BIO592E Morphology and Mechanics Seminar

Dr. Emily Carrington and Dr. Cheryl Wilga

 Weekly discussions of selected readings in morphology and mechanics from The Journal of Experimental Biology 202 (23)1999. Each student will be responsible for leading the discussion at least once. This responsibility includes giving a brief introduction to the paper by stating the goals of the paper, initiating the discussion, keeping the discussion going, and trying to keep us on track. You will be graded on your contribution to the discussion each time we meet. One good way to remember points that you want to discuss or clarify is to keep a notebook and write down questions and ideas as you read the paper.

Meeting 1         1) Vincent, J. F. V. From cellulose to cell. 3263-3268.

                         2) Spatz, H.-Ch., Köhler, L. and Niklas, K. J.   Mechanical behaviour of plant tissues: composite materials or structures? 3269-3272.

Meeting 2         1) Niklas, K. J. and Spatz, H.-Ch. Methods for calculating factors of safety for

                          plant stems. 3273-3280.

2) Ennos, A. R.  The aerodynamics and hydrodynamics of plants. 3281-3284.

Meeting 3         Currey, J. D. The design of mineralised hard tissues for their mechanical

                         functions. 3285-3294.

Meeting 4         Gosline, J. M., Guerette, P. A., Ortlepp, C. S. and Savage, K. N. The mechanical

                        design of spider silks: from fibroin sequence to mechanical function. 3295-3303

Meeting 5            Shadwick, R. E. Mechanical design in arteries. 3305-3313.

Meeting 6            Ker, R. F. The design of soft collagenous load-bearing tissues. 3315-3324.

Meeting 7         Marsh, R. L. How muscles deal with real-world loads: the influence of length

                        trajectory on muscle performance. 3377-3385.

Meeting 8         Biewener, A. A. and Gillis, G. B. Dynamics of muscle function during

                         locomotion: accommodating variable conditions. 3387-3396.

Meeting 9         1) Altringham, J. D. and Ellerby, D. J. Fish swimming: patterns in muscle

                         function. 3397-3403.

                        2) Van Leeuwen, J. L. A mechanical analysis of myomere shape in fish.  3405-3414

Meeting 10        Daniel, T. L. and Tu, M. S. Animal movement, mechanical tuning and coupled

                        systems. 3415-3421.

Meeting 11        Videler, J. J., Müller, U. K. and Stamhuis, E. J. Aquatic vertebrate locomotion:

                          wakes from body waves. 3423-3430.

Meeting 12        Denny, M. Are there mechanical limits to size in wave-swept organisms?  3463-3467.                       .

Meeting 13        Koehl, M. A. R. Ecological biomechanics of benthic organisms: life history,

                        mechanical design and temporal patterns of mechanical stress.  3469-3476.