Location

Room 232, Schewel Hall

Access Type

Open Access

Entry Number

76

Start Date

4-5-2023 8:45 AM

End Date

4-5-2023 9:00 AM

College

Lynchburg College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Biology

Keywords

locomotion, biomechanics, anatomy, physiology, animal biology, biology

Abstract

Gobiidae is the taxonomic classification of a large fish family comprising over 2,000 species. A few goby species have the unique ability of scaling waterfalls using pelvic fins that are fused into a suction disc (pelvic sucker) located on the ventral side of the body, aiding them in upstream migration to freshwater feeding and reproduction locations. This study aimed to investigate the locomotor biomechanics of Rhinogobius goby fish due to the lack of literature in the area. In particular, climbing performance variables (pressure differential, force, endurance, and kinematics of attachment), pelvic sucker fatigability, and ontogenetic patterns of physical development and suction adhesion were investigated. The present study found that in relation to the body mass of the Rhinogobius specimens, total body length (TBL) showed slight allometry (slope=0.3455, r2=0.9773), maximum sucker area (MSA) showed moderate negative allometry (slope=0.5856, r2=0.9477), and suction force (Fps) showed strong positive allometry (slope=1.4022, r2=0.8494). These findings suggest the ability of Rhinogobius to retain climbing capacity with maturity. While a wide range of variability of sucker fatigue time was observed, no clear ontogenetic pattern of fatigue was found. Additionally, dissections of the Rhinogobius specimens suggested similar skeletal and muscular pelvic structure to another waterfall-climbing goby, Sicyopterus japonicus, in particular the anatomical structures that control the pelvic sucker organ during climbing adhesion.

Faculty Mentor(s)

Dr. Takashi Maie

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Apr 5th, 8:45 AM Apr 5th, 9:00 AM

Locomotor Biomechanics in Stream Gobies, Rhinogobius sp.: Functional Performance of Waterfall-Climbing Behavior

Room 232, Schewel Hall

Gobiidae is the taxonomic classification of a large fish family comprising over 2,000 species. A few goby species have the unique ability of scaling waterfalls using pelvic fins that are fused into a suction disc (pelvic sucker) located on the ventral side of the body, aiding them in upstream migration to freshwater feeding and reproduction locations. This study aimed to investigate the locomotor biomechanics of Rhinogobius goby fish due to the lack of literature in the area. In particular, climbing performance variables (pressure differential, force, endurance, and kinematics of attachment), pelvic sucker fatigability, and ontogenetic patterns of physical development and suction adhesion were investigated. The present study found that in relation to the body mass of the Rhinogobius specimens, total body length (TBL) showed slight allometry (slope=0.3455, r2=0.9773), maximum sucker area (MSA) showed moderate negative allometry (slope=0.5856, r2=0.9477), and suction force (Fps) showed strong positive allometry (slope=1.4022, r2=0.8494). These findings suggest the ability of Rhinogobius to retain climbing capacity with maturity. While a wide range of variability of sucker fatigue time was observed, no clear ontogenetic pattern of fatigue was found. Additionally, dissections of the Rhinogobius specimens suggested similar skeletal and muscular pelvic structure to another waterfall-climbing goby, Sicyopterus japonicus, in particular the anatomical structures that control the pelvic sucker organ during climbing adhesion.