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Journal of Experimental Biology 134,313-332 (1988)
Published by Company of Biologists 1988

Mechanics of Jet Propulsion in the Hydromedusan Jellyfish, Polyorchis Pexicillatus : I. Mechanical Properties of the Locomotor Structure

M. EDWIN DEMONT ¹ and JOHN M. GOSLINE ²

¹ Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 2A9 and Bamfield Marine Station, Bamfield, BC, Canada; Department of Pure and Applied Zoology, Baines Wing, The University of Leeds, Leeds, England, LS2 9JT
² Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 2A9 and Bamfield Marine Station, Bamfield, BC, Canada

A non-destructive test was developed to measure the static mechanical properties of the locomotor structure (bell) in the hydromedusan jellyfish, Polyorchis penicillatus (Eschscholtz, 1829). A nonlinear stress-strain relationship was found, and the mean static structural stiffness of the bell was 150 N m^-2. Visualization procedures that showed the natural changes in the geometry of the deformation of the bell were used to calculate the static modulus of elasticity of the mesoglea, and gave a modulus of 400 N m^-2. Dynamic measurements on isolated samples of mesoglea gave a mean storage modulus of 1000 N m^-2. The resilience of the material was about 58%. These data were integrated to imply that the dynamic structural stiffness of the bell is at least 400 N m^-2. Attempts to measure the dynamic structural stiffness directly indicate that the dynamic stiffness of the intact bell lies between 400 and 1000 N m^-2. All, or most, of the potential energy stored in the mesoglea during contractions of the bell is stored as strain energy in the radial mesogleal fibres.

Key words: mesoglea, mechanical properties, propulsion.

Accepted on July 21, 1987

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