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Published VersionCC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Biomechanical Trade-Offs Between Speed and Agility in the Northern Brown Bandicoot
Biomechanics , Vol.5(3), pp.1-14
2025
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Australian terrestrial mammals that fall within the critical weight range (35 g–5.5 kg) have experienced large population declines due to a combination of habitat loss and modification, and the introduction of non-native cats, dogs, and foxes. Because running speed typically increases with body size, predators are usually faster but less agile than their prey due to the biomechanical trade-offs between speed and agility. Quantifying the maximum locomotor capacities of Australian mammals in the critical weight range, and the magnitude of the trade-off between speed and agility, can aid in estimating species’ vulnerability to predation. Methods: To do this, we quantified the trade-off between speed and agility in both males and females (n = 36) of a critical weight range species, the northern brown bandicoot (Isoodon macrourus), and determined if there was an influence of morphology on locomotor performance. Results: When turning, individuals who had higher turn approach speeds, and higher within-turn speeds, had greater turning radii and lower angular velocities, meaning a decrease in overall maneuverability. Females were more agile and exhibited greater turning speeds at similar turning radii than males. For both sexes, individuals with longer relative hind digits had relatively faster sprint speeds, while those with longer forearms had relatively smaller turning radii and higher agility. Conclusions: Due to the constrained limb morphology of the bandicoot species, these findings could translate across this group to provide a better understanding of their escape performance and risk of predation.
Details
- Title
- Biomechanical Trade-Offs Between Speed and Agility in the Northern Brown Bandicoot
- Authors
- Kaylah Del Simone - The University of QueenslandSkye F. Cameron - The University of QueenslandChristofer J. Clemente - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and EngineeringTaylor J. M. Dick - The University of QueenslandRobbie S. Wilson (Corresponding Author) - The University of Queensland
- Publication details
- Biomechanics , Vol.5(3), pp.1-14
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Date published
- 2025
- DOI
- 10.3390/biomechanics5030052
- ISSN
- 2673-7078
- Copyright note
- © 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
- Data Availability
- Data are available upon request from the corresponding author.
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; School of Science, Technology and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991148539302621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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