Swimming in Space-Time

Cyclic changes in the shape of a quasi-rigid body on a curved manifold can lead to net translation and/or rotation of the body in the manifold. Presuming space-time is a curved manifold as portrayed by general relativity, translation in space can be accomplished simply by cyclic changes in the shape of a body, without any thrust or external forces.

Aerobic Metabolism Octopine Production And Phosphoarginine As Sources Of Energy In The Phasic And Catch Adductor Muscles Of The Giant Scallop Placopecten-Magellanicus During Swimming And The Subsequent Recovery Period

1. The energy contributions of aerobic metabolism, phosphoarginine, ATP and octopine in the adductor muscles of P. magellanicus were examined during swimming and recovery. 2. A linear relationship was observed between the size of the phosphoarginine pool and the number of valve snaps. A linear increase in arginine occurred during the same period. 3. 3. Octopine was formed during the first few hours of recovery, particularly in the phasic muscle. 4. The restoration of the phosphoarginine pool appeared to be by aerobic metabolism. 5. It is concluded that the role of octopine formation is to supply energy when the tissues are anoxic and to operate at such a rate as to maintain the basal rate of energy production.

North Sea ecosystem change from swimming crabs to seagulls

A recent increase in sea temperature has established a new ecosystem dynamic regime in the North Sea. Climate-induced changes in decapods have played an important role. Here, we reveal a coincident increase in the abundance of swimming crabs and lesser black-backed gull colonies in the North Sea, both in time and in space. Swimming crabs are an important food source for lesser black-backed gulls during the breeding season. Inhabiting the land, but feeding mainly at sea, lesser black-backed gulls provide a link between marine and terrestrial ecosystems, since the bottom-up influence of allochthonous nutrient input from seabirds to coastal soils can structure the terrestrial food web. We, therefore, suggest that climate-driven changes in trophic interactions in the marine food web may also have ensuing ramifications for the coastal ecology of the North Sea.