The Art of Tracking the Origin of Science
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Load more
Recommended publications
-
Slithering Locomotion
SLITHERING LOCOMOTION DAVID L. HU() AND MICHAEL SHELLEY∗∗ Abstract. Limbless terrestrial animals propel themselves by sliding their bellies along the ground. Although the study of dry solid-solid friction is a classical subject, the mechanisms underlying friction-based limbless propulsion have received little attention. We review and expand upon our previous work on the locomotion of snakes, who are expert sliders. We show that snakes use two principal mechanisms to slither on flat surfaces. First, their bellies are covered with scales that catch upon ground asperities, providing frictional anisotropy. Second, they are able to lift parts of their body slightly off the ground when moving. This reduces undesired frictional drag and applies greater pressure to the parts of the belly that are pushing the snake forwards. We review a theoretical framework that may be adapted by future investigators to understand other kinds of limbless locomotion. Key words. Snakes, friction, locomotion AMS(MOS) subject classifications. Primary 76Zxx 1. Introduction. Animal locomotion is as diverse as animal form. Swimming, flying and walking have received much attention [1, 9]withthe latter being the most commonly studied means for moving on land (Fig. 1). Comparatively little attention has been paid to limbless locomotion on land, which necessarily relies upon sliding. Sliding is physically distinct from pushing against a fluid and understanding it as a form of locomotion presents new challenges, as we present in this review. Terrestrial limbless animals are rare. Those that are multicellular include worms, snails and snakes, and account for less than 2% of the 1.8 million named species (Fig. -
The Mechanics of Slithering Locomotion
The mechanics of slithering locomotion David L. Hua,b,1, Jasmine Nirodya, Terri Scotta, and Michael J. Shelleya aApplied Mathematics Laboratory, Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University, New York, NY 10003; and bDepartments of Mechanical Engineering and Biology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332 Edited by Charles S. Peskin, New York University, New York, NY, and approved April 22, 2009 (received for review December 12, 2008) In this experimental and theoretical study, we investigate the the sum of frictional forces per unit length, ffric, and internal slithering of snakes on flat surfaces. Previous studies of slithering forces, fint, generated by the snakes. That is, have rested on the assumption that snakes slither by pushing laterally against rocks and branches. In this study, we develop a X¨ ϭ ffric ϩ fint , [1] theoretical model for slithering locomotion by observing snake ¨ motion kinematics and experimentally measuring the friction co- where X is the acceleration at each point along the snake’s body. efficients of snakeskin. Our predictions of body speed show good To avoid complex issues of muscle and tissue modeling, fint is agreement with observations, demonstrating that snake propul- determined to be that necessary for the model snake to produce sion on flat ground, and possibly in general, relies critically on the the observed shape kinematics. We use a sliding friction law in k frictional anisotropy of their scales. We have also highlighted the which the friction force per unit length is f ϭϪkguˆ, where importance of weight distribution in lateral undulation, previously is the sliding friction coefficient, uˆ ϭ u/u is the velocity difficult to visualize and hence assumed uniform. -
The Evolution of Marathon Running: Capabilities in Humans
The Evolution of Marathon Running: Capabilities in Humans The Harvard community has made this article openly available. Please share how this access benefits you. Your story matters Citation Lieberman, Daniel E., and Dennis M. Bramble. 2007. The evolution of marathon running: Capabilities in humans. Sports Medicine 37(4-5): 288-290. Published Version doi:10.2165/00007256-200737040-00004 Citable link http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:3716644 Terms of Use This article was downloaded from Harvard University’s DASH repository, and is made available under the terms and conditions applicable to Other Posted Material, as set forth at http:// nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:dash.current.terms-of- use#LAA Sports Med 2007; 37 (4.6): 288-290 CONFERENCE PAPER 0112-1642/07/0004<l2a8/S44.'J5/0 e 2007 Adis Data Intormatian BV. All rights reserved. The Evolution of Marathon Running Capabilities in Humans Daniel E. Lieberman^ and Dennis M. Bramble^ 1 Departments of Anthropology and Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA 2 Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA AbStrOCt Humans have exceptional capabilities to run long distances in hot, arid conditions. These abilities, unique among primates and rare among mammals, derive from a suite of specialised features that permit running humans to store and release energy effectively in the lower limb, help keep the body's center of mass stable and overcome the thermoregulatory challenges of long distance running. Human endurance running perfonnance capabilities compare favourably with those of other mammals and probably emerged sometime around 2 million years ago in order to help meat-eating hominids compete with other carnivores. -
Bulletin of the United States Fish Commission Seattlenwf
THE FUR SEALS AND OTHER LIFE OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS, ALASKA, IN 1914 By Wilfred H. Osgood, Edward A. Preble, and George H. Parker I Blank page retained for pagination CONTENTS. Palll!. LgTTERS OF TRANSMITTAL........•...........'............................................. II LETTER OF SUBMITTAL................... ................................................. 12 INTRODUCTION............... .. 13 Personnel and instructions. ............................................................. 13 Investigations by Canada and Japan... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. IS Itinerary , .. " . .. IS Impartial nature of the investigation " '" . 16 Acknowledgments................. 16 THg PRIBILOF ISLANDS..................................................................... 17 General description...................... .. 17 Vegetation. 18 Climate............. 18 CHARACTER AND HABITS OF THE FUR SEAL IN BRIEF....... ................................. 18 G'eneral characteristics. ................ .. .............................................. 18 Range.................................................................................. 18 , Breeding habits ; ........................ 19 Habits of bachelors : ......................... 20 Age of seals... ;. ....................................................................... 20 SEALING HISTORY IN BRIEF................................................................. 21 Russian management " .. .. 21 American occupation and the leasing system : . .. ... 21 The growth of pelagic sealing , "".. .. .. .. 22 The Paris Tribunal -
MOVEMENTS, HABITAT USE, and ACTIVITY PATTERNS of a TRANSLOCATED GROUP of ROOSEVELT ELK by Matthew Mccoy a Thesis Prese
MOVEMENTS, HABITAT USE, AND ACTIVITY PATTERNS OF A TRANSLOCATED GROUP OF ROOSEVELT ELK by Matthew McCoy A Thesis Presented to The Faculty of Humboldt State University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science June, 1 986 MOVEMENTS, HABITAT USE, AND ACTIVITY PATTERNS OF A TRANSLOCATED GROUP OF ROOSEVELT ELK by Matthew McCoy A F gam Director, Natural Resources Graduate Program 86/W-66/06/10 Natural Resources Graduate Program Number Ala M. Gillespi9( ABSTRACT In March 1982, 17 Roosevelt elk (Cervus elaphus roosevelti) were captured at Gold Bluffs Beach, Humboldt County, California and translocated to an enclosure 4 km east of Shelter Cove, Humboldt County. The animals were released from the enclosure in November 1982. Data were collected for eight radio-collared animals (seven adult females and one 4-year old male) January to December 1983. The number of herds varied from one (January through March) to four (October through December). Three female herds moved 45 km, 58 km, and 84 km south of Shelter Cove, while the radio-collared male remained within 16 km of Shelter Cove. Home range locations varied seasonally. Home range sizes were largest during the summer reflecting migrational and exploratory movements. Habitat use was disproportionate to habitat availability at the home range level during each season. Cultivated grasslands and riparian areas were used in proportions greater than their availability. Coastal Prairie use was greater than that available except in the Shelter Cove area. Shrub and forest habitat types were generally used less than that available. Animal distances to nearest road and water varied seasonally, but were greatest for radio-collared females during the spring. -
Lack of Water and Endurance Running Could Have Caused the Exponential Growth in Human Brain “Point of No Return” Model
Lack of water and endurance running could have caused the exponential growth in human brain “Point of no return” model Konrad R. Fialkowski University of Warsaw, Poland; An den Langen Luessen 9/1/3; 1190 Vienna, Austria; e-mail: [email protected] Growth in brain volume is one of the most spectacular changes in the hominid lineage. The anthropological community agrees on that point. No consensus, however, has been reached on selection pressures contributing to that growth. In that respect Martin (1984) can be invoked. In his review of size relationships among primates he stated that despite the relationship between brain size, body size and feeding behavior no single interpretation could be provided that revealed the causality of such relationship. This paper deals with one specific aspect of hominid brain growth: the fact that for most of the hominid period, growth in brain volume was exponential in character. To the author’s knowledge, no attempt has been made to identify a selection mechanism that can facilitate just the exponential features of that growth (as distinct from any of its other characteristics). It is broadly accepted that the dynamics of this growth were peculiar. Growth was very fast, or even rapid in the evolutionary scale of time. The most profound evidence of that opinion was expressed by Haldane (quoted after Mayr 1970: 384): “J. B. S. Haldane liked to emphasize that this dramatic increase in brain size was the most rapid evolutionary change known to him”. EXPONENTIAL GROWTH OF HOMINID BRAIN VOLUME In mathematical terms the exponential function is the very fast growing function. -
Holen Et Al. Reply Replying to J
BRIEF COMMUNICATIONS ARISING Contesting early archaeology in California ARISING FROM S. R. Holen et al. Nature 544, 479–483 (2017); doi:10.1038/nature22065 The peopling of the Americas is a topic of ongoing scientific interest 24,000-year-old Inglewood Mammoth Site (IMS), Maryland, USA. and rigorous debate1,2. Holen et al.3 add to these discussions with their As at the CM site, the IMS contains the remains of a single juvenile recent report of a 130,000-year-old archaeological site in southern proboscidean recovered in situ from a sealed deposit of sandy clays California, USA: the Cerutti Mastodon (CM) site, which includes the with pebbles and cobbles6. Haynes6 provides descriptions and images fragmentary remains of a single mastodon (Mammut americanum), of curvilinear and spiral ‘green-bone’ fractures on cranial, axial and spatially associated stone cobbles, and associated lithic debris that appendicular specimens. Some of these fractures are recent in origin, they claim indicates prehistoric hominin activity. In sharp contrast, we probably related to heavy earthmoving equipment working on-site6. contend that the CM record is more parsimoniously explained as the Other damage may reflect perimortem injuries sustained by the result of common geological and taphonomic processes, and does not mammoth. No evidence of prehistoric hominin activities are noted indicate prehistoric hominin involvement. Whereas further investiga- or suspected for the site. Post-burial bone notches, impact points and tions may yet identify unambiguous evidence of hominins in California impact scratches occurred on a number of specimens. around 130,000 years ago, we urge caution in interpreting the current We report a similar record of fractured proboscidean bones at the record. -
A Study of How Dominance Rank Within a Herd of Resident Burchell’S Zebra (Equus Burchelli) at Ndarakwai Ranch Correlate to Frequencies of Other Behaviors
SIT Graduate Institute/SIT Study Abroad SIT Digital Collections Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection SIT Study Abroad Fall 2010 Seeing Stripes: A Study of How Dominance Rank Within a Herd of Resident Burchell’s Zebra (Equus Burchelli) at Ndarakwai Ranch Correlate to Frequencies of Other Behaviors. Alexandra Clayton SIT Study Abroad Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/isp_collection Part of the Zoology Commons Recommended Citation Clayton, Alexandra, "Seeing Stripes: A Study of How Dominance Rank Within a Herd of Resident Burchell’s Zebra (Equus Burchelli) at Ndarakwai Ranch Correlate to Frequencies of Other Behaviors." (2010). Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection. 899. https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/isp_collection/899 This Unpublished Paper is brought to you for free and open access by the SIT Study Abroad at SIT Digital Collections. It has been accepted for inclusion in Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection by an authorized administrator of SIT Digital Collections. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Seeing Stripes A study of how dominance rank within a herd of resident Burchell’s zebra (Equus burchelli) at Ndarakwai Ranch correlate to frequencies of other behaviors. Alexandra Clayton Advisor: Reese Matthews SIT Wildlife Conservation and Political Ecology Fall 2010 Acknowledgements There are so many people that made this project possible, but I would first like to thank Peter Jones for allowing me the chance to conduct my study at Ndarakwai, and for allowing two Internet- starved students to use your wireless! It is a beautiful place and I hope to return someday. I also want to thank Thomas for letting us camp outside his house and to Bahati for making us the best chapatti and ginger tea we’ve ever had, and for washing our very muddy clothes. -
An Anthropological Assessment of Neanderthal Behavioural Energetics
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGY, CLASSICS & EGYPTOLOGY An Anthropological Assessment of Neanderthal Behavioural Energetics. Thesis submitted in accordance with the requirements of the University of Liverpool for the Degree of Doctor in Philosophy by Andrew Shuttleworth. April, 2013. TABLE OF CONTENTS……………………………………………………………………..i LIST OF TABLES……………………………………………………………………………v LIST OF FIGURES…………………………………………………………………………..vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS…………………………………………………………………...vii ABSTRACT…………………………………………………………………………………viii TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................1 1.1. Introduction..............................................................................................................1 1.2. Aims and Objectives................................................................................................2 1.3. Thesis Format...........................................................................................................3 2. THE NEANDERTHAL AND OXYEGN ISOTOPE STAGE-3.................................6 2.1. Discovery, Geographic Range & Origins..............................................................7 2.1.1. Discovery........................................................................................................7 2.1.2. Neanderthal Chronology................................................................................10 2.2. Morphology.............................................................................................................11 -
The Relevance of Persistence Hunting to Human Evolution
This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the author for internal non-commercial research and education use, including for instruction at the authors institution and sharing with colleagues. Other uses, including reproduction and distribution, or selling or licensing copies, or posting to personal, institutional or third party websites are prohibited. In most cases authors are permitted to post their version of the article (e.g. in Word or Tex form) to their personal website or institutional repository. Authors requiring further information regarding Elsevier’s archiving and manuscript policies are encouraged to visit: http://www.elsevier.com/copyright Author's personal copy Journal of Human Evolution 55 (2008) 1156–1159 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Journal of Human Evolution journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jhevol News and Views The relevance of persistence hunting to human evolution Louis Liebenberg Department of Anthropology, Harvard University, 11 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA article info of ER in early Homo. In addition, sophisticated PH may have contributed to the evolution of modern human intellectual abilities. Article history: Received 9 February 2008 Accepted 7 July 2008 Context of recent observations Keywords: The statement that ‘‘over the course of 20 years, only two of the Endurance running Foragers ER hunts observed by Liebenberg were spontaneous’’ (Pickering Homo and Bunn, 2007: 436) is misleading. Firstly, I should clarify the Hunter-gatherers context within which I conducted my field research over the course Persistence hunting of 20 years. As an independent researcher (with no funding), I Tracking would have liked to have witnessed more hunts, but I simply did not have the financial means to do so. -
Jyoti (2019). Crowding, Group Size and Population Structure of The
PLATINUM The Journal of Threatened Taxa (JoTT) is dedicated to building evidence for conservaton globally by publishing peer-reviewed artcles online OPEN ACCESS every month at a reasonably rapid rate at www.threatenedtaxa.org. All artcles published in JoTT are registered under Creatve Commons Atributon 4.0 Internatonal License unless otherwise mentoned. JoTT allows allows unrestricted use, reproducton, and distributon of artcles in any medium by providing adequate credit to the author(s) and the source of publicaton. Journal of Threatened Taxa Building evidence for conservaton globally www.threatenedtaxa.org ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print) Communication Crowding, group size and population structure of the Blackbuck Antilope cervicapra (Linnaeus, 1758) (Mammalia: Cetartiodactyla: Bovidae) in the semi-arid habitat of Haryana, India Deepak Rai & Jyot 26 July 2019 | Vol. 11 | No. 9 | Pages: 14194-14203 DOI: 10.11609/jot.4788.11.9.14194-14203 For Focus, Scope, Aims, Policies, and Guidelines visit htps://threatenedtaxa.org/index.php/JoTT/about/editorialPolicies#custom-0 For Artcle Submission Guidelines, visit htps://threatenedtaxa.org/index.php/JoTT/about/submissions#onlineSubmissions For Policies against Scientfc Misconduct, visit htps://threatenedtaxa.org/index.php/JoTT/about/editorialPolicies#custom-2 For reprints, contact <[email protected]> The opinions expressed by the authors do not refect the views of the Journal of Threatened Taxa, Wildlife Informaton Liaison Development Society, Zoo Outreach Organizaton, or -
Assessing Animal Welfare with Behavior: Onward with Caution
Perspective Assessing Animal Welfare with Behavior: Onward with Caution Jason V. Watters *, Bethany L. Krebs and Caitlin L. Eschmann Wellness and Animal Behavior, San Francisco Zoological Society, San Francisco, CA 94132, USA; [email protected] (B.L.K.); [email protected] (C.L.E.) * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: An emphasis on ensuring animal welfare is growing in zoo and aquarium associations around the globe. This has led to a focus on measures of welfare outcomes for individual animals. Observations and interpretations of behavior are the most widely used outcome-based measures of animal welfare. They commonly serve as a diagnostic tool from which practitioners make animal welfare decisions and suggest treatments, yet errors in data collection and interpretation can lead to the potential for misdiagnosis. We describe the perils of incorrect welfare diagnoses and common mistakes in applying behavior-based tools. The missteps that can be made in behavioral assessment include mismatches between definitions of animal welfare and collected data, lack of alternative explanations, faulty logic, behavior interpreted out of context, murky assumptions, lack of behavior definitions, and poor justification for assigning a welfare value to a specific behavior. Misdiagnosing the welfare state of an animal has negative consequences. These include continued poor welfare states, inappropriate use of resources, lack of understanding of welfare mechanisms and the perpetuation of the previously mentioned faulty logic throughout the wider scientific community. We provide recommendations for assessing behavior-based welfare tools, and guidance for those developing Citation: Watters, J.V.; Krebs, B.L.; tools and interpreting data. Eschmann, C.L. Assessing Animal Welfare with Behavior: Onward with Keywords: behavioral diagnosis; zoo; behavioral diversity; anticipatory behavior; stereotypy; natural Caution.