Session: VIB-13-01: Dynamics of Biological, Bio-Inspired and Biomimetic Systems

Paper Number: 118027

118027 - Dynamics of Buzz Pollination: Modal Analysis and Computational Modeling of Poricidal Anthers 

About 10% of flowering plants, including economically important crops such as tomatoes, eggplant and kiwi, conceal pollen in tube-like structure called poricidal anthers. Pollen is removed from poricidal anthers by bees performing a behavior called ``buzz pollination". During buzz pollination, a bee will land on a flower, disengage its wings via a clutch mechanism, grasp the poricidal anther rigidly with its mandibles, and rapidly engage its flight muscles. The resulting vibration of the anther releases a near instantaneous plume of pollen, which the bee collects on its abdomen. The pollen is then incidentally transferred to other flowers as the bee continues to forage. 

The success of buzz pollination relies critically on the vibratory forces produced by the bee as well as the structural dynamics of the poricidal anther. However, the structural dynamics of the anther remain poorly understood. Fundamental quantities such as the anther natural frequencies and mode shapes have not yet been quantified, and there are virtually no computational models that can be leveraged to understand how the anther behaves under dynamic loading. Given the motivation, the objective of the current study is to (1) perform modal analysis on flower anthers to quantify their natural frequencies and mode shapes, and (2) develop a finite element model of the anther based on experimental findings.

Presenting Author: Mark Jankauski Montana

Presenting Author Biography: Dr. Mark Jankauski is an assistant professor in Mechanical Engineering at Montana State University. His research interests include dynamics and vibrations of complex biological structures.

Authors:

Mark Jankauski Montana