Award details

Mechanical performance of bird flight muscles

Reference	S15677
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor John Altringham
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Dr Polly McGuigan, Professor Jeremy Rayner
Institution	University of Leeds
Department	Inst of Integrative & Comparative Biolog
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	203,236
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	01/09/2001
End date	01/02/2005
Duration	41 months

Abstract

Many small birds have pectoral muscles composed of a single fibre type and cannot recruit different fibres to suit their chosen flight mode. We will test the hypotheses that power output, and hence performance, are controlled by varying (1) the shape of the muscle strain trajectory; (2) the timing and intensity of activation; and (3) by using bounding flight. We will use sonomicrometry and electromyography to measure muscle length and activity patterns in vivo, and reproduce this in vitro using the work loop technique to determine power. We will study take-off and level flight in four bird species. We will test that (4) maximal myofibrillar power output during take-off does not scale with body mass but that (5) minimum flight power does.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Animal Sciences (AS)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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