Diversity of Terrestrial Locomotor Design: Mechanics and Energetics

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The general objective of the proposed research is to determine the limits of performance during non-steady state, intermittent activity in order to reveal general principles of organismal design. Our objective will be accomplished by exploiting the enormous variation in the way animals are built for legged terrestrial locomotion. Energy, oxygen transport and musculo- skeletal systems have been well studied during steady-state, constant speed locomotion, but these systems must also function under non-steady state, transient conditions. We propose to test whether or not performance limits established under steady-state exercise is conducted intermittently. We will determine the extent to which endurance during intermittent locomotion in arthropods is dependent on exercise period duration, pause period duration, the ratio of exercise to pause duration, and the speed during the exercise period. We will also test whether or not the cost of intermittent locomotion, both per time and per distance, is more expensive than continuous locomotion at the same average speed when both aerobic and anaerobic sources are considered. Finally, we will determine the physiological correlates of intermittent exercise performance. We will both measure and model correlates of fatigue causing agents that accumulate during exercise periods, but are removed, reduced or cleared during the pause periods and fatigue causing agents that accumulate during the pause periods. The proposed research on intermittent locomotion attempts to advance the previous paradigm based on steady-state locomotion and takes the next step logical to the development of a general theory of activity.