Convergent evolution in locomotory patterns of flying and swimming animals

Adrian C. Gleiss (), Salvador J. Jorgensen, Nikolai Liebsch, Juan E. Sala, Brad Norman, Graeme C. Hays, Flavio Quintana, Edward Grundy, Claudio Campagna, Andrew W. Trites, Barbara A. Block and Rory P. Wilson
Additional contact information
Adrian C. Gleiss: College of Science, Swansea University, Singleton Park Swansea SA2 8PP, UK.
Salvador J. Jorgensen: Stanford University, Hopkins Marine Station, Oceanview Boulevard, Pacific Grove, California 93950, USA.
Nikolai Liebsch: Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia.
Juan E. Sala: Centro Nacional Patagónico (CENPAT)-CONICET, 9120 Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina.
Brad Norman: ECOCEAN Inc., 68a Railway Street, Cottesloe, Western Australia, Australia.
Graeme C. Hays: College of Science, Swansea University, Singleton Park Swansea SA2 8PP, UK.
Flavio Quintana: Centro Nacional Patagónico (CENPAT)-CONICET, 9120 Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina.
Edward Grundy: Visual Computing Group, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK.
Claudio Campagna: Centro Nacional Patagónico (CENPAT)-CONICET, 9120 Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina.
Andrew W. Trites: Marine Mammal Research Unit, Fisheries Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T1Z4, Canada.
Barbara A. Block: Stanford University, Hopkins Marine Station, Oceanview Boulevard, Pacific Grove, California 93950, USA.
Rory P. Wilson: College of Science, Swansea University, Singleton Park Swansea SA2 8PP, UK.

Nature Communications, 2011, vol. 2, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract Locomotion is one of the major energetic costs faced by animals and various strategies have evolved to reduce its cost. Birds use interspersed periods of flapping and gliding to reduce the mechanical requirements of level flight while undergoing cyclical changes in flight altitude, known as undulating flight. Here we equipped free-ranging marine vertebrates with accelerometers and demonstrate that gait patterns resembling undulating flight occur in four marine vertebrate species comprising sharks and pinnipeds. Both sharks and pinnipeds display intermittent gliding interspersed with powered locomotion. We suggest, that the convergent use of similar gait patterns by distinct groups of animals points to universal physical and physiological principles that operate beyond taxonomic limits and shape common solutions to increase energetic efficiency. Energetically expensive large-scale migrations performed by many vertebrates provide common selection pressure for efficient locomotion, with potential for the convergence of locomotory strategies by a wide variety of species.

Date: 2011
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1350

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