|
| |
|
|
|
|
||||
| Home Help Feedback Subscriptions Archive Search Table of Contents | ||||
Journal of Experimental Biology, Vol 200, Issue 22 2861-2870, Copyright © 1997 by Company of Biologists
JOURNAL ARTICLES |
MM Peplowski and RL Marsh
Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
It has been suggested that small frogs use a catapult mechanism to amplify muscle power production during the takeoff phase of jumping. This conclusion was based on an apparent discrepancy between the power available from the hindlimb muscles and that required during takeoff. The present study provides integrated data on muscle contractile properties, morphology and jumping performance that support this conclusion. We show here that the predicted power output during takeoff in Cuban tree frogs Osteopilus septentrionalis exceeds that available from the muscles by at least sevenfold. We consider the sartorius muscle as representative of the bulk of the hindlimb muscles of these animals, because this muscle has properties typical of other hindlimb muscles of small frogs. At 25 degrees C, this muscle has a maximum shortening velocity (Vmax) of 8.77 +/- 0.62 L0 s-1 (where L0 is the muscle length yielding maximum isometric force), a maximum isometric force (P0) of 24.1 +/- 2.3 N cm-2 and a maximum isotonic power output of 230 +/- 9.2 W kg-1 of muscle (mean +/- S.E.M.). In contrast, the power required to accelerate the animal in the longest jumps measured (approximately 1.4 m) is more than 800 W kg-1 of total hindlimb muscle. The peak instantaneous power is expected to be twice this value. These estimates are probably conservative because the muscles that probably power jumping make up only 85% of the total hindlimb muscle mass. The total mechanical work required of the muscles is high (up to 60 J kg-1), but is within the work capacities predicted for vertebrate skeletal muscle. Clearly, a substantial portion of this work must be performed and stored prior to takeoff to account for the high power output during jumping. Interestingly, muscle work output during jumping is temperature-dependent, with greater work being produced at higher temperatures. The thermal dependence of work does not follow from simple muscle properties and instead must reflect the interaction between these properties and the other components of the skeletomuscular system during the propulsive phase of the jump.
CiteULike 
Complore 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us 
Digg 
Reddit 
Technorati 
Twitter What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  S. B. Williams, J. R. Usherwood, K. Jespers, A. J. Channon, and A. M. Wilson Exploring the mechanical basis for acceleration: pelvic limb locomotor function during accelerations in racing greyhounds (Canis familiaris) J. Exp. Biol., February 15, 2009; 212(4): 550 - 565. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. S. James, C. A. Navas, and A. Herrel How important are skeletal muscle mechanics in setting limits on jumping performance? J. Exp. Biol., March 15, 2007; 210(6): 923 - 933. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. M. Deban, J. C. O'Reilly, U. Dicke, and J. L. van Leeuwen Extremely high-power tongue projection in plethodontid salamanders J. Exp. Biol., February 15, 2007; 210(4): 655 - 667. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. N Scholz, K. D'Aout, M. F Bobbert, and P. Aerts Vertical jumping performance of bonobo (Pan paniscus) suggests superior muscle properties Proc R Soc B, September 7, 2006; 273(1598): 2177 - 2184. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. K. Lappin, J. A. Monroy, J. Q. Pilarski, E. D. Zepnewski, D. J. Pierotti, and K. C. Nishikawa Storage and recovery of elastic potential energy powers ballistic prey capture in toads J. Exp. Biol., July 1, 2006; 209(13): 2535 - 2553. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
H. T. Henry, D. J. Ellerby, and R. L. Marsh Performance of guinea fowl Numida meleagris during jumping requires storage and release of elastic energy J. Exp. Biol., September 1, 2005; 208(17): 3293 - 3302. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. P. McGowan, R. V. Baudinette, J. R. Usherwood, and A. A. Biewener The mechanics of jumping versus steady hopping in yellow-footed rock wallabies J. Exp. Biol., July 15, 2005; 208(14): 2741 - 2751. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. P. McGowan, R. V. Baudinette, and A. A. Biewener Joint work and power associated with acceleration and deceleration in tammar wallabies (Macropus eugenii) J. Exp. Biol., January 1, 2005; 208(1): 41 - 53. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. J. Roberts and J. A. Scales Adjusting muscle function to demand: joint work during acceleration in wild turkeys J. Exp. Biol., November 1, 2004; 207(23): 4165 - 4174. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. M. Carroll Muscle activation and strain during suction feeding in the largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides J. Exp. Biol., February 22, 2004; 207(6): 983 - 991. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. N. Ahn, E. Furrow, and A. A. Biewener Walking and running in the red-legged running frog, Kassina maculata J. Exp. Biol., February 1, 2004; 207(3): 399 - 410. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. J. Roberts and R. L. Marsh Probing the limits to muscle-powered accelerations: lessons from jumping bullfrogs J. Exp. Biol., August 1, 2003; 206(15): 2567 - 2580. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. A. Harris and K. Steudel The relationship between maximum jumping performance and hind limb morphology/physiology in domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus) J. Exp. Biol., December 15, 2002; 205(24): 3877 - 3889. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
I. A. Johnston and G. K. Temple Thermal plasticity of skeletal muscle phenotype in ectothermic vertebrates and its significance for locomotory behaviour J. Exp. Biol., August 1, 2002; 205(15): 2305 - 2322. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. Medler Comparative trends in shortening velocity and force production in skeletal muscles Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, August 1, 2002; 283(2): R368 - R378. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
W. J. Kargo, F. Nelson, and L. C. Rome Jumping in frogs: assessing the design of the skeletal system by anatomically realistic modeling and forward dynamic simulation J. Exp. Biol., June 15, 2002; 205(12): 1683 - 1702. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. N. Askew, R. L. Marsh, and C. P. Ellington The mechanical power output of the flight muscles of blue-breasted quail (Coturnix chinensis) during take-off J. Exp. Biol., January 11, 2001; 204(21): 3601 - 3619. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. Gillis and A. Biewener Hindlimb extensor muscle function during jumping and swimming in the toad (Bufo marinus) J. Exp. Biol., January 12, 2000; 203(23): 3547 - 3563. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. Wilson, C. Franklin, and R. James Allometric scaling relationships of jumping performance in the striped marsh frog Limnodynastes peronii J. Exp. Biol., January 6, 2000; 203(12): 1937 - 1946. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. Marsh How muscles deal with real-world loads: the influence of length trajectory on muscle performance J. Exp. Biol., January 12, 1999; 202(23): 3377 - 3385. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
