Free-living animals differ widely in their tolerance to the absence of molecular oxygen (anoxia): most die within hours or days under these conditions, and even well-adapted forms such as intertidal invertebrates do not survive more than a month or so of continuous anoxia (Hochachka, 1980; Hochachka and Guppy, 1987; Bryant, 1991). A striking exception is the brine shrimp, Artemia franciscana, whose encysted embryos (cysts) have previously been reported to survive 4 months of continuous anoxia with no decrease in viability (Dutrieu and Chrestia-Blanchine, 1966) and 7 months with only a 25% reduction (Stocco et al. 1972). Both studies were terminated at the times given so that anoxic survival limits of this remarkable organism remain to be determined. In view of these observations, and the interest in cyst metabolism during anoxia (see Hand and Gnaiger, 1988; Clegg and Jackson, 1989a...
Harnessing physiological research for smarter environmental policy
In their Perspective, Alexia Dubuc and colleagues discuss strategies to strengthen collaboration, communication and engagement between physiological researchers and environmental policy makers to ensure that conservation strategies address the threats posed by climate change.
JEB grants to support junior faculty
Learn about the grants that we launched in 2023 to support junior faculty from two of our awardees: Erin Leonard, Early-Career Researcher (ECR) Visiting Fellowship recipient, and Pauline Fleischmann, Research Partnership Kickstart Travel Grant recipient. The next deadline to apply is 28 November 2025.
Early testing could make risky falls a thing of the past for elderly people
Falls cost healthcare systems billions each year, but there may be a solution. Jiaen Wu and colleagues of Stanford University, USA, suggest that measuring the way someone walks before they get old might let doctors know who is at risk for a potentially life-threatening fall in the future.
Ecosystem engineers on tropical reefs in transition
Giant barrel sponges (GSBs) remain robust to rising seawater temperatures and have rapidly populated reefs stripped of coral cover by climate change. GBSs may be poised to become the dominant habitat-forming organisms in tropical reef ecosystems of the future. In this Review, Joseph Pawlik provides an integrative and critical assessment of research on giant barrel sponges.
Fast & Fair peer review
Our sister journal Biology Open has recently launched the next phase of their Fast & Fair peer review initiative: offering high-quality peer review within 7 working days. To learn more about BiO’s progress and future plans, read the Editorial by Daniel Gorelick, or visit the Fast & Fair peer review page.
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