Phonoresponses of Female Moths With Two-Celled Ears to Different Acoustic Signals Emitted by Sympatric Insect Species
Syntomeida epilais (Arctiidae), the object of our study, is one of the moth species with two-celled ears that have been demonstrated to need acoustic communication for successful mating behavior. The aim of our study is to analyze if perched S. epilais females could discriminate the emissions produced by conspecific males from other ultrasonic stimuli present in their environment. We stimulated 20 virgin females with playback recordings of conspecific male and female signals and of emissions from another two-celled ear moth species (Empyreuma affinis). Stimulation signals were applied and recordings of phonoresponses from stationary S. epialis females were obtained outdoors during the hours of its mating behavior (3:30-6:30 AM). The responses were quantified by counting the number of modulation cycles produced by the female per applied stimuli and by measuring the latency to the first stimulus of the series. All 20 female phonoresponded to their conspecific male emissions, while 12 responded to their conspecific female emissions, 6 to the E. affinis female emissions, and only 2 to the male signals of E. affinis. After responding to the conspecific male emissions, we decapitated 3 S. epilais females. None of the headless females responded to any of the applied stimuli. This result differs radically from that obtained in another two-celled ear moth (Cycnia tenera), that continued to phonorespond headless. These results on the whole demonstrate that S.epilais females phonorespond preferentially to their conspecific male emissions, suggesting for the first time physiological adaptations for intraspecific acoustic communication in moths with two-celled ears.
The Relationship Between Achilles Tendon Dimensions, Gait Transition Speed and Sprint Speed in Humans
The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the length, width, thickness and moment arm of the Achilles tendon and gait transition speed and sprint speed. For this study, the participants were 18 to 25 years of age and did not have any known Achilles tendon pathologies or current lower limb injuries. Forty participants were recorded from a lateral view as they naturally transitioned from walking to running on a treadmill. This was done by incrementally increasing the speed of the treadmill during 3 trials. The videos were reviewed to find the gait transition speed, which was the speed of the tread during the first step in which an aerial phase occurred. Participants also sprinted 25 meters on an indoor track. Their times were recorded for 3 trials and their mean sprint speed was determined. Additionally, the dimensions of the Achilles tendons in both legs were measured using ultrasonography. Then, relative measurements were calculated for each tendon dimension. Length and moment arm measurements were divided by hip height, and width and thickness measurements were divided by weight. Finally, the mean gait transition speeds and sprint speeds will be regressed against the relative tendon dimensions. It is expected that there will be a relationship between relative Achilles tendon dimensions and both mean gait transition speeds and mean sprint speeds.
The Relationship Between Achilles Tendon Dimensions and Vertical Jumping in Humans
This study will determine if there is a relationship between vertical jumping ability and the dimensions of the Achilles tendon in humans. The moment arm (MA), length, thickness and width of the Achilles tendon were measured using ultrasonography in forty participants that were between 18 and 25 years of age and did not have any known Achilles tendon pathologies or current lower limb injuries. Relative measurements were calculated for each tendon dimension. Length and moment arm measurements were divided by hip height, and width and thickness measurements were divided by weight. Participants also performed a series of jumps, including a countermovement jump, squat jump with an arm swing, and a vertical jump on each leg. All jumps were recorded with a high-speed camera from a lateral view and then jump height was measured from the videos. The relative tendon dimensions will then be regressed against the jump heights. It is hypothesized that individuals with longer tendons and longer moment arms will be able to jump higher. Research findings will contribute to research on the physiology of the Achilles tendon as well as the development of exercise and physical rehabilitation programs.
Dept of Biology and Environmental Science, Marietta College, Marietta, OH
P36 • John F. Menz1, Andrew G. Gardner1, Kelly A. Shepherd2, Spencer Willis, Rachel S. Jabaily1
Getting Into Shape: Morphometric Analysis of Floral Symmetry Variation in Goodeniaceae
The Goodeniaceae is a principally Australian family of wildflowers, with its highest species diversity in the Southwestern Australian Floristic Province. The family displays diverse petal symmetry variation including actinomorphic, bilabiate, and fan-shaped flowers. This evolutionary lability may have been a key driver of diversification in the family. In this study, we used geometric morphometrics to characterize floral symmetry for 28 species of Goodeniaceae. Morphometrics uses homologous landmarks to allow for quantitative comparisons of the shapes of objects. While evolutionary developmental biology has adapted morphometric theory from fields such as archaeology and utilized it as a powerful tool for comparative analyses, most biological applications have thus far been limited to animal models. An average of 8.75 head-on photos of each species’ flowers was taken in the bush, which were then digitally landmarked. Photo-specific variation was minimized by performing a Procrustes transformation and relative warps analysis using morphometric freeware. We sought to test intra- and interspecific variability of floral form to quantitatively define discrete floral morphological bins and to assess levels of correlation among the floral landmarks, allowing us to define potential developmental modules. Species were clustered into multiple discrete floral symmetry bins for future phylogenetic study. The majority of interspecific floral variation was determined through PCA analysis to be encompassed by landmarks on dorsal and lateral petals, with minimal variation within species. This study determined that geometric morphometrics is a viable method of objectively comparing and characterizing floral morphology.
1 Dept of Biology, Rhodes College, Memphis, TN; 2 Western Australian Herbarium- Dept of Parks and Wildlife, Kensington, Western Australia, Australia
