Issues

Summary: Predator–prey interactions viewed through an eco-evolutionary lens. Non-consumptive effects of predators on prey can be used to gain novel insights into physiological and cognitive science.

Summary: In this Commentary, I posit that wide interspecific patterns involving molecular parameters do not need to be strictly observed at the level of intraspecific variation.

Summary: Adrenergic regulation is often studied in fish using pharmacological agents defined in mammals. In this Review, we highlight why this is complicated by the distinct evolutionary history of fish adrenergic receptors.

Summary: Extracellular carbonic anhydrase does not interfere with red blood cell beta-adrenergic sodium/proton exchange in an open system, raising new questions about the evolutionary loss of the enzyme in teleost gills.

Summary: The ventral silvered scales of the Mormon fritillary, Speyeria mormonia, boost the perceptual contrast of the dorsal orange patches, which are thought to be involved in sexual signaling.

Summary: Black-capped chickadees modify their thermoregulation through changes in various subordinate traits, including basal and summit metabolic rates and body composition.

Summary: A morphological model of the whiskers and facial features of mice can be used in behavioral simulations and to generate naturalistic patterns of stimulation for neurophysiological experiments.

Summary: Thermal robustness, achieved through the use of elastic mechanisms, depends on the relative contribution of spring and muscle energy.

Summary: Oxidation and egestion, metabolic rates and their rhythms in house geckos and pygmy shrews fed with three isotopically enriched fatty acids.

Highlighted Article: The long proboscises of hawkmoths are entirely hydrophilic, a pivotal discovery for understanding the evolution of hawkmoths, setting them apart from other Lepidoptera. Hydrophilic proboscises facilitate nectar collection as a film that is spontaneously pulled into the food canal by strong capillary action.

Summary: Australian weaver ants cooperatively transport loads at similar per-ant efficiencies across a wide array of challenges: vertical surfaces and much heavier loads have negligible effects on this.

Summary: Australian tree snakes of the genus Dendrelaphis exhibit dynamic movements during gap crossing that resemble, but are not identical to, movements used by their sister genus (the flying snakes, Chrysopelea) to launch glides.

Editor's choice: The agitation temperature in spiny dogfish is associated with maximal cardiorespiratory performance and thermal cellular stress without recruitment of anaerobic metabolism.

Summary: High-speed video shows that juvenile spotted lanternflies are adept at landing after tumbling rapidly mid-air during jumping; computer simulations and realistic 3D models are presented to help explain these abilities.

Summary: Damaraland mole-rats use inhibitory signalling mechanisms to regulate robust physiological responses to acute hypoxia.

Summary: Hypoxia-tolerant species have reduced physiological responses to hypoxia. These reduced responses are partially controlled in Damaraland mole-rats.

Highlighted Article: The brains of male bats rapidly alter reproductive neuroendocrinology in response to acute stress, with potential negative effects on fertility associated with significant changes in seminiferous tubule morphology and transcriptional upregulation of pro-apoptotic signaling molecules.

Summary: Wild staghorn sculpins allowed to eat voluntarily consume a very large (15.8% body mass) natural meal; however, slow processing with high efficiency minimizes internal physiological disturbances.