Analysis of the Behaviours Mediating Barnacle Cyprid Reversible Adhesion

摘要: When exploring immersed surfaces the cypris larvae of barnacles employ a tenacious and rapidly reversible adhesion mechanism to facilitate their characteristic ‘walking’ behaviour. Although direct relevance fields marine biofouling bio-inspired adhesive development, temporary in cyprids remains poorly understood. Cyprids secrete deposits proteinaceous substance during surface attachment these are often visible as ‘footprints’ on previously explored surfaces. The structures, antennular discs, also present complex morphology reminiscent both hairy appendages used by some terrestrial invertebrates for classic ‘suction cup’. Despite numerous analytical approaches so-far employed, it has not been possible resolve conclusively respective contributions viscoelastic via ‘temporary adhesive’, ‘dry’ cuticular villi disc behavioural contribution organism. In this study, high-speed photography was first time capture behaviour at instant detachment. Attachment is facilitated constantly sticky – presumably due presence adhesive. tenacity resulting bond, however, mediated behaviourally. For weak moved surface, whereas strong spread out surface. Voluntary detachment force, requiring twisting or peeling bond seemingly without any more subtle behaviours. Micro-bubbles were observed interface cyprid detached, possibly an adaptation energy dissipation. These observations will allow future work focus specifically proteins, which appear be fundamental adhesion, inherently exquisitely adapted underwater.