QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s):
Home     Help     Feedback     Subscriptions     Archive     Search     Table of Contents

This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Josephson, R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Josephson, R.

Journal of Experimental Biology, Vol 200, Issue 8 1241-1246, Copyright © 1997 by Company of Biologists

JOURNAL ARTICLES

Power output from a flight muscle of the bumblebee Bombus terrestris. III. Power during simulated flight

R Josephson

1. The work loop approach was used to measure mechanical power output from an asynchronous flight muscle, the dorso-ventral muscle of the bumblebee Bombus terrestris. Measurements were made at the optimum muscle length for work output at 30 °C and at a muscle temperature (40 °C) and oscillatory frequency (141­173 Hz, depending on the size of the animal) characteristic of free flight. Oscillatory strain amplitude was adjusted to maximize power output. 2. There was much preparation-to-preparation variability in power output. Power output in the muscles with the highest values was slightly greater than 100 W kg-1. It is argued that there are many experimental factors which might reduce measured power output below that in the living bumblebee, and no obvious factors which might lead to overestimates of muscle power. The conclusion is that flight muscle in the intact bumblebee can produce at least 100 W kg-1.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				F. Lehmann, M. Dickinson, and J Staunton The scaling of carbon dioxide release and respiratory water loss in flying fruit flies (Drosophila spp.) J. Exp. Biol., January 5, 2000; 203(10): 1613 - 1624. [Abstract] [PDF]