Animal orientation strategies for movement in flows

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Animal Locomotion
• Fluid Dynamics

Background:

• Organisms moving in fluid media (air or water) are influenced by both self-propulsion and environmental flows.
• Flows can impede, assist, or displace organisms, impacting their movement and navigation.
• Animal responses to flow vary based on flow direction, speed, and the organism's own capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To classify the diverse responses of flying and swimming organisms to environmental flows.
• To understand how locomotory and sensory capacities influence movement strategies in flowing media.
• To highlight convergent strategies employed by different animals in various environments.

Main Methods:

• Classification of movement responses based on the direction of resulting movement relative to flow and preferred direction.
• Analysis of how locomotory and sensory capacities, and environmental cues, shape these responses.
• Review of data from biologging technologies and particle tracking models.

Main Results:

• A classification system for organismal responses to flow has been developed, applicable across taxa and environments.
• Organismal responses are linked to their specific movement and sensory abilities, as well as available environmental cues.
• Biologging and particle tracking data reveal striking convergence in strategies used by disparate animals in flowing environments.

Conclusions:

• Environmental flows significantly impact organismal movement, requiring adaptive responses.
• Despite diverse taxa and environments, animals exhibit convergent strategies for navigating flows.
• Technological advancements are crucial for understanding the complex interplay between organisms and their fluid environments.