| Sonation in the male common snipe (Capella gallinago gallinago L.) is achieved by a flag-like fluttering of their tail feathers and consequent vortex shedding. | |
| | |
MedLine Citation:
|
PMID: 20400646 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
|
Male common snipe (Capella gallinago gallinago) produce a 'drumming' sound with their outer tail feathers during their mating dives, but little is known about how this is achieved. We investigated the movements and sound producing capabilities of the outer tail feathers. Using a wind tunnel, we compared observations of the frequencies of sound produced with the predictions from aerodynamic theory. The feathers were also filmed in an air-flow with a high speed video camera, and subjected to morphological examination and biomechanical testing. We propose a mechanistic hypothesis of how the modified outer feathers of the male common snipe generate sound, and the adaptations that facilitate this. Video and audio analysis of the feather demonstrated that a fluttering of the trailing vane generated the sound. The flutter of the vane is facilitated by the rearward curvature of the feather shaft, reduced branching angles of the barbs in the trailing vane and the lack of hooks on the barbs along a hinge region, all of which increase its flexural compliance. Sound production occurred at the same frequency as the vane movements, at frequencies consistent with it being produced by a fluttering flag mechanism powered by vortex shedding. |
| | |
Authors:
|
A van Casteren; J R Codd; J D Gardiner; H McGhie; A R Ennos |
Related Documents
:
|
1962366 - Pulse-echo ultrasound speed measurements: progress and prospects. 15781896 - Development of the acoustically evoked behavioral response in zebrafish to pure tones. 19355056 - Detection of killer whale presence using low duty cycle recorders. 10187926 - Mechanical modeling and dynamical behavior of the human middle ear. 17155416 - Stick-slip motion in spite of a slippery contact: do we get what we see in atomic frict... 20589026 - Light-bullet routing and control with planar waveguide arrays. |
Publication Detail:
|
Type: Journal Article |
Journal Detail:
|
Title: The Journal of experimental biology Volume: 213 ISSN: 1477-9145 ISO Abbreviation: J. Exp. Biol. Publication Date: 2010 May |
Date Detail:
|
Created Date: 2010-04-19 Completed Date: 2010-07-05 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
|
Nlm Unique ID: 0243705 Medline TA: J Exp Biol Country: England |
Other Details:
|
Languages: eng Pagination: 1602-8 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
|
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK. |
Export Citation:
|
APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
|
Animal Communication Animals Charadriiformes / physiology* Feathers / anatomy & histology, physiology Male Sound Tail / physiology |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
Previous Document: Frequency coding of particle motion by saccular afferents of a teleost fish.
Next Document: Distribution of bupivacaine enantiomers and lidocaine and its metabolite in the placental intervillo...