Looping Network Meetings

#54 May 27, 2024

Monday, 15:00 CET

Aaron Winn

Contraction-induced flows in the jellyfish gastrovascular system

Abstract:
The moon jellyfish possesses a gastrovascular system: an open, planar flow network that distributes nutrients throughout the organism. We show that contractions typically associated with jellyfish swimming motion can explain circulation in the gastrovascular system. As the jellyfish swims, the network undergoes deformations that change both the radius and the length of the vessels. While much work has been done to model fluid flows induced by vessels of changing radius, little effort has been made to account for longitudinal length changes. However, it is typical for a solid which is contracting radially to also extend longitudinally. We develop a theory to study flows induced by changes in both radius and length and demonstrate which jellyfish swimming modes could aid in promoting circulation in the gastrovascular network.

Zoom link