Structure and Function of Pinniped Vibrissae
The vibrissal system of pinnipeds relies on sturdy, specialized vibrissae and supporting neural architecture apparently designed for the reception of waterborne disturbances. Although it is known that pinnipeds can use their vibrissae for fine-scale tactile discrimination and hydrodynamic detection,...
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ftunisfloridatam:oai:digitalcommons.usf.edu:etd-5930 2023-06-11T04:11:25+02:00 Structure and Function of Pinniped Vibrissae Murphy, Christin Taylor 2013-01-01T08:00:00Z application/pdf https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/etd/4733 https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/context/etd/article/5930/viewcontent/Murphy_usf_0206D_11886.pdf unknown Digital Commons @ University of South Florida https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/etd/4733 https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/context/etd/article/5930/viewcontent/Murphy_usf_0206D_11886.pdf default USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations Pinniped Sensitivity Vibrissae Vibrotactile Whiskers Other Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology dissertation 2013 ftunisfloridatam 2023-05-04T18:04:02Z The vibrissal system of pinnipeds relies on sturdy, specialized vibrissae and supporting neural architecture apparently designed for the reception of waterborne disturbances. Although it is known that pinnipeds can use their vibrissae for fine-scale tactile discrimination and hydrodynamic detection, many aspects of vibrissal function remain poorly understood. The present work examined the adaptive significance of vibrissal structure, the sensitivity of the vibrissal system, and the signals received by this system. All of these points were considered with respect to their function in hydrodynamic reception. Four methods of study: laser vibrometry, computed tomography (CT) scanning, psychophysical testing and animal-borne tagging were used to investigate the functioning of this sensory system. Laser vibrometer recordings were used to investigate the effect of vibrissal surface structure and orientation on flow-induced vibrations in excised vibrissae. Vibrations were recorded from the shaft of excised vibrissae exposed to laminar water flow in a flume tank. Samples from three pinniped species were tested: the harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) and California sea lion (Zalophus californianus). The vibrissae of the seals had an undulated surface structure, while the vibrissae of the sea lion had a smooth surface. No significant difference between species, and therefore surface structure, was observed. However, when vibrissae were tested at three angles of orientation to the water flow, a strong effect of orientation on vibration frequency and velocity was observed across species. CT scanning data revealed that the vibrissae of all the species tested had flattened cross-sectional profiles. This cross-sectional flattening could account for the observed orientation effects. Furthermore, this morphological characteristic may represent an adaptation for improved functioning in the aquatic environment by reducing self-induced-noise from swimming and potentially enhancing ... Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis Elephant Seal harbor seal Phoca vitulina Digital Commons University of South Florida (USF) |
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Digital Commons University of South Florida (USF) |
op_collection_id |
ftunisfloridatam |
language |
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topic |
Pinniped Sensitivity Vibrissae Vibrotactile Whiskers Other Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology |
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Pinniped Sensitivity Vibrissae Vibrotactile Whiskers Other Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology Murphy, Christin Taylor Structure and Function of Pinniped Vibrissae |
topic_facet |
Pinniped Sensitivity Vibrissae Vibrotactile Whiskers Other Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology |
description |
The vibrissal system of pinnipeds relies on sturdy, specialized vibrissae and supporting neural architecture apparently designed for the reception of waterborne disturbances. Although it is known that pinnipeds can use their vibrissae for fine-scale tactile discrimination and hydrodynamic detection, many aspects of vibrissal function remain poorly understood. The present work examined the adaptive significance of vibrissal structure, the sensitivity of the vibrissal system, and the signals received by this system. All of these points were considered with respect to their function in hydrodynamic reception. Four methods of study: laser vibrometry, computed tomography (CT) scanning, psychophysical testing and animal-borne tagging were used to investigate the functioning of this sensory system. Laser vibrometer recordings were used to investigate the effect of vibrissal surface structure and orientation on flow-induced vibrations in excised vibrissae. Vibrations were recorded from the shaft of excised vibrissae exposed to laminar water flow in a flume tank. Samples from three pinniped species were tested: the harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) and California sea lion (Zalophus californianus). The vibrissae of the seals had an undulated surface structure, while the vibrissae of the sea lion had a smooth surface. No significant difference between species, and therefore surface structure, was observed. However, when vibrissae were tested at three angles of orientation to the water flow, a strong effect of orientation on vibration frequency and velocity was observed across species. CT scanning data revealed that the vibrissae of all the species tested had flattened cross-sectional profiles. This cross-sectional flattening could account for the observed orientation effects. Furthermore, this morphological characteristic may represent an adaptation for improved functioning in the aquatic environment by reducing self-induced-noise from swimming and potentially enhancing ... |
format |
Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis |
author |
Murphy, Christin Taylor |
author_facet |
Murphy, Christin Taylor |
author_sort |
Murphy, Christin Taylor |
title |
Structure and Function of Pinniped Vibrissae |
title_short |
Structure and Function of Pinniped Vibrissae |
title_full |
Structure and Function of Pinniped Vibrissae |
title_fullStr |
Structure and Function of Pinniped Vibrissae |
title_full_unstemmed |
Structure and Function of Pinniped Vibrissae |
title_sort |
structure and function of pinniped vibrissae |
publisher |
Digital Commons @ University of South Florida |
publishDate |
2013 |
url |
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/etd/4733 https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/context/etd/article/5930/viewcontent/Murphy_usf_0206D_11886.pdf |
genre |
Elephant Seal harbor seal Phoca vitulina |
genre_facet |
Elephant Seal harbor seal Phoca vitulina |
op_source |
USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations |
op_relation |
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/etd/4733 https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/context/etd/article/5930/viewcontent/Murphy_usf_0206D_11886.pdf |
op_rights |
default |
_version_ |
1768386478201634816 |