The effects of temperature, desiccation, and body mass on the locomotion of the terrestrial isopod, Porcellio laevis.

Locomotion in terrestrial isopods is strongly influenced by body size and by abiotic factors. We determined the speeds of isopods of differing masses within a linear racetrack at temperatures ranging from 15 to 35 degrees C. We also predicted maximum speeds based on the Froude number concept as originally applied to vertebrates.

Effects of temperature and perch diameter on arboreal locomotion in the snake Elaphe guttata.

Arboreality is widespread in multiple lineages of snakes and these habitats are important for foraging, escaping predators, and thermoregulation for many species. However, very little is known about factors influencing the arboreal locomotor abilities of snakes. Arboreal performance was assessed in a semi-arboreal snake (Elaphe guttata) using an artificial perch apparatus.

Pinching forces in crayfish and fiddler crabs, and comparisons with the closing forces of other animals.

The pinching forces of crustaceans are in many respects analogous to the biting forces of vertebrates. We examined the effects of body size and chelae size and shape, on the closing forces of the fiddler crab, Uca pugilator, and the crayfish, Procambarus clarkii. We hypothesized that the allometric relationships would be similar among species, and comparable to those reported for other decapod crustaceans.

The effects of temperature and inter-individual variation on the locomotor performance of juvenile turtles.

The effects of temperature on aquatic and terrestrial locomotor performance, including measures of burst speed, endurance, and righting response, the inter-individual correlation between measures of locomotor performance, and the temporal repeatability of performance were assessed in juvenile western painted turtles, Chrysemys picta bellii. Locomotor performance increased as temperature increased, with Q(10) values ranging from 1.33 to 1.

Effects of slope, substrate, and temperature on forces associated with locomotion of the ornate box turtle, Terrapene ornata.

In spite of several studies of the locomotor performances of reptiles, we know as yet relatively little about the mechanical forces involved. The present investigation examined the effects of substrate, slope and temperature on the pulling forces exerted by ornate box turtles tethered to a force transducer. These forces increased with body mass in a nearly isometric manner.