Form and Function of the Pectoral Fins in the Longhorn Sculpin

Natasha K. Taft's research goals are to understand the relationship between the form of biological structures and their function, how they work. My model system is the longhorn sculpin, Myoxocephalus octodecimspinosus. The longhorn sculpin is a benthic, or bottom-living fish species that lives of the coasts of the Atlantic. They don't have swim bladders to help keep them afloat, so they sink in water. This is good for them they spent most of their time sitting on the bottom camouflaged to avoid predators and surprise prey. Specifically, I study how they use their pectoral fins. Many fish that we think of as "typical" fish use their pectoral fins to swim and maneuver in the open water. The longhorn sculpin uses its pectoral fins to swim in water too, but they also use them to crawl, dig, prop themselves up, or "hop" along the bottom. I study how the shape of the fins and the properties of the bony fin support structures or "fin rays" are adapted for life on the bottom of the ocean.