All Outputs (5)

Limb work and joint work minimization reveal an energetic benefit to the elbows-back, knees-forward limb design in parasagittal quadrupeds (2020)
Journal Article
Usherwood, J. R., & Granatosky, M. C. (2020). Limb work and joint work minimization reveal an energetic benefit to the elbows-back, knees-forward limb design in parasagittal quadrupeds. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 287(1940), 20201517. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2020.1517

Quadrupedal animal locomotion is energetically costly. We explore two forms of mechanical work that may be relevant in imposing these physiological demands. Limb work, due to the forces and velocities between the stance foot and the centre of mass, c... Read More about Limb work and joint work minimization reveal an energetic benefit to the elbows-back, knees-forward limb design in parasagittal quadrupeds.

Why are the fastest runners of intermediate size? Contrasting scaling of mechanical demands and muscle supply of work and power (2020)
Journal Article
Usherwood, J. R., & Gladman, N. W. (2020). Why are the fastest runners of intermediate size? Contrasting scaling of mechanical demands and muscle supply of work and power. Biology Letters, 16(10), 20200579

The fastest land animals are of intermediate size. Cheetah, antelope, greyhounds and racehorses have been measured running much faster than reported for elephants or elephant shrews. Can this be attributed to scaling of physical demands and explicit... Read More about Why are the fastest runners of intermediate size? Contrasting scaling of mechanical demands and muscle supply of work and power.

Artificial mass loading disrupts stable social order in pigeon dominance hierarchies (2020)
Journal Article
Portugal, S. J., Usherwood, J. R., White, C. R., Sankey, D. W. E., & Wilson, A. M. (2020). Artificial mass loading disrupts stable social order in pigeon dominance hierarchies. Biology Letters, 16(8), 20200468

Dominance hierarchies confer benefits to group members by decreasing the incidences of physical conflict, but may result in certain lower ranked individuals consistently missing out on access to resources. Here, we report a linear dominance hierarchy... Read More about Artificial mass loading disrupts stable social order in pigeon dominance hierarchies.

The Possibility of Zero Limb-Work Gaits in Sprawled and Parasagittal Quadrupeds: Insights from Linkages of the Industrial Revolution (2020)
Journal Article
Usherwood, J. R. (2020). The Possibility of Zero Limb-Work Gaits in Sprawled and Parasagittal Quadrupeds: Insights from Linkages of the Industrial Revolution. Integrative Organismal Biology, 2(1),

Animal legs are diverse, complex, and perform many roles. One defining requirement of legs is to facilitate terrestrial travel with some degree of economy. This could, theoretically, be achieved without loss of mechanical energy if the body could tak... Read More about The Possibility of Zero Limb-Work Gaits in Sprawled and Parasagittal Quadrupeds: Insights from Linkages of the Industrial Revolution.

High aerodynamic lift from the tail reduces drag in gliding raptors (2020)
Journal Article
Usherwood, J. R., Cheney, J. A., Song, J., Windsor, S. P., Stevenson, J. P. J., Dierksheide, U., …Bomphrey, R. J. (2020). High aerodynamic lift from the tail reduces drag in gliding raptors. Journal of Experimental Biology, 223, https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.214809

Many functions have been postulated for the aerodynamic role of the avian tail during steady-state flight. By analogy with conventional aircraft, the tail might provide passive pitch stability if it produced very low or negative lift. Alternatively,... Read More about High aerodynamic lift from the tail reduces drag in gliding raptors.