Multi-jet propulsion organized by clonal development in a colonial siphonophore.
Multi-jet propulsion organized by clonal development in a colonial siphonophore.
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DOI：
10.1038/ncomms9158
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发表时间：
2015-09-01
影响因子：
16.6
通讯作者：
Sutherland KR
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Costello JH;Colin SP;Gemmell BJ;Dabiri JO;Sutherland KR
管水母是一种群体刺胞动物，是许多浅海和海洋生态系统中普遍存在的捕食者。Physonect使用多个克隆水母个体，称为nectophores，以推动聚合群体。在这里，我们表明，physonect Nanomia bijuga的克隆nectophores之间的发育差异产生的推力和扭矩生产，控制方向和幅度的整个殖民地游泳的劳动分工。尽管较小且力量较弱，但年轻的亲核体位于亲核体顶端附近的位置使它们能够主导转动的扭矩产生，而靠近亲核体底部的年龄较大、更强大的个体主要有助于向前推力的产生。我们所描述的模式提供了深入了解生态上重要的和广泛的殖民动物群体的生物力学的成功，但更广泛地说，提供了一个自然的解决方案，多引擎组织，可能有助于扩大领域的水下分布式推进车辆设计的基本物理理解。Physonect管水母是一种高度移动的水母，具有复杂的群体组织。在这里，Costello等人表明，发育阶段之间的劳动分工控制着殖民地的方向和推进力，年长的个体提供推力，年轻的个体提供扭矩。
Physonect siphonophores are colonial cnidarians that are pervasive predators in many neritic and oceanic ecosystems. Physonects employ multiple, clonal medusan individuals, termed nectophores, to propel an aggregate colony. Here we show that developmental differences between clonal nectophores of the physonect Nanomia bijuga produce a division of labour in thrust and torque production that controls direction and magnitude of whole-colony swimming. Although smaller and less powerful, the position of young nectophores near the apex of the nectosome allows them to dominate torque production for turning, whereas older, larger and more powerful individuals near the base of the nectosome contribute predominantly to forward thrust production. The patterns we describe offer insight into the biomechanical success of an ecologically important and widespread colonial animal group, but, more broadly, provide basic physical understanding of a natural solution to multi-engine organization that may contribute to the expanding field of underwater-distributed propulsion vehicle design. Physonect siphonophores are highly mobile jellyfish with complex colonial organization. Here, Costello et al. show that division of labour among developmental stages controls the direction and propulsion of the colony, with older individuals providing thrust and younger individuals providing torque.