Expertise
Bird flight, wing morphing, feather deformation, neuromuscular control, accelerometry, respirometry
Research Interests
I am interested in the evolution, biomechanics, aerodynamics and neuromechanical control of vertebrate flight, particularly structure-function relationships between wing/pectoral anatomy and flight performance.
Education
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Ecology and Evolution - University of Montana
- Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Biology - Gonzaga University
- Music Minor
Biosketch
Originally hailing from Portland, Oregon, Rémy earned a B.S. in Biology (and a minor in Music) from Gonzaga University, where he studied the paleoecology of Miocene perissodactyls with John Orcutt, Ph.D. He recently earned his Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolution from the University of Montana in the lab of Bret Tobalske, Ph.D., studying the control and costs of flight in turbulence in ringneck doves. Currently, Rémy is a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Konow Lab (Principal Investigator: Nicolai Konow, Ph.D.) investigating the functional consequences of a) simultaneous force production by muscle antagonists at joints and b) structural compartmentalization within single muscles. He hopes to use this work to better understand the neuromuscular control of flight in vertebrates.
Selected Publications
- Delplanche, R. A., Greil, K. E., Inman, D. J., & Tobalske, B. W. (2026). The neuromuscular control of wing morphing in response to upward gusts during gliding flight in doves. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 293(2072), 20260187.
- Tu, R., Delplanche, R. A., Tobalske, B. W., Inman, D. J., & Sodano, H. A. (2024). 3D printed feathers with embedded aerodynamic sensing. Bioinspiration & Biomimetics, 19(6), 066010.
Selected Presentations
- 2026. Delplanche, R.A., Delplanche, KE, Inman, DJ, Tobalske, BW. “Neuromuscular control of wing morphing in response to upward gusts during gliding flight in doves.” Podium presentation, The Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Conference, Portland, Oregon.
- 2025. Delplanche, R.A. “Proximodistal muscle function and neuromuscular control during steady and non-steady flight in doves.” Podium presentation, The Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Conference, Atlanta, Georgia.
- 2024. Delplanche, R.A. “Effects of perturbation by vertical gusts upon the kinematics of gliding flight in doves.” Podium presentation, The Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Conference, Seattle, Washington.
- 2023. Delplanche, R.A. “Strain and vibration of selected wing feathers during different flight modes in doves.” Podium presentation, The Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Conference, Austin, Texas.
- 2019. Delplanche, R.A. “The Distribution of Hemphillian Rhinocerotids and Equids: Taphonomy or Ecology?” Poster presentation, Geological Society of America Conference, Phoenix, Arizona.
- 2018. Delplanche, R.A. “Niche partitioning, taphonomy, and the distribution of Hemphillian rhinocerotids and equids.” Podium presentation, Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
- 2017. Delplanche, R.A. “Large Mammals from the Hemphillian of McKay Reservoir, Oregon.” Poster presentation, Geological Society of America Conference, Seattle, Washington.