Uganda Log: Tuesday 27 October 2009Nate, Erin and P.J. spent the day at the Guesthouse backing up data, while I attempted to do some emails and update my notes. Needly to say the electricity went off at about 10:10 am.
This graph represents some really rough data, but it shows a relationship between the lengths of the pygmy Batwa's gastronemii and Achilles tendons compared to those of the more normal sized Bakiga who live in the same vicinity. The verticle numbers are the lengths of the Achilles and the horizontal numbers are the overall heights of the subjects. What the graph reveals is that the Batwa have shorter tendons which would indicate that they would be more efficient runners over long distances because a shorter tendon would require less energy to expand and contract than a longer tendon. The three dots that Erin placed on the Batwa's legs that she photographed for measurements were used to gather this data. She could easily plot the top dot at the top of the tibia and the bottom dot at the ankle, but for the middle dot, in order to get the exact location of the spot where the Achilles meets the gastronemius, an ultrasound was needed. This was all part of Erin, Nate, and P.J.'s field research.
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A little bit of monkey diversion lightened things up around the Guesthouse that day.
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