Swimming Smarter, not Harder: An Exploration of the Relationship between Locomotion and Energetics in Fishes

Fishes exhibit extraordinary locomotor abilities, a key factor in their evolutionary success. My research integrates detailed movement and energetics analyses of swimming with robotics to explore how fishes undertake large-scale migrations, execute rapid maneuvers, and conserve energy by interacting with structures and selecting abiotic gradients in their environment. During my seminar, I will discuss the consequences of flow and climate change stressors on locomotor performance and the clever solutions fishes employ to enhance swimming efficiency. This exploration leads to the conclusion that fishes are not merely ‘the puppet of the environment’ but rather exhibit sophisticated behavioral and physiological mechanisms to exploit diverse conditions.