10. Figuring Out How Toads Endure All That Hopping

Source:

Fountain H. Figuring Out How Toads Endure All That Hopping
. The New York Times [Internet]. 2010 Feb 8 [cited 2010 Feb 10]. Available from: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/09/science/09obtoads.html?ref=science

When humans jump, they activate their ankle muscles before landing. This helps prepare the organism for impact. The magnitude of the jump dictates how much preparation is needed. A larger jump actives more ankle muscles, while a smaller jump activates less. Using this logic, the model was applied to frogs. Scientist wanted to see if frogs active muscles when landing. The cane toad, Bufo marinus, was chosen as the research subject. Scientist observed that this species uses their forelimbs to absorb most of the impact, thus, the students set out to measure muscular activity in those limbs. They found that the patterns of muscle activation were found in the frogs as well. Larger jumps required more muscle activation and smaller jumps required less muscle activation. This is thought to occur through a type of sensory feedback. The animal can predict when it will land