scholarly journals FLIGHT PHYSIOLOGY OF NEOTROPICAL BUTTERFLIES: ALLOMETRY OF AIRSPEEDS DURING NATURAL FREE FLIGHT

1994 ◽  
Vol 191 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Dudley ◽  
R Srygley

Airspeed measurements during natural free flight were made on a total of 270 neotropical butterflies representing 62 species. Morphological data were obtained from the same individuals for which airspeeds had been determined. Flight speed was positively correlated with body mass, thoracic mass and wing loading. Controlling for body mass, higher wing loadings were correlated with increased flight speed. Flight speed and wing aspect ratio were negatively correlated. No consistent correlations were found between airspeed and wing length, wing area or body length. Released butterflies and butterflies encountered in natural free flight did not differ substantially in flight speed allometry. The observed scaling of flight speeds was similar to that derived for a much smaller sample of butterflies flying in an insectary, although absolute values of flight speed were approximately three times higher in natural flight and correlation coefficients of allometric regressions were typically lower. These results suggest that butterfly airspeeds under natural conditions can reasonably be predicted from morphological measurements, and that studying flight in enclosed spaces preserves the allometry of flight speeds.

2000 ◽  
Vol 203 (18) ◽  
pp. 2723-2735 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Fischer ◽  
W. Kutsch

Little information is available about how the adult locust flight system manages to match the aerodynamic demands that result from an increase in body mass during postmoult maturation. In Schistocerca gregaria of both sexes, flight variables, including flight speed, ascent angle and body angle, were investigated under closed-loop conditions (i.e. during free flight) as a function of adult maturation. Motor patterns were examined by telemetric electromyography in juvenile and adult mature animals of both sexes. Functional relationships between particular flight variables were investigated by additional loading of the animals and by reductions in wing area. The results indicate that an increase in flight speed as the flight system matures enables it to match the aerodynamic demands resulting from increases in body mass. Furthermore, the data suggest that this postmoult increase in flight speed is not simply a consequence of the increase in wingbeat frequency observed during maturation. The instantaneous body angle during flight is controlled mainly by aerodynamic output from the wings. In addition, the mean body angle decreases during maturation in both sexes, and this may play an important part in the directional control of the resultant flight force vector.


1995 ◽  
Vol 198 (8) ◽  
pp. 1655-1664 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Berg ◽  
J Rayner

The agility and manoeuvrability of a flying animal and the inertial power required to flap the wings are related to the moment of inertia of the wings. The moments of inertia of the wings of 29 bird species and three bat species were determined using wing strip analysis. We also measured wing length, wing span, wing area, wing mass and body mass. A strong correlation (r2=0.997) was found between the moment of inertia and the product of wing mass and the square of wing length. Using this relationship, it was found that all birds that use their wings for underwater flight had a higher than average moment of inertia. Assuming sinusoidal wing movement, the inertial power requirement was found to be proportional to (body mass)0.799, an exponent close to literature values for both metabolic power output and minimum power required for flight. Ignoring wing retraction, a fairly approximate estimate showed that the inertial power required is 11­15 % of the minimum flight power. If the kinetic energy of the wings is partly converted into aerodynamic (useful) work at stroke reversal, the power loss due to inertial effects may be smaller.


1990 ◽  
Vol 150 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
ROBERT DUDLEY

Wing and body kinematics of free cruising flight are described for 37 species of Panamanian butterflies ranging over two orders of magnitude in body mass. Butterflies exhibit considerable diversity in body and wing shape, but morphological design is, in general, isometric. Wing loading and mean body diameter show positive allometry. The cruising flight of butterflies is characterized by low wingbeat frequencies (here averaging 11 Hz), stroke amplitudes averaging 103°, and forward speeds in excess of 1m s−1. Body angles during flight are close to horizontal, and stroke plane angles are correspondingly high. Advance ratios are typically greater than 0.9, indicating that the forward and flapping velocity vectors are of comparable magnitude. Flight speed scales with morphological parameters in general accordance with predictions based on isometric design. Interspecifically, no consistent correlation exists between wing kinematics and absolute flight speed. However, maximum positional angle and stroke amplitude tend to increase while body angle decreases with increased relative flight speed.


Mammalia ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro A. Aguilar-Rodríguez ◽  
Aline Méndez-Rodríguez ◽  
Sandra M. Ospina-Garcés ◽  
M. Cristina MacSwiney G. ◽  
Yossi Yovel

Abstract We report the first prey species consumed by the free-ranging Van Gelder’s bat Bauerus dubiaquercus. We trapped four pregnant individuals of this species carrying freshly captured dung beetles. We describe the wing morphology and flight descriptors (wing loading and wing aspect ratio) of the species, which presents wings more suitable for capturing insects by aerial hawking, although the evidence suggests that is able to capture dung beetles of nearly 10% of its body mass in flight close to the ground. The species could obtain their prey while foraging on uncluttered pasture near forest edges.


Author(s):  
Marcos A Soriano ◽  
G Gregory Haff ◽  
Paul Comfort ◽  
Francisco J Amaro-Gahete ◽  
Antonio Torres-González ◽  
...  

The aims of this study were to (I) determine the differences and relationship between the overhead press and split jerk performance in athletes involved in weightlifting training, and (II) explore the magnitude of these differences in one-repetition maximum (1RM) performances between sexes. Sixty-one men (age: 30.4 ± 6.7 years; height: 1.8 ± 0.5 m; body mass 82.5 ± 8.5 kg; weightlifting training experience: 3.7 ± 3.5 yrs) and 21 women (age: 29.5 ± 5.2 yrs; height: 1.7 ± 0.5 m; body mass: 62.6 ± 5.7 kg; weightlifting training experience: 3.0 ± 1.5 yrs) participated. The 1RM performance of the overhead press and split jerk were assessed for all participants, with the overhead press assessed on two occasions to determine between-session reliability. The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and 95% confidence intervals showed a high reliability for the overhead press ICC = 0.98 (0.97 – 0.99). A very strong correlation and significant differences were found between the overhead press and split jerk 1RM performances for all participants (r = 0.90 [0.93 – 0.85], 60.2 ± 18.3 kg, 95.7 ± 29.3 kg, p ≤ 0.001). Men demonstrated stronger correlations between the overhead press and split jerk 1RM performances (r = 0.83 [0.73-0.90], p ≤ 0.001) compared with women (r = 0.56 [0.17-0.80], p = 0.008). These results provide evidence that 1RM performance of the overhead press and split jerk performance are highly related, highlighting the importance of upper-limb strength in the split jerk maximum performance.


2002 ◽  
Vol 205 (17) ◽  
pp. 2615-2626 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. D. Bullen ◽  
N. L. McKenzie

SUMMARYWingbeat frequency (fw) and amplitude(θw) were measured for 23 species of Australian bat,representing two sub-orders and six families. Maximum values were between 4 and 13 Hz for fw, and between 90 and 150° forθ w, depending on the species. Wingbeat frequency for each species was found to vary only slightly with flight speed over the lower half of the speed range. At high speeds, frequency is almost independent of velocity. Wingbeat frequency (Hz) depends on bat mass (m, kg) and flight speed (V, ms-1) according to the equation: fw=5.54-3.068log10m-2.857log10V. This simple relationship applies to both sub-orders and to all six families of bats studied. For 21 of the 23 species, the empirical values were within 1 Hz of the model values. One species, a small molossid, also had a second mode of flight in which fw was up to 3 Hz lower for all flight speeds.The following relationship predicts wingbeat amplitude to within±15° from flight speed and wing area (SREF,m2) at all flight speeds:θ w=56.92+5.18V+16.06log10SREF. This equation is based on data up to and including speeds that require maximum wingbeat amplitude to be sustained. For most species, the maximum wingbeat amplitude was 140°.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan Palmer ◽  
Mark DeBeliso

The United States Army recently implemented the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) which was designed to more accurately measure functional-combat fitness constructs. The ACFT replaced the former Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT). The three advent APFT consisted of: two-minute push-ups (PU), two-minute sit-ups (SU), and a timed two-mile run (RUN). The ACFT consists of six events; 3 Rep Max Deadlift (MDL), Standing Power Throw (SPT), Hand Release Push-up (HRP), Sprint-Drag-Carry (SDC), Hanging Leg Tuck (LTK), and a timed two-mile run (2MR). This study investigated the relationship between Soldier height and body mass kg on ACFT scores of 655 male U.S. Army National Guard Soldiers in a Field Artillery Brigade. For the purpose of the investigation body mass index (BMI) was calculated as the metric representing the Soldier(s) height and weight. The mean and standard deviation (sd) were calculated for the ACFT event and total scores. Pearson correlation coefficients (PCCs or r) were calculated between BMI and ACFT event and total scores. Likewise, PCCs were calculated between the ACFT event and total scores. The ACFT mean(sd) scores were as follows: MDL=92.2(31.8) (3 maximum repetitions), SPT=9.5(2.2) (meters), HRP=24.6(13.1) (repetitions), SDC=119.8(21.7) (seconds), LTK=6.2(5.4) (repetitions), 2MR=1095.0(233.7) (seconds), ACFT total score=442.3(54.4) (points). Significant positive correlations were found between the ACFT total score: MDL (r=0.70), SPT (r=0.50), HRP (r=0.74), and LTK (r=0.76) events. Conversely, significant negative correlations were identified between ACFT total score: SDC (r=-0.68) and 2MR (r=-0.53) events. Within the parameters of this study, Soldier BMI demonstrated no to weak association with individual ACFT event or ACFT total scores. Further, the range of PCCs between the ACFT event scores were no to moderately high. Military leaders may consider the results provided as combat and fitness tests continue to evolve.


1991 ◽  
Vol 161 (1) ◽  
pp. 285-298 ◽  
Author(s):  
PATSY M. HUGHES ◽  
JEREMY M. V. RAYNER

A series of experiments is described in which two brown long-eared bats Plecotus auritus Linnaeus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) were flown in a 1mx1mx4.5m flight enclosure at a range of body masses (n=9 experiments for a female bat, and n = 11 for a male bat). The highest three of these masses incorporated artificial loads. Stroboscopic stereophotogrammetry was used to make three-dimensional reconstructions (n=124) of the bats' flight paths. Over the entire range of experiments, wing loading was increased by 44% for the female and 46% for the male bat. Effects arising from captivity were controlled for: experiments at certain wing loadings were repeated after a period in captivity and the response to load was found to be unaltered. Flight speed fell with total mass M or with wing loading, varying as M−0.49 in the female and M−0.42 in the male bat. Wingbeat frequency increased with total mass or wing loading, varying as M0.61 in the female and M0.44in the male bat. Hence frequency, but not speed, changed with mass in the direction predicted by aerodynamic theory. These results were used in a mathematical model to predict wingbeat amplitude, flight power and cost of transport. The model was also used to estimate the optimal flight speeds Vmr and Vmp. The model predicted that amplitude increases with load. Measurements of wingbeat amplitude did not differ significantly from the predicted values. The observed flight speed was below the predicted minimum power speed Vmp (which increases with load), and diverged further from this with progressive loading. The increase in cost of flight calculated by the model over the range of wing loadings was approximately double that which it would have been had the bats adopted the optimal approach predicted by the model. The limitations inherent in the theoretical model, and the possible constraints acting on the animals, are discussed.


The Condor ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 104 (4) ◽  
pp. 885-890 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajarathinavelu Nagarajan ◽  
Krishinamoorthy Thiyagesan ◽  
Rajagopalan Natarajan ◽  
Ramalingam Kanakasabai

Abstract We examined nestling growth patterns of the Indian Barn-Owl (Tyto alba stertens) in Tamilnadu, Southern India, with reference to body mass, body length, bill length, bill width, wing length, wingspan, tail length, tarsus length, and middle claw length. Body mass reached an asymptote of 447.0 ± 6.8 g during week 7, which was 10% higher than the adult mass. Then it significantly declined to 437.0 ± 10.9 g at fledging. At the end of week 4, the body length, bill length, bill width, tarsus length, and middle toe length had surpassed 50% of adult sizes. The wingspan and tarsus length reached almost adult size by the time of fledging. A logistic growth curve was found to be a good fit for all the growth variables and explained between 71% (wing length) and 86% (body length) of the variance. Patrones de Crecimiento en Polluelos de Tyto alba stertens Resumen. Examinamos los patrones de crecimiento de polluelos de Tyto alba stertens en Tamilnadu, sudoeste de India, en relación al peso y el largo del cuerpo, el largo y el ancho del pico, el largo del ala y su envergadura, y el largo de la cola, los tarsos y de la garra mediana. El peso corporal alcanzó una asíntota de 447.0 ± 6.8 g durante la séptima semana, el cual fue un 10% mayor que el peso de los adultos. Posteriormente, durante el período de volantones, el peso corporal disminuyó hasta 437.0 ± 10.9 g. Al final de la cuarta semana, el largo del cuerpo, el largo y el ancho del pico, y los largos del tarso y del dedo mediano habían sobrepasado el 50% de los tamaños adultos. La envergadura del ala y el largo del tarso casi alcanzaron tamaños adultos durante el período de volantones. Se encontró que una curva de crecimiento logístico se ajustó bien a todas las variables de crecimiento y explicó un 71% (largo del ala) y un 86% (largo del cuerpo) de la varianza.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 2380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfonso Castillo-Rodríguez ◽  
Wanesa Onetti-Onetti ◽  
Rui Sousa Mendes ◽  
José Luis Chinchilla-Minguet

Physical activity (PA) can bring incalculable benefits to people throughout the aging process. The objective of this study was to determine the relationships between the leg and arm strength, body composition and balance of elderly people. Twenty-one people (9 men and 12 women) over 60 years of age voluntarily participated in this study. Bioimpedance tests were carried out to obtain body mass data, manual dynamometer tests and the lower limbs test were conducted to obtain strength values, ​​and the stork balance stand test was conducted to assess static balance. As a result, medium-high correlation coefficients were obtained between the aforementioned dependent variables. The highest value corresponded to the relationship between the results of the dominant hand strength test (right hand in all participants) and the lean body mass (LBM) of the participant (R2 = 75%, p < 0.001). The results indicated that strength capacity, recorded by dynamometry, and balance ability have a direct relationship with the body composition of the subject, especially with their lean body mass. These data suggest that a greater lean body mass can provide greater strength and balance in the elderly, so it would improve or have greater duration the functionality and independence of the person, thereby justifying direct benefits in people and indirect benefits in public administrations that finance these social issues.


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