Re: FIBONACCI REFERENCE

From: bivalve (bivalve@mail.davidson.alumlink.com)
Date: Thu Aug 07 2003 - 11:15:52 EDT

  • Next message: Howard J. Van Till: "Re: specified complexity (was: The Aphenomenon of Abiogenesis)"

    I believe that the equiangular spiral is a highly efficiant use of shell material during growth (and obviously more compact than a straight cone). David Raup did some more recent work on shell geometry.

    A similar mathematical peculiarity is the habit of some army ants of setting out at a fixed angle relative to their previous foray. It turns out that this angle will provide good coverage of the entire area as it is repeated around the circle while being a wide angle between successive raids.

        Dr. David Campbell
        Old Seashells
        University of Alabama
        Biodiversity & Systematics
        Dept. Biological Sciences
        Box 870345
        Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0345 USA
        bivalve@mail.davidson.alumlink.com

    That is Uncle Joe, taken in the masonic regalia of a Grand Exalted Periwinkle of the Mystic Order of Whelks-P.G. Wodehouse, Romance at Droitgate Spa

                     



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