Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

SS15 Biomechanics: Making the Connection Between Physics and Biology at the Organismal Level (Disciplinary Connections)

Date: Wednesday, February 14, 2001, Time: 3:00:00 PM

Location: Mesilla

Costello, J, H, Biology Dept., Providence College, Providence, RI. 02918, USA, costello@providence.edu

Colin, S, P, Dept. of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut, Groton, CT. 06340, USA, sean.p.colin@uconn.edu

BIOMECHANICAL CONSTRAINTS ON SWIMMING BELL SIZE, SHAPE AND FUNCTION IN CNIDARIAN MEDUSAE.

Cnidarian medusae comprise an ancient metazoan lineage characterized by a wide diversity of body morphologies. However, underlying this morphological diversity, all medusae share elements of the Cnidarian body plan. In particular, swimming by medusae is powered by subumbrellar bands formed from epitheliomuscular cells. A simple model comparing force generation by these muscle groups with the requirements of jet propulsion indicates that structure and position of the muscles strongly constrain medusan size, shape and propulsive abilities. In turn, these constraints affect foraging options available to medusae. A biometric survey of bell size and shape among medusan taxa provides insight into the means by which cnidarians have adapted to these constraints.

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Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

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