The impact of glide phases on the trackability of hydrodynamic trails in harbour seals (Phoca vitulina)
The mystacial vibrissae of harbour seals ( Phoca vitulina ) constitute a highly sensitive hydrodynamic receptor system enabling the seals to detect and follow hydrodynamic trails. In the wild, hydrodynamic trails, as generated by swimming fish, consist of cyclic burst-and-glide phases, associated wi...
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fthighwire:oai:open-archive.highwire.org:jexbio:213/21/3734 2023-05-15T16:33:39+02:00 The impact of glide phases on the trackability of hydrodynamic trails in harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) Wieskotten, S. Dehnhardt, G. Mauck, B. Miersch, L. Hanke, W. 2010-11-01 00:00:00.0 text/html http://jeb.biologists.org/cgi/content/short/213/21/3734 https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.047134 en eng Company of Biologists http://jeb.biologists.org/cgi/content/short/213/21/3734 http://dx.doi.org/10.1242/jeb.047134 Copyright (C) 2010, Company of Biologists Research Articles TEXT 2010 fthighwire https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.047134 2015-02-28T21:02:31Z The mystacial vibrissae of harbour seals ( Phoca vitulina ) constitute a highly sensitive hydrodynamic receptor system enabling the seals to detect and follow hydrodynamic trails. In the wild, hydrodynamic trails, as generated by swimming fish, consist of cyclic burst-and-glide phases, associated with various differences in the physical parameters of the trail. Here, we investigated the impact of glide phases on the trackability of differently aged hydrodynamic trails in a harbour seal. As fish are not easily trained to swim certain paths with predetermined burst-and-glide phases, the respective hydrodynamic trails were generated using a remote-controlled miniature submarine. Gliding phases in hydrodynamic trails had a negative impact on the trackability when trails were 15 s old. The seal lost the generated trails more often within the transition zones, when the submarine switched from a burst to a glide moving pattern. Hydrodynamic parameter analysis (particle image velocimetry) revealed that the smaller dimensions and faster decay of hydrodynamic trails generated by the gliding submarine are responsible for the impaired success of the seal tracking the gliding phase. Furthermore, the change of gross water flow generated by the submarine from a rearwards-directed stream in the burst phase to a water flow passively dragged behind the submarine during gliding might influence the ability of the seal to follow the trail as this might cause a weaker deflection of the vibrissae. The possible ecological implications of intermittent swimming behaviour in fish for piscivorous predators are discussed. Text harbour seal Phoca vitulina HighWire Press (Stanford University) Journal of Experimental Biology 213 21 3734 3740 |
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Research Articles |
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Research Articles Wieskotten, S. Dehnhardt, G. Mauck, B. Miersch, L. Hanke, W. The impact of glide phases on the trackability of hydrodynamic trails in harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) |
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Research Articles |
description |
The mystacial vibrissae of harbour seals ( Phoca vitulina ) constitute a highly sensitive hydrodynamic receptor system enabling the seals to detect and follow hydrodynamic trails. In the wild, hydrodynamic trails, as generated by swimming fish, consist of cyclic burst-and-glide phases, associated with various differences in the physical parameters of the trail. Here, we investigated the impact of glide phases on the trackability of differently aged hydrodynamic trails in a harbour seal. As fish are not easily trained to swim certain paths with predetermined burst-and-glide phases, the respective hydrodynamic trails were generated using a remote-controlled miniature submarine. Gliding phases in hydrodynamic trails had a negative impact on the trackability when trails were 15 s old. The seal lost the generated trails more often within the transition zones, when the submarine switched from a burst to a glide moving pattern. Hydrodynamic parameter analysis (particle image velocimetry) revealed that the smaller dimensions and faster decay of hydrodynamic trails generated by the gliding submarine are responsible for the impaired success of the seal tracking the gliding phase. Furthermore, the change of gross water flow generated by the submarine from a rearwards-directed stream in the burst phase to a water flow passively dragged behind the submarine during gliding might influence the ability of the seal to follow the trail as this might cause a weaker deflection of the vibrissae. The possible ecological implications of intermittent swimming behaviour in fish for piscivorous predators are discussed. |
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 |
The impact of glide phases on the trackability of hydrodynamic trails in harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) |
title_short |
The impact of glide phases on the trackability of hydrodynamic trails in harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) |
title_full |
The impact of glide phases on the trackability of hydrodynamic trails in harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) |
title_fullStr |
The impact of glide phases on the trackability of hydrodynamic trails in harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) |
title_full_unstemmed |
The impact of glide phases on the trackability of hydrodynamic trails in harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) |
title_sort |
impact of glide phases on the trackability of hydrodynamic trails in harbour seals (phoca vitulina) |
publisher |
Company of Biologists |
publishDate |
2010 |
url |
http://jeb.biologists.org/cgi/content/short/213/21/3734 https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.047134 |
genre |
harbour seal Phoca vitulina |
genre_facet |
harbour seal Phoca vitulina |
op_relation |
http://jeb.biologists.org/cgi/content/short/213/21/3734 http://dx.doi.org/10.1242/jeb.047134 |
op_rights |
Copyright (C) 2010, Company of Biologists |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.047134 |
container_title |
Journal of Experimental Biology |
container_volume |
213 |
container_issue |
21 |
container_start_page |
3734 |
op_container_end_page |
3740 |
_version_ |
1766023328006406144 |