Issues
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Cover image
Cover Image
Cover: Sea stars and other echinoderms lack a brain but can perform complex, directionally coordinated behaviors. Howell et al. (jeb245752) show that behaviors elicited by the grey sea star (Luidia clathrata, pictured), purple sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) and variegated sea urchin (Lytechinus variegatus) can be inhibited when the dopamine receptor antagonist haloperidol is administered. Multiple different behaviors were inhibited, suggesting a role for dopamine receptors in neural processing in echinoderms. Photo credit: Chris Shelley.
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INSIDE JEB
OUTSIDE JEB
CONVERSATION
PERSPECTIVE
Neuroethology in South America: past, present and future
Summary: Reflections on the development of neuroethology in the Southern Cone of South America.
COMMENTARY
Reconciling the variability in the biological response of marine invertebrates to climate change
Summary: Quantifying biological responses is key for conservation and management decisions. Reconciling the inconsistencies between external signals and organismal perception/memory by studying tissue-specific responses will improve our capacity for essential eco-evolutionary forecasting.
METHODS & TECHNIQUES
A non-invasive, concealed electrocardiogram and bioimpedance measurement system for captive primates
Summary: Development of modified gloves and an instrumentation system for non-invasive, unobtrusive cardiovascular screening (ECG and bioimpedance) in large non-human primates (chimpanzees), without the need for full anaesthesia or skin preparation.
RESEARCH ARTICLES
Mitochondrial metabolism and oxidative stress in the tropical cockroach under fluctuating thermal regimes
Summary: Repeated exposure of the tropical cockroach Gromphadorhina coquerliana to cold promotes mitochondrial metabolism, resulting in better mitochondrial respiration.
Beat the heat: thermal respites and access to food associated with increased bumble bee heat tolerance
Summary: Bumble bee heat tolerance is associated with thermal stress periodicity, recovery duration and/or access to food in laboratory and field settings.
The sensory effects of light on the electric organ discharge rate of Gymnotus omarorum
Highlighted Article: The electric fish Gymnotus omarorum tends to escape from light, indicating the existence of a ‘light-avoidance response’. This suggests that the fish hides in shady zones to avoid macroptic predators.
Temperature and pressure dependency of oxygen consumption during long-term sustained swimming of European eels
Highlighted Article: Oxygen consumption rates of European eels exposed to different combinations of temperature and pressure during sustained swimming indicate that current estimates of energy demand during their spawning migration are probably overestimated.
Cardiorespiratory physiology and swimming capacity of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) at cold temperatures
Summary: Cold temperatures constrain heart rate, metabolic capacity and swimming performance in salmon. However, acclimation and acute exposure to 1°C have different effects on the role played by stroke volume versus oxygen extraction in supporting oxygen consumption during exercise.
Prey consumption does not restore hydration state but mitigates the energetic costs of water deprivation in an insectivorous lizard
Highlighted Article: When deprived of water, the insectivorous lizard Zootoca vivipara cannot restore its water balance by eating, but access to good quality food lowers the energetic costs of water scarcity.
Visual guidance of honeybees approaching a vertical landing surface
Summary: Honeybees use a modular vision-based control strategy to land robustly and precisely. This resembles the landing strategy of bumblebees, and might thus be commonly used by flying insects.
How venom pore placement may influence puncture performance in snake fangs
Summary: The position of the venom pore/groove on snake fangs is not correlated with taxonomy or diet, but does influence results when taken into account during puncture experiments.
Migratory songbirds exhibit seasonal modulation of the oxygen cascade
Highlighted Article: Migratory songbirds exhibit seasonal flexibility along the oxygen cascade, which enhances oxygen uptake and movement to the flight muscles during migratory flights.
The dopamine receptor antagonist haloperidol disrupts behavioral responses of sea urchins and sea stars
Summary: Multiple different behavioral responses of sea urchins and sea stars elicited by different sensory cues are inhibited by the dopamine receptor antagonist haloperidol.
ECR SPOTLIGHTS
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.
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.
Stressed salmon develop hallmarks of depression

Farmed salmon can experience high levels of CO2 and now Marco Vindas and colleagues report that fish which have experienced this form of stress show signs of fishy depression. They hope that understanding this could help farmers improve the fish's quality of life.
Extraordinary creatures: hummingbirds

Doug Altshuler and Ken Welch tell us about the extraordinary lives of hummingbirds, from their ability to hover during flight to their use of nectar as a primary food source.