Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern Maine, 96 Falmouth St., Portland, Maine 04103.
Integr Comp Biol. 2002 Nov;42(5):1032-43. doi: 10.1093/icb/42.5.1032.
The shape and motion of the pectoral fins vary considerably among fishes that swim in the labriform mode. Pectoral fin motion in fishes is highly variable, but one conspicuous axis of this variation is the rowing-flapping axis. At one extreme of this axis, paddle-shaped fins row back and forth in a plane that is parallel to fish motion, while at the other extreme, wing-shaped fins flap up and down in a plane that is perpendicular to fish motion. We have used two fish, the threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) and the bird wrasse (Gomphosus varius), that fall near the extremes of the rowing-flapping axis to study the dynamic, energetic, and ecological and evolutionary consequences of this kinematic variation. Our work confirms some traditionally held assumptions about rowing and flapping dynamics and energetics but reject others. A computer simulation experiment of virtual rowing and flapping appendages makes several predictions about differences in maneuvering performance and swimming energetics between rowing and flapping, which, in turn, make predictions about the behavior and ecological distribution of fishes that vary along the rowing-flapping axis. Both laboratory and field studies of labrid swimming ability and distribution support these predictions.
在以鳗鲡式游动的鱼类中，胸鳍的形状和运动变化相当大。鱼类的胸鳍运动变化多样，但有一个明显的变化轴是划桨-拍打轴。在这个轴的一个极端，桨状的鳍在与鱼的运动平行的平面上前后划动，而在另一个极端，翼状的鳍在与鱼的运动垂直的平面上上下拍打。我们使用了两种鱼，三刺棘鱼（Gasterosteus aculeatus）和鸟鲷（Gomphosus varius），它们位于划桨-拍打轴的两个极端，研究这种运动变化的动态、能量学以及生态和进化后果。我们的工作证实了一些关于划桨和拍打动力学和能量学的传统假设，但也否定了其他一些假设。虚拟划桨和拍打附属物的计算机模拟实验对划桨和拍打在操纵性能和游泳能量学方面的差异做出了一些预测，这反过来又对沿划桨-拍打轴变化的鱼类的行为和生态分布做出了预测。实验室和实地研究的唇鱼游泳能力和分布都支持这些预测。
