Animal Locomotion

Andrew A. Biewener

Oxford University Press, Jun 19, 2003 - Science - 281 pages

This book provides a clear foundation, based on physical biology and biomechanics, for understanding the underlying mechanisms by which animals have evolved to move in their physical environment. It integrates the biomechanics of animal movement with the physiology of animal energetics and the neural control of locomotion. The author also communicates a sense of the awe and fascination that comes from watching the grace, speed, and power of animals in motion.
Movement is a fundamental distinguishing feature of animal life, and a variety of extremely effective mechanical and physiological designs have evolved. Common themes are observed for the ways in which animals successfully contend with the properties of a given physical environment across diversity of life forms and varying locomotor modes. Understanding the common principles of design that span a diverse array of animals requires a broad comparative and integrative approach to their study. This theme persists throughout the book, as various modes and mechanisms of animal locomotion are covered. Since an animal's size is equally critical to its functional design, the effects of scale on locomotor energetics and mechanics are also discussed.
Biewener begins by examining the underlying machinery for movement: skeletal muscles used for force generation, skeletons used for force transmission, and spring-like elements used for energy savings. He then describes the basic mechanisms that animals have evolved to move over land, in and on the surface of the water, and in the air. Common fluid dynamic principles are discussed as background to both swimming and flight. In addition to discussing the locomotor mechanisms of complex animals, the locomotor movement of single cells is also covered. Common biochemical features of cellular metabolism are then reviewed before discussing the energetic aspects of various locomotor modes. Strategies for conserving energy and moving economically are again highlighted in this section of the book. Emphasis is placed on comparisons of energetic features across locomotor modes. The book concludes with a discussion of the neural control of animal locomotion. The basic neurosensory and motor elements common to vertebrates and arthropods are discussed, and features of sensori-motor organization and function are highlighted. These are then examined in the context of specific examples of how animals control the rhythmic patterns of limb and body movement that underlie locomotor function and stability.

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User Review -

I used it to obtain a better understanding of the biomechanics of quadruped (and biped) gait. With just a little physics, the author explains why quadrupeds (i.e. horses) change gait when changing speed (i.e. from walk to trot to gallop).

Contents

• Physical and biological properties and principles related to animal movement: 1
• 12 Environmental media: 2
• 13 Physics and energetics of movement: 4
• 14 Biomechanics of locomotor support: 5
• the importance of size: 10
• 16 Dimensions and units: 14
• Muscles and skeletons the building blocks of animal movement: 15
• 22 Skeletons: 38
• 23 Summary: 45
• Movement on land: 46
• support and swing phases: 47
• interaction of limb posture and ground reaction force: 51
• 34 Locomotor gaits: 54
• 35 Maneuverability versus stability: 58
• 36 Stride frequency and stride length versus speed and size: 61
• 37 Massspring properties of running: 64
• 38 Froude number and dynamic similarity: 65
• 39 Inferring gait and speed of fossil animals: 66
• potential and kinetic energy changes during locomotion: 67
• 311 Muscle work versus force economy: 70
• 312 Tendon springs and muscle dampers: 71
• 313 Summary: 76
• Movement in water: 78
• 42 Inertia viscosity and Reynolds number: 79
• drag and streamlines: 82
• movement at high Reynolds number: 85
• 45 Jetbased fluid propulsion: 95
• the reversibility of flow: 96
• surface swimming striding and sailing: 101
• 48 Muscle function and force transmission in swimming: 106
• 49 Summary: 110
• Movement in air: 111
• 51 Lift drag and thrust in flight: 112
• 52 Power requirements for steady flight: 118
• 53 Gliding flight: 121
• 54 Flapping flight: 126
• 55 Flight motors and wing anatomy: 134
• 56 Maneuvering during flight: 144
• 57 Unsteady mechanisms: 146
• 58 Summary: 150
• Cell crawling: 151
• 61 Organization of the cytoskeleton in animal cells: 152
• formation of lamellipodia and pseudopodia for traction and locomotor work: 155
• 63 Dynamics of actin nucleation polymerization and degradation: 156
• 64 Cytoskeletal mechanisms of cell movement: 159
• 65 Cellsurface receptors mediate sensorilocomotor behavior of unicellular organisms: 161
• Jumping climbing and suspensory locomotion: 163
• generating mechanical power: 164
• 72 Scaling of jump performance: 167
• 73 Other mechanisms for increasing jump distance: 172
• 74 Other morphological adaptations for jumping: 179
• 76 Climbing: 180
• 77 Suspensory locomotion at larger size: 184
• 78 Summary: 185
• Metabolic pathways for fueling locomotion: 187
• oxygen consumption: 189
• anaerobic metabolism: 190
• citric acid cycle and cytochrome oxidative phosphorylation: 192
• respirometry measurements of oxygen consumption or carbon dioxide production: 195
• 86 Sources and time course of energy usage during exercise: 196
• 87 Endurance and fatigue: 202
• 88 Intermittent exercise: 203
• 89 Other adaptations for increased aerobic capacity: 205
• 810 Summary: 206
• Energy cost of locomotion: 207
• 92 Energy cost versus body size: 214
• 93 Ectothermic versus endothermic energy patterns: 220
• 94 Energy cost of incline running: 221
• 95 Cost of swimming: 223
• 96 Cost of flight: 224
• 97 Locomotor costs compared: 226
• 98 Summary: 229
• Neuromuscular control of movement: 230
• 101 Sensory elements: 231
• 102 Sensorimotor integration via local reflex pathways: 237
• force speed and endurance: 245
• a basic feature of sensorimotor neural circuits: 253
• the role of central pattern generators: 254
• 106 Two case studies of motor control: 258
• 107 Summary: 262
• References: 264
• Index: 279

About the author

Professor Andrew A. Biewener Concord Field Station, MCZ Harvard University Old Causeway Road Bedford, MA 01730 001 781-275-1725 x13 001 781-275-9613 [e-mail] Charles P. Lyman Professor of Biology, Harvard University Editor, Journal of Experimental Biology; editorial boards of Journal of Morphology; Physiological Biochemistry and Zoology and Journal of Experimental Zoology; (currently: past-President, American Society of Biomechanics)

Bibliographic information

• Title: Animal Locomotion; Oxford Animal Biology Series
• Author: Andrew A. Biewener
• Edition: illustrated, reprint
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2003
• ISBN: 019850022X, 9780198500223
• Length: 281 pages
• Subjects: Language Arts & Disciplines / Linguistics / General; Science / Life Sciences / Anatomy & Physiology; Science / Life Sciences / Zoology / General; Social Science / Anthropology / Physical