Leaping Ability Research Articles

Two-lined spittlebug, Prosapia bicincta (Say) (Insecta: Hemiptera: Cercopidae)

The two-lined spittlebug, Prosapia bicincta (Say), belongs in the insect order, Hemiptera, which includes the hoppers, scales, and aphids. Prosapia bicincta is in the family Cercopidae, the froghoppers or spittlebugs. This name is earned from their impressive leaping ability that allows them a quick exit when threatened or disturbed. The common name, two-lined spittlebug, describes the two prominent and parallel lines crossing each wing as well as the protective foamy mass secreted by the immature stages while feeding. This insect is an intermittent pest of warm-season turfgrasses and a few ornamental plant species in urban settings. Prosapia bicincta is also an agricultural pest in pasture grasses. This document provides an in-depth synopsis of this insect's biology, identification, and management.

A Morphometric Analysis of Early Eocene Euprimate Calcanei from Gujarat, India

Postcrania dating back to the early Eocene from the Cambay Shale Formation of Gujarat, India, provide a unique window for understanding early primate behavior. Previous metric analyses of postcrania assigned to Asiadapinae indicate that these primates were generalized arboreal quadrupeds. Examination of long bone cross‐sectional properties, however, complicates the initial behavioral interpretations because it shows that these fossils overlap with primates of differing locomotor behaviors. The purpose of this study is to re‐examine calcaneal morphology of the Indian material in order to refine the locomotor reconstructions of these fossils.Surface models of fossil calcanei (n=6) were generated from micro‐computed tomography scans while those (n=73) representing 23 extant primate species were downloaded from MorphoSource. A weighted spherical harmonics analysis was carried out on the total sample. This morphological analysis represents genus‐zero surfaces using a common set of spherical harmonic functions. The harmonic coefficients associated with each calcaneus serve as shape descriptors that can be summarized via principal components (PC) analysis. Bivariate plots and models representing plus and minus two standard deviations of each PC were created to visualize morphological differences.The first three PCs explain 52.4%, 9.7%, and 9.3% of the morphological variation in the sample respectively (71.4% combined). The first PC differentiates primates with elongated calcanei that are more likely to engage in vertical clinging and leaping, from more quadrupedal primates. The second PC distinguishes calcanei of slow climbers from primates that engage in other forms of locomotion (e.g., leaping and quadrupedalism). Extant primate morphology seems to follow a continuum in which relative anteroposterior calcaneal elongation negatively correlates with slow climber calcaneal morphology. As expected, the calcaneal morphology of Marcgodinotius indicus aligns with that of extant lemuriforms, and most closely resembles that of a generalized arboreal quadruped with some leaping ability. There are two fossils tentatively attributed to Asiadapis cambayensis included in the analysis. One groups with other generalized arboreal quadrupeds, while the other falls outside the range of calcaneal variation observed in extant primates. The outlier does not follow the general pattern of calcaneal morphology observed in extant primates; instead it is characterized by some aspects of slow climber morphology, but with a relative anteroposterior calcaneal elongation. These results may reflect the generalized morphology of this fossil, and consequently the behavior of this primitive euprimate.Support or Funding InformationSupported by NSF DGE‐1746891, National Geographic Society, Leakey Foundation

The effects of tail damage on tadpole development and leaping ability after metamorphosis in Cuban tree frogs (Osteopilus septentrionalis)

Tadpoles have many predators in the wild and are able to escape from them because the structure of their tail allows it to tear off if attacked. We examined the effects of tail damage in the early tadpole stages on the leaping and swimming abilities of Cuban tree frogs after metamorphosis. We obtained 120 Cuban tree frogs, and to simulate predation, we initially removed a piece of the top of the tadpole tails in one experimental group, cut off a piece of the bottom of the tadpole tails in the second experimental group, and did not make any cuts to tails of the control group. Following tail regeneration by all tadpoles in both experimental groups, we treated all experimental tadpoles as one group, and simulated a second predation event by removing 10% of the distal tip of the tail. After tadpoles completed metamorphosis, they were subjected to a swimming endurance test and subsequent measurement of their leaping abilities. We found no significant effect of tail damage on the leaping abilities of frogs after metamorphosis, and no significant difference in body size at metamorphosis among the groups. The experiment was then replicated and tested tadpole corticosterone (CORT) levels to determine if tadpoles exhibited stress from the tail damage. We found significantly elevated CORT levels in tadpoles with tail damage compared to the tadpoles without tail damage. We conclude that the regeneration abilities of the Cuban tree frog tadpoles afford them the opportunity to survive minor predation events and recover with no apparent long-lasting ill effects even though they were physiologically stressed from the damage. These abilities likely contribute to the Cuban tree frogs' success as an invasive species throughout the Florida peninsula.

Vertical leaping mechanics of the Lesser Egyptian Jerboa reveal specialization for maneuverability rather than elastic energy storage

BackgroundNumerous historical descriptions of the Lesser Egyptian jerboa, Jaculus jaculus, a small bipedal mammal with elongate hindlimbs, make special note of their extraordinary leaping ability. We observed jerboa locomotion in a laboratory setting and performed inverse dynamics analysis to understand how this small rodent generates such impressive leaps. We combined kinematic data from video, kinetic data from a force platform, and morphometric data from dissections to calculate the relative contributions of each hindlimb muscle and tendon to the total movement.ResultsJerboas leapt in excess of 10 times their hip height. At the maximum recorded leap height (not the maximum observed leap height), peak moments for metatarso-phalangeal, ankle, knee, and hip joints were 13.1, 58.4, 65.1, and 66.9 Nmm, respectively. Muscles acting at the ankle joint contributed the most work (mean 231.6 mJ / kg Body Mass) to produce the energy of vertical leaping, while muscles acting at the metatarso-phalangeal joint produced the most stress (peak 317.1 kPa). The plantaris, digital flexors, and gastrocnemius tendons encountered peak stresses of 25.6, 19.1, and 6.0 MPa, respectively, transmitting the forces of their corresponding muscles (peak force 3.3, 2.0, and 3.8 N, respectively). Notably, we found that the mean elastic energy recovered in the primary tendons of both hindlimbs comprised on average only 4.4% of the energy of the associated leap.ConclusionsThe limited use of tendon elastic energy storage in the jerboa parallels the morphologically similar heteromyid kangaroo rat, Dipodomys spectabilis. When compared to larger saltatory kangaroos and wallabies that sustain hopping over longer periods of time, these small saltatory rodents store and recover less elastic strain energy in their tendons. The large contribution of muscle work, rather than elastic strain energy, to the vertical leap suggests that the fitness benefit of rapid acceleration for predator avoidance dominated over the need to enhance locomotor economy in the evolutionary history of jerboas.

GALAXY: A new hybrid MOEA for the optimal design of Water Distribution Systems

AbstractA new hybrid optimizer, called genetically adaptive leaping algorithm for approximation and diversity (GALAXY), is proposed for dealing with the discrete, combinatorial, multiobjective design of Water Distribution Systems (WDSs), which is NP‐hard and computationally intensive. The merit of GALAXY is its ability to alleviate to a great extent the parameterization issue and the high computational overhead. It follows the generational framework of Multiobjective Evolutionary Algorithms (MOEAs) and includes six search operators and several important strategies. These operators are selected based on their leaping ability in the objective space from the global and local search perspectives. These strategies steer the optimization and balance the exploration and exploitation aspects simultaneously. A highlighted feature of GALAXY lies in the fact that it eliminates majority of parameters, thus being robust and easy‐to‐use. The comparative studies between GALAXY and three representative MOEAs on five benchmark WDS design problems confirm its competitiveness. GALAXY can identify better converged and distributed boundary solutions efficiently and consistently, indicating a much more balanced capability between the global and local search. Moreover, its advantages over other MOEAs become more substantial as the complexity of the design problem increases.

Russian

This article addresses issues related to test control of the development level of leaping ability parameters in the physical preparation process. An analytical analysis of theoretical studies on the topic and of a number of existing approaches to the process of monitoring the takeoff height has provided grounds to conclude that there are discrepancies between the need for ensuring the promptness and objectiveness of control and the impossibility of getting it done. The author proposes the use of a developed automated system put together based on the latest achievements in electronics. The system ensures prompt receipt of credible testing data and helps determine a number of crucial parameters that characterize the leaping ability level, which can help resolve, in an integrated manner, issues related to current control. This may lead us to make quite a substantiated conclusion about the need for adjusting practice programs in accordance with results obtained.

Utility Analysis of the Effect of Continuous Training on Basketball Players' Physical Improvement

Basketball is a fast paced and high strength’s exercise, and its requirements for basketball players’ constitution are relatively high. An basketball athletes equipped with explosive force often help the team to achieve victory in the contest. Basketball game’s physical fitness and explosive force are closely related to the usual training, and basketball players' constitution is mainly depended on physical strength. Strength accumulation is depended on continuous training. This paper firstly analyzes the relationship between physical fitness and basketball players’ training. Then it analyzes the leaping ability, the explosive force and endurance. Finally it investigates the NBA athletes' physical quality. The paper makes statistical analysis of survey data by using the linear regression, and it summarizes the improvements on continued training to athletes' constitution. It designs optimally the training mode by using genetic algorithm and puts forward countermeasures of athletes sustained training methods. The paper provides training reference for athlete physique enhancement and intense antagonism’s outbreak in basketball game.

Basketball footwear requirements are dependent on playing position

Introduction: Basketball contains numerous types of movements and highly specific playing positions, and hence the anthropometric profile of players varies considerably. To date, the subjective demands of basketball footwear have not been investigated in depth, either biomechanically or from the players’ perspective. This study aimed to investigate players’ subjective demands of basketball footwear according to playing position and respective physical game requirements. Methods: A supervised questionnaire survey of 165 basketball players of heterogeneous skill level was carried out. The questionnaire was divided into three sections enquiring about characteristics of (a) subject profile, (b) athletic demands of playing positions, and (c) basketball footwear. The χ2 test and the Kruskal–Wallis test were used for statistical evaluation of the non-parametric data. Results: The three playing positions have very different physical profiles: (1) guards require speed and agility, (2) centres require strength and strong leaping ability, and (3) forward players are versatile all-rounders. Overall, ankle stability was rated the most important shoe characteristic and mid-cut uppers were favoured by the majority of players. Shoe preferences differed only marginally between playing positions: guards put more emphasis on low-weight and more flexible shoes whereas centre players prefer shoes with high stability and injury protection. Accordingly, centre player favoured high-cut uppers. Conclusions: The findings reveal the potential for two position-specific basketball shoe models: (1) a low- to mid-cut agility shoe model for guards and small forwards that has high traction and is supportive during acceleration and cutting movements, and (2) a mid- to high-cut stability shoe for power forwards and centres with the focus on ankle stability and jumping performance. The stability shoe could easily be complemented with additional ankle braces.

Kinematic and Kinetic Variations Among Three Depth Jump Conditions in Male NCAA Division III Athletes

Our purpose was to provide an in-depth investigation of 2 commonly used depth jump variants: depth jumping over a hurdle and depth jumping while touching as high as possible using an overhead goal. Fourteen male athletes performed a series of depth jumps from a 45-cm box. Three types of jumping conditions were used. One type of depth jump was a control jump (DJ45-C), performed for maximal height with no external apparatus used to influence the jump. Another type of depth jump was performed over a hurdle (DJ45-H), which was set at an individualized height for each athlete based on their leaping ability. The final type of depth jump was performed for maximal touch height on a Vertec measuring device (DJ45-T). Timing, kinematics, and kinetics of the 3 jumping conditions were compared. The hurdle depth jumping condition demonstrated lower ground contact times and significantly less (p < 0.05) flexion in the hips (41.22 ± 8.10 degrees) and knees (67.47 ± 8.36 degrees) when compared to control (49.26 ± 10.90 degrees of hip flexion and 73.85 ± 10.68 degrees of knee flexion) and target (50.51 ± 9.51 degrees of hip flexion and 75.01 ± 9.97 degrees of knee flexion) conditions. Jumping conditions that used goals (DJ45-H, DJ45-T) produced significantly higher (p < 0.05) vertical velocity of the sacrum at toe-off (3.57 ± .34 m/s and 3.46 ± .36 m/s, respectively) than the control condition (3.32 ± .34 m/s). The hurdle depth jump condition had higher ground reaction forces (875.36 ± 135.66 N) and higher dorsiflexion (566.02 ± 402.45 W) and plantar flexion power (768.84 ± 192.19 W) at the ankle than the Vertec (409.83 ± 387.23 W for dorsiflexion and 622.54 ± 188.95 W for plantar flexion) and control conditions (425.60 ± 380.01 W for dorsiflexion and 643.35 ± 166.70 W for plantar flexion). Few differences were found to exist between the Vertec and control conditions. Hurdle jumping in particular may be superior for the development of short ground contact time (<0.3 s) sport movements requiring brief but powerful lower-extremity power production.

Postcranial skeleton of the Miocene marsupial Palaeothentes (Paucituberculata, Palaeothentidae): paleobiology and phylogeny

ABSTRACT This contribution presents a morphofunctional analysis of the previously unknown appendicular skeleton of the paucituberculatans Palaeothentes minutus and Palaeothentes lemoinei from the Santa Cruz Formation (late early Miocene, Santa Cruz province, Argentina), performed in order to infer their locomotor behavior. In addition, a cladistic analysis was conducted to explore the phylogenetic information of postcranial features of Palaeothentes in the context of Marsupialia. The results indicate that Palaeothentes would have been an agile cursorial dweller, with leaping ability, similar to the extant paucituberculatan Caenolestes fuliginosus and the didelphid Metachirus nudicaudatus. This mode of locomotion is evidenced mainly by the following features: proximal location of the deltopectoral crest and bicipital tuberosity, reflecting rapid flexion at the gleno-humeral and elbow joints, respectively; shape of the humero-ulnar and humero-radial joints (deep and high humeral trochlea, deep olecranon fossa, deep trochlear notch, mediolaterally broad proximal trochlear crest), denoting a marked stability for flexion and extension; restrictive acetabulum, showing emphasized congruence at the hip joint; lengthened ischium and prominent femoral tubercle and ischial tuberosity, indicating an increased mechanical advantage of the rectus femoris and hamstring muscles; proximally projected greater trochanter, demonstrating a relatively great mechanical advantage of the gluteal muscles; and configuration of the upper ankle, lower ankle, and transverse tarsal joints, indicative of restrictive rotational movements (right angle between the medial and lateral astragalotibial facets, distal and proximal calcaneo-cuboid facet halves forming a right angle). A cladistic analysis positions Palaeothentes as the sister taxon to the extant Caenolestes, demonstrating that postcranial features support the monophyly of Paucituberculata.

Juvenile Coho Salmon Leaping Ability and Behavior in an Experimental Culvert Test Bed

AbstractAs part of a research program aimed at identifying the culvert configurations and associated hydraulic conditions that foster the successful upstream movement of juvenile salmon, we investigated the ability of hatchery‐raised juvenile coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch to leap into an experimental culvert under varying hydraulic conditions. Five outfall drops ranging from 0 to 32 cm were tested to represent differing degrees of culvert outfall drop. Trials were run at a culvert discharge of 0.028 m3/s and a tailwater pool depth of 30 cm. The median success rate was highest (85%) for the 0‐cm drop, followed by 34% at 12 cm, 20% at 20 cm, 2% at 26 cm, and 0% at 32 cm. When overcoming the 0‐cm (streaming flow) and 12‐cm drops, fish predominantly used swimming behavior. For the outfall drops of 20 and 26 cm, leaping behavior predominated. In a typical leaping event, fish initiated the leap near the floor of the tailwater tank and used burst swimming to propel their bodies from near the standing wave (produced by the fall of water exiting the culvert) into the culvert entrance. Both high‐ and low‐trajectory leaps were observed; some fish attained a height up to 5.2 times their body length. The average fork length of fish that were successful at culvert entry was 103 mm (SD, 1.4), compared with 101 mm (1.3) for those that remained in the tailwater pool. Within the size range of the test population, 60‐135 mm (mean, 103 mm), fish size did not affect ability to enter the culvert under the test conditions. These results indicate that juvenile coho salmon are capable of overcoming some degree of culvert perch to move upstream if tailwater pool water depth and pool size are sufficient and hydraulic passage conditions inside the culvert are favorable.

Costs of infant carrying in common marmosets, Callithrix jacchus: an experimental analysis

In callitrichids (marmosets and tamarins), not only the mother but also the father and older offspring (helpers) living in the group take part in infant carrying. As a measure of the costs of infant carrying in callitrichids, we measured the distance individual common marmosets were able to leap without carrying infants and when carrying infants of different weight. We found a significant negative correlation between carrying weight and the distance marmosets could leap. A weight of 65g (the combined weight of newborn twins) reduced the leaping ability by an average of 17%. We conclude that infant carrying in callitrichids entails significant behavioural costs that can be expected to have great impact on their life in the field, especially on foraging and predator avoidance, that is, behaviours that incorporate leaping ability.

Improving leaping ability in elite rhythmic gymnasts.

The purpose of this study was to improve the leaping ability of athletes in rhythmic gymnastics, a high leap demanding sport, using a controlled course of jump training. Six elite athletes underwent a course of leap training including pool training and Pilates' Method of Body Conditioning using spring controlled resistance to muscular exertion. Baseline data was obtained on a force plate that measured reaction time, leap height, and explosive power on each athlete before initiating training. After 1 month of training, leap height improved 16.2%, ground reaction time improved 50%, and explosive power improved 220%. With continued maintenance training, no decrease in effect was noted; however, no significant improvement occurred after the first month of training. At 1 yr with discontinuation of the leaping protocol but continued training within the sport, the initial gains were likewise maintained. No injuries occurred during participation in the leaping protocol. Elite rhythmic gymnasts can safely improve their leaping ability significantly through an intense course of jump training. Continued training with the leaping protocol does not appear to further enhance the benefit; however, the gains appear to be maintained at 4 months and 1 yr post training with or without additional training with the leaping protocol.

Le peuplement de Mammifères Insectivores des forêts du Nord-Est du Gabon

Le peuplement de Mammifères Insectivores des forêts du Nord-Est du Gabon

The Ultrastructure of Galago senegalensis cerebellar cortex

The insectivorous, nocturnal prosimian, Galago senegalensis (bushbaby), relies on its arboreal running and leaping ability for survival, and extreme hand-eye coordination for prey capture. In mammals, these functions require a well developed motor system mediated by a highly evolved cerebellum. The mammalian cerebellar cortex is characterized by a three layer configuration comprised of the molecular, Purkinge, and granular layers. In this study, we examined the ultrastructure of the cerebellar cortex of the bushbaby.A six year old male bushbaby was anesthetized with 2 cc sodium pentobarbitol injected intraperitoneally. The animal was perfused through the superior vena cava by flushing the system with saline and 2% heparin, followed by fixation with 2% glutaraldehyde for 30 min. After primary fixation, the animal was decapitated and the head placed in 2% glutaraldehyde overnight. The brain was removed and desired areas were excised from the brain, post-fixed with osmium tetroxide, dehydrated in acetone, and embedded in Epon Araldite.

Host Relationships of Some Eastern Siphonaptera

Although the biology of a few species of fleas has been carefully studied because of their importance as vectors of human disease organisms, few detailed studies of host specificity have been made. Since 1952 the senior author and his students at New York State College for Teachers, Albany, in collaboration with the New York State Museum and Science Service, have made intensive collections of fleas in eastern New York. These joint collections have now reached a total in excess of 2000 specimens, parts of which have been previously noted in papers by Sturm (1953), Cummings (1954), Benton, (1955), Benton and Krug (1956), and Connor (1959). In addition to the data on geographical distribution, which will be the subject of another paper, these specimens have provided much-needed information on hostparasite relationships and have clarified several uncertainties as to the true or preferred host of certain flea species. These data, along with information from other published and unpublished sources, are sufficient to permit a detailed consideration of host relationships in most of the species involved. The host relationships of fleas from a world viewpoint have been ably discussed by Hopkins (1958). To be useful to the student of fleaborne diseases, mammalian ecology, and other problems of host-parasite ecology, this work needs to be supplemented by full information on the host distribution of each species. Available information usually falls short of fulfilling the needs of the student of host relationships, and an awarness of the special problems of such studies may help future collectors to make greater contributions to knowledge. The study of host relationships in fleas is complicated by the fact that these insects, unlike most ectoparasites, are not closely tied to life on the host. Their agility, their leaping ability, and their capacity to survive for long periods of time without food make it possible for them to leave and return to the host many times during a lifetime. Thus accidental associations may occur when fleas leap upon a passing animal other than the usual host. In the Northeast, a single woodland burrow may be occupied, in the course of a few days, by eight to ten different species of rodents and insectivores, so that fleas lying in wait along the burrow or in nest cavities may often reach the wrong host quite by accident. Accidental associations are also the result of predation. Most of our predators are apparently without specific fleas, although they often carry fleas which belong on their prey animals. Records of fleas from