Swimming mechanics and propulsive efficiency in the chambered nautilus.

ABSTRACT: The chambered nautilus (Nautilus pompilius) encounters severe environmental hypoxia during diurnal vertical movements in the ocean. The metabolic cost of locomotion (C_met) and swimming performance depend on how efficiently momentum is imparted to the water and how long on-board oxygen stores last. While propulsive efficiency is generally thought to be relatively low in jet propelled animals, the low C_met in Nautilus indicates that this is not the case. We measured the wake structure in Nautilus during jet propulsion swimming, to determine their propulsive efficiency. Animals swam with either an anterior-first or posterior-first orientation. With increasing swimming speed, whole cycle propulsive efficiency increased during posterior-f

SUBMITTER: Neil TR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5830708 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature