than 10% of total mass for the smallest animals to more than 45% of total mass for the largest animals. This increase is consistent with maintaining high locomotor performance throughout development.

Effects of longitudinal body position and swimming speed on mechanical power of deep red muscle from skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis)

2002 ◽  
Vol 205 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-200
Author(s):  
Douglas A. Syme ◽  
Robert E. Shadwick
Keyword(s):  
Swimming Speed ◽  
Power Output ◽  
Beat Frequency ◽  
Mechanical Power ◽  
Skipjack Tuna ◽  
Cycle Frequency ◽  
Katsuwonus Pelamis ◽  
Red Muscle ◽  
Tail Beat ◽  
Work Loop

SUMMARY The mechanical power output of deep, red muscle from skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) was studied to investigate (i) whether this muscle generates maximum power during cruise swimming, (ii) how the differences in strain experienced by red muscle at different axial body locations affect its performance and (iii) how swimming speed affects muscle work and power output. Red muscle was isolated from approximately mid-way through the deep wedge that lies next to the backbone; anterior (0.44 fork lengths, ANT) and posterior (0.70 fork lengths, POST) samples were studied. Work and power were measured at 25°C using the work loop technique. Stimulus phases and durations and muscle strains (±5.5 % in ANT and ±8 % in POST locations) experienced during cruise swimming at different speeds were obtained from previous studies and used during work loop recordings. In addition, stimulus conditions that maximized work were determined. The stimulus durations and phases yielding maximum work decreased with increasing cycle frequency (analogous to tail-beat frequency), were the same at both axial locations and were almost identical to those used by the fish during swimming, indicating that the muscle produces near-maximal work under most conditions in swimming fish. While muscle in the posterior region undergoes larger strain and thus produces more mass-specific power than muscle in the anterior region, when the longitudinal distribution of red muscle mass is considered, the anterior muscles appear to contribute approximately 40 % more total power. Mechanical work per length cycle was maximal at a cycle frequency of 2–3 Hz, dropping to near zero at 15 Hz and by 20–50 % at 1 Hz. Mechanical power was maximal at a cycle frequency of 5 Hz, dropping to near zero at 15 Hz. These fish typically cruise with tail-beat frequencies of 2.8–5.2 Hz, frequencies at which power from cyclic contractions of deep red muscles was 75–100 % maximal. At any given frequency over this range, power using stimulation conditions recorded from swimming fish averaged 93.4±1.65 % at ANT locations and 88.6±2.08 % at POST locations (means ± s.e.m., N=3–6) of the maximum using optimized conditions. When cycle frequency was held constant (4 Hz) and strain amplitude was increased, work and power increased similarly in muscles from both sample sites; work and power increased 2.5-fold when strain was elevated from ±2 to ±5.5 %, but increased by only approximately 12 % when strain was raised further from ±5.5 to ±8 %. Taken together, these data suggest that red muscle fibres along the entire body are used in a similar fashion to produce near-maximal mechanical power for propulsion during normal cruise swimming. Modelling suggests that the tail-beat frequency at which power is maximal (5 Hz) is very close to that used at the predicted maximum aerobic swimming speed (5.8 Hz) in these fish.

Treading water: respirometer choice may hamper comparative studies of energetics in fishes

2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 437 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karissa O. Lear ◽  
Nicholas M. Whitney ◽  
Lauran R. Brewster ◽  
Adrian C. Gleiss
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Rate ◽  
Swimming Speed ◽  
Beat Frequency ◽  
Laboratory Studies ◽  
Kinematic Parameters ◽  
Lower Stress ◽  
Free Swimming ◽  
Negaprion Brevirostris ◽  
Overall Dynamic Body Acceleration ◽  
Tail Beat

Measuring the metabolic rate of animals is an essential part of understanding their ecology, behaviour and life history. Respirometry is the standard method of measuring metabolism in fish, but different respirometry methods and systems can result in disparate measurements of metabolic rate, a factor often difficult to quantify. Here we directly compare the results of two of the most common respirometry systems used in elasmobranch studies, a Steffensen-style flume respirometer and an annular static respirometer. Respirometry trials with juvenile lemon sharks Negaprion brevirostris were run in both systems under the same environmental conditions and using the same individuals. Relationships between metabolic rate, swimming speed, overall dynamic body acceleration (ODBA) and tail beat frequency (TBF) were compared between the two systems. The static respirometer elicited higher TBF and ODBA for a given swimming speed compared with the flume respirometer, although it produced relationships between kinematic parameters that were more similar to those observed in free-swimming animals. Metabolic rates and swimming speeds were higher for the flume respirometer. Therefore, although flume respirometers are necessary for many types of controlled laboratory studies, static respirometers may elicit lower stress and produce results that are more applicable to fish in wild systems.

The Kinematics of Swimming in Anuran Larvae

1985 ◽  
Vol 119 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
RICHARD J. WASSERSUG ◽  
KARIN VON SECHENDORF HOFF
Keyword(s):  
Swimming Speed ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Beat Frequency ◽  
Maximum Amplitude ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Lateral Movement ◽  
Posterior Portion ◽  
Tadpole Tail ◽  
Axial Musculature ◽  
Tail Beat

The kinematics of swimming in tadpoles from four species of anurans (Rana catesbeiana Shaw, Rana septentrionalis Baird, Rana clamitans Latreille and Bufo americanus Holbrook) was studied using computer-assisted analysis of high speed (≥200 frames s−1) ciné records. 1. Tadpoles exhibit the same positive, linear relationship between tail beat frequency and specific swimming speed commonly reported for subcarangiform fishes. 2. Tadpoles show an increase in the maximum amplitude of the tail beat with increasing swimming speed up to approximately 4 lengths s−1. Above 4 lengths s−1, amplitude approaches an asymptote at approximately 25 % of length. 3. Tadpoles with relatively longer tails have lower specific amplitudes. 4. Froude efficiencies for tadpoles are similar to those reported for most subcarangiform fishes. 5. Bufo larvae tend to have higher specific maximum amplitude, higher tail beat frequencies, lower propeller efficiencies (at least at intermediate speeds) and substantially less axial musculature than do comparable-sized Rana larvae. These differences may relate to the fact that Bufo larvae are noxious to many potential predators and consequently need not rely solely on locomotion for defence. 6. Tadpoles exhibit larger amounts of lateral movement at the snout than do most adult fishes. 7. The point of least lateral movement during swimming in tadpoles is at the level of the semi-circular canals, as assumed in models on the evolution of the vertebrate inner ear. 8. Passive oscillation of anaesthetized and curarized tadpoles at the base of their tail produces normal kinematics in the rest of the tail. This supports the idea that muscular activity in the posterior, tapered portion of the tadpole tail does not serve a major role in thrust production during normal, straightforward swimming at constant velocity. 9. The angle of incidence and lateral velocity of the tail tip as it crosses the path of motion are not consistent with theoretical predictions of how thrust should be generated. The same parameters evaluated at the high point of the tail fin (approximately midtail) suggest that that portion of the tail generates thrust most effectively. 10. Ablation of the end of the tail in passively oscillated tadpoles confirms that the terminal portion of the tadpole tail serves to reduce excessive amplitude in the more anterior portion of the tail, where most thrust is generated. 11. The posterior portion of the tail is important in reducing turbulence around a tadpole. It may also function to produce thrust during irregular, intricate movements, such as swimming backwards. 12. Tadpoles are comparable to subcarangiform fishes of similar size in their maximum swimming speed and mechanical efficiency, despite the fact that they have much less axial musculature and lack the elaborate skeletal elements that stiffen the fins in fishes. The simple shape of the tadpole tail appears to allow these animals efficient locomotion over short distances and high manoeuvrability, while maintaining the potential for rapid morphological change at metamorphosis.

The Influence of Temperature on Muscle Velocity and Sustained Performance in Swimming Carp

1990 ◽  
Vol 154 (1) ◽  
pp. 163-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
LAWRENCE C. ROME ◽  
R. MCNEILL ALEXANDER
Keyword(s):  
Swimming Speed ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Sarcomere Length ◽  
Beat Frequency ◽  
Maximum Velocity ◽  
Muscle Fibres ◽  
Total Force ◽  
Red Muscle ◽  
Length Changes ◽  
Tail Beat

The aim of this study was to evaluate how fish locomote at different muscle temperatures. Sarcomere length excursion and muscle shortening velocity, V, were determined from high-speed motion pictures of carp, Cyprinus carpio (11–14 cm), swimming steadily at various sustained speeds at 10, 15 and 20°C. In the middle and posterior regions of the carp, sarcomeres of the lateral red muscle underwent cyclical excursions of 0.31 μm, centred around the resting length of 2.06 μm (i.e. from 1.91 to 2.22 μm). The amplitudes of the sarcomere length excursions were essentially independent of swimming speed and temperature. As tail-beat frequency increased linearly with swimming speed regardless of temperature, the sarcomeres underwent the same length changes in a shorter time. Thus, V increased in a linear and temperature-independent manner with swimming speed. Neither temperature nor swimming speed had an influence on tail-beat amplitude or tail height. Our findings indicate that muscle fibres are used only over a narrow, temperature-independent range of V/Vmax (0.17-0.36) where power and efficiency are maximal. Carp start to recruit their white muscles at swimming speeds where the red muscle V/Vmax becomes too high (and thus power output declines). When the V/Vmax of the active muscle falls too low during steady swimming, carp switch to ‘burst-and-coast’ swimming, apparently to keep V/Vmax high. Because Vmax (maximum velocity of shortening) of carp red muscle has a Q10 of 1.63, the transition speeds between swimming styles are lower at lower temperatures. Thus, carp recruit their white anaerobic muscle at a lower swimming speed at lower temperatures (verified by electromyography), resulting in a lower maximum sustainable swimming speed. The present findings also indicate that, to generate the same total force and power to swim at a given speed, carp at 10°C must recruit about 50% greater fibre cross-sectional area than they do at 20°C. Note: Present address: Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA. Present address: Department of Pure and Applied Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, England.

Accelerometer-derived activity correlates with volitional swimming speed in lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens)

2015 ◽  
Vol 93 (8) ◽  
pp. 645-654 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.D. Thiem ◽  
J.W. Dawson ◽  
A.C. Gleiss ◽  
E.G. Martins ◽  
A. Haro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Data Storage ◽  
Swimming Speed ◽  
Beat Frequency ◽  
Lake Sturgeon ◽  
Parameter Estimates ◽  
Acipenser Fulvescens ◽  
Body Acceleration ◽  
Data Storage Tags ◽  
Overall Dynamic Body Acceleration ◽  
Tail Beat

Quantifying fine-scale locomotor behaviours associated with different activities is challenging for free-swimming fish. Biologging and biotelemetry tools can help address this problem. An open channel flume was used to generate volitional swimming speed (Us) estimates of cultured lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens Rafinesque, 1817) and these were paired with simultaneously recorded accelerometer-derived metrics of activity obtained from three types of data-storage tags. This study examined whether a predictive relationship could be established between four different activity metrics (tail-beat frequency (TBF), tail-beat acceleration amplitude (TBAA), overall dynamic body acceleration (ODBA), and vectorial dynamic body acceleration (VeDBA)) and the swimming speed of A. fulvescens. Volitional Us of sturgeon ranged from 0.48 to 2.70 m·s−1 (0.51–3.18 body lengths (BL)·s−1). Swimming speed increased linearly with all accelerometer-derived metrics, and when all tag types were combined, Us increased 0.46 BL·s−1 for every 1 Hz increase in TBF, and 0.94, 0.61, and 0.94 BL·s−1 for every 1g increase in TBAA, ODBA, and VeDBA, respectively. Predictive relationships varied among tag types and tag-specific parameter estimates of Us are presented for all metrics. This use of acceleration data-storage tags demonstrated their applicability for the field quantification of sturgeon swimming speed.

scholarly journals A Method for Estimating the Velocity at Which Anaerobic Metabolism Begins in Swimming Fish

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 1430
Author(s):  
Feifei He ◽  
Xiaogang Wang ◽  
Yun Li ◽  
Yiqun Hou ◽  
Qiubao Zou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxygen Consumption ◽  
Swimming Speed ◽  
Crucian Carp ◽  
Anaerobic Metabolism ◽  
Swimming Performance ◽  
Beat Frequency ◽  
Critical Swimming Speed ◽  
Swimming Efficiency ◽  
Rate Of Oxygen Consumption ◽  
Tail Beat

Anaerobic metabolism begins before fish reach their critical swimming speed. Anaerobic metabolism affects the swimming ability of fish, which is not conducive to their upward tracking. The initiation of anaerobic metabolism therefore provides a better predictor of flow barriers than critical swimming speed. To estimate the anaerobic element of metabolism for swimming fish, the respiratory metabolism and swimming performance of adult crucian carp (Carassius auratus, mass = 260.10 ± 7.93, body length = 19.32 ± 0.24) were tested in a closed tank at 20 ± 1 °C. The swimming behavior and rate of oxygen consumption of these carp were recorded at various swimming speeds. Results indicate (1) The critical swimming speed of the crucian carp was 0.85 ± 0.032 m/s (4.40 ± 0.16 BL/s). (2) When a power function was fitted to the data, oxygen consumption, as a function of swimming speed, was determined to be AMR = 131.24 + 461.26Us1.27 (R2 = 0.948, p < 0.001) and the power value (1.27) of Us indicated high swimming efficiency. (3) Increased swimming speed led to increases in the tail beat frequency. (4) Swimming costs were calculated via rate of oxygen consumption and hydrodynamic modeling. Then, the drag coefficient of the crucian carp during swimming was calibrated (0.126–0.140), and the velocity at which anaerobic metabolism was initiated was estimated (0.52 m/s), via the new method described herein. This study adds to our understanding of the metabolic patterns of fish at different swimming speeds.

The Swimming Energetics of Trout

1971 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 489-520 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. W. WEBB
Keyword(s):  
Body Length ◽  
Swimming Speed ◽  
Power Output ◽  
Beat Frequency ◽  
The Body ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Critical Swimming Speed ◽  
Muscle System ◽  
Sprint Speed ◽  
Tail Beat

1. The wavelength, tail-beat frequency and trailing-edge amplitude have been measured for five groups of rainbow trout at various subfatigue cruising speeds. Four groups of fish were fitted with extra drag loads. The swimming mode was anguilliform by definition, but is probably best considered as intermediate between this and the carangiform mode. 2. The wavelength of the propulsive wave represented 0.76 of the body length. The specific amplitude (amplitude/length) tended to reach a maximum value of 0.175 at tail-beat frequencies approaching 5/sec. 3. The product of frequency and specific amplitude was found to be linearly related to swimming speed in all five groups of fish. 4. The critical swimming speed for the non-loaded control group was 1.73 body length/sec, and fell in groups 1-4 as the magnitude of the extra drag loads increased. The critical swimming speed for the control group is low for salmonids, probably as a result of the unfavourable history of the fish. 5. A method is described for calculating the drag of a swimming fish from the effects of the extra loads on the characteristics of the propulsive wave. It was found that thrust, T = 7.9 (swimming speed)1.79. The thrust was approximately 2.8 times greater than that required for an equivalent straight rigid vehicle. 6. It was calculated that the power output of the red muscle system would need to be about 0.48-0.77 ergs/sec/g muscle to overcome the drag of the fish at cruising speeds. 7. The power output of the fish was compared with values calculated by means of mathematical models proposed by Taylor and Lighthill. It was found that the fish did not fit the assumptions made in Taylor's model, and so power output calculations were not comparable with those calculated in the present paper. Lighthill's model was found to give values which were within 5 % of the values calculated here at higher swimming speeds. At lower swimming speeds the values were up to about 50 % lower than expected because again the fish did not fit the assumptions involved. 8. The relationship between thrust and swimming speed was extended into the sprint-speed range. It was calculated that fish could reach a maximum sprint speed maintained for 1 sec, provided that drag was reduced by about a half, or that the power required was that to accelerate the fish to that speed.

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