Starfish, or sea stars, are fascinating creatures capable of climbing in any direction—up, down, or even hanging upside down. Remarkably, they accomplish this without a centralized nervous system or a brain.
A recent study by biologists and engineers has revealed how starfish manage to move so skillfully. They have unique features that enable them to adjust their movements to different surfaces, despite lacking central control.
Each arm of a starfish is lined with hundreds of hydraulic tube feet, known as podia. These feet use a special water vascular system to help them move. They have a flexible stem that pumps fluid and a disk at the end that secretes a sticky substance to cling to surfaces.
The common starfish, or Asterias rubens, has four rows of these tube feet on each arm. To crawl, they coordinate hundreds of limbs, a skill that is quite impressive given their simple body structure.
Interestingly, research shows that starfish do not follow the typical rule where larger animals crawl slower. This challenges our understanding of locomotion in the animal kingdom.
To study how starfish move, scientists used a special glass that reflects light. They observed how the starfish’s feet interacted with the surface. Each time a foot touched the glass, it created a bright footprint due to changes in light refraction.
The study found that a starfish’s crawling speed didn’t largely depend on how many tube feet were on the ground. Instead, if the adhesive time increased, their speed slowed down. This indicates that starfish control their movement by adjusting how long each foot sticks to the surface, rather than directing each limb from a central point.
Adding weight helped researchers understand this behavior further. When starfish wore weighted backpacks, their adhesion time increased, forcing them to adapt their crawl.
The researchers have also looked into how starfish maneuver when upside down. They noticed that the tube feet adjust their interaction with surfaces when the starfish is inverted. This shows that starfish can change their movements based on the challenges they face.
This research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, highlights the remarkable adaptability of starfish. It reveals how these creatures navigate various terrains using a decentralized strategy that lets them thrive in diverse environments.
Understanding the mechanics behind starfish locomotion not only enriches our knowledge of marine biology but also has applications in robotics. It could pave the way for more efficient designs in machines that need to navigate complex surfaces.
Overall, starfish remind us that intelligence and adaptability come in many forms, even without a traditional brain. This adaptability offers fresh perspectives on how movement can be accomplished in the natural world.
Source link
MSFT Content
