Robust jumping performance and elastic energy recovery from compliant perches in tree frogs

Astley, Henry C.; Haruta, Alison; Roberts, Thomas J.

doi:10.1242/jeb.121715

Cited by 34 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Overall, larger and heavier frogs tend to have better locomotor performance, and heavy body mass is not disadvantageous, even when taking into account leg length (Emerson 1978;Semlitsch et al 1999;Ficetola & De Bernardi 2006). However, arboreal frogs often move on small branches, which may deform substantially under heavy loads (Astley et al 2015). There-fore, a limited body mass likely improves the possibility of movement in the tree canopy.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Length–mass allometries in amphibians

Santini

Benítez‐López

Ficetola

et al. 2018

Integrative Zoology

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Body mass is rarely recorded in amphibians, and other body measurements (e.g. snout to vent length, SVL) are generally collected instead. However, length measurements, when used as proxies of body mass in comparative analyses, are problematic if different taxa and morphotypes are included. We developed allometric relationships to derive body mass from SVL measurements. We fitted phylogenetic generalized least square models for frogs (Anura) and salamanders (Caudata) and for several families separately. We tested whether allometric relationships differed between species with different habitat preferences and between morphs in salamanders. Models were fitted with SVL-mass measurements for 88 frog and 42 salamander species. We assessed the predictive performance of the models by cross-validation. Overall, the models showed high explained variance and low forecasting errors. Models differed among semi-aquatic, terrestrial and arboreal frogs, and between paedomorphic and non-paedomorphic salamanders. Body mass estimates derived from our models allow for comparability of studies on multiple taxa and can be used for testing theories built upon evolutionary and ecological processes which are directly related to body mass.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Length–mass allometries in amphibians

Santini

Benítez‐López

Ficetola

et al. 2018

Integrative Zoology

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“…Turning specifically to frogs (Amphibia; Anura), there is extensive work on the biomechanics of frog jumping (e.g. Astley and Roberts, 2014;Astley et al, 2015), but much less on climbing, the speciality of tree frogs. However, two papers are of particular interest (Manzano et al, 2008;Herrel et al, 2013), as they provide strong evidence that the forelimbs of at least some tree frog species can generate gripping forces.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The biomechanics of tree frogs climbing curved surfaces: a gripping problem

Hill

Dong

Barnes

et al. 2018

Journal of Experimental Biology

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The adhesive mechanisms of climbing animals have become an important research topic because of their biomimetic implications. We examined the climbing abilities of hylid tree frogs on vertical cylinders of differing diameter and surface roughness to investigate the relative roles of adduction forces (gripping) and adhesion. Tree frogs adhere using their toe pads and subarticular tubercles, the adhesive joint being fluid-filled. Our hypothesis was that on an effectively flat surface (adduction forces on the largest 120 mm diameter cylinder were insufficient to allow climbing), adhesion would effectively be the only means by which tree frogs could climb, but on the 44 and 13 mm diameter cylinders, frogs could additionally utilise adduction forces by gripping the cylinder either with their limbs outstretched or by grasping around the cylinder with their digits, respectively. The frogs' performance would also depend on whether the surfaces were smooth (easy to adhere to) or rough (relatively non-adhesive). Our findings showed that climbing performance was highest on the narrowest smooth cylinder. Frogs climbed faster, frequently using a 'walking trot' gait rather than the 'lateral sequence walk' used on other cylinders. Using an optical technique to visualise substrate contact during climbing on smooth surfaces, we also observed an increasing engagement of the subarticular tubercles on the narrower cylinders. Finally, on the rough substrate, frogs were unable to climb the largest diameter cylinder, but were able to climb the narrowest one slowly. These results support our hypotheses and have relevance for the design of climbing robots.

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“…Different exercises have distinctive mechanical requirements (Ebben et al, 2011) with specific effects over the skeletal tissue (Frost, 1994;Sharma & Maffulli, 2005;Ebben et al, 2011). The saltatory locomotion mode of anurans is one of the most challenging among tetrapods, due to the mechanical stress raised (Lutz & Rome, 1994;Peplowski & Marsh, 1997;Bennet, 2001;Nauwelaerts, Stamhuis & Aerts, 2005;Přikryl et al, 2009;Astley et al, 2013Astley et al, , 2015Astley & Roberts 2012. Although jumping is the dominant locomotion mode in anurans (Přikryl et al, 2009), hopping, swimming and/or walking are also present (Emerson, PeerJ reviewing PDF | (2017:10:21173:2:1:NEW 6 Aug 2018)…”

Section: Manuscript To Be Reviewedmentioning

confidence: 99%

Peer Review #1 of "Movement and joints: effects of overuse on anuran knee tissues (v0.1)"

2018

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Movement plays a main role in the correct development of joint tissues. In tetrapods, changes in normal movements produce alterations of such tissues during the ontogeny and in adult stages. The knee-joint is ideal for observing the influence of movement disorders, due to biomechanical properties of its components, which are involved in load transmission. We analyze the reaction of knee tissues under extreme exercise in juveniles and adults of five species of anurans with different locomotion modes. We use anurans as the case study because they undergo great mechanical stress during locomotion. We predicted that a) knee tissues subjected to overuse will suffer a structural disorganization process; b) adults will experience deeper morphological changes than juveniles; and c) morphological changes will be higher in jumpers compared to walkers. To address these questions, we stimulated specimens on a treadmill belt during two months. We performed histological analyses of the knee of both treated and control specimens. As we expected, overuse caused structural changes in knee tissues. These alterations were gradual and higher in adults, and similar between jumpers and walkers species. This study represents a first approach to the understanding of the dynamics of anuran knee tissues during the ontogeny, and in relation to locomotion. Interestingly, the alterations found were similar to those observed in anurans subjected to reduced mobility and also to those described in joint diseases (i.e., osteoarthritis and tendinosis) in mammals, suggesting that among tetrapods, changes in movement generate similar responses in the tissues involved.

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Robust jumping performance and elastic energy recovery from compliant perches in tree frogs

Cited by 34 publications

References 10 publications

Length–mass allometries in amphibians

Length–mass allometries in amphibians

The biomechanics of tree frogs climbing curved surfaces: a gripping problem

Peer Review #1 of "Movement and joints: effects of overuse on anuran knee tissues (v0.1)"

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