Issues
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Cover image
Cover Image
Cover: Emitting a directional sound beam is presumably very advantageous to echolocating animals, and all echolocating bats investigated to date emit directional sound pulses. Yet, there are bat species that echolocate without an obvious means of emitting a directional sound beam, like this brown long-eared bat. Jakobsen et al. (jeb171926) show that, despite the lack of obvious external structures to facilitate directional sound emission through the nostrils, brown long-eared bats still emit a narrow sound beam, probably by emitting sound through the mouth as well as the nostrils, thus supporting the hypothesis that a directional sound beam is important for echolocating animals. Photo credit: Anders Hedenström.
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INSIDE JEB
OUTSIDE JEB
REVIEWS
Evolution of neuropeptide signalling systems
Summary: A review of the revolutionary advances in our knowledge of the evolution of neuropeptide signalling systems that have been enabled by comparative genomics and neuropeptide receptor deorphanisation.
The long and the short of it – a perspective on peptidergic regulation of circuits and behaviour
Summary: Neuropeptides are the largest class of neuromodulators in nervous systems. Here we review the general principles and mechanistic insights that have emerged from studies of various animal models and discuss some of the outstanding major challenges.
New techniques, applications and perspectives in neuropeptide research
Summary: This Review discusses a range of molecular aspects of neuropeptide biology and integrates techniques, model organisms and applications, highlighting new perspectives enabled by technical advancements in neuropeptide research.
RESEARCH ARTICLES
Reducing gravity takes the bounce out of running
Highlighted Article: During running, humans take higher leaps in normal gravity than in reduced gravity, in order to optimally balance the competing costs of stance and leg-swing work.
Honey bee (Apis mellifera) sociability and nestmate affiliation are dependent on the social environment experienced post-eclosion
Summary: Sociability and nestmate affiliation in honey bees are influenced by social experience and exposure to the hive environment in early adult life.
Directionality of nose-emitted echolocation calls from bats without a nose leaf (Plecotus auritus)
Summary: Nose-emitting bats without an obvious means of emitting a narrow bio-sonar beam still emit a highly directional beam, potentially by emitting sound through the mouth as well as the nostrils.
Exposure to CO2 influences metabolism, calcification and gene expression of the thecosome pteropod Limacina retroversa
Summary: Severity and duration of CO2 exposure influence calcification and respiration differentially in Limacina retroversa, as shown by organismal and gene expression responses, while captivity interactively influences respiration and gene expression.
Eating when ill is risky: immune defense impairs food detoxification in the caterpillar Manduca sexta
Editors' Choice: Appetite loss during illness occurs in all animals. It may be an important protection against food toxins. Mobilizing immune defense depresses the ability to detoxify food (as shown in caterpillars).
Visual associative learning in wood ants
Summary: Ants form an associative memory of a visual cue paired with a reward through classical conditioning. This allows visual associative learning to be studied in fixed rather than free-moving ants.
GABAA receptors activate fish feeding behaviour via two distinct functional pathways
Summary: Behavioural tests combined with cellular and molecular electrophysiology clarify molecular mechanisms that control fish feeding, revealing two partially competitive mechanisms originating from the same neural receptor.
Conversion efficiency of α-linolenic acid to omega-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids in aerial insectivore chicks
Highlighted Article: A stable-isotope-labeled tracer reveals the mechanism for omega-3 highly unsaturated fatty acid (HUFA) limitation in a wild avian insectivore, showing that HUFAs are an ecologically essential nutrient.
Ontogeny and morphometrics of the gills and swim bladder of air-breathing striped catfish Pangasianodon hypophthalmus
Summary: The paradox of how an active tropical fish can meet its oxygen requirements using gills with an apparently small surface area is explained.
CORRECTIONS
Special Issue – The Integrative Biology of the Heart
Our latest Special Issue – The Integrative Biology of the Heart collates Research Articles, Reviews and Commentaries that consider cardiac biology at all levels of organisation. Guest edited by William Joyce and Holly Shiels, the papers address questions regarding cardiac plasticity, development and evolution in both vertebrates and invertebrates.
Sensory perception in a changing world – join us in Liverpool in March 2025
We are excited to invite you to a unique scientific conference, celebrating the 100-year anniversary of The Company of Biologists, and bringing together our different communities. The conference will incorporate the JEB Symposium Sensory Perception in a Changing World and the SEB satellite meeting. Find out more and register to join us in March 2025 in Liverpool, UK. Submit your abstract by 13 December 2024. Early-bird registration ends on 17 January 2025.
Extraordinary creatures: raptors
In our new Conversation focusing on extraordinary creatures, Simon Potier tells us about raptors, from peregrine falcons and eagles to vultures and owls, discussing their lifestyles, incredible sensory abilities and conservation successes.
Cardiac arrythmias in fish
A regular heartbeat is essential for maintaining homeostasis in fish and other vertebrates, but environmental changes and pollutants can cause cardiac arrythmias. In this Review, Matti Vornanen and colleagues provide an integrative view of the molecular origins of fish cardiac arrhythmias, their functional consequences, and their induction by natural and anthropogenic environmental changes.
Blue and white light pollution is disastrous for Cory's shearwater fledglings
Artificial light at night plays havoc with Cory's shearwater fledglings, many fall from the air in urban areas. Now Elizabeth Atchoi & colleagues from Lithuania, Spain, France & the Azores show that blue wavelengths & white light bewilder the youngsters, leaving them trapped by the light pollution.