Avian mud nest architecture by self-secreted saliva
- 주제(키워드) 도움말 bird nest , granular materials , animal architecture , polymer adhesion , 3D printing
- 발행기관 NATL ACAD SCIENCES
- 발행년도 2021
- 총서유형 Journal
- 본문언어 영어
초록/요약 도움말
Mud nests built by swallows (Hirundinidae) and phoebes (Sayornis) are stable granular piles attached to cliffs, walls, or ceilings. Although these birds have been observed to mix saliva with incohesive mud granules, how such biopolymer solutions provide the nest with sufficient strength to support the weight of the residents as well as its own remains elusive. Here, we elucidate the mechanism of strong granular cohesion by the viscoelastic paste of bird saliva through a combination of theoretical analysis and experimental measurements in both natural and artificial nests. Our mathematical model considering the mechanics of mud nest construction allows us to explain the biological observation that all mud-nesting bird species should be lightweight.
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