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Zoology (Jena, Germany)2007; 110(4); 271-289; doi: 10.1016/j.zool.2007.01.003

Posture, gait and the ecological relevance of locomotor costs and energy-saving mechanisms in tetrapods.

Abstract: A reanalysis of locomotor data from functional, energetic, mechanical and ecological perspectives reveals that limb posture has major effects on limb biomechanics, energy-saving mechanisms and the costs of locomotion. Regressions of data coded by posture (crouched vs. erect) reveal nonlinear patterns in metabolic cost, limb muscle mass, effective mechanical advantage, and stride characteristics. In small crouched animals energy savings from spring and pendular mechanisms are inconsequential and thus the metabolic cost of locomotion is driven by muscle activation costs. Stride frequency appears to be the principal functional parameter related to the decreasing cost of locomotion in crouched animals. By contrast, the shift to erect limb postures invoked a series of correlated effects on the metabolic cost of locomotion: effective mechanical advantage increases, relative muscle masses decrease, metapodial limb segments elongate dramatically (as limbs shift from digitigrade to unguligrade designs) and biological springs increase in size and effectiveness. Each of these factors leads to decreases in the metabolic cost of locomotion in erect forms resulting from real and increasing contributions of pendular savings and spring savings. Comparisons of the relative costs and ecological relevance of different gaits reveal that running is cheaper than walking in smaller animals up to the size of dogs but running is more expensive than walking in horses. Animals do not necessarily use their cheapest gaits for their predominant locomotor activity. Therefore, locomotor costs are driven more by ecological relevance than by the need to optimize locomotor economy.
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Publication Date: 2007-05-07 PubMed ID: 17482802DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2007.01.003Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Comparative Study
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • U.S. Gov't
  • Non-P.H.S.

Summary

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This research study explores the impact of limb posture on locomotion in tetrapods, including its effects on biomechanics, energy conservation, and locomotion cost. It finds that different postures and gaits have a significant effect on energy consumption and locomotion efficiency, with ecological relevance playing a more significant role than optimizing economy in locomotion.

Reanalysis of Locomotor Data

  • The study reassesses locomotor data with respect to functionality, energetic efficiency, mechanical properties, and ecological perspectives. It mainly focuses on the effects of different limb postures (crouched vs. erect).
  • Through regression analysis, it establishes non-linear associations between posture and many parameters including metabolic cost, muscle mass of the limb, effective mechanical advantage, and stride characteristics.

Crouched vs Erect Posture

  • In smaller animals with a crouched posture, energy savings mechanisms such as spring and pendular movements are found to be insignificant. Thus, the metabolic costs of their locomotion are majorly determined by muscle activation costs.
  • Stride frequency seems to be a significant functional parameter that influences decreasing locomotion costs in crouched animals.
  • Contrarily, an erect posture in animals invokes a series of effects on the metabolic cost of locomotion. It increases the effective mechanical advantage, decreases relative muscle masses, and dramatically elongates metapodial limb segments (as limbs shift from digitigrade to unguligrade designs).
  • Biological springs boost both in size and effectiveness in animals with an erect posture. All these factors contribute to reducing the metabolic cost of locomotion.

Cost and Ecological Relevance of Different Gaits

  • Comparing the relative costs and ecological significance of different gaits, the study notes that running is less energy consuming than walking for smaller animals, up to the size of dogs.
  • However, for larger animals like horses, walking is more economical than running.
  • Regardless of energy costs, animals do not necessarily use their cheapest gaits for their predominant locomotion activity. This suggests that the choice of gait depends more on its ecological relevance than the need to optimize the economy of locomotion.

Cite This Article

APA
Reilly SM, McElroy EJ, Biknevicius AR. (2007). Posture, gait and the ecological relevance of locomotor costs and energy-saving mechanisms in tetrapods. Zoology (Jena), 110(4), 271-289. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.zool.2007.01.003

Publication

Zoology (Jena, Germany)
ISSN: 0944-2006
NlmUniqueID: 9435608
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 110
Issue: 4
Pages: 271-289

Researcher Affiliations

Reilly, Stephen M
  • Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA. reilly@ohiou.edu
McElroy, Eric J
    Biknevicius, Audrone R

      MeSH Terms

      • Animals
      • Biomechanical Phenomena
      • Energy Metabolism / physiology
      • Gait / physiology
      • Locomotion / physiology
      • Models, Anatomic
      • Posture / physiology
      • Running / physiology
      • Vertebrates / physiology
      • Walking / physiology

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