ECR Spotlight – Ruiping Xu Free

Ruiping Xu

How did you become interested in biology?

My passion for biology began when I was very young. As a child, I was endlessly curious about the natural world – why birds can fly, why some animals are active at night but sleep during the day, and so on. This fascination with living organisms stayed with me and naturally led me to pursue a biology-related major at university. However, my undergraduate studies were only the starting point. It was during my master's degree that I truly developed a deeper understanding of biology, when I entered the field of physiological ecology. There, I learned to apply a range of biological methods to explore ecological questions. For example: why do birds generally have higher body temperatures than most mammals? How do organisms regulate their physiology to adapt to changing environments? The idea that I can use what I have learned to uncover the secrets of nature fills me with excitement and motivation. This enduring curiosity and drive to explore the natural world continue to inspire my research journey.

Describe your scientific journey and your current research focus

My scientific journey began during my master's studies, when I entered the field of physiological ecology. I initially focused on understanding how small passerine birds regulate energy metabolism and body temperature under environmental stress. My first research project investigated heat tolerance in the red-billed leiothrix (Leiothrix lutea), a species capable of surviving at high ambient temperatures (up to 40°C) for extended periods. I found that these birds actively enhance their antioxidant defenses to mitigate oxidative damage during prolonged heat exposure. Building on this experience, I became increasingly interested in how other environmental factors influence avian physiology. In recent years, I have focused on artificial light at night (ALAN), as birds are highly sensitive to light cues. With rapid urbanization, ALAN has been shown to disrupt avian activity patterns and reproduction. My current research explores how ALAN affects basal thermogenesis and associated physiological processes in small passerine birds. Looking ahead, I aim to expand this work by conducting comparative studies between birds and mammals, to better understand how different taxa physiologically respond to diverse environmental signals.

How would you explain the main findings of your paper to a member of the public?

Since the Industrial Revolution, artificial light has increasingly illuminated our nights. While this benefits human society, it has also introduced a relatively new and widespread form of environmental pollution – light pollution. For many animals that rely on natural light cycles as critical environmental signals, this change can profoundly disrupt biological functions. Birds are particularly sensitive to light cues, which help regulate their internal rhythms, behavior and physiology. In our study, we found that exposure to artificial light at night altered the birds' ability to produce heat to maintain their body temperature. We also observed changes in their biological rhythms. Notably, different bird species responded differently to the same light exposure – some exhibited stronger alterations than others. These findings suggest that as artificial light continues to expand into natural habitats, it may interfere with how birds regulate energy and adapt to their environment, potentially affecting their health, behavior and survival in increasingly urbanized landscapes.

Why did you choose JEB to publish your paper?

First of all, JEB has a long and respected history as a leading journal in the field, and its scientific quality is beyond question. What also attracted me is the diversity of research published in JEB – the articles are not only scientifically rigorous but also often highlight fascinating discoveries across many biological systems. Since my first year of graduate school, it had been a goal of mine to one day publish a paper in JEB and contribute to this vibrant community. Through the submission process, I discovered even more reasons to appreciate the journal. The editors were highly professional and very supportive throughout the review process, and each editorial decision felt personal and thoughtful. I truly looked forward to reading the editor's responses at each stage. In addition, the reviewers provided excellent and constructive feedback, and I learned a great deal during the revision process. Overall, publishing in JEB has been a very positive and inspiring experience.

What's next for you?

Next, I plan to expand my research by conducting comparative studies between birds and mammals to explore how different animal groups adapt physiologically to environmental challenges. Birds are fascinating models in this regard – they maintain higher body temperatures than mammals, yet remain remarkably long lived and exhibit high metabolic rates. This raises several intriguing questions: how do birds sustain such high body temperatures? What mechanisms allow them to support high metabolism without incurring the typical costs of oxidative damage? Interestingly, birds also possess strong antioxidant defenses. I am particularly interested in understanding whether birds are better able than mammals to resist oxidative stress under comparable environmental stressors. Through this comparative approach, I hope to better understand how animals adapt to environmental stress and maintain physiological balance.