Issues

Summary: A diurnal pattern regulated by light is demonstrated in the contraction–expansion behaviour of the demosponge Tethya wilhelma even though sponges lack both nerves and opsins.

Highlighted Article: Cold causes insects to lose central nervous system function and enter a coma. Plasticity in the coma-inducing temperature is associated with adaptive changes to Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase thermal kinetics in the brain of Drosophila melanogaster.

Summary: Experienced rock dove parents show lower corticosterone and higher prolactin levels after an acute stressor than birds without parental experience. Increased hippocampal glucocorticoid receptor expression may mediate this effect.

Highlighted Article: Thermal imaging by rattlesnake facial pits has poor resolution compared with thermographic cameras; consequently, patterned thermal backgrounds in natural environments may present a challenge for target detection.

Summary: The physiological and behavioral responses of the acute phase response in bats is dependent on the dose and/or period (rest or active) in which the immunogenic substance is administered.

Highlighted Article: Kinematic and hydrodynamic analyses of penguins during horizontal turning show that penguins generate a centripetal force by means of body banking and contralateral differences in their wing motion.

Highlighted Article: Tephritid flies perform a wing waving display that deters jumping spider attacks. Jumping spiders track flies less effectively during wing display because of fluctuations in colour contrasts arising from the wing movements.

Summary: A GnRH/CRZ-related peptide, associated with reproduction in many vertebrates and invertebrates, modulates the oral central pattern generator in the pulmonate snail towards a rasping rhythm accompanying egg-laying behavior.

Summary: Ants preferentially choose odours they encounter first in a serial learning task.

Summary: Heat stress in mussels results in multiple metabolic pathway shifts, largely mitigated in heat-hardened mussels, which possess an advantageous strategy for rapid gain and slow loss of heat tolerance.

Summary: A harbour seal can localise a goal in respect to landmarks using geometrical relationships, which is beneficial when approaching landmarks from a distance or from unfamiliar positions.