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Locomotor effects on limb bone biomechanical properties in sciurids
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.1_supplement.233.5
Subject(s) - fossorial , arboreal locomotion , biomechanics , anatomy , humerus , femur , biology , forelimb , analysis of variance , medicine , zoology , ecology , habitat , paleontology
Several studies have shown associations between locomotion and relative long bone strength among vertebrate taxa. Sciuridae is an interesting model for studying the biomechanics of locomotion as squirrels engage in a wide variety of locomotor behaviors, while maintaining a generally similar skeletal design. In this study, 21 taxa (N=99 individuals), representing five locomotor groups ‐ gliders, arboreal, semi‐arboreal, terrestrial, and fossorial ‐ were examined. Peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) imaging was performed on humeral and femoral diaphyses of each specimen and used to calculate second moments of area and section moduli, measures of bone rigidity and strength respectively. Locomotor groups were compared using ANOVA and post hoc Tukey tests of log ratios of parameters. Results showed an effect of locomotor behavior on limb strength relative to limb length in both the humerus and the femur (p<.001, ANOVA). The fossorial specimens had the strongest humeri and femora relative to bone length, whereas the gliders had the weakest humeri and femora relative to bone length (all pair‐wise differences significant from other groups as p<.001). None of the other groups were significantly different from each other. These morphological differences are likely driven by differences in both magnitude of mechanical loading and relative limb length, both of which are related to locomotor mode.