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Cover image
Cover Image
Cover: Three species of larval stomatopod crustaceans: Gonodactylaceus falcatus, Gonodactylellus n. sp. and Pullosquilla n. sp. Adult stomatopods have among the most complex eyes in the animal kingdom, but few studies have been completed on the larval visual system. McDonald et al. (jeb245371) used electroretinogram recordings and behavioural trials to examine the visual capabilities of these larvae. Each species has at least three spectral classes, one each in the blue, orange and UV portions of the spectrum, as well as distinct wavelength preferences. Photo credit: Marisa McDonald
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INSIDE JEB
COMMENTARIES
Lost: on what level should we aim to understand animal navigation?
Summary: Here, we critique recent advances in the field of animal navigation, using Tinbergen's four questions to explore how and why experimental approaches shape our understanding of this behavioural trait.
Air sacs are a key adaptive trait of the insect respiratory system
Summary: Air sacs are observed across arthropods, and are associated with strong flight, large body or appendage size and buoyancy control, suggesting an important role in insect life-history evolution.
REVIEW
Sound detection and production mechanisms in aquatic decapod and stomatopod crustaceans
Summary: Sound is important in the life-history strategies of many crustaceans. Here, we review sound detection and production in decapod and stomatopod crustaceans.
RESEARCH ARTICLES
Embodied latch mechanism of the mandible to power at ultra-high speed in the trap-jaw ant Odontomachus kuroiwae
Summary: X-ray micro volume imaging reveals the fine structure of multi-latch systems on the mandible forming a ‘ball-joint’ in trap-jaw ants.
No food for thought: an intermediate level of food deprivation enhances memory in Lymnaea stagnalis
Summary: In Lymnaea stagnalis, 3 days of food deprivation enhanced memory formation and caused significant transcriptional effects, further demonstrating the importance of nutritional status and related molecular mechanisms in cognitive function.
Subtractive colour mixing with bile pigments creates the rich wing palette of Graphium weiskei butterflies
Summary: Spectrophotometry of the unusually colourful Graphium weiskei butterfly wings reveals the rare but crucial role of bile pigment to create the rich colour palette.
Limb bone strains during climbing in green iguanas (Iguana iguana): testing biomechanical release as a mechanism promoting morphological transitions in arboreal vertebrates
Summary: Limb bone strains in green iguanas moving across substrates simulating terrestrial versus arboreal habitats show that arboreal conditions can elicit higher strains in the femur, but not the humerus.
Elevated temperatures dampen the innate immune capacity of developing lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens)
Elevated temperatures impact innate immune capacity of developing lake sturgeon, likely making them more vulnerable to pathogens.
Constant temperature and fluctuating temperature have distinct effects on hypoxia tolerance in killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus)
Summary: Acclimation to constant temperature results in thermal specialization, whereas acclimation to fluctuating temperatures reduces thermal sensitivity and helps maintain hypoxia tolerance across a broader range of temperatures in killifish.
A cis-regulatory sequence of the selector gene vestigial drives the evolution of wing scaling in Drosophila species
Results from CRISPR/Cas9 replacement of a cis-regulatory element suggest that changes within the vestigial Quadrant Enhancer sequence in Drosophila species are responsible for the evolution of wing scaling.
Does human foot anthropometry relate to plantar flexor fascicle mechanics and metabolic energy cost across various walking speeds?
Summary: Anatomical variations in human feet can affect whole-body energy cost during locomotion, allowing individuals with longer heels to walk faster with less effort.
Physiological and behavioral evidence for multiple spectral channels in the larval stomatopod visual system
Summary: Physiological and behavioral techniques provide evidence for multiple spectral channels in the visual system of three larval stomatopod species.
The role of ecdysis in repair of an attachment system: a case study using geckos
Ecdysis restores clinging ability in geckos reduced by normal use and damage.
ECR SPOTLIGHTS
Call for Papers: The Integrative Biology of the Gut. Guest Editors Carol Bucking, Matt Regan and John Terblanche
We are pleased to welcome submissions for our upcoming Special Issue: The Integrative Biology of the Gut . We are calling for forward-looking papers that address the functional roles of the gut. We will consider papers that address gut function from the cellular level to its interactions with other organs and tissues, including its role in diverse ecophysiological processes, spanning both vertebrate and invertebrate species. The deadline for submission to this issue is 1 November 2024.
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.
Ultraviolet radiation: a neglected stressor
Although ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is pervasive and can alter the effects of other stressors in the environment, ecophysiologists rarely discuss or include UVR in their experimental design. In this Commentary, Coen Hird and colleagues provide a guide for experimental biologists to better understand if, when, and how UVR can be integrated into study designs to improve the ecological realism of their research.
Turkey vultures defy thin air by flying faster
Turkey vultures successfully fly at high altitude despite the challenge of generating lift in thin air, but how? Jonathan Rader & Ty Hedrick discovered that the birds fly 1m/s faster at 2200m than at sea level to generate sufficient lift to remain aloft.
