Hydrodynamic determination of the moving direction of an artificial fin by a harbour seal (Phoca vitulina)
Harbour seals can use their vibrissal system to detect and follow hydrodynamic trails left by moving objects. In this study we determined the maximum time after which a harbour seal could indicate the moving direction of an artificial fish tail and analysed the hydrodynamic parameters allowing the d...
Published in: | Journal of Experimental Biology |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , , , |
Format: | Text |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Company of Biologists
2010
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://jeb.biologists.org/cgi/content/short/213/13/2194 https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.041699 |
id |
fthighwire:oai:open-archive.highwire.org:jexbio:213/13/2194 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
fthighwire:oai:open-archive.highwire.org:jexbio:213/13/2194 2023-05-15T16:33:35+02:00 Hydrodynamic determination of the moving direction of an artificial fin by a harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) Wieskotten, S. Dehnhardt, G. Mauck, B. Miersch, L. Hanke, W. 2010-07-01 00:00:00.0 text/html http://jeb.biologists.org/cgi/content/short/213/13/2194 https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.041699 en eng Company of Biologists http://jeb.biologists.org/cgi/content/short/213/13/2194 http://dx.doi.org/10.1242/jeb.041699 Copyright (C) 2010, Company of Biologists Research Articles TEXT 2010 fthighwire https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.041699 2015-02-28T21:02:12Z Harbour seals can use their vibrissal system to detect and follow hydrodynamic trails left by moving objects. In this study we determined the maximum time after which a harbour seal could indicate the moving direction of an artificial fish tail and analysed the hydrodynamic parameters allowing the discrimination. Hydrodynamic trails were generated using a fin-like paddle moving from left to right or from right to left in the calm water of an experimental box. The blindfolded seal was able to recognise the direction of the paddle movement when the hydrodynamic trail was up to 35 s old. Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) revealed that the seal might have perceived and used two different hydrodynamic parameters to determine the moving direction of the fin-like paddle. The structure and spatial arrangement of the vortices in the hydrodynamic trail and high water velocities between two counter-rotating vortices are characteristic of the movement direction and are within the sensory range of the seal. Text harbour seal Phoca vitulina HighWire Press (Stanford University) Journal of Experimental Biology 213 13 2194 2200 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
HighWire Press (Stanford University) |
op_collection_id |
fthighwire |
language |
English |
topic |
Research Articles |
spellingShingle |
Research Articles Wieskotten, S. Dehnhardt, G. Mauck, B. Miersch, L. Hanke, W. Hydrodynamic determination of the moving direction of an artificial fin by a harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) |
topic_facet |
Research Articles |
description |
Harbour seals can use their vibrissal system to detect and follow hydrodynamic trails left by moving objects. In this study we determined the maximum time after which a harbour seal could indicate the moving direction of an artificial fish tail and analysed the hydrodynamic parameters allowing the discrimination. Hydrodynamic trails were generated using a fin-like paddle moving from left to right or from right to left in the calm water of an experimental box. The blindfolded seal was able to recognise the direction of the paddle movement when the hydrodynamic trail was up to 35 s old. Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) revealed that the seal might have perceived and used two different hydrodynamic parameters to determine the moving direction of the fin-like paddle. The structure and spatial arrangement of the vortices in the hydrodynamic trail and high water velocities between two counter-rotating vortices are characteristic of the movement direction and are within the sensory range of the seal. |
format |
Text |
author |
Wieskotten, S. Dehnhardt, G. Mauck, B. Miersch, L. Hanke, W. |
author_facet |
Wieskotten, S. Dehnhardt, G. Mauck, B. Miersch, L. Hanke, W. |
author_sort |
Wieskotten, S. |
title |
Hydrodynamic determination of the moving direction of an artificial fin by a harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) |
title_short |
Hydrodynamic determination of the moving direction of an artificial fin by a harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) |
title_full |
Hydrodynamic determination of the moving direction of an artificial fin by a harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) |
title_fullStr |
Hydrodynamic determination of the moving direction of an artificial fin by a harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) |
title_full_unstemmed |
Hydrodynamic determination of the moving direction of an artificial fin by a harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) |
title_sort |
hydrodynamic determination of the moving direction of an artificial fin by a harbour seal (phoca vitulina) |
publisher |
Company of Biologists |
publishDate |
2010 |
url |
http://jeb.biologists.org/cgi/content/short/213/13/2194 https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.041699 |
genre |
harbour seal Phoca vitulina |
genre_facet |
harbour seal Phoca vitulina |
op_relation |
http://jeb.biologists.org/cgi/content/short/213/13/2194 http://dx.doi.org/10.1242/jeb.041699 |
op_rights |
Copyright (C) 2010, Company of Biologists |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.041699 |
container_title |
Journal of Experimental Biology |
container_volume |
213 |
container_issue |
13 |
container_start_page |
2194 |
op_container_end_page |
2200 |
_version_ |
1766023265172586496 |