Article
Biology
Frederik Puffel, Flavio Roces, David Labonte
Summary: Leaf-cutter ants are the prime herbivore in the Neotropics, and their ability to cut leaves is enabled by their remarkably high bite forces. This study found that the maximum bite force of Atta vollenweideri leaf cutter ants is directly proportional to their body mass, with the largest workers generating forces 2.5 times higher than expected. This positive allometry can be explained by biomechanical changes in the musculoskeletal bite apparatus. Additionally, smaller ants have larger mandibular opening angles, suggesting a size-dependent physiological adaptation for cutting leaves of different thicknesses. These findings highlight the adaptive value of a positively allometric bite force in enabling leaf-cutter ants to forage on a wider range of plant species without the need for extremely large workers.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Steve Wolff-Vorbeck, Olga Speck, Thomas Speck, Patrick W. Dondl
Summary: Plants have developed various body plans and concepts during biological evolution to adapt to changing environmental conditions. The trade-off between flexural and torsional rigidity can be quantified by the dimensionless twist-to-bend ratio, with different tissue structures affecting the twist-to-bend ratio. The study found that additional fiber reinforcements such as collenchyma and sclerenchyma can significantly increase the twist-to-bend ratio by impacting the flexural and torsional rigidity of plant axes.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Biology
Edwin Dickinson, Melody W. Young, David DeLeon, Burcak Bas, Bettina Zou, Aleksandra Ratkiewicz, Brian L. Beatty, Michael C. Granatosky
Summary: This study analyzed a large sample of tail feathers and found that tail-supported climbers have longer tail feathers, wider rachis base and tip, and larger cross-sectional area and maximum bending moment. However, there were no differences in the material properties of the keratin itself. These findings suggest that tail-supported arboreal climbing birds of different orders have independently adopted similar morphologies, and these morphological relationships are governed by similar functional constraints as seen in the long bones of mammalian limbs.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biology
Ilan M. Ruhr, Kayleigh A. R. Rose, William I. Sellers, Dane A. Crossley, Jonathan R. Codd
Summary: In this study, it was found that younger turtles in Chelydra serpentina flip over faster than older individuals, and they self-right with lower biomechanical costs. This may be due to the relatively longer neck of younger turtles and their faster and less costly self-righting, which help overcome the risks of inversion.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Biology
M. A. R. Koehl
Summary: Comparative biomechanics is a powerful approach for understanding the performance of mechanical functions in organisms. Field studies can reveal how different aspects of biomechanical performance are important to the success of organisms in different habitats, and can help design ecologically relevant laboratory experiments. Biomechanics can also identify how physical constraints in variable environments can affect the evolution of organisms with different body plans.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Julian Thomas, Stanislav N. Gorb, Thies H. Buescher
Summary: Stick and leaf insects, as herbivores, attach and walk on a variety of plant substrates. The attachment forces of these insects are influenced by surface free energy and water presence, with species and adhesive microstructures adapting differently to surface properties.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Simon Poppinga, Noah Knorr, Sebastian Ruppert, Thomas Speck
Summary: A recent discovery reveals that the stalked glands of carnivorous rainbow plants are capable of slow movement responses to chemical stimuli, aiding in the capture and digestion of prey. The movement is determined by the components of the stalk cell wall and the orientation of cellulose microfibrils, and it is temperature-dependent. Although stimulated and dried stalked glands can regain their shape through rehydration, they are unable to produce adhesive glue. Further research is required to explore the ecological characteristics of the rainbow plant's trapping system.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Camilo Lopez-Aguirre, Laura A. B. Wilson, Daisuke Koyabu, Vuong Tan Tu, Suzanne J. Hand
Summary: This study investigated the humeral shape and biomechanical variation in relation to different foraging and roosting behaviors in bats. The results revealed a strong ecological signal and lack of phylogenetic structuring in humeral phenotypes. Terrestrial locomoting and upstand roosting species exhibited unique patterns of shape and biomechanical variation.
ANATOMICAL RECORD-ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Lei Tian, Hui Zhang, Li-Li Guo, Xiao Qin, Di Zhang, Lin Li, Ying Wu, Ying Jie, Haixia Zhang
Summary: In the later stages of keratoconus, the relationship between the three typical landmark distance parameters and DCR parameters is stronger, and even the weakening of corneal biomechanical properties may be accompanied by the merger of typical landmark positions.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biology
James Charles, Roger Kissane, Tatjana Hoehfurtner, Karl T. Bates
Summary: The size and arrangement of muscle fibers play a crucial role in their kinetic and energetic performance. However, previous studies have relied on a small number of fiber measurements to quantify muscle architectural properties, leading to potentially large errors. This study addresses this issue by combining medical imaging, statistical analysis, and computer simulation, and demonstrates the significant impact of errors in fiber architecture characterization on the prediction of in-vivo dynamics and muscle function, as well as the assessment of muscle specialization across species. These findings have important implications for a wide range of research fields.
BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Biology
Sam Van Wassenbergh, Tim Andries, Evy Pauly, Anick Abourachid
Summary: The beaks of black woodpeckers can retract quickly after impact through a two-phase pattern of rotation and head lift. These consecutive actions facilitate the retraction of the beak and are of significant importance for black woodpeckers adapted to deliver forceful impacts.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Frederike Klimm, Stefanie Schmier, Holger F. Bohn, Svenja Kleiser, Marc Thielen, Thomas Speck
Summary: The climbing plant Passiflora discophora features energy-dissipating tendrils with multiple adhesive pads that securely attach to various substrates. The size of the tendrils and the attachment strength vary depending on the substrate and ontogenetic state. Senescent tendrils can still bear a significant amount of force, providing long-lasting attachment at minimal physiological costs. The adhesive pads and the spring-like main axis create a fail-safe attachment system by dissipating energy and adapting to different substrates.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Lucia Aidos, Silvia Clotilde Modina, Valentina Rafaela Herrera Millar, Giuseppe Maria Peretti, Laura Mangiavini, Marco Ferroni, Federica Boschetti, Alessia Di Giancamillo
Summary: This study aimed to analyze the morphological, structural, biochemical, and mechanical changes of the Extracellular Matrix (ECM) during meniscus development. The study collected fully developed menisci (FD), partially developed menisci (PD), and undeveloped menisci (ND) from pigs of different ages. The cellularity and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) deposition were evaluated, along with the analysis of Collagen 1 and aggrecan through immunohistochemistry and Western blot. The results showed clear morphological and biomechanical changes in the swine meniscus, indicating the maturation and specialization of the meniscus during growth.
BIOENGINEERING-BASEL
(2022)
Article
Biology
J. N. Leijnse, C. W. Spoor, P. Pullens, E. E. Vereecke
Summary: The study analyzed from a biomechanical perspective whether finger flexors can play a role in buffering impacts in knuckle walking of chimpanzees. The results showed that finger flexors are not elongated to lengths where passive strain forces would absorb impact energy, and buffering impacts by large flexion moments at the MCPJs would result in impacts at the knuckles themselves, which is dysfunctional and does not occur in real knuckle walking.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Horticulture
R. Sudha, M. K. Rajesh, V. Niral, K. Samsudeen, Sandip Shil, S. Ramchander, Y. Diwakar
Summary: A study on the genetic diversity and population structure of 16 coconut accessions from the International Coconut Genebank for South Asia and the Middle East (ICG-SAME) in India revealed high genetic diversity. The analysis used 35 SSR loci and found that the accessions exhibited different numbers of alleles, indicating potential for marker-assisted selection in coconut.
SCIENTIA HORTICULTURAE
(2023)
Article
Sport Sciences
Antony Costes, Nicolas A. Turpin, David Villeger, Pierre Moretto, Bruno Watier
JOURNAL OF SPORTS SCIENCES
(2018)
Article
Entomology
E. Csata, J. Billen, A. Bernadou, J. Heinze, B. Marko
Article
Neurosciences
Guillaume Fumery, Hugo Merienne, Vincent Fourcassie, Pierre Moretto
HUMAN MOVEMENT SCIENCE
(2019)
Article
Entomology
Clara Hartmann, Juergen Heinze, Abel Bernadou
JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Biology
Abel Bernadou, Elisabeth Hoffacker, Julia Pable, Juergen Heinze
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Biology
Hugo Merienne, Gerard Latil, Pierre Moretto, Vincent Fourcassie
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Biology
Tamara Pokorny, Lisa-Marie Sieber, John E. Hofferberth, Abel Bernadou, Joachim Ruther
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Entomology
Clara Hartmann, Julia Haschlar, Juergen Heinze, Abel Bernadou
JOURNAL OF INSECT BEHAVIOR
(2020)
Article
Biology
Judith Korb, Karen Meusemann, Denise Aumer, Abel Bernadou, Daniel Elsner, Barbara Feldmeyer, Susanne Foitzik, Juergen Heinze, Romain Libbrecht, Silu Lin, Megha Majoe, Jose Manuel Monroy Kuhn, Volker Nehring, Matteo A. Negroni, Robert J. Paxton, Alice C. Seguret, Marah Stoldt, Thomas Flatt
Summary: By comparing gene expression patterns between young and old castes in different lineages of social insects, the study reveals the important role of the insulin/insulin-like growth factor 1 signalling (IIS)/target of rapamycin (TOR)/juvenile hormone (JH) network in ageing and caste-specific physiology of social insects.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biology
Boris H. Kramer, Volker Nehring, Anja Buttstedt, Jurgen Heinze, Judith Korb, Romain Libbrecht, Karen Meusemann, Robert J. Paxton, Alice Seguret, Florentine Schaub, Abel Bernadou
Summary: The study examined the impact of oxidative damage to proteins on social insects, finding that oxidative stress plays a significant role in senescence, with differences in oxidative stress manifestation and antioxidant defenses among species. Understanding these variations in response to oxidative stress across social species may provide insights into the relationships between oxidative stress, antioxidants, social life history, and senescence.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Abel Bernadou, Boris H. Kramer, Judith Korb
Summary: The sterility of worker ants is a key criterion in determining if a species has undergone a major evolutionary transition. Division of labor among cooperating units plays a significant role in favoring the evolution of such transitions, and specialization due to division of labor reshapes life history trade-offs among cooperating units.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nour Sghaier, Guillaume Fumery, Vincent Fourcassie, Nicolas A. Turpin, Pierre Moretto
Summary: This study aims to investigate the impact of adding a cognitive task on individual and collective performances during load transport. The findings show that the overall performance of dyads decreased when performing the load transport combined with a precision task, but the upper-limbs joint moments were better balanced.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jan J. Kreider, Thijs Janzen, Abel Bernadou, Daniel Elsner, Boris H. Kramer, Franz J. Weissing
Summary: This article demonstrates through a theoretical model that division of labour can emerge spontaneously within a group of entirely identical individuals. The authors show that if returning foragers share part of their resources with other group members, division of labour will emerge spontaneously and nutritional differences between individuals can reinforce division of labour.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Entomology
L. Pedraza, J. Heinze, A. Dussutour, A. Bernadou
Summary: Laboratory studies on insects face challenges of maintaining them under artificial conditions and limited spaces. We developed a new setup using a sponge and plaster to provide water source for ants. The setup worked well for different ant species in various conditions, reducing costs and preventing drowning.
Article
Biology
Eniko Csata, Luca Pietro Casacci, Joachim Ruther, Abel Bernadou, Juergen Heinze, Balint Marko
Summary: The application of alkane tricosane (n-C23) reduces aggression towards non-nestmates in ants, indicating a pacifying signal in ant nestmate discrimination in parasitic interferences. Parasites often interfere with the behavior of their hosts, leading to changes at both individual and societal levels. The ant-parasitic fungus Rickia wasmannii influences Myrmica ants by expanding their nestmate recognition template, increasing the acceptance of infected non-nestmates. Infected ants consistently show an increase in alkane tricosane (n-C23) in their cuticular hydrocarbon profiles. Experimental application of synthetic n-C23 mimicking fungal infection resulted in peaceful behavior towards infected non-nestmates, supporting the hypothesis that n-C23 acts as a 'pacifying' signal. This study suggests that parasitic interference in nestmate discrimination can alter colony structure by increasing genetic heterogeneity in infected colonies.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)