Hydrodynamics of the escape response in bluegill sunfish, Lepomis macrochirus.

ABSTRACT: Escape responses of fishes are one of the best characterized vertebrate behaviors, with extensive previous research on both the neural control and biomechanics of startle response performance. However, very little is known about the hydrodynamics of escape responses, despite the fact that understanding fluid flow patterns during the escape is critical for evaluating how body movement transfers power to the fluid, for defining the time course of power generation, and for characterizing the wake signature left by escaping fishes, which may provide information to predators. In this paper, we present an experimental hydrodynamic analysis of the C-start escape response in bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus). We used time-resolved digital particle image velocimetry at 1000 frames s(-1) (fps)

SUBMITTER: Tytell ED 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2669901 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature