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Title
Evolutionary Biomechanics of the Rostrum of Curculio Linnaeus, 1758 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)
Description
Weevils are among the most diverse and evolutionarily successful animal lineages on Earth. Their success is driven in part by a structure called the rostrum, which gives weevil heads a characteristic "snout-like" appearance. Nut weevils in the genus Curculio use the rostrum to drill holes into developing fruits and nuts, wherein they deposit their eggs. During oviposition this exceedingly slender structure is bent into a straightened configuration - in some species up to 90° - but does not suffer any damage during this process. The performance of the snout is explained in terms of cuticle biomechanics and rostral curvature, as presented in a series of four interconnected studies. First, a micromechanical constitutive model of the cuticle is defined to predict and reconstruct the mechanical behavior of each region in the exoskeleton. Second, the effect of increased endocuticle thickness on the stiffness and fracture strength of the rostrum is assessed using force-controlled tensile testing. In the third chapter, these studies are integrated into finite element models of the snout, demonstrating that the Curculio rostrum is only able to withstand repeated, extreme bending because of
modifications to the composite structure of the cuticle in the rostral apex. Finally, interspecific differences in the differential geometry of the snout are characterized to elucidate the role of biomechanical constraint in the evolution of rostral morphology for both males and females. Together these studies highlight the significance of cuticle biomechanics - heretofore unconsidered by others - as a source of constraint on the evolution of the rostrum and the mechanobiology of the genus Curculio.
modifications to the composite structure of the cuticle in the rostral apex. Finally, interspecific differences in the differential geometry of the snout are characterized to elucidate the role of biomechanical constraint in the evolution of rostral morphology for both males and females. Together these studies highlight the significance of cuticle biomechanics - heretofore unconsidered by others - as a source of constraint on the evolution of the rostrum and the mechanobiology of the genus Curculio.
Date Created
2009
Contributors
- Jansen, Michael Andrew (Author)
- Franz, Nico M (Thesis advisor)
- Chawla, Nikhilesh (Committee member)
- Harrison, Jon (Committee member)
- Martins, Emilia (Committee member)
- Arizona State University (Publisher)
Topical Subject
Resource Type
Extent
227 pages
Language
eng
Copyright Statement
In Copyright
Primary Member of
Peer-reviewed
No
Open Access
No
Handle
https://hdl.handle.net/2286/R.I.53836
Level of coding
minimal
Note
Doctoral Dissertation Evolutionary Biology 2009
System Created
- 2019-05-15 12:33:39
System Modified
- 2021-08-26 09:47:01
- 3 years 2 months ago
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