Muscle-controlled physics simulations of bird locomotion resolve the grounded running paradox.

ABSTRACT: Humans and birds use very different running styles. Unlike humans, birds adopt "grounded running" at intermediate speeds-a running gait where at least one foot always maintains ground contact. Avian grounded running is a paradox: Animals usually minimize locomotor energy expenditure, but birds prefer grounded running despite incurring higher energy costs. Using predictive gait simulations of the emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae), we resolve this paradox by demonstrating that grounded running represents an optimal gait for birds, from both energetics and muscle excitations perspectives. Our virtual experiments decoupled effects of posture and tendon elasticity, biomechanically relevant anatomical features that cannot be isolated in real birds. The avian body plan prevents (near) vertica

SUBMITTER: van Bijlert PA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11423892 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature