Multi-jet propulsion organized by clonal development in a colonial siphonophore

Nature Communications
John H CostelloKelly R Sutherland

Abstract

Physonect siphonophores are colonial cnidarians that are pervasive predators in many neritic and oceanic ecosystems. Physonects employ multiple, clonal medusan individuals, termed nectophores, to propel an aggregate colony. Here we show that developmental differences between clonal nectophores of the physonect Nanomia bijuga produce a division of labour in thrust and torque production that controls direction and magnitude of whole-colony swimming. Although smaller and less powerful, the position of young nectophores near the apex of the nectosome allows them to dominate torque production for turning, whereas older, larger and more powerful individuals near the base of the nectosome contribute predominantly to forward thrust production. The patterns we describe offer insight into the biomechanical success of an ecologically important and widespread colonial animal group, but, more broadly, provide basic physical understanding of a natural solution to multi-engine organization that may contribute to the expanding field of underwater-distributed propulsion vehicle design.

References

May 20, 2006·The Journal of Experimental Biology·John O DabiriJohn H Costello
May 17, 1963·Science·E G Barham
Mar 27, 2009·Current Biology : CB·Casey Dunn
Aug 17, 2010·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Kelly R Sutherland, Laurence P Madin
Sep 22, 2010·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Sean P ColinJohn O Dabiri
Oct 9, 2013·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Brad J GemmellShashank Priya
Feb 7, 2014·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Danna J StaafMark W Denny

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Citations

Aug 2, 2016·Current Opinion in Genetics & Development·Lucas LeclèreEvelyn Houliston
Feb 9, 2017·Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology·Lucas Leclère, Eric Röttinger
Mar 1, 2019·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Kelly R SutherlandJohn H Costello
Aug 5, 2017·Journal of the Royal Society, Interface·Kelly R Sutherland, Daniel Weihs
Sep 8, 2019·Biomimetics·Kelly R SutherlandJohn H Costello
Apr 30, 2019·Royal Society Open Science·Brad J GemmellKelly R Sutherland
Nov 11, 2020·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Tigran P Norekian, Robert W Meech
Feb 18, 2021·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Alejandro Damian-SerranoCasey W Dunn
May 26, 2021·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Matthew E MeechRobert W Meech
Jun 18, 2021·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Brad J GemmellKelly R Sutherland
May 29, 2021·Integrative and Comparative Biology·Margaret L ByronArvind Santhanakrishnan
Jun 4, 2021·Integrative and Comparative Biology·Melissa RuszczykJeannette Yen

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Software Mentioned

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