|
| |
|
|
|
|
||||
| Home Help Feedback Subscriptions Archive Search Table of Contents | ||||
The mechanical power output of the flight muscles of blue-breasted quail (Coturnix chinensis) during take-off
1 Department of Zoology, Downing Street, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK and
2 Department of Biology, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
*Author for correspondence at present address: School of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK (e-mail: g.n.askew{at}leeds.ac.uk)
Accepted July 27, 2001
Blue-breasted quail (Coturnix chinensis) were filmed during take-off flights. By tracking the position of the centre of mass of the bird in three dimensions, we were able to calculate the power required to increase the potential and kinetic energy. In addition, high-speed video recordings of the position of the wings over the course of the wing stroke, and morphological measurements, allowed us to calculate the aerodynamic and inertial power requirements. The total power output required from the pectoralis muscle was, on average, 390 W kg–1, which was similar to the highest measurements made on bundles of muscle fibres in vitro (433 W kg–1), although for one individual a power output of 530 W kg–1 was calculated. The majority of the power was required to increase the potential energy of the body. The power output of these muscles is the highest yet found for any muscle in repetitive contractions.
We also calculated the power requirements during take-off flights in four other species in the family Phasianidae. Power output was found to be independent of body mass in this family. However, the precise scaling of burst power output within this group must await a better assessment of whether similar levels of performance were measured across the group. We extended our analysis to one species of hawk, several species of hummingbird and two species of bee. Remarkably, we concluded that, over a broad range of body size (0.0002–5 kg) and contractile frequency (5–186 Hz), the myofibrillar power output of flight muscles during short maximal bursts is very high (360–460 W kg–1) and shows very little scaling with body mass. The approximate constancy of power output means that the work output varies inversely with wingbeat frequency and reaches values of approximately 30–60 J kg–1 in the largest species.
Key words: blue-breasted quail, Coturnix chinensis, power output, take-off, aerodynamics.
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  A. M. Berg and A. A. Biewener Kinematics and power requirements of ascending and descending flight in the pigeon (Columba livia) J. Exp. Biol., April 1, 2008; 211(7): 1120 - 1130. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
B. W. Tobalske and A. A. Biewener Contractile properties of the pigeon supracoracoideus during different modes of flight J. Exp. Biol., January 15, 2008; 211(2): 170 - 179. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
B. W. Tobalske Biomechanics of bird flight J. Exp. Biol., September 15, 2007; 210(18): 3135 - 3146. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. Scales and M. Butler Are powerful females powerful enough? Acceleration in gravid green iguanas (Iguana iguana) Integr. Comp. Biol., August 1, 2007; 47(2): 285 - 294. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. L. Hedrick, J. R. Usherwood, and A. A. Biewener Low speed maneuvering flight of the rose-breasted cockatoo (Eolophus roseicapillus). II. Inertial and aerodynamic reorientation J. Exp. Biol., June 1, 2007; 210(11): 1912 - 1924. [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]
|
|
|
|
|
|
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]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Van Wassenbergh, P. Aerts, and A. Herrel Scaling of suction-feeding kinematics and dynamics in the African catfish, Clarias gariepinus J. Exp. Biol., June 1, 2005; 208(11): 2103 - 2114. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. M. Bishop Circulatory variables and the flight performance of birds J. Exp. Biol., May 1, 2005; 208(9): 1695 - 1708. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Soman, T. L. Hedrick, and A. A. Biewener Regional patterns of pectoralis fascicle strain in the pigeon Columba livia during level flight J. Exp. Biol., February 15, 2005; 208(4): 771 - 786. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. R. Usherwood, T. L. Hedrick, C. P. McGowan, and A. A. Biewener Dynamic pressure maps for wings and tails of pigeons in slow, flapping flight, and their energetic implications J. Exp. Biol., January 15, 2005; 208(2): 355 - 369. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. S. Tu and T. L. Daniel Submaximal power output from the dorsolongitudinal flight muscles of the hawkmoth Manduca sexta J. Exp. Biol., December 15, 2004; 207(26): 4651 - 4662. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. L. Hedrick, J. R. Usherwood, and A. A. Biewener Wing inertia and whole-body acceleration: an analysis of instantaneous aerodynamic force production in cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) flying across a range of speeds J. Exp. Biol., April 15, 2004; 207(10): 1689 - 1702. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
B. W. Tobalske, D. L. Altshuler, and D. R. Powers Take-off mechanics in hummingbirds (Trochilidae) J. Exp. Biol., March 15, 2004; 207(8): 1345 - 1352. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. J. Schilder and J. H. Marden A hierarchical analysis of the scaling of force and power production by dragonfly flight motors J. Exp. Biol., February 15, 2004; 207(5): 767 - 776. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. R. Usherwood, T. L. Hedrick, and A. A. Biewener The aerodynamics of avian take-off from direct pressure measurements in Canada geese (Branta canadensis) J. Exp. Biol., November 15, 2003; 206(22): 4051 - 4056. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. L. Hedrick, B. W. Tobalske, and A. A. Biewener How cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) modulate pectoralis power output across flight speeds J. Exp. Biol., April 15, 2003; 206(8): 1363 - 1378. [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]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. R. Usherwood and C. P. Ellington The aerodynamics of revolving wings II. Propeller force coefficients from mayfly to quail J. Exp. Biol., June 1, 2002; 205(11): 1565 - 1576. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. J. Roberts and J. A. Scales Mechanical power output during running accelerations in wild turkeys J. Exp. Biol., May 15, 2002; 205(10): 1485 - 1494. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. N. Askew and R. L. Marsh The mechanical power output of the pectoralis muscle of blue-breasted quail (Coturnix chinensis): the in vivo length cycle and its implications for muscle performance J. Exp. Biol., January 11, 2001; 204(21): 3587 - 3600. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
