QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s):
Home     Help     Feedback     Subscriptions     Archive     Search     Table of Contents

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by CHASSERAT, C. Articles by CLARAC, F. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by CHASSERAT, C. Articles by CLARAC, F.

Journal of Experimental Biology 107,219-243 (1983)
Published by Company of Biologists 1983

Quantitative Analysis of Walking in a Decapod Crustacean, the Rock Lobster Jasus Lalandii: II. Spatial and Temporal Regulation of Stepping in Driven Walking

C. CHASSERAT ¹ and F. CLARAC ¹

¹ Laboratoire de Neurobiologie Comparée Place du Dr Peyneau, 33120 Arcachon, France

Spatial and temporal stepping parameters have been studied in a rocklobster walking on a treadmill moving at a wide range of speeds. The stride and the return stroke (RS) duration remain more or less stable and independent of the belt speed. Nevertheless, these ‘invariant’ parameters can act as spatial and temporal buffers resulting in a very precise adjustment of individual steps.

A careful study of the power stroke (PS) duration demonstrates that the rock-lobster, although constrained to walk at an imposed belt speed, continues to correct its leg speed over a narrow range when the speed is considerably different from its natural one. Ipsilateral phases are always speed dependent, with an interleg ascending delay that is almost constant. The contralateral phase between legs of the same pair is approximately constant.

Some of the parameters described are greatly influenced by gradual or abrupt variations in the belt speed. For a given speed, there is no absolute significance in the step period and ipsilateral phase. At very slow speeds, the interleg relations are significantly changed and have been studied separately. The metachrony observed at other speeds is discussed in relation to data from other arthropods.

Key words: Locomotion, Crustacea, kinetics

Submitted on January 19, 1983
Accepted on May 19, 1983

This article has been cited by other articles:

				N Copp and M Jamon Kinematics of rotation in place during defense turning in the crayfish Procambarus clarkii J. Exp. Biol., January 2, 2001; 204(3): 471 - 486. [Abstract] [PDF]