Books by Carlo M Biancardi
New World Tarantulas, 2020
Terrestrial multi-legged locomotion is an energetically demanding activity. The limbs need to exe... more Terrestrial multi-legged locomotion is an energetically demanding activity. The limbs need to exert force on the ground to support and move the body weight and negotiate uneven surfaces. The locomotor performances of Theraphosidae are limited by their poor aerobic capacities. The smaller body size and longer legs of the more active sex (males) are considered results of an optimisation to reduce the high metabolic cost of locomotion.
A large fraction of the mechanical work is done against gravity, to lift the body centre of mass with each step. Both horizontal work (to push the centre of mass forward) and internal work (done to move the limbs with respect to the centre of mass) represent a small part of the total work.
Unlike other spiders, Theraphosidae employ all of their limbs for locomotion. The first described stepping pattern was an alternating tetrapod gait, in which the odd limbs on one side move together with the contralateral even limbs. Nevertheless, we are able to discriminate different quadruped-similar gait patterns, such as lateral and diagonal walking and trotting. Unlike quadrupedal vertebrates, the highest speeds are reached mainly by increasing stride frequency, while stride length remains roughly constant.
PeerJ, Sep 26, 2019
Background. The mechanics and energetics of spider locomotion have not been deeply investigated, ... more Background. The mechanics and energetics of spider locomotion have not been deeply investigated, despite their importance in the life of a spider. For example, the reproductive success of males of several species is dependent upon their ability to move from one area to another. The aim of this work was to describe gait patterns and analyze the gait parameters of Eupalaestrus weijenberghi (Araneae, Theraphosidae) in order to investigate the mechanics of their locomotion and the mechanisms by which they conserve energy while traversing different inclinations and surfaces. Methods. Tarantulas were collected and marked for kinematic analysis. Free displacements , both level and on an incline, were recorded using glass and Teflon as experimental surfaces. Body segments of the experimental animals were measured, weighed, and their center of mass was experimentally determined. Through reconstruction of the trajectories of the body segments, we were able to estimate their internal and external mechanical work and analyze their gait patterns. Results. Spiders mainly employed a walk-trot gait. Significant differences between the first two pairs and the second two pairs were detected. No significant differences were detected regarding the different planes or surfaces with respect to duty factor, time lags, stride frequency, and stride length. However, postural changes were observed on slippery surfaces. The mechanical work required for traversing a level plane was lower than expected. In all conditions, the external work, and within it the vertical work, accounted for almost all of the total mechanical work. The internal work was extremely low and did not rise as the gradient increased. Discussion. Our results support the idea of considering the eight limbs functionally divided into two quadrupeds in series. The anterior was composed of the first two pairs of limbs, which have an explorative and steering purpose and the posterior was more involved in supporting the weight of the body. The mechanical work to move one unit of mass a unit distance is almost constant among the different species tested. However, spiders showed lower values than expected. Minimizing the mechanical work could help to limit metabolic energy expenditure that, in small animals, is relatively very high. However, energy recovery due to inverted pendulum mechanics only accounts for only a small fraction of the energy saved. Adhesive setae present in the tarsal, scopulae,
Papers by Carlo M Biancardi
PeerJ, 2021
Background. Synergy modules have been used to describe activation of lower limb muscles during lo... more Background. Synergy modules have been used to describe activation of lower limb muscles during locomotion and hence to understand how the system controls movement. Walking and running have been shown shared synergy patterns suggesting common motor control of both symmetrical gaits. Unilateral skipping, an equivalent gait to the quadrupedal gallop in humans, has been defined as the third locomotion paradigm but the use by humans is limited due to its high metabolic cost. Synergies in skipping have been little investigated. In particular, to the best of our knowledge, the joint study of both trailing and leading limbs has never been addressed before. Research question. How are organized muscle activation patterns in unilateral skipping? Are they organized in the same way that in symmetrical gaits? If yes, which are the muscle activation patterns in skipping that make it a different gait to walking or running? In the present research, we investigate if there are shared control strategies for all gaits in locomotion. Addressing these questions in terms of muscle synergies could suggest possible determinants of the scarce use of unilateral skipping in humans. Methods. Electromyographic data of fourteen bilateral muscles were collected from volunteers while performing walking, running and unilateral skipping on a treadmill. Also, spatiotemporal gait parameters were computed from 3D kinematics. The modular composition and activation timing extracted by non-negative matrix factorization were analyzed to detect similarities and differences among symmetrical gaits and unilateral skipping. Results. Synergy modules showed high similarity throughout the different gaits and between trailing and leading limbs during unilateral skipping. The synergy associated with the propulsion force operated by calf muscles was anticipated in bouncing gaits. Temporal features of synergies in the leading leg were very similar to those observed for running. The different role of trailing and leading legs in unilateral skipping was reflected by the different timing in two modules. Activation for weight acceptance was anticipated and extended in the trailing leg, preparing the body for landing impact after the flight phase. A different behaviour was detected in the leading leg, which only deals with a pendular weight transference. Significance. The evidence gathered in this work supports the hypothesis of shared modules among symmetrical and asymmetrical gaits, suggesting a common motor control despite of the infrequent use of unilateral skipping in humans. Unilateral skipping results from phase-shifted activation of similar muscular groups used in symmetrical gaits, without the need for new muscular groups. The high and anticipated How to cite this article Pequera G, Ramírez Paulino I, Biancardi CM. 2021. Common motor patterns of asymmetrical and symmetrical bipedal gaits.
International Journal of Cardiovascular Sciences, 2021
Background: Walking is an economic activity, the more efficient the mechanical contribution, the ... more Background: Walking is an economic activity, the more efficient the mechanical contribution, the less metabolic energy is necessary to keep walking. Patients with chronic heart failure and heart transplant present peripheral musculoskeletal disorders, dyspnea, and fatigue in their activities. Objective: In this scenario, the present study sought to verify the correlations between metabolic and electromyographic variables in chronic heart failure, heart transplant patients, and healthy controls. Methods: Regression and correlation between cost of transport and electromyographic cost, as well as correlation between oxygen consumption and muscle coactivation in patients and controls at five different walking speeds have been performed, with alpha = 0.05. Results: Strong correlation values (r controls: 0.99; chronic heart failure: 0.92; heart transplant: 0.88) indicate a linear relationship between the cost of transport and electromyographic cost. Oxygen consumption was significantly correlated to muscle activation in all groups. Conclusion: These results suggested that dynamic muscle coactivation was an important factor, especially for CHF and HT. These data support the idea that peripheral muscle limitations play an important role in people with CHF and HT. These findings indicate a strong relation between metabolic and electromyographic variables. For chronic heart failure and heart transplant patients, it can help to explain some difficulties in daily activities and aid in physical rehabilitation.
Revista Universitaria de la Educación Física y el Deporte, 2021
Resumen En este estudio se evaluó el pico de potencia máxima (PPM) en un salto con contramovimien... more Resumen En este estudio se evaluó el pico de potencia máxima (PPM) en un salto con contramovimiento, en dos poblaciones de deportistas femeninas (Fútbol y Voleibol) de diferentes edades con análisis cinemático. La reconstrucción 3D del movimiento del centro de masa corporal permitió medir la altura del salto y calcular velocidades, fuerzas y potencias a lo largo del ejercicio. Se calcularon los PPM a través de los vectores fuerza y velocidad y también usando ecuaciones predictivas basadas en la altura del salto. El análisis cinemático no detectó diferencias significativas en los PPM, pero si en el la altura del salto, siendo mayor en la jugadoras de voleibol. Las ecuaciones predictivas sobreestimaron los PPM.
Revista Argentina de Bioingeniería, 2020
Running is a series of rebound impacts on the ground that is alternated with aerial phases when n... more Running is a series of rebound impacts on the ground that is alternated with aerial phases when none of the feet are in contact with the ground, but information using a novel technique electromyographic economy is lacking. So the objective of the study is to correlate the electromyographic economy with metabolic economy in the running at different speeds. Four individuals amateur running participated in the study. Electromyographic data and oxygen uptake were collected simultaneously at five speeds. Measurements were made of 16 muscles of the lower, trunk and upper limbs involved during running. In the analysis the data were converted from millivolts to Joules. Result only the 10 km.h-1 speed showed a difference compared to the other speeds. The behavior of the electromyographic economy was in line with gas analysis, with a coefficient of determination of 88 %. These findings suggest that the value of the electromyographic economy is lower than expected in the literature like as economy running obtained through oxygen consumption. Future research may continuous this study with more individuals and in other situations. Keywords-Cost of transport, muscle activation, oxygen consumption, locomotion. Resumen-Correr es una serie de impactos de rebote en el suelo que son alternados con fases aéreas cuando ninguno de los pies está en contacto con el suelo, todavía hay pocas informaciones con la nueva técnica de la economía electromiografica. Así, el objetivo del estudio es correlacionar la economía electromiográfica con la economía metabólica en la carrera en diferentes velocidades. En este estudio fueron evaluados cuatro corredores amateurs. Se realizaron mediciones simultáneas de datos de electromiografía y análisis de gases en cinco diferentes velocidades. Se evaluó la contribución de 16 músculos de los miembros inferiores, superiores y del tronco involucrados en la carrera. En el análisis los datos fueron convertidos de milivoltios hasta Joules. Como resultado, solo la velocidad de 10 km.h-1 presentó diferencia comparado a las otras velocidades. El comportamiento de la economía electromiográfíca es presentada por una línea como con análisis de gases, con un coeficiente de determinación de 88%. En cuanto a los datos obtenidos se puede decir que el valor de la economía electromiográfica es menor que el esperado en la literatura como la economía de la carrera obtenido a través del consumo de oxígeno. Futuras investigaciones pueden profundizar este estudio con más individuos y en otras situaciones. Palabras clave-Costo de transporte, activación muscular, consumo oxígeno, locomoción.
Journal of Comparative Physiology A , 2021
Theraphosid tarantulas are large spiders that bear dense hairy adhesive pads on the distal parts ... more Theraphosid tarantulas are large spiders that bear dense hairy adhesive pads on the distal parts of their legs: scopula and claw tufts. These structures allow them to climb on vertical smooth surfaces and contribute to prey capture. While adult females and juveniles remain most of the time in their burrows, adult males actively walk searching for females during the reproductive period. Adhesion and locomotion thus play important roles in the ecology and reproduction of these animals. In this paper, we review the current state of the knowledge on adhesion and locomotion in tarantulas, focusing on functional and evolutionary morphology.
Revista Argentina de Bioingenieria, 2020
The external mechanical work (WEXT) estimation primarily depends on the trajectory of the body ce... more The external mechanical work (WEXT) estimation primarily depends on the trajectory of the body centre of mass (COMb). Inverse dynamics (ID) provides reliable tools to reconstruct the COMb position from different kinematic models. We measured and compared the WEXT from a full body model and a simplified one, in human locomotion and in octopedal locomotion of terrestrial spiders, in order to quantify the difference and evaluate the reliability of the latter model. Analyzing the COMb displacements by means of one or two landmarks fixed to the main body segment can be a simple approximation, useful for different purposes. Conversely, the full models consider the movement of all the body segments, with different complexity levels. In our protocols, the simplified model was a subset of the full model. Therefore, we could collect both in the very same trial, using a motion capture system. Spider kinematic data were collected during free displacements in a calibrated space. Humans performed walking, running, and skipping at different controlled speeds on a treadmill. The simplified model always resulted in a variable, speed dependent, overestimation of the WEXT. 3D kinetic energy of the COMb was affected more than the potential energy. Therefore, in bouncing gaits like skipping and, on minor extent, running, the differences were proportionally smaller than in walking. In skipping the error was almost constant (30%) throughout the speed range. The error was also affected by the relative weight of the body segments. For estimating the mechanical energy of the COMb, a full body model is highly recommended, at least in vertebrates. Resumen-La estimación del trabajo mecánico externo (WEXT) depende principalmente de la trayectoria del centro de masa corporal (COMb). Utilizando diferentes modelos cinemáticos es posible reconstruir de forma confiable, mediante herramientas de dinámica inversa, la posición del COMb. Medimos y comparamos el WEXT calculado por un modelo simple y otro completo, en locomoción bípeda y octópoda, al fin de calcular las diferencias y evaluar la confiabilidad del modelo simplificado. El análisis del desplazamiento del centro de masa a través de uno o dos marcadores fijados en el segmento mayor del cuerpo puede ser una aproximación útil para diferentes propósitos. Inversamente, en un modelo completo se consideran los movimientos de todos, o casi todos, los segmentos corporales. El modelo simplificado fue un subconjunto de marcadores del modelo completo. En tarántulas, los datos fueron colectados durante desplazamientos libres en un espacio especialmente calibrado. Los humanos se desplazaron caminando, corriendo y galopando sobre una cinta caminadora, a diferentes velocidades controladas. Los modelos simplificados siempre sobreestimaron el WEXT de forma dependiente de la velocidad. La energía cinética resultó ser más afectada que la energía potencial. Así, en los patrones con características de rebote como el galope y en menor medida la carrera, las diferencias entre los dos modelos fue menor que en la marcha. En el skipping el error porcentual fue constante en las diferentes velocidades, alrededor del 30%, La diferencia entre los modelos fue influenciada por el peso relativo de los segmentos. Con el propósito de estimar la energía mecánica del COMb, se recomienda utilizar, al menos en vertebrados, un modelo que incluya los segmentos corporales. Palabras clave-Locomoción animal, Trabajo mecánico externo, Modelos cinemáticos, Dinámica inversa.
Pensar en movimiento, 2020
RESUMEN La locomoción con miembros implica diferentes desafíos de tipo mecánico: en cada ciclo lo... more RESUMEN La locomoción con miembros implica diferentes desafíos de tipo mecánico: en cada ciclo los segmentos tienen que ser reposicionados anatómicamente, con fases de aceleración y deceleración, con la consiguiente elevación y descenso del centro de masa. Dentro de la locomoción humana la marcha y la carrera son actividades fundamentales en todo el ciclo vital de las personas. En específico la carrera es una actividad muy estudiada por las ciencias del deporte, medicina, fisioterapia o kinesiología, ingeniería y biólogos, por el alto impacto articular y muscular que genera, ya que esto trae consigo lesiones y alteraciones en el rendimiento de los pacientes y deportistas. El constante estudio de la locomoción a reconocido diferentes desafíos de tipo fisiológico y mecánico tanto en la explicación de fenómenos como en el análisis de estos. Este artículo busca aclarar conceptos a través de textos clásicos, que se consideran básicos e importantes para entender las investigaciones posteriores. Además, se explican diferentes parámetros que sirven para comprender la locomoción, tanto en estudios con humanos como en animales. El objetivo de este trabajo es hacer una revisión de la literatura, que se enfoca en los aspectos mecánicos, energéticos, el efecto del tamaño y los diferentes patrones de la locomoción, PENSAR EN MOVIMIENTO. Artículo descargado de www.revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/pem/ para uso personal únicamente. Este manuscrito Recién Horneado es la versión aceptada para publicación previa a diagramación y correcciones; habrá algunas diferencias con la versión final. Por favor citar como: Massimo Biancardi, C., Bona, R.L., y Lagos Hausheer, L. Locomoción humana: modelos y variables biomecánicas. PensarMov (2020).
Atti 8° Convegno dei Faunisti Veneti - Bollettino Museo di Storia Naturale di Venezia, 2019
Scopo di questo lavoro è l’elaborazione di una procedura efficace per l’individuazione e il censi... more Scopo di questo lavoro è l’elaborazione di una procedura efficace per l’individuazione e il censimento delle tane di tasso Meles meles presenti nella Riserva Naturale Integrale di Bosco Nordio. Le tane di tasso sono facilmente riconoscibili per l’evidente accumulo di materiale di scavo, la
presenza di impronte e la vicinanza a latrine, tuttavia il censimento esaustivo, o conteggio assoluto, può risultare problematico a causa delle condizioni del terreno e della vegetazione, portando alla
mancata copertura di alcuni settori e quindi a stime e conclusioni errate. Per coprire l’intera area minimizzando le possibilità di errore è stata utilizzata un’applicazione gratuita per smartphone (Endomondo
Sports Tracker) studiata per le attività sportive, che permette di visualizzare il percorso fatto come una linea su un’immagine satellitare del territorio. La ricerca mirava ad individuare segni
di scavo (materiale di accumulo, gallerie), di presenza (latrine, tracce) o di passaggio. L’uso dell’applicazione
ha reso più efficace e veloce la ricerca, consentendo di deviare dal percorso rettilineo, ad esempio, per seguire una traccia, con la sicurezza di poter riprendere il percorso senza tralasciare alcun settore. Quando veniva trovato un ingresso di tana o altri segni di presenza (ad esempio latrine con presenza di fatte recenti), il punto veniva registrato con un dispositivo GPS e ne venivano annotate coordinate e caratteristiche in una scheda apposita. Dopodiché venivano posizionate delle
fototrappole per verificare l’effettiva frequentazione del luogo. L’utilizzo di applicazioni di tracciamento mediante GPS, oggi disponibili gratuitamente per i più comuni smartphone, può consentire
la realizzazione di censimenti esaustivi in modo rapido ed efficace anche in mancanza di strumenti più costosi e tecnologicamente elaborati.
Application of a methodology foe the exhaustive census of badger, Meles meles, setts, in the strict nature reserve of Bosco Nordio (Chioggia, province of Venice, NE Italy) (Carnivora: Mustelidae).
Aim of this work is the elaboration of an efficient procedure for the detection and the census of European badger Meles meles setts in the Strict Nature Reserve of Bosco Nordio. Badger burrows are easily detectable for the stockpile of material and the presence of footprints and latrines, but an exhaustive census can be a difficult task, depending on land and vegetation conditions. Every lack of coverage of land patches can lead to misleading evaluations and wrong conclusions. To cover the whole area of the Reserve and minimizing the possibilities of error, we used a free smartphone application (Endomondo Sport Tracker), developed for sport activity, which allows you to view the
itinerary as a line on a satellite image of the territory. The research protocol consisted in searching and spotting digging signs (piled up materials, galleries), signs of presence (latrines, footprints)
or signs of passage. Using the application made the research more efficient and quicker, allowing to diverge from the survey path (to follow an animal track) and coming back with confidence,
without missing any survey area. Every gallery or other signs of badger presence were marked with GPS coordinates, and the characteristics of the point were registered in a specific data sheet, then a camera trap was set up to control the passages. Nowadays different free GPS tracking applications for smartphones are available. Their use can help to rapidly and efficiently carry out total counts, without more expensive and technologically advanced equipment.
Atti 8° Convegno Faunisti Veneti. Bollettino del Museo di Storia Naturale di Venezia, 2019
Da marzo a novembre 2015 è stata condotta nella R.N.I. di Bosco Nordio un’indagine sulla teriof... more Da marzo a novembre 2015 è stata condotta nella R.N.I. di Bosco Nordio un’indagine sulla teriofauna attraverso il posizionamento di fototrappole a infrarossi (infrared camera-traps) e l’utilizzo di cani addestrati in attività di ricerca di tracce di animali selvatici. Nel corso di questo studio sono state individuate complessivamente 12 specie: riccio europeo,
Erinaceus europaeus, talpa comune, Talpa europaea, toporagno della Selva di Arvonchi, Sorex arunchi, lepre europea, Lepus europaeus, topo selvatico, Apodemus sylvaticus, topo selvatico dal dorso striato, Apodemus agrarius, ratto delle chiaviche, Rattus norvegicus, volpe, Vulpes vulpes, faina, Martes foina, donnola, Mustela nivalis, tasso, Meles meles, e daino, Dama dama. È stato possibile aggiornare la check-list delle specie presenti all’interno dell’area protetta e individuare
il topo selvatico dorso striato in una nuova località per la pianura Pianura Veneta. L’indagine ha inoltre permesso di approfondire il quadro conoscitivo sulla distribuzione di tasso, daino e volpe attraverso la creazione di apposite mappe di concentrazione (Kernel Density Estimation). La sovrapposizione tra le mappe di concentrazione e la Carta degli Habitat del SIC/ZPS IT3250032 ha permesso di evidenziare quali siano gli habitat ricadenti nelle aree di maggior presenza di tasso, volpe e daino e in che percentuale siano rappresentati rispetto alla superficie complessivamente occupata da quegli habitat all’interno dell’area protetta. Le informazioni ottenute attraverso questo studio si rivelano importanti nell’ottica di una pianificazione e progettazione futura che sia coerente con le necessità di tutela e conservazione delle specie individuate.
Mammals were surveyed in the Strict Nature Reserve of Bosco Nordio, from March to November 2015. The survey was performed using infrared camera traps and dogs trained to search signs and tracks of wild animals. Overall, during the survey, were detected 12 species:
West European hedgehog, Erinaceus europaeus, European mole, Talpa europaea, Udine shrew, Sorex arunchi, European hare, Lepus europaeus, long-tailed field mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus, striped field mouse, Apodemus agrarius, brown rat, Rattus norvegicus, red fox, Vulpes vulpes, beech marten, Martes foina, least weasel, Mustela nivalis, European badger, Meles meles, e fallow deer, Dama dama. The research allowed to update the check-list of the species present in the protected area, and to spot the striped field mouse in a new site of the Venetian Po plane. Moreover, the survey permitted us to achieve a better knowledge of the distribution of badgers, fallow deers and foxes, through the development of specific concentration maps (Kernel Density Estimation). By overlapping the concentration maps and the Habitats map of the SCI/SPA IT3250032 it has been possible to determine the habitats of greater occurrence of badger, fox and fallow deer, and calculate their relative percentage with respect to the total surface occupied in the whole protected area. The information obtained through this study is important for future management planning consistent with the necessities of protection and conservation of the resident species.
European Journal of Physiotherapy, 2019
Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of walking speed on the pendular ... more Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of walking speed on the pendular mechanism, cost of transport, mechanical efficiency and mechanical work in adults with lower-limb amputation, compared to a control group.
Methods: Observational, cross sectional study. Ten subjects from an amputee rehabilitation clinic, with the same prosthetic knee and foot and ten healthy subjects were selected to form the experimental and the control group, respectively. Tridimensional kinematics data and oxygen uptake were collected simultaneously at five speeds: the self-selected walking speed (SSWS), two speeds above and below. Results: In the experimental group, the cost of transport was higher than in controls. Contrary to con- trols, in experimental group the minimum cost of transport and the maximum recovery did not coin- cide to the SSWS, but were reached at the maximum speed of the protocol. The mechanical efficiency in experimental group was lower, while the external mechanical work and pendular transduction were higher than in controls.
Conclusions: The clinical relevance of these results is the concept, also supported by other studies, that interventions headed to increase the SSWS in the experimental group also increase and optimise the energetic economy and the pendulum efficiency of their locomotion.
Revista Universitaria de Educación Física y Deporte, 2018
La R.N.I. di Bosco Nordio, situata sull’apparato dunale più antico del litorale tra Chioggia ed i... more La R.N.I. di Bosco Nordio, situata sull’apparato dunale più antico del litorale tra Chioggia ed il Po, è caratterizzata da un bosco di leccio ed orniello e rappresenta un importante relitto delle foreste ampiamente diffuse in passato nel litorale alto adriatico. La presenza di habitat di interesse comunitario fa rientrare Bosco Nordio nella rete di aree protette del sistema “Natura 2000”, istituita in attuazione della Direttiva comunitaria “Habitat” (Dir. 92/43).
Dal marzo al novembre 2015 è stata condotta in quest’area un’indagine sulla teriofauna condotta attraverso il posizionamento di fototrappole a infrarossi (infrared camera-traps) e l’utilizzo di cani già impiegati in attività di ricerca di tracce di animali selvatici. Lo studio ha permesso di redigere una check-list aggiornata delle specie presenti all’interno dell’area protetta e di approfondire il quadro conoscitivo sulla distribuzione in particolare di tasso, daino e volpe attraverso la creazione di apposite mappe di concentrazione (Kernel Density Estimation). L’interpolazione tra le mappe di concentrazione e la Carta degli Habitat del SIC/ZPS IT3250032 ha permesso di evidenziare quali siano gli habitat ricadenti nelle aree di maggior presenza di tasso, volpe e daino e in che percentuale siano rappresentati rispetto alla superficie complessivamente occupata all’interno dell’area protetta. Le informazioni ottenute attraverso questo studio si rivelano importanti nell’ottica di una pianificazione e progettazione futura che sia coerente con le necessità di tutela e conservazione delle specie individuate.
The Strict Nature Reserve of Bosco Nordio, located on the most ancient dune system of the coast between Chioggia and the river Po, is characterized by a forest of evergreen oaks and manna ashes. It represents an important relic of the widespread forests of the upper Adriatic coast. The presence of habitats of community interest makes Bosco Nordio part of the network of protected areas “Natura 2000”, established according to the Habitats Directive (Dir. 92/43).
A survey was carried out in this area, from March to November 2015. The survey was performed using infrared camera traps and trained dogs. The latter were already employed to search signs and tracks of wild animals. The research made it possible to draw up the updated check-list of the species present in the protected area, and to achieve a better knowledge of the distribution of badgers, fallow deers and foxes, through the development of specific concentration maps (Kernel Density Estimation). The cross-check between the concentration maps and the Habitats map of the SCI/SPA IT3250032 made it possible to determine in which habitats it was recorded the presence of badgers, foxes and fallow deers, and what was their relative percentage with respect to the total surface occupied in the whole protected area. The information obtained through this study are important for future management planning consistent with the necessities of protection and conservation of the resident species.
Natural History Sciences, 2017
Dam walls are like open laboratories useful to study the gradient limits of locomotion. Two dam w... more Dam walls are like open laboratories useful to study the gradient limits of locomotion. Two dam walls, where Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) use to climb searching for the salty exuded, were filmed at 0.2 fps. The straight slope of the walls ranged from 123% to almost vertical. In total 54 animals were filmed and their body mass estimated as medium size, small size and kids. No large males were observed moving on the walls. The overall weighted average incline of their paths was 37% uphill and 46% downhill. They used to climb on zigzag routes and run down on more linear tracks. The gaits employed by the animals were walk and gallop. The steepest paths travelled by kids were 155% up and 157% down, the maximum height was 49 m, while their maximum estimated speeds were 2.6 ms-1 uphill and-4.2 ms-1 downhill. Medium: +143% and-157%; 49 m; +1.1 and-4.1 ms-1. Large: +102% and-123%; 32 m; +0.7 and –1.0 ms-1. The climbing performance of Alpine ibex, in term of speed and inclination, appeared to be negatively influenced by body mass, while the friction coefficient between their hooves and the dam walls was in a range higher than rubber on concrete surfaces. Protection against toppling depends on the slope and the ratio between the basal width and body centre of mass (bCOM) height. We propose a safety factor index (Fst), similar to that used in geology, defined as the ratio between the major distance from a downstream to an upstream leg and the centre of mass height, all divided by the tangent of the slope. An index value of " 1 " is the discriminant between unsafe and relative safe positions. Animals with shorter legs and lower bCOM, like females and kids, can negotiate steeper paths with a higher safety factor.
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Books by Carlo M Biancardi
A large fraction of the mechanical work is done against gravity, to lift the body centre of mass with each step. Both horizontal work (to push the centre of mass forward) and internal work (done to move the limbs with respect to the centre of mass) represent a small part of the total work.
Unlike other spiders, Theraphosidae employ all of their limbs for locomotion. The first described stepping pattern was an alternating tetrapod gait, in which the odd limbs on one side move together with the contralateral even limbs. Nevertheless, we are able to discriminate different quadruped-similar gait patterns, such as lateral and diagonal walking and trotting. Unlike quadrupedal vertebrates, the highest speeds are reached mainly by increasing stride frequency, while stride length remains roughly constant.
Papers by Carlo M Biancardi
presenza di impronte e la vicinanza a latrine, tuttavia il censimento esaustivo, o conteggio assoluto, può risultare problematico a causa delle condizioni del terreno e della vegetazione, portando alla
mancata copertura di alcuni settori e quindi a stime e conclusioni errate. Per coprire l’intera area minimizzando le possibilità di errore è stata utilizzata un’applicazione gratuita per smartphone (Endomondo
Sports Tracker) studiata per le attività sportive, che permette di visualizzare il percorso fatto come una linea su un’immagine satellitare del territorio. La ricerca mirava ad individuare segni
di scavo (materiale di accumulo, gallerie), di presenza (latrine, tracce) o di passaggio. L’uso dell’applicazione
ha reso più efficace e veloce la ricerca, consentendo di deviare dal percorso rettilineo, ad esempio, per seguire una traccia, con la sicurezza di poter riprendere il percorso senza tralasciare alcun settore. Quando veniva trovato un ingresso di tana o altri segni di presenza (ad esempio latrine con presenza di fatte recenti), il punto veniva registrato con un dispositivo GPS e ne venivano annotate coordinate e caratteristiche in una scheda apposita. Dopodiché venivano posizionate delle
fototrappole per verificare l’effettiva frequentazione del luogo. L’utilizzo di applicazioni di tracciamento mediante GPS, oggi disponibili gratuitamente per i più comuni smartphone, può consentire
la realizzazione di censimenti esaustivi in modo rapido ed efficace anche in mancanza di strumenti più costosi e tecnologicamente elaborati.
Application of a methodology foe the exhaustive census of badger, Meles meles, setts, in the strict nature reserve of Bosco Nordio (Chioggia, province of Venice, NE Italy) (Carnivora: Mustelidae).
Aim of this work is the elaboration of an efficient procedure for the detection and the census of European badger Meles meles setts in the Strict Nature Reserve of Bosco Nordio. Badger burrows are easily detectable for the stockpile of material and the presence of footprints and latrines, but an exhaustive census can be a difficult task, depending on land and vegetation conditions. Every lack of coverage of land patches can lead to misleading evaluations and wrong conclusions. To cover the whole area of the Reserve and minimizing the possibilities of error, we used a free smartphone application (Endomondo Sport Tracker), developed for sport activity, which allows you to view the
itinerary as a line on a satellite image of the territory. The research protocol consisted in searching and spotting digging signs (piled up materials, galleries), signs of presence (latrines, footprints)
or signs of passage. Using the application made the research more efficient and quicker, allowing to diverge from the survey path (to follow an animal track) and coming back with confidence,
without missing any survey area. Every gallery or other signs of badger presence were marked with GPS coordinates, and the characteristics of the point were registered in a specific data sheet, then a camera trap was set up to control the passages. Nowadays different free GPS tracking applications for smartphones are available. Their use can help to rapidly and efficiently carry out total counts, without more expensive and technologically advanced equipment.
Erinaceus europaeus, talpa comune, Talpa europaea, toporagno della Selva di Arvonchi, Sorex arunchi, lepre europea, Lepus europaeus, topo selvatico, Apodemus sylvaticus, topo selvatico dal dorso striato, Apodemus agrarius, ratto delle chiaviche, Rattus norvegicus, volpe, Vulpes vulpes, faina, Martes foina, donnola, Mustela nivalis, tasso, Meles meles, e daino, Dama dama. È stato possibile aggiornare la check-list delle specie presenti all’interno dell’area protetta e individuare
il topo selvatico dorso striato in una nuova località per la pianura Pianura Veneta. L’indagine ha inoltre permesso di approfondire il quadro conoscitivo sulla distribuzione di tasso, daino e volpe attraverso la creazione di apposite mappe di concentrazione (Kernel Density Estimation). La sovrapposizione tra le mappe di concentrazione e la Carta degli Habitat del SIC/ZPS IT3250032 ha permesso di evidenziare quali siano gli habitat ricadenti nelle aree di maggior presenza di tasso, volpe e daino e in che percentuale siano rappresentati rispetto alla superficie complessivamente occupata da quegli habitat all’interno dell’area protetta. Le informazioni ottenute attraverso questo studio si rivelano importanti nell’ottica di una pianificazione e progettazione futura che sia coerente con le necessità di tutela e conservazione delle specie individuate.
Mammals were surveyed in the Strict Nature Reserve of Bosco Nordio, from March to November 2015. The survey was performed using infrared camera traps and dogs trained to search signs and tracks of wild animals. Overall, during the survey, were detected 12 species:
West European hedgehog, Erinaceus europaeus, European mole, Talpa europaea, Udine shrew, Sorex arunchi, European hare, Lepus europaeus, long-tailed field mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus, striped field mouse, Apodemus agrarius, brown rat, Rattus norvegicus, red fox, Vulpes vulpes, beech marten, Martes foina, least weasel, Mustela nivalis, European badger, Meles meles, e fallow deer, Dama dama. The research allowed to update the check-list of the species present in the protected area, and to spot the striped field mouse in a new site of the Venetian Po plane. Moreover, the survey permitted us to achieve a better knowledge of the distribution of badgers, fallow deers and foxes, through the development of specific concentration maps (Kernel Density Estimation). By overlapping the concentration maps and the Habitats map of the SCI/SPA IT3250032 it has been possible to determine the habitats of greater occurrence of badger, fox and fallow deer, and calculate their relative percentage with respect to the total surface occupied in the whole protected area. The information obtained through this study is important for future management planning consistent with the necessities of protection and conservation of the resident species.
Methods: Observational, cross sectional study. Ten subjects from an amputee rehabilitation clinic, with the same prosthetic knee and foot and ten healthy subjects were selected to form the experimental and the control group, respectively. Tridimensional kinematics data and oxygen uptake were collected simultaneously at five speeds: the self-selected walking speed (SSWS), two speeds above and below. Results: In the experimental group, the cost of transport was higher than in controls. Contrary to con- trols, in experimental group the minimum cost of transport and the maximum recovery did not coin- cide to the SSWS, but were reached at the maximum speed of the protocol. The mechanical efficiency in experimental group was lower, while the external mechanical work and pendular transduction were higher than in controls.
Conclusions: The clinical relevance of these results is the concept, also supported by other studies, that interventions headed to increase the SSWS in the experimental group also increase and optimise the energetic economy and the pendulum efficiency of their locomotion.
Dal marzo al novembre 2015 è stata condotta in quest’area un’indagine sulla teriofauna condotta attraverso il posizionamento di fototrappole a infrarossi (infrared camera-traps) e l’utilizzo di cani già impiegati in attività di ricerca di tracce di animali selvatici. Lo studio ha permesso di redigere una check-list aggiornata delle specie presenti all’interno dell’area protetta e di approfondire il quadro conoscitivo sulla distribuzione in particolare di tasso, daino e volpe attraverso la creazione di apposite mappe di concentrazione (Kernel Density Estimation). L’interpolazione tra le mappe di concentrazione e la Carta degli Habitat del SIC/ZPS IT3250032 ha permesso di evidenziare quali siano gli habitat ricadenti nelle aree di maggior presenza di tasso, volpe e daino e in che percentuale siano rappresentati rispetto alla superficie complessivamente occupata all’interno dell’area protetta. Le informazioni ottenute attraverso questo studio si rivelano importanti nell’ottica di una pianificazione e progettazione futura che sia coerente con le necessità di tutela e conservazione delle specie individuate.
The Strict Nature Reserve of Bosco Nordio, located on the most ancient dune system of the coast between Chioggia and the river Po, is characterized by a forest of evergreen oaks and manna ashes. It represents an important relic of the widespread forests of the upper Adriatic coast. The presence of habitats of community interest makes Bosco Nordio part of the network of protected areas “Natura 2000”, established according to the Habitats Directive (Dir. 92/43).
A survey was carried out in this area, from March to November 2015. The survey was performed using infrared camera traps and trained dogs. The latter were already employed to search signs and tracks of wild animals. The research made it possible to draw up the updated check-list of the species present in the protected area, and to achieve a better knowledge of the distribution of badgers, fallow deers and foxes, through the development of specific concentration maps (Kernel Density Estimation). The cross-check between the concentration maps and the Habitats map of the SCI/SPA IT3250032 made it possible to determine in which habitats it was recorded the presence of badgers, foxes and fallow deers, and what was their relative percentage with respect to the total surface occupied in the whole protected area. The information obtained through this study are important for future management planning consistent with the necessities of protection and conservation of the resident species.
A large fraction of the mechanical work is done against gravity, to lift the body centre of mass with each step. Both horizontal work (to push the centre of mass forward) and internal work (done to move the limbs with respect to the centre of mass) represent a small part of the total work.
Unlike other spiders, Theraphosidae employ all of their limbs for locomotion. The first described stepping pattern was an alternating tetrapod gait, in which the odd limbs on one side move together with the contralateral even limbs. Nevertheless, we are able to discriminate different quadruped-similar gait patterns, such as lateral and diagonal walking and trotting. Unlike quadrupedal vertebrates, the highest speeds are reached mainly by increasing stride frequency, while stride length remains roughly constant.
presenza di impronte e la vicinanza a latrine, tuttavia il censimento esaustivo, o conteggio assoluto, può risultare problematico a causa delle condizioni del terreno e della vegetazione, portando alla
mancata copertura di alcuni settori e quindi a stime e conclusioni errate. Per coprire l’intera area minimizzando le possibilità di errore è stata utilizzata un’applicazione gratuita per smartphone (Endomondo
Sports Tracker) studiata per le attività sportive, che permette di visualizzare il percorso fatto come una linea su un’immagine satellitare del territorio. La ricerca mirava ad individuare segni
di scavo (materiale di accumulo, gallerie), di presenza (latrine, tracce) o di passaggio. L’uso dell’applicazione
ha reso più efficace e veloce la ricerca, consentendo di deviare dal percorso rettilineo, ad esempio, per seguire una traccia, con la sicurezza di poter riprendere il percorso senza tralasciare alcun settore. Quando veniva trovato un ingresso di tana o altri segni di presenza (ad esempio latrine con presenza di fatte recenti), il punto veniva registrato con un dispositivo GPS e ne venivano annotate coordinate e caratteristiche in una scheda apposita. Dopodiché venivano posizionate delle
fototrappole per verificare l’effettiva frequentazione del luogo. L’utilizzo di applicazioni di tracciamento mediante GPS, oggi disponibili gratuitamente per i più comuni smartphone, può consentire
la realizzazione di censimenti esaustivi in modo rapido ed efficace anche in mancanza di strumenti più costosi e tecnologicamente elaborati.
Application of a methodology foe the exhaustive census of badger, Meles meles, setts, in the strict nature reserve of Bosco Nordio (Chioggia, province of Venice, NE Italy) (Carnivora: Mustelidae).
Aim of this work is the elaboration of an efficient procedure for the detection and the census of European badger Meles meles setts in the Strict Nature Reserve of Bosco Nordio. Badger burrows are easily detectable for the stockpile of material and the presence of footprints and latrines, but an exhaustive census can be a difficult task, depending on land and vegetation conditions. Every lack of coverage of land patches can lead to misleading evaluations and wrong conclusions. To cover the whole area of the Reserve and minimizing the possibilities of error, we used a free smartphone application (Endomondo Sport Tracker), developed for sport activity, which allows you to view the
itinerary as a line on a satellite image of the territory. The research protocol consisted in searching and spotting digging signs (piled up materials, galleries), signs of presence (latrines, footprints)
or signs of passage. Using the application made the research more efficient and quicker, allowing to diverge from the survey path (to follow an animal track) and coming back with confidence,
without missing any survey area. Every gallery or other signs of badger presence were marked with GPS coordinates, and the characteristics of the point were registered in a specific data sheet, then a camera trap was set up to control the passages. Nowadays different free GPS tracking applications for smartphones are available. Their use can help to rapidly and efficiently carry out total counts, without more expensive and technologically advanced equipment.
Erinaceus europaeus, talpa comune, Talpa europaea, toporagno della Selva di Arvonchi, Sorex arunchi, lepre europea, Lepus europaeus, topo selvatico, Apodemus sylvaticus, topo selvatico dal dorso striato, Apodemus agrarius, ratto delle chiaviche, Rattus norvegicus, volpe, Vulpes vulpes, faina, Martes foina, donnola, Mustela nivalis, tasso, Meles meles, e daino, Dama dama. È stato possibile aggiornare la check-list delle specie presenti all’interno dell’area protetta e individuare
il topo selvatico dorso striato in una nuova località per la pianura Pianura Veneta. L’indagine ha inoltre permesso di approfondire il quadro conoscitivo sulla distribuzione di tasso, daino e volpe attraverso la creazione di apposite mappe di concentrazione (Kernel Density Estimation). La sovrapposizione tra le mappe di concentrazione e la Carta degli Habitat del SIC/ZPS IT3250032 ha permesso di evidenziare quali siano gli habitat ricadenti nelle aree di maggior presenza di tasso, volpe e daino e in che percentuale siano rappresentati rispetto alla superficie complessivamente occupata da quegli habitat all’interno dell’area protetta. Le informazioni ottenute attraverso questo studio si rivelano importanti nell’ottica di una pianificazione e progettazione futura che sia coerente con le necessità di tutela e conservazione delle specie individuate.
Mammals were surveyed in the Strict Nature Reserve of Bosco Nordio, from March to November 2015. The survey was performed using infrared camera traps and dogs trained to search signs and tracks of wild animals. Overall, during the survey, were detected 12 species:
West European hedgehog, Erinaceus europaeus, European mole, Talpa europaea, Udine shrew, Sorex arunchi, European hare, Lepus europaeus, long-tailed field mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus, striped field mouse, Apodemus agrarius, brown rat, Rattus norvegicus, red fox, Vulpes vulpes, beech marten, Martes foina, least weasel, Mustela nivalis, European badger, Meles meles, e fallow deer, Dama dama. The research allowed to update the check-list of the species present in the protected area, and to spot the striped field mouse in a new site of the Venetian Po plane. Moreover, the survey permitted us to achieve a better knowledge of the distribution of badgers, fallow deers and foxes, through the development of specific concentration maps (Kernel Density Estimation). By overlapping the concentration maps and the Habitats map of the SCI/SPA IT3250032 it has been possible to determine the habitats of greater occurrence of badger, fox and fallow deer, and calculate their relative percentage with respect to the total surface occupied in the whole protected area. The information obtained through this study is important for future management planning consistent with the necessities of protection and conservation of the resident species.
Methods: Observational, cross sectional study. Ten subjects from an amputee rehabilitation clinic, with the same prosthetic knee and foot and ten healthy subjects were selected to form the experimental and the control group, respectively. Tridimensional kinematics data and oxygen uptake were collected simultaneously at five speeds: the self-selected walking speed (SSWS), two speeds above and below. Results: In the experimental group, the cost of transport was higher than in controls. Contrary to con- trols, in experimental group the minimum cost of transport and the maximum recovery did not coin- cide to the SSWS, but were reached at the maximum speed of the protocol. The mechanical efficiency in experimental group was lower, while the external mechanical work and pendular transduction were higher than in controls.
Conclusions: The clinical relevance of these results is the concept, also supported by other studies, that interventions headed to increase the SSWS in the experimental group also increase and optimise the energetic economy and the pendulum efficiency of their locomotion.
Dal marzo al novembre 2015 è stata condotta in quest’area un’indagine sulla teriofauna condotta attraverso il posizionamento di fototrappole a infrarossi (infrared camera-traps) e l’utilizzo di cani già impiegati in attività di ricerca di tracce di animali selvatici. Lo studio ha permesso di redigere una check-list aggiornata delle specie presenti all’interno dell’area protetta e di approfondire il quadro conoscitivo sulla distribuzione in particolare di tasso, daino e volpe attraverso la creazione di apposite mappe di concentrazione (Kernel Density Estimation). L’interpolazione tra le mappe di concentrazione e la Carta degli Habitat del SIC/ZPS IT3250032 ha permesso di evidenziare quali siano gli habitat ricadenti nelle aree di maggior presenza di tasso, volpe e daino e in che percentuale siano rappresentati rispetto alla superficie complessivamente occupata all’interno dell’area protetta. Le informazioni ottenute attraverso questo studio si rivelano importanti nell’ottica di una pianificazione e progettazione futura che sia coerente con le necessità di tutela e conservazione delle specie individuate.
The Strict Nature Reserve of Bosco Nordio, located on the most ancient dune system of the coast between Chioggia and the river Po, is characterized by a forest of evergreen oaks and manna ashes. It represents an important relic of the widespread forests of the upper Adriatic coast. The presence of habitats of community interest makes Bosco Nordio part of the network of protected areas “Natura 2000”, established according to the Habitats Directive (Dir. 92/43).
A survey was carried out in this area, from March to November 2015. The survey was performed using infrared camera traps and trained dogs. The latter were already employed to search signs and tracks of wild animals. The research made it possible to draw up the updated check-list of the species present in the protected area, and to achieve a better knowledge of the distribution of badgers, fallow deers and foxes, through the development of specific concentration maps (Kernel Density Estimation). The cross-check between the concentration maps and the Habitats map of the SCI/SPA IT3250032 made it possible to determine in which habitats it was recorded the presence of badgers, foxes and fallow deers, and what was their relative percentage with respect to the total surface occupied in the whole protected area. The information obtained through this study are important for future management planning consistent with the necessities of protection and conservation of the resident species.
Methods
The aim of this study was to investigate both metabolic and mechanicals parameters, at five different walking speeds on treadmill, in chronic heart failure and heart transplant patients. Twelve chronic heart failure patients, twelve healthy controls and five heart transplant patients participated in the study. Tridimensional kinematics data and oxygen uptake were collected simultaneously.
Findings
In both experimental groups the self-selected walking speed was lower than in controls, and lower than the expected optimal walking speed. At that speed all groups showed the best ventilatory efficiency. On contrary, chronic heart failure and heart transplant patients reached the minimum cost of transport and the maximum recovery at greater speeds than the self-selected walking speed. Their mechanical efficiency was lower than in controls, while their metabolic cost and mechanical work were on average larger.
Interpretation
We conclude that actions, like a physical training, that could increase the self-selected walking speed in these patients, could also increase their economy and optimize the mechanical parameters of walking. We propose a rehabilitation index, based on the theoretical optimal walking speed, to measure the improvements during a physical rehabilitation therapy. These results have an important clinical relevance and can help to improve the quality of life of heart failure and transplant patients.
Aim of this work is the elaboration of an efficient procedure for the detection and the census of badger (Meles meles L., 1758) setts present in the Strict Nature Reserve of Bosco Nordio. Badger burrows are easily detectable for the stockpile of material, but exhaustive census, or total counts, can be difficult tasks, depending on land and vegetation conditions. Every lack of coverage of land patches can lead to misleading evaluations and wrong conclusions.
To cover the whole area of the Reserve, minimizing the possibilities of error, we used a free Smartphone application (Endomondo Sport Tracker), developed for sports activity, which allows you to view the itinerary as a line on a satellite image of the territory.
The research protocol consisted in searching and spotting digging signs (piled up materials, galleries), signs of presence (latrines, footprints), or signs of passage. Using the application made the research more efficient and quicker, allowing to diverge from the survey path (to follow an animal track) and coming back with confidence, without loosing any survey area. Every gallery or other signs of badger presence were marked with GPS coordinates, and the characteristics of the point were registered in a specific data sheet, then a camera trap was set up to control the passages.
Nowadays different free GPS tracking applications for smartphones are available. Their use can help to rapidly and efficiently carry out total counts, without more expensive and technologically advanced instruments.
Racehorses and greyhounds are excellent models for studying some mechanical characteristics of both gallop types during top speed performances, long runs, rapid or sustained change of directions. While transverse gallop is more asymmetrical than rotary, in both cases: i) the interaction between the shoulder and the thoraco-pulmonar complex is maximum during the lead leg support, and ii) when turning they leads with their inside fore limb. Lead changes determine a discontinuity in the gallop sequence. During races, they occur on average every 48±19 strides in horses, and every 22±10 strides in dogs. While on straights the changes are driven by a fatigue effect, on bends they are definitively cost driven: the metabolic cost of counter gallop in horses is 5-15% higher than usual (Fig.1).
References:
[1] Biancardi C.M., Minetti A.E. J Exp. Biol 215:4144-56, 2012.
[2] Minetti A.E. Nature 426:785-86, 2003.
References
[1] Wolff, et al. PloS one 8(5): e62682, 2013.
[2] Pérez-Miles, et al. J Nat Hist 39: 483-489, 2005.
[3] Biancardi, et al. J Exp Biol 214, 3433-3442, 2011.
Los limites mecánicos y fisiológicos de la locomoción se pueden investigar en especies acostumbradas a moverse en caminos empinados, como las cabras de montes (Capra ibex). Las paredes de las represas en medioambiente alpino son como laboratorios biomecánicos naturales para investigaciones de esto tipo.
En total se filmaron 55 animales a la velocidad de 0,2 fps, y se analizaron los videos para medir desplazamientos, velocidades, inclinaciones reales.
La inclinación media fue 37% en subida y 46% en bajada. Las cabras subían en zigzag rutas y bajaban en rutas mas lineares. Los animales se movieron de marcha o de galope, pero a veces han utilizado un patrón diferente de cualquier otro tipo de marcha, descrito y diseñado para robot que se mueven en fuerte pendiente.
La máxima inclinación en subida fue registrada en jóvenes (155%), en bajada fue del 157% en jóvenes y adultos. Hay una correlación negativa entre inclinación y masa del sujeto.
In geología hay un “safety factor” (Fs) para pronosticar la estabilidad de una roca sobre una cuesta. Proponemos igualmente un factor, dependiente de la altura del centro de masa y la posición de las pierna, para pronosticar la estabilidad de una locomoción en condiciones de extrema inclinación.
A través de las medidas hechas en diferentes inclinaciones, verificamos la fiabilidad del Fs propuesto.
El cambio de postura observado en los animales, inducido por un desfavorable Fs, puede explicar el ventaja de la postura bípede en condiciones de extrema inclinación.
Cursorial mammals can be preys or predators, living in open or mixed habitats and different terrains. We investigated the two high-speed gait used by cursorial species, transverse and rotary gallop, from both biomechanical and functional point of view. In transverse gallop the placement of the second hind foot is followed by that of the controlateral forefoot, while in rotary gallop it is followed by the ipsilateral forefoot, and the sequence of footfalls appears to rotate around the body. 351 sequences, filmed in the wild, have been analysed to assess the gallop type of 89 investigated mammal species belonging to the three mentioned orders. Biometrical, ecological and physiological parameters have been collected for each species both from literature data and from experimental measures.
Non-parametrical statistical analyses, using 10000 sampled tables with Monte Carlo simulation, indicated that transverse “horse-like” gallop was significantly more frequent in diurnal, gregarious species that live in open habitats, such as grasslands and plains. Rotary “cheetah-like” gallopers resulted significantly more frequent among crepuscular, solitary predator species that live in more mixed habitats. Around 20% of the investigated species, mainly canids, pronghorns and some antelopes, performed transverse gallop at slow speed and rotary gallop at higher speed.
Our results indicated a strictly relationship among body shape, gait, speed and manoeuvrability. Rotary gallop, gait adopted by the majority of fast-running mammals, gives also the advantage of higher manoeuvrability at any speed, especially useful when running on rugged terrains in mixed habitats. Larger bodies advantage species that live in open habitat, like grasslands and deserts, with the consequences of less agility and less spine flexibility. Among these species transverse gallop is prevailing. Some gregarious preys and cooperative predators, which live in grasslands and savannahs, have to balance the needs for high endurance, strength and longer limbs to run faster. More likely they show a speed dependent gallop pattern."
Almost 50 years ago, investigators started challenging human locomotion in different gravitational environments (Margaria & Cavagna, 1964) and rightly concluded that on the Moon walking should be possible only at very low speeds, and that 'terrestrial' running would have been mechanically difficult to adopt there. Later on, a general predicting equation for the speed of dynamically equivalent walking in hetero-gravity has been proposed and validated (Minetti 2001a, 2001b).
While studying the 3rd locomotor paradigm for humans, 'skipping' was biomechanically analysed in details and found to be particularly suitable for low gravity environments (Minetti 1998). That insight was confirmed by inspection of NASA footage of Apollo missions, where astronauts frequently preferred to skip.
We propose to set up a new, more focused study on human skipping (and small quadruped gallop) in simulated hypogravity during parabolic flights. By using a corridor of dynamometric platforms and 3D motion capture we intend to specifically check the predictions about those gaits and investigate the suitability of a custom training program for humans to adapt/enhance/extend their locomotion repertoire on the Lunar environment.
Bibliography
Margaria R., Cavagna G. Human locomotion in subgravity. Aerospace Med. 35: 1140-1146, 1964.
Minetti A. E. The biomechanics of skipping gaits: a third locomotor paradigm? Proc. R. Soc. B 265: 1227-1235, 1998.
Minetti A. E. Invariant aspects of human locomotion in different gravitational environments. Acta Astron. 49(3-10): 191-198, 2001.
Minetti A. E. Walking on other planets. Nature 409: 467-469, 2001.