O'Dor, R. ., Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada, Ron.ODor@dal.ca
Steward, J. ., Stanford University, Pacific Grove, USA, firstname.lastname@example.org
Squid not only swim, they can also fly like rockets, accelerating through the air by forcefully expelling water out of their mantles. Using available lab and field data from three squid species, Sthenoteuthis pteropus, Dosidicus gigas and Loligo opalescens, including 17 remarkable photographs of flying S. pteropus off the coast of Brazil, we compare the cost of transport in both water and air. The mantle volume of a flying S. pteropus (0.06m ML) is also calculated and methods of maximizing power output through funnel and mantle constriction are discussed. Additionally we found that fin flaps develop at approximately the same size range as flight behaviors in these squids, consistent with previous hypotheses that flaps could function as ailerons whilst aloft. Squid acceleration in air exceeds that in water several fold, so accelerometry tags could easily record flight times. This extreme mode of transport may be more common than previously thought and potentially employed to reduce migration cost in addition to predation avoidance. Clearly squid flight, the role of fin flaps and funnel, and the energetic benefits need more investigation.
Time: 08:00 - 10:00
Location: Poster/Exhibit Hall
Presentation is given by student: No