Exploring the accuracy of palaeobiological modelling procedures in forward-dynamics simulations of maximum-effort vertical jumping
The body fossil record cannot preserve the dynamics of animal locomotion, and the only way to systematically reconstruct it is through simulation. However, musculoskeletal models used in simulation studies are typically simplified, meaning that their efficacy must first be demonstrated on living ani...
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| Language: | English |
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The Royal Society
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Royal Society Open Science |
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| Online Access: | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.242109 |
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| author | Samuel R. R. Cross James P. Charles William I. Sellers Jonathan R. Codd Karl T. Bates |
| author_facet | Samuel R. R. Cross James P. Charles William I. Sellers Jonathan R. Codd Karl T. Bates |
| author_sort | Samuel R. R. Cross |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The body fossil record cannot preserve the dynamics of animal locomotion, and the only way to systematically reconstruct it is through simulation. However, musculoskeletal models used in simulation studies are typically simplified, meaning that their efficacy must first be demonstrated on living animals. Here, we evaluate a workflow for forward-dynamics simulations of maximum-effort vertical jumping, using simplified human and guineafowl models built with muscle masses from either measured data or estimated with methods previously applied to fossils. Predicted human performance was approximately 10% below experimental averages when known muscle masses were used, while the error ranged between +3 and −10% with palaeobiological methods. The simulations also correctly replicated the kinematic strategies (countermovement or squat jump) used across different starting postures. In contrast, predicted guineafowl performance was around 50–60% experimental values, irrespective of reconstruction method. Guineafowl model underperformance likely reflects simplifications related to foot mobility, muscle activation speeds and muscle fibre lengths, with the latter potentially being adaptively important to exceptional avian jumping performance. These findings emphasize that current muscle reconstruction and simulation approaches are most suited for evolutionary analyses where broad changes in body morphology and posture may significantly impact vertical jumping through pronounced qualitative differences in kinematic strategy. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e13ced2cd8114e95a07769e02807ecd0 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2054-5703 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | The Royal Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Royal Society Open Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-e13ced2cd8114e95a07769e02807ecd02025-08-20T02:32:53ZengThe Royal SocietyRoyal Society Open Science2054-57032025-05-0112510.1098/rsos.242109Exploring the accuracy of palaeobiological modelling procedures in forward-dynamics simulations of maximum-effort vertical jumpingSamuel R. R. Cross0James P. Charles1William I. Sellers2Jonathan R. Codd3Karl T. Bates4Institute of Life course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UKInstitute of Life course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UKSchool of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UKFaculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UKInstitute of Life course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UKThe body fossil record cannot preserve the dynamics of animal locomotion, and the only way to systematically reconstruct it is through simulation. However, musculoskeletal models used in simulation studies are typically simplified, meaning that their efficacy must first be demonstrated on living animals. Here, we evaluate a workflow for forward-dynamics simulations of maximum-effort vertical jumping, using simplified human and guineafowl models built with muscle masses from either measured data or estimated with methods previously applied to fossils. Predicted human performance was approximately 10% below experimental averages when known muscle masses were used, while the error ranged between +3 and −10% with palaeobiological methods. The simulations also correctly replicated the kinematic strategies (countermovement or squat jump) used across different starting postures. In contrast, predicted guineafowl performance was around 50–60% experimental values, irrespective of reconstruction method. Guineafowl model underperformance likely reflects simplifications related to foot mobility, muscle activation speeds and muscle fibre lengths, with the latter potentially being adaptively important to exceptional avian jumping performance. These findings emphasize that current muscle reconstruction and simulation approaches are most suited for evolutionary analyses where broad changes in body morphology and posture may significantly impact vertical jumping through pronounced qualitative differences in kinematic strategy.https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.242109jumpingsimulationmultibody dynamicsmodel validationhumanbird |
| spellingShingle | Samuel R. R. Cross James P. Charles William I. Sellers Jonathan R. Codd Karl T. Bates Exploring the accuracy of palaeobiological modelling procedures in forward-dynamics simulations of maximum-effort vertical jumping Royal Society Open Science jumping simulation multibody dynamics model validation human bird |
| title | Exploring the accuracy of palaeobiological modelling procedures in forward-dynamics simulations of maximum-effort vertical jumping |
| title_full | Exploring the accuracy of palaeobiological modelling procedures in forward-dynamics simulations of maximum-effort vertical jumping |
| title_fullStr | Exploring the accuracy of palaeobiological modelling procedures in forward-dynamics simulations of maximum-effort vertical jumping |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring the accuracy of palaeobiological modelling procedures in forward-dynamics simulations of maximum-effort vertical jumping |
| title_short | Exploring the accuracy of palaeobiological modelling procedures in forward-dynamics simulations of maximum-effort vertical jumping |
| title_sort | exploring the accuracy of palaeobiological modelling procedures in forward dynamics simulations of maximum effort vertical jumping |
| topic | jumping simulation multibody dynamics model validation human bird |
| url | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.242109 |
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