Water striders adjust leg movement speed to optimize takeoff velocity for their morphology

Eunjin Yang; Jae Hak Son; Sang-im Lee; Piotr G. Jablonski; Ho-Young Kim

doi:10.1038/ncomms13698

Nature Communications (Dec 2016)

Water striders adjust leg movement speed to optimize takeoff velocity for their morphology

Eunjin Yang,
Jae Hak Son,
Sang-im Lee,
Piotr G. Jablonski,
Ho-Young Kim

Affiliations

Eunjin Yang: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University
Jae Hak Son: Laboratory of Behavioral Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University
Sang-im Lee: Daegu-Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology School of Undergraduate Studies
Piotr G. Jablonski: Laboratory of Behavioral Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University
Ho-Young Kim: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms13698
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 7, no. 1
pp. 1 – 9

Abstract

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How water striders escape from danger by jumping vertically from the water surface without sinking is an open question in biomechanics. Yanget al. show that water strider species with varying leg lengths and body masses tune their leg movements to maximize jump speeds without breaking the surface of the water.

Published in Nature Communications

ISSN: 2041-1723 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science
Website: https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

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