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Load carrying during locomotion in the barnacle goose (Branta leucopsis): the effect of load placement and size
journal contribution
posted on 2010-07-01, 00:00 authored by P G Tickle, Mark RichardsonMark Richardson, J R CoddLoad carrying has been used to study the energetics and mechanics of locomotion in a range of taxa. Here we investigated the energetic and kinematic effects of trunk and limb loading in walking barnacle geese (Branta leucopsis). A directly proportional relationship between increasing back-load mass and metabolic rate was established, indicating that the barnacle goose can carry back loads (up to 20% of body mass) more economically than the majority of mammals. The increased cost of supporting and propelling the body during locomotion is likely to account for a major proportion of the extra metabolic cost. Sternal loads up to 15% of body mass were approximately twice as expensive to carry as back loads. Given the key role in dorso-ventral movement of the sternum during respiration we suggest that moving this extra mass may account for the elevated metabolic rate. Loading the distal limb with 5% extra mass incurred the greatest proportional rise in metabolism, and also caused increases in stride length, swing duration and stride frequency during locomotion. The increased work required to move the loaded limb may explain the high cost of walking.
History
Journal
Comparative biochemistry and physiology, part A: molecular & integrative physiologyVolume
156Issue
3Pagination
309 - 317Publisher
ElsevierLocation
Philadelphia, Pa.Publisher DOI
ISSN
1095-6433eISSN
1531-4332Language
engPublication classification
C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal; C Journal articleCopyright notice
2010, ElsevierUsage metrics
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Keywords
locomotionbirdsrespirationload carryingmetabolic raterespirometryAnimalsBasal MetabolismBiomechanical PhenomenaBody SizeBody WeightExtremitiesGeeseLinear ModelsSternumWeight-BearingScience & TechnologyLife Sciences & BiomedicineBiochemistry & Molecular BiologyPhysiologyZoologyFOWL NUMIDA-MELEAGRISGENERATING MUSCULAR FORCEENERGETIC COSTBLOOD-FLOWTERRESTRIAL LOCOMOTIONUNCINATE PROCESSESMETABOLIC COSTWING MOLTBODY-MASSWALKINGPhysiologyZoology
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