Main description:

GeoffGoldspink and I edited a book, Mechanics and Energetics of Animal Locomotion, which was published by Chapman and Hall in 1977. It dealt at an advanced level with all aspects of animal locomotion, emphasizing particularly the topics of then current research. Since then there have been more elementary books on the subject, including my own Locomotion of Animals (Blackie 1982), and specialized books on such topics as swimming and flight, but (despite very substantial progress in research) there has been no advanced book covering the whole range of animal locomotion. It seemed to me and to Professor Gilles (editor ofthis series) that a new book was needed. Plainly, a book of this length cannot contain everything that is known about animal locomotion. We have not attempted to make it encyclopedic, but have tried to show where the study of animal locomotion stands now, and where it is going. Older books remain useful as sources of long-established information.

Contents:

1 Basic Mechanics.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Movements and Forces.- 3 Work and Energy.- 4 Stresses, Strains and Pressures.- 5 Fluid Dynamics.- 6 Dynamic Similarity.- 7 Vibrations.- References.- 2 Hydromechanics of Swimming.- 1 Introduction: the Physics and Problems of Aquatic Locomotion.- 2 The Realm of Low Reynolds Numbers: Viscosity Waves the Rules.- 3 The Realm of High Reynolds Numbers I: Inertia Rules the Waves.- 4 The Realm of High Reynold Numbers II: Thrust from Lift and the Nature of Hydrofoils.- 5 Intermediate Reynolds Numbers: Biology Loves this Region and Theoreticians Are Challenged by It.- 6 Performance, Limitations, and Scaling in Aquatic Locomotion: The Need for Integrating Muscle Mechanics with Fluid Dynamics.- 7 Conclusions and New Directions in Studies of Aquatic Locomotion.- References.- 3 The Aerodynamics of Flight.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Some Nondimensional Numbers.- 3 Classical Aerodynamics and the Performance of Animal Wings.- 4 Gliding.- 5 Forward Flapping Flight.- 6 Hovering.- 7 Concluding Remarks.- References.- 4 Principles of Walking and Running.- 1 Why Legs?.- 2 The Synthetic Wheel.- 3 The Straight-Legged Biped.- 4 The Knee-Jointed Biped.- 5 Pumping the Natural Dynamics.- 6 Role of the Torso.- 7 Leg Length Variation.- 8 Running.- 9 Energetics of Running.- 10 Why Not Hop?.- 11 Quadruped Gaits.- 12 Why Legs?.- References.- 5 Empirical Studies of Walking and Running.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Investigating Walking and Running.- 3 Elasticity and the Running Animal.- 4 Running and Breathing.- 5 Stresses Encountered in Locomotion.- 6 Optimization.- References.- 6 Locomotion of Soft Bodied Animals.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Skeletons.- 3 Movements in or on Solid Substrates.- 4 Swimming.- References.- 7 Muscle Function in Locomotion.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Muscle Properties.- 3 Monitoring Muscular Performance in Vivo.- 4 Performance and Design of Muscles in Some Locomotor Systems.- 5 Conclusions and Perspectives.- References.- 8 Energetics of Locomotion.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Energetics in Relation to Mechanics.- 3 Metabolism Versus Speed: Mechanics and Energetics.- 4 Size Effects on Locomotor Energetics.- 5 Energetics in Relation to Muscle Performance.- 6 Energetic Correlates with Muscle Ultrastructure.- 7 Metabolism and Force Production.- 8 Morphological Adaptation for Locomotion.- 9 Cost of Transport.- 10 Conclusions and Future Directions.- References.- 9 Optimization of Locomotion.- 1 Introduction.- 2 When to Leave a Patch: The Marginal Value Theorem.- 3 Optimal Travel Speed in Two Cases.- 4 Different Modes of Locomotion.- 5 Moving Versus Staying.- 6 Travelling in Groups.- 7 Avian Flight.- 8 Diving.- 9 Predator-Prey Interactions.- 10 The Ideal Free Distribution.- 11 Maximizing Rate of Reproduction Versus Maximizing Total Reproduction.- 12 The Effects of Predation.- 13 Migration.- 14 Dispersal.- 15 Concluding Remarks.- References.