Fish biomechanics: purpose or means
In: Netherlands Journal of Zoology. E.J. Brill: Leiden. ISSN 0028-2960; e-ISSN 1568-542X, more
Also appears in:Osse, J.W.M.; Hollingworth, C.E. (Ed.) (1992). The Threatened World of Fish: Proceedings of the 7th International Ichthyology Congress, The Hague (The Netherlands), August 26-30, 1991. Netherlands Journal of Zoology, 42(2-3). E.J. Brill: Leiden. 524 pp., more
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| Keywords |
Marine/Coastal; Fresh water |
| Abstract |
Together with the exponential development of high-technology recording and computation apparatures and its applicability in fish research, fish biomechanics has envolved from a rather occaisional, mainly descriptive and qualitative approach, towards an active interdisciplinary field. Numerous quantitative analyses have led to a profound insight into the mechanics into a variety of biological phenomena. However, this still essentially descriptive approach often fails to explain the biological relevance of these phenomena. Mechanical modelling (at any level) can meet this probblem. Consequently, biomechanics must not be regarded as an end in itself, but as an explanatory means in a broader biological perspective. In fish biology, questions in a wider array of disciplines, such as anatomy, morphogenesis, ecology, ethology and evolutionary biology can be tackled by applying biomechanics. A short review and some examples are given. |
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