Prof. Johan van Leeuwen
Professor of Experimental Zoology, Wageningen University:
Top performance by tiny athletes
Biomechanical analysis of swimming, growth and welfare of larval fish
Larval fish belong to the smallest free living vertebrates. Zebrafish larvae are immediately able to swim after hatching at two days post fertilization. Fish larvae can swim at a tail beat frequency of 100 Hz and generate accelerations in access of 10 g (more than a F16 airplane). This extreme performance requires super fast trunk muscles and a rapid restructuring of the muscles and bones of the locomotor apparatus. Due to their small size (3.8 mm length), fish larvae are affected considerably by the viscous properties of the water. It will be discussed how the changes in swimming performance during development are related to architectural changes of the musculoskeletal system, and how activity levels affect developmental patterns. Malformations of the axial skeleton of juvenile fish that are related to mechanical overload regularly occur in intensive rearing systems, affecting fish welfare. A biomechanical analysis will be presented of this widespread problem.
Zodiac academic lectures are an initiative of the Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University. On every first Tuesday of the month, an invited speaker will present a topic related to animal sciences. Speaker and topic will, and are meant to, provoke discussion among the audience of staff, postdocs, PhD and MSc students, and guests. Drinks after the presentation and discussion.
Calendar 2005/2006: 1 Nov AFI, 6 Dec QVE, 3 Jan ASO, 7 Feb ADP, 7 Mar EZO, 4 Apr HAP, 2 May APS, 6 Jun ABG