Comparative Aspects of the Control of Posture and Locomotion in The
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Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons LSU Doctoral Dissertations Graduate School 2008 Comparative aspects of the control of posture and locomotion in the spider crab Libinia emarginata Andres Gabriel Vidal Gadea Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations Recommended Citation Vidal Gadea, Andres Gabriel, "Comparative aspects of the control of posture and locomotion in the spider crab Libinia emarginata" (2008). LSU Doctoral Dissertations. 3617. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations/3617 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized graduate school editor of LSU Digital Commons. For more information, please [email protected]. COMPARATIVE ASPECTS OF THE CONTROL OF POSTURE AND LOCOMOTION IN THE SPIDER CRAB LIBINIA EMARGINATA A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in The Department of Biological Sciences by Andrés Gabriel Vidal Gadea B.S. University of Victoria, 2003 May 2008 For Elsa and Roméo ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The journey that culminates as I begin to write these lines encompassed multiple countries, languages and experiences. Glancing back at it, a common denominator constantly appears time and time again. This is the many people that I had the great fortune to meet, and that many times directly or indirectly provided me with the necessary support allowing me to be here today. I will begin by thanking my parents, Roméo Vidal and Elsa Gadea, and my late grandmother Carlota Gadea. Your love, support, and trust prepared me to chase my dreams. I would certainly not be writing this today if Dr. Jim Belanger hadn’t taken a chance on me all those years ago, in letting me join his lab. Thank you for taking me to all those wonderful meetings, and for giving me the latitude to pursue my own research interests. Friendly advice and help were always just a short walk down the hall. Thank you Jim. Neuroscience at LSU is rather a small institution, I am therefore aware of my great fortune in having such a wonderful and dependable committee which provided me with more support and help that I could hope to describe here. Dr. John Caprio’s incisive, thoughtful and helpful questions. Dr. Evanna Gleason tirelessly organizing the journal club meetings that benefited us all so, always available to review manuscripts, letters. Your kind help and support will never be forgotten. Dr. Kurt Svoboda, a man of action. Always working, and always available for advice or any help with personal or academic matters. You provided me with outstanding role models that I hope to live up to. This journey at LSU has not been a solo mission, from the beginning Richard Dewell has been my “partner in crime”. We both joined Jenny Schreiner in the lab and were ourselves later joined by Marc Rinehart. All of you have helped me time and time again, and who and where I am today is made better by having had the privilege of your friendship and support. I thank you all. iii Navigating the challenges and bureaucracy necessary to arrive at a doctoral degree is not entirely unlike wandering along a gigantic Morris water maze. It is without a doubt when I say that I would have drowned in this labyrinth had it not been for the never faltering support provided by Miss Prissy Milligan. Miss Prissy has helped me on more occasions that I can remember. Always available, always friendly, always helpful. Like many graduate students before me, it is thanks to you that I am here today. This work would never be complete if I did not acknowledge the help and support I received from my girlfriend Sarah. You looked after me when I was sick. You stayed up when I was stressed. You helped me as a wonderful lab assistant no one could live up to. Thank you Sarah, from the bottom of my heart. I have left to the end acknowledging the person that has had the deepest impact in my academic career and interests. Dr. Dorothy Paul introduced me to the wonderful world of neuroethology research. Over the years she has helped me along this path in every imaginable way, finding funding, internships, reviewing posters and manuscripts. Always helpful, inspiring, Dorothy has never ceased to aid me in my pursuit to become a scientist. Your passion for research, and your commitment to it, and to your students (both past and present) are the highest standard to which I will always strive to adhere. This research was funded by The National Science Foundation Research Grant (20056), Louisiana Board of Regents RCS Program, Louisiana State University Graduate School Travel Award, and the BioGrads society. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS DEDICATION................................................................................................................................ ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS........................................................................................................... iii LIST OF TABLES........................................................................................................................ vii LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................................... viii ABSTRACT.....................................................................................................................................x CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................1 Introduction..................................................................................................................................2 References..................................................................................................................................12 CHAPTER 2 SKELETAL ADAPTATIONS FOR FORWARDS AND SIDEWAYS WALKING IN THREE SPECIES OF DECAPOD CRUSTACEANS.............................................................18 Introduction................................................................................................................................19 Materials and Methods...............................................................................................................21 Results........................................................................................................................................26 Discussion..................................................................................................................................43 References..................................................................................................................................50 CHAPTER 3 MUSCULAR ANATOMY OF THE LEGS OF THE FORWARD WALKING CRAB, LIBINIA EMARGINATA (DECAPODA, BRACHYURA, MAJOIDEA) ........................54 Introduction................................................................................................................................55 Materials and Methods...............................................................................................................56 Results........................................................................................................................................57 Discussion..................................................................................................................................89 References..................................................................................................................................95 CHAPTER 4 MAP OF THE MOTOR NEURONS INNERVATING THE LEGS OF THE FORWARD WALKING CRAB, LIBINIA EMARGINATA (DECAPODA, BRACHYURA, MAJOIDEA)..................................................................................................................................99 Introduction..............................................................................................................................100 Materials and Methods.............................................................................................................103 Results......................................................................................................................................105 Discussion................................................................................................................................116 References................................................................................................................................127 CHAPTER 5 INTERLIMB DIFFERENCES IN THE KINEMATICS AND MUSCULAR ACTIVATION DURING FORWARD WALKING IN THE SPIDER CRAB, LIBINIA EMARGINATA.............................................................................................................................131 v Introduction..............................................................................................................................132 Materials and Methods.............................................................................................................134 Results......................................................................................................................................137 Discussion................................................................................................................................149