Graduation Semester and Year
2020
Language
English
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering
Department
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
First Advisor
Luo Cheng
Abstract
Planktonic crustaceans of the genus Daphnia live in aquatic environments. Although they are lack of walking and flying capabilities, they have developed adaptations that facilitate the dispersal of their dormant forms, ephippia to cross terrestrial barriers and reach neighborhood waterbodies. It increases the survival rate of their species. A possible way for this spread to occur is the transport of their ephippia through waterfowls’ legs. Yet, little is known about the key role of the legs in the dispersal and the main mechanisms. The ephippia first get attached to the waterfowls’ legs. The waterfowls may then carry these ephippia to new locations, followed by the release of them over there. In this work, by referring the ways of mallards’ flight, and using the legs of American Pekin ducks, as well as four Al cylinders and one Al plate, as testing samples, we explored the feasibility of this ephippium transport process. Specific laboratory experiments were carried on to validate the feasibility.
Keywords
Daphnia, Ephippium, Waterfowls, External dispersal
Disciplines
Aerospace Engineering | Engineering | Mechanical Engineering
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Wang, Xiang, "ATTRACTION, TRANSPORT AND RELEASE OF WATER FLEAS’ EPHIPPIA FOR MIGRATION" (2020). Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Dissertations. 361.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/mechaerospace_dissertations/361
Comments
Degree granted by The University of Texas at Arlington