Biomechanics and physiology of gait selection in flying birds
- PMID:11121347
- DOI: 10.1086/318107
Biomechanics and physiology of gait selection in flying birds
Abstract
Two wing-beat gaits, distinguished by the presence or absence of lift production during the upstroke, are currently used to describe avian flight. Vortex-visualization studies indicate that lift is produced only during the downstroke in the vortex-ring gait and that lift is produced continuously in the continuous-vortex gait. Tip-reversal and feathered upstrokes represent different forms of vortex-ring gait distinguished by wing kinematics. Useful aerodynamic forces may be produced during tip-reversal upstroke in slow flight and during a feathered upstroke in fast flight, but it is probable that downstroke forces are much greater in magnitude. Uncertainty about the function of these types of upstroke may be resolved when more data are available on wake structure in different flight speeds and modes. Inferring from wing kinematics and available data on wake structure, birds with long wings or wings of high aspect ratio use a vortex-ring gait with tip-reversal upstroke at slow speeds, a vortex-ring gait with a feathered upstroke at intermediate speeds, and a continuous-vortex gait at fast speeds. Birds with short wings or wings of low aspect ratio use a vortex-ring gait with a feathered upstroke at all speeds. Regardless of wing shape, species tend to use a vortex-ring gait for acceleration and a continuous-vortex gait for deceleration. Some correlations may exist between gait selection and the function of the muscular and respiratory system. However, overall variation in wing kinematics, muscle activity, and respiratory activity is continuous rather than categorical. To further our understanding of gait selection in flying birds, it is important to test whether upstroke function varies in a similar manner. Transitions between lifting and nonlifting upstrokes may be more subtle and gradual than implied by a binomial scheme of classification.
Similar articles
- Wing beat kinematics of a nectar-feeding bat, Glossophaga soricina, flying at different flight speeds and Strouhal numbers.Lindhe Norberg UM, Winter Y.Lindhe Norberg UM, et al.J Exp Biol. 2006 Oct;209(Pt 19):3887-97. doi: 10.1242/jeb.02446.J Exp Biol. 2006.PMID:16985205
- Dynamics of the vortex wakes of flying and swimming vertebrates.Rayner JM.Rayner JM.Symp Soc Exp Biol. 1995;49:131-55.Symp Soc Exp Biol. 1995.PMID:8571221Review.
- Estimates of circulation and gait change based on a three-dimensional kinematic analysis of flight in cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) and ringed turtle-doves (Streptopelia risoria).Hedrick TL, Tobalske BW, Biewener AA.Hedrick TL, et al.J Exp Biol. 2002 May;205(Pt 10):1389-409. doi: 10.1242/jeb.205.10.1389.J Exp Biol. 2002.PMID:11976351
- Aerodynamics of tip-reversal upstroke in a revolving pigeon wing.Crandell KE, Tobalske BW.Crandell KE, et al.J Exp Biol. 2011 Jun 1;214(Pt 11):1867-73. doi: 10.1242/jeb.051342.J Exp Biol. 2011.PMID:21562173
- Hovering and intermittent flight in birds.Tobalske BW.Tobalske BW.Bioinspir Biomim. 2010 Dec;5(4):045004. doi: 10.1088/1748-3182/5/4/045004. Epub 2010 Nov 24.Bioinspir Biomim. 2010.PMID:21098953Review.
Cited by
- Costs of diving by wing and foot propulsion in a sea duck, the white-winged scoter.Richman SE, Lovvorn JR.Richman SE, et al.J Comp Physiol B. 2008 Mar;178(3):321-32. doi: 10.1007/s00360-007-0225-9. Epub 2007 Dec 7.J Comp Physiol B. 2008.PMID:18064469
- Birds invest wingbeats to keep a steady head and reap the ultimate benefits of flying together.Taylor LA, Taylor GK, Lambert B, Walker JA, Biro D, Portugal SJ.Taylor LA, et al.PLoS Biol. 2019 Jun 18;17(6):e3000299. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000299. eCollection 2019 Jun.PLoS Biol. 2019.PMID:31211769Free PMC article.
- Reduction of wing area affects estimated stress in the primary flight muscles of chickens.Hong GAT, Tobalske BW, van Staaveren N, Leishman EM, Widowski TM, Powers DR, Harlander-Matauschek A.Hong GAT, et al.R Soc Open Sci. 2023 Nov 29;10(11):230817. doi: 10.1098/rsos.230817. eCollection 2023 Nov.R Soc Open Sci. 2023.PMID:38034124Free PMC article.
- Gait change in tongue movement.Derrick D, Gick B.Derrick D, et al.Sci Rep. 2021 Aug 16;11(1):16565. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-96139-4.Sci Rep. 2021.PMID:34400732Free PMC article.
- Experimental Investigation of Aerodynamics of Feather-Covered Flapping Wing.Yang W, Song B.Yang W, et al.Appl Bionics Biomech. 2017;2017:3019640. doi: 10.1155/2017/3019640. Epub 2017 Dec 21.Appl Bionics Biomech. 2017.PMID:29527117Free PMC article.
Publication types
MeSH terms
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources