A Comparative Survey of Climbing Robots and Arboreal Animals in Scaling Complex Environments

Jusufi, Ardian; Liu, Dikai

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-17677-8_3

Cited by 7 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…We additionally collected substrate reaction forces (SRFs) during vertical climbing, a behaviour during which it has been suggested that Psittaciformes use their beak [4][5][6]11,12]. Fore-aft (Fx) and tangential (Fz) SRFs were collected (1250 Hz) for the beak, hindlimb and tail as the birds climbed an instrumented vertical runway (0.15 m × 0.61 m) using an Advanced Mechanical Technology, Inc. (AMTI) small-load force plate (model HE6X6; load capacity = 4 N; Watertown, MA) mounted with a custom three-dimensional printed platform (0.045 m × 0.076 m).…”

Section: (B) Kinetic Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Overcoming a ‘forbidden phenotype’: the parrot's head supports, propels and powers tripedal locomotion

et al. 2022

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No vertebrate, living or extinct, is known to have possessed an odd number of limbs. Despite this ‘forbidden phenotype’, gaits that use odd numbers of limbs (e.g. tripedalism or pentapedalism) have evolved in both avian and mammalian lineages. Tripedal locomotion is commonly employed by parrots during climbing, who use their beaks as an additional support. However, it is unclear whether the beak functions simply as a stabilizing hook, or as a propulsive limb. Here, we present data on kinetics of tripedal climbing in six rosy-faced lovebirds ( Agapornis roseicollis ). Our findings demonstrate that parrots use cyclical tripedal gaits when climbing and the beak and hindlimbs generate comparable propulsive and tangential substrate reaction forces and power. Propulsive and tangential forces generated by the beak are of magnitudes equal to or greater than those forces generated by the forelimbs of humans and non-human primates during vertical climbing. We conclude that the feeding apparatus and neck flexors of parrots have been co-opted to function biomechanically as a propulsive third limb during vertical climbing. We hypothesize that this exaptation required substantive alterations to the neuromuscular system including enhanced force-generating capabilities of the neck flexors and modifications to locomotor central pattern generators.

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Section: (B) Kinetic Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One well-known, but anecdotal [6,11,12], example of tripedal locomotion is the climbing behaviours of parrots (Order: Psittaciformes) [1,6]. Unable to use their wings as grasping forelimbs, parrots have evolved to be resourceful climbers by co-opting their feeding apparatus as an additional 'limb' [4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Overcoming a ‘forbidden phenotype’: the parrot's head supports, propels and powers tripedal locomotion

et al. 2022

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“…This is in stark contrast to the movements of woodpeckers, nuthatches, and treecreepers [ 21 , 29 , 38 , 88 ]. Webster and colleagues [ 4 ] suggested that the use of the beak as a third limb is more common among larger-bodied Psittaciformes, but this suggestion is anecdotal in nature and further work on the positional behavior of additional parrot species is required to verify this claim.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The use of arboreal substrates presents many challenges, reflecting the difficulties of navigating a complex three-dimensional environment using substrates of varying orientation, size, texture, compliance, and gap-distance [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. Understanding how arboreal animals successfully negotiate such conditions has been the focus of numerous field- [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ] and laboratory-based [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ] studies for two primary reasons.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In terms of locomotion, we anticipate that, like most birds, powered flight is common [ 49 , 50 , 51 ]. However, when moving in trees, we predict overall locomotor diversity to increase [ 20 ], including substantial use of beak-assisted climbing and descent [ 4 , 39 , 40 , 41 ]. We expect hopping behaviors to be entirely absent based on proposed neuromuscular constraints in parrots [ 31 ] (Prediction 2).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Positional Behavior of Introduced Monk Parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus) in an Urban Landscape

Granatosky

Young

Herr

et al. 2022

Animals

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Positional behaviors have been broadly quantified across the Order Primates, and in several other mammalian lineages, to contextualize adaptations to, and evolution within, an arboreal environment. Outside of Mammalia, however, such data are yet to be reported. In this study, we present the first quantitative report of positional behavior within Aves, presenting 11,246 observations of scan sampling data from a colony of Monk Parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus) from Brooklyn, New York City. Each scan recorded locomotor and postural behavior and information about weather condition, temperature, and substrate properties (e.g., type, size, orientation). A distinction was also recorded between natural and artificial substrates. Parrots exhibited a strong preference for small and terminal branches, a selection which may reflect targeted foraging of new fruit growth and leaf-buds. We further observed that the gait transition from walking to sidling appears primarily driven by substrate size, with the former preferred on the ground and on large, broad substrates and the latter used to navigate smaller branches. Finally, we observed an increase in locomotor diversity on artificial versus naturally occurring substrates. This demonstrates the importance of a flexible behavioral repertoire in facilitating a successful transition towards an urban landscape in introduced species.

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What does climbing mean exactly? Assessing spatiotemporal gait characteristics of inclined locomotion in parrots

et al. 2023

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A Comparative Survey of Climbing Robots and Arboreal Animals in Scaling Complex Environments

Cited by 7 publications

References 35 publications

Overcoming a ‘forbidden phenotype’: the parrot's head supports, propels and powers tripedal locomotion

Overcoming a ‘forbidden phenotype’: the parrot's head supports, propels and powers tripedal locomotion

Positional Behavior of Introduced Monk Parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus) in an Urban Landscape

What does climbing mean exactly? Assessing spatiotemporal gait characteristics of inclined locomotion in parrots

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