scholarly journals Is the scaling of swim speed in sharks driven by metabolism?

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 20150781 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M. P. Jacoby ◽  
Penthai Siriwat ◽  
Robin Freeman ◽  
Chris Carbone
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Ecosystem Functioning ◽  
Foraging Ecology ◽  
Geometric Model ◽  
Predator Prey ◽  
Marine Systems ◽  
Movement Rates ◽  
Scaling Relationship ◽  
Model Predictions ◽  
Ecological Parameters

The movement rates of sharks are intrinsically linked to foraging ecology, predator–prey dynamics and wider ecosystem functioning in marine systems. During ram ventilation, however, shark movement rates are linked not only to ecological parameters, but also to physiology, as minimum speeds are required to provide sufficient water flow across the gills to maintain metabolism. We develop a geometric model predicting a positive scaling relationship between swim speeds in relation to body size and ultimately shark metabolism, taking into account estimates for the scaling of gill dimensions. Empirical data from 64 studies (26 species) were compiled to test our model while controlling for the influence of phylogenetic similarity between related species. Our model predictions were found to closely resemble the observed relationships from tracked sharks, providing a means to infer mobility in particularly intractable species.

scholarly journals Intraspecific Variation in Maximum Ingested Food Size and Body Mass in Varecia rubra and Propithecus coquereli

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam Hartstone-Rose ◽  
Jonathan M. G. Perry
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Individual Variation ◽  
Size Variation ◽  
Maximum Size ◽  
Least Squares Regression ◽  
Scaling Relationship ◽  
Varecia Rubra ◽  
Food Size ◽  
The Relationship

In a recent study, we quantified the scaling of ingested food size (Vb )—the maximum size at which an animal consistently ingests food whole—and found that Vb scaled isometrically between species of captive strepsirrhines. The current study examines the relationship between Vb and body size within species with a focus on the frugivorous Varecia rubra and the folivorous Propithecus coquereli. We found no overlap in Vb between the species (all V. rubra ingested larger pieces of food relative to those eaten by P. coquereli), and least-squares regression of Vb and three different measures of body mass showed no scaling relationship within each species. We believe that this lack of relationship results from the relatively narrow intraspecific body size variation and seemingly patternless individual variation in Vb within species and take this study as further evidence that general scaling questions are best examined interspecifically rather than intraspecifically.

3D FEA Modeling of Hard Turning

2002 ◽  
Vol 124 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. B. Guo ◽  
C. R. Liu
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element Analysis ◽  
Finite Element ◽  
Geometric Model ◽  
Friction Model ◽  
Dominant Factor ◽  
Analysis Model ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Plastic Properties ◽  
Fea Model ◽  
Model Predictions

A practical explicit 3D finite element analysis model has been developed and implemented to analyze turning hardened AISI 52100 steels using a PCBN cutting tool. The finite element analysis incorporated the thermo-elastic-plastic properties of the work material in machining. An improved friction model has been proposed to characterize tool-chip interaction with the friction coefficient and shear flow stresses determined by force calibration and material tests, respectively. A geometric model has been established to simulate a 3D turning. FEA Model predictions have reasonable accuracy for chip geometry, forces, residual stresses, and cutting temperatures. FEA model sensitivity analysis indicates that the prediction is consistent using a suitable magnitude of material failure strain for chip separation, the simulation gives reasonable results using the experimentally determined material properties, the proposed friction model is valid and the sticking region on the tool-chip interface is a dominant factor of model predictions.

scholarly journals Exquisitely Preserved Fossil Snakes of Messel: Insight into the Evolution, Biogeography, Habitat Preferences and Sensory Ecology of Early Boas

Diversity ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agustín Scanferla ◽  
Krister T. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
New World ◽  
Middle Eocene ◽  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
Sensory Ecology ◽  
Morphological Diversity ◽  
Predator Prey ◽  
Upper Jaw ◽  
Spectrum Evaluation ◽  
Insight Into

Our knowledge of early evolution of snakes is improving, but all that we can infer about the evolution of modern clades of snakes such as boas (Booidea) is still based on isolated bones. Here, we resolve the phylogenetic relationships of Eoconstrictor fischeri comb. nov. and other booids from the early-middle Eocene of Messel (Germany), the best-known fossil snake assemblage yet discovered. Our combined analyses demonstrate an affinity of Eoconstrictor with Neotropical boas, thus entailing a South America-to-Europe dispersal event. Other booid species from Messel are related to different New World clades, reinforcing the cosmopolitan nature of the Messel booid fauna. Our analyses indicate that Eoconstrictor was a terrestrial, medium- to large-bodied snake that bore labial pit organs in the upper jaw, the earliest evidence that the visual system in snakes incorporated the infrared spectrum. Evaluation of the known palaeobiology of Eoconstrictor provides no evidence that pit organs played a role in the predator–prey relations of this stem boid. At the same time, the morphological diversity of Messel booids reflects the occupation of several terrestrial macrohabitats, and even in the earliest booid community the relation between pit organs and body size is similar to that seen in booids today.

scholarly journals Examining predator–prey body size, trophic level and body mass across marine and terrestrial mammals

2014 ◽  
Vol 281 (1797) ◽  
pp. 20142103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marlee A. Tucker ◽  
Tracey L. Rogers
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Marine Environment ◽  
Trophic Level ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Trophic Position ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Predator Prey ◽  
Terrestrial Mammals

Predator–prey relationships and trophic levels are indicators of community structure, and are important for monitoring ecosystem changes. Mammals colonized the marine environment on seven separate occasions, which resulted in differences in species' physiology, morphology and behaviour. It is likely that these changes have had a major effect upon predator–prey relationships and trophic position; however, the effect of environment is yet to be clarified. We compiled a dataset, based on the literature, to explore the relationship between body mass, trophic level and predator–prey ratio across terrestrial ( n = 51) and marine ( n = 56) mammals. We did not find the expected positive relationship between trophic level and body mass, but we did find that marine carnivores sit 1.3 trophic levels higher than terrestrial carnivores. Also, marine mammals are largely carnivorous and have significantly larger predator–prey ratios compared with their terrestrial counterparts. We propose that primary productivity, and its availability, is important for mammalian trophic structure and body size. Also, energy flow and community structure in the marine environment are influenced by differences in energy efficiency and increased food web stability. Enhancing our knowledge of feeding ecology in mammals has the potential to provide insights into the structure and functioning of marine and terrestrial communities.

scholarly journals Integrating morphology and kinematics in the scaling of hummingbird hovering metabolic rate and efficiency

2018 ◽  
Vol 285 (1873) ◽  
pp. 20172011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derrick J. E. Groom ◽  
M. Cecilia B. Toledo ◽  
Donald R. Powers ◽  
Bret W. Tobalske ◽  
Kenneth C. Welch
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Metabolic Rate ◽  
Wing Size ◽  
Wing Morphology ◽  
Morphological Adaptation ◽  
Wingbeat Frequency ◽  
Cycle Frequency ◽  
Scaling Relationship ◽  
Metabolic Costs ◽  
The Cost

Wing kinematics and morphology are influential upon the aerodynamics of flight. However, there is a lack of studies linking these variables to metabolic costs, particularly in the context of morphological adaptation to body size. Furthermore, the conversion efficiency from chemical energy into movement by the muscles (mechanochemical efficiency) scales with mass in terrestrial quadrupeds, but this scaling relationship has not been demonstrated within flying vertebrates. Positive scaling of efficiency with body size may reduce the metabolic costs of flight for relatively larger species. Here, we assembled a dataset of morphological, kinematic, and metabolic data on hovering hummingbirds to explore the influence of wing morphology, efficiency, and mass on hovering metabolic rate (HMR). We hypothesize that HMR would decline with increasing wing size, after accounting for mass. Furthermore, we hypothesize that efficiency will increase with mass, similarly to other forms of locomotion. We do not find a relationship between relative wing size and HMR, and instead find that the cost of each wingbeat increases hyperallometrically while wingbeat frequency declines with increasing mass. This suggests that increasing wing size is metabolically favourable over cycle frequency with increasing mass. Further benefits are offered to larger hummingbirds owing to the positive scaling of efficiency.

Associations between Non-Lethal Injury, Body Size, and Foraging Ecology in an Amphibian Intraguild Predator

Ethology ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 120 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cy L. Mott ◽  
Michael A. Steffen
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Foraging Ecology ◽  
Intraguild Predator

Predator–prey mass ratio revisited: does preference of relative prey body size depend on individual predator size?

2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (12) ◽  
pp. 1979-1987 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheng‐Han Tsai ◽  
Chih‐hao Hsieh ◽  
Takefumi Nakazawa
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Mass Ratio ◽  
Predator Prey ◽  
Predator Size ◽  
Prey Mass

scholarly journals Size-dependent functional response of Xenopus laevis on mosquito larvae

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corey J Thorp ◽  
Mhairi E Alexander ◽  
James R Vonesh ◽  
John Measey
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Xenopus Laevis ◽  
Functional Response ◽  
Handling Time ◽  
Mosquito Larvae ◽  
Agricultural Pests ◽  
Food Web Structure ◽  
Predator Prey ◽  
Predator Attack ◽  
Considerable Individual Variation

Predators can play an important role in regulating prey abundance and diversity, determining food web structure and function, and contributing to important ecosystem services, including the regulation of agricultural pests and disease vectors. Thus, the ability to predict predator impact on prey is an important goal in ecology. Often predators of the same species are assumed to be functionally equivalent, despite considerable individual variation in predator traits known to be important for shaping predator-prey interactions, like body size. This assumption may greatly oversimplify our understanding of within species functional diversity and undermine our ability to predict predator effects on prey. Here we examine the degree to which predator-prey interactions are functionally homogenous across a natural range of predator body size. Specifically, we quantify the size-dependence of the functional response of African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis) preying on mosquito larvae (Culex pipiens). Three size classes of predators, small (15-30mm snout-vent length), medium (50-60mm) and large (105-120mm), were presented with five densities of prey to determine functional response type and to estimate search efficiency and handling time parameters generated from the models. The results of mesocosm experiments show that functional response of X. laevis changed with size: small predators exhibited a Type II response, while medium and large predators exhibited Type III responses. Both functional response and behavioural data showed an inversely proportional relationship between predator attack rate and predator size. Small and medium predators had highest and lowest handling time respectively. That the functional response changed with the size of predator suggests that predators with overlapping cohorts may have a dynamic impact on prey populations. Therefore, predicting the functional response of a single size-matched predator in an experiment may be a misrepresentation of the predator’s potential impact on a prey population.

scholarly journals Foraging ecology during nesting influences body size in a pursuit-diving seabird

2015 ◽  
Vol 533 ◽  
pp. 261-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Paredes ◽  
RA Orben ◽  
DD Roby ◽  
DB Irons ◽  
R Young ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Foraging Ecology
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