We use a combination of theory and experimentation to understand how aquatic animals function mechanically. We then apply what we learn about biomechanics to address questions about the development, evolution, and behavior of animals.
Publications | Custom software | Resources
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How do the mechanics of lateral line receptors transduce water flow? How does the lateral line system mediate the escape response of larval fish? How are flow stimuli altered by their interaction with a fish's body?
We have begun to address these questions with research focused on the micromechanics of lateral line receptors. Furthermore, we are embarking on work that examines the hydrodynamics and behavioral responses to flow stimuli.
Supported by National Science Foundation Grant IOS-0723288
Collaborators: Sietse van Netten, Will Van Trump, Jim Strother
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Research Proposal | Computational simulation
Posters
McHenry et al. (2007) (describes material testing and mathematical modeling work).
Van Trump et al. (2007) (reports work on morphological variation within zebrafish).
Publications
Van Trump, W.J. & McHenry, M.J. (2008) The morphology and mechanical sensitivity of lateral line receptors in zebrafishlarvae (Danio rerio). J. Exp. Biol. 211: 2105-2115.
McHenry, M.J. & van Netten,
S.M. (2007). The flexural stiffness of superficial neuromasts in the zebrafish (Danio rerio) lateral line.
J. Exp. Biol. 210: 2289-2301.
McHenry, M.J., Strother, J.A., & van Netten, S.M. (2008) A mathematical model of the mechanics of
the superficial neuromast in the fish lateral line.
J. Comp. Physiol. A. In press.
Strother, J.A., Van Trump, W.J., & McHenry, M.J. A finite-element model of the mechanics of superficial neuromasts of the fish lateral line. In prep.
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How
does swimming change as an animal
grows?
We address this question by considering
(1) how the hydrodynamics of swimming
vary with size and (2) how these mechanics
are affected by ontogenetic alterations
in behavior and morphology.
Collaborators:
G.V.
Lauder, J. Jed
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Publications
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What fluid forces are important to animals that are a few millimeters in length? How does a helically swimming animal orient to its environment? And how do large evolutionary changes in morphology and life history strategy influence locomotor performance? These questions were addressed by a series of studies on ascidian larvae.
Collaborators:
J.
Strother, E.
Azizi, H. Crenshaw,
C.N. Ciampaglio
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Research tour
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Publications
McHenry,
M.J. (2005).
Swimming in ascidian larvae:
morphology, behavior, performance
and biomechanics. Can.
J. Zool. 83: 62-74.
McHenry, M.J. & Patek, S.N. (2004).The evolution of body shape and swimming performance in ascidian larvae.Evolution 58:1209-1224.
McHenry, M.J., Azizi, E., & Strother, J.A. (2003). The hydrodynamics of locomotion at intermediate Reynolds numbers: Undulatory swimming in ascidian larvae (Botrylloides sp.). J. Exp. Biol. 206:327-343.
McHenry, M.J. & Strother, J.A. (2003). The kinematics of phototaxis in larvae of the ascidian Aplidium constellatum. Mar. Biol.142: 173-184.
McHenry, M.J. (2001). Mechanisms of helical swimming: asymmetries in the morphology, movement and mechanics of larvae of the ascidian Distaplia occidentalis. J. Exp. Biol. 204: 2959-2973.
Crenshaw, H.C., Ciampaglio, C.N. & McHenry, M.J. (2000). Analysis of the three-dimensional trajectories of organisms: Estimates of velocity, curvature, and torsion from positional information. J. Exp. Biol. 203: 961-982. |
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How
do the muscles and skeleton of a fish
generate undulatory swimming? How has
the neuromuscular control of the startle
response evolved among fishes? We addressed
these questions with a combination
of physical modeling and experimentation.
Collaborators:
J.H.
Long, M.W.
Westneat, M.E. Hale
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Publications
Hale,
M.E., Long, J.H., McHenry,
M.J. & Westneat,
M.W. (2002). Evolution
of behavior and neural
control of the fast-start
escape response. Evolution 56:
993-1007.
Westneat,
M.W., Hale, M.E., McHenry,
M.J., & Long,
J.H. (1998). Mechanics
of the fast-start: muscle
function and the role of
intramuscular pressure
in the escape behavior
of Amia calva and Polypterus
palmas. J. Exp.
Biol. 201: 3041-3055.
Long,
J.H., Hale, M.E., McHenry,
M.J. & Westneat,
M.W. (1996). Functions
of fish skin: the mechanics
of steady swimming in longnose
gar, Lepisosteus osseus. J.
Exp. Biol. 199:
2139-2151.
McHenry,
M.J., Pell, C.A. & Long,
J.H. (1995). Mechanical
control of swimming speed:
stiffness and axial wave
form in an undulatory
fish model. J.
Exp. Biol. 198: 2293-2305.
Long,
Jr., J.H., McHenry,
M.J. & Boetticher,
N.C. (1994). Undulatory
swimming: how traveling
waves are produced and
modulated in sunfish (Lepomis
gibbosus). J. Exp. Biol. 192:
129-145 |
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