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Sediment heterogeneity affects navigation by burrowers: a modelling study
Xuejing Wang1, Moey Rojas2, Kelly Dorgan3
1Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
Journal of the Royal Society, Interface
|September 17, 2025
Summary
Worms navigate complex sediments by creating fractures. Burrowing worms can control crack branching and microcracking, enhancing their ability to engineer habitats.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Geology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Burrowing worms create fractures in sediments, influencing material release and navigation.
- Sediment heterogeneity and fracture mechanics govern crack propagation.
- Worm steering behaviors may rely on crack branching rather than direct control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To model how sediment properties and worm behaviors influence crack branching and microcracking during burrowing.
- To investigate the role of hydraulic fracture from burrow irrigation in modifying microcracking patterns.
Main Methods:
- Lattice element method for modeling fracture in heterogeneous materials.
- Experimental observations of worm burrowing in controlled environments.
Main Results:
- Burrowing activities generate microcracks near the crack tip and in surrounding sediments.
- Fracture toughness variability and worm behaviors significantly affect crack branching and microcracking.
- Hydraulic fracture from burrow irrigation can reduce microcracking outside the fracture zone, potentially improving burrowing efficiency.
Conclusions:
- Worm burrowing involves complex fracture mechanics influenced by sediment properties and worm behavior.
- Worms may navigate by exploiting crack branching and microcracking.
- Burrow irrigation plays a role in the ecosystem engineering of sediment habitats by infaunal burrowers.
