Issues
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Cover image
Cover Image
Cover: Jumping spiders are a diverse group known for their excellent vision and vision-mediated courtship and predatory behaviour. The southeast Asian species Portia labiata possesses very high visual acuity relative to its size and is known for its specialised prey-capture behaviour. Tan et al. (jeb246092) explored the effectiveness of background matching on motion across six jumping spider species, including P. labiata. They found that against a matching background, smaller and faster computer-generated stimuli elicited reduced responses from jumping spiders. Across species, there were differences in motion detectability, suggesting differences in visual acuity across closely related species of jumping spiders. Photo credit: Min Tan.
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INSIDE JEB
OUTSIDE JEB
EDITORIAL
OBITUARY
REVIEW
The processing of proprioceptive signals in distributed networks: insights from insect motor control
Summary: Proprioception is a key element of motor control. Network architectures for flexible, adaptive proprioceptive integration enable an insect's behavioral repertoire despite their limited number of neurons.
RESEARCH ARTICLES
The effect of surface topography on the ball-rolling ability of Kheper lamarcki (Scarabaeidae)
Highlighted Article: Explore the world of scarab dung beetles as they traverse diverse and challenging terrain that forces them to make intriguing deviations from their intended straight-line trajectory.
Thermal constraints on exercise and metabolic performance do not explain the use of dormancy as an overwintering strategy in the cunner (Tautogolabrus adspersus)
Summary: Thermal constraints on metabolic and exercise physiology are not significant drivers of winter dormancy in cunner. In fact, compensatory plasticity at frigid temperatures is conserved, even in dormant fish.
Cross-species gut microbiota transplantation predictably affects host heat tolerance
Highlighted Article: Cross-species microbiome transplants in ectothermic vertebrates can increase the heat tolerance of the recipient in a predictive manner.
Too much information? Males convey parasite levels using more signal modalities than females utilise
Summary: In a diurnal gecko species, ectoparasite level and overall health are honestly advertised through multiple modalities, yet females assess males based only on their chemical signals, raising questions about redundancy in signals that are not used.
Songbirds avoid the oxidative stress costs of high blood glucose levels: a comparative study
Highlighted Article: High blood glucose levels can harm organisms by causing oxidative stress. At the macroevolutionary level, songbirds defy this expectation, as their glucose levels and oxidative physiology are uncoupled.
Honey bee colonies change their foraging decisions after in-hive experiences with unsuitable pollen
Summary: Foraging bees cannot evaluate certain pollen compounds in the food source. Instead, they learn about pollen suitability within the nest to avoid collecting toxic resources.
Background matching can reduce responsiveness of jumping spiders to stimuli in motion
Summary: Jumping spiders display lower levels of response to smaller and faster stimuli against a camouflaged background, suggesting that background matching may be an effective camouflage strategy for moving prey.
Nectar cardenolides and floral volatiles mediate a specialized wasp pollination system
Highlighted Article: A combination of floral volatiles and nectar chemicals mediate plant–pollinator interactions. The nectar of wasp-pollinated Gomphocarpus physocarpus contains cardenolides functioning as a filter against disfavoured visitors.
Phenotypic flexibility in metabolic adjustments and digestive function in white-shouldered starlings: responses to short-term temperature acclimation
Summary: White-shouldered starlings deploy a wide array of adaptive strategies at multiple levels for temperature acclimation, suggesting that small birds cope with the energy challenges in a cold environment mainly through basal metabolism adjustments.
Implications of heat exchange for a free-living endangered marsupial determined by non-invasive thermal imaging
Highlighted Article: Thermal imaging indicates that diurnal heat gain of numbats is generally positive and at high temperature limits foraging in open areas. Climate change may extend periods of inactivity, impacting future conservation.
Sarcolipin relates to fattening, but not sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase uncoupling, in captive migratory gray catbirds
Summary: Photostimulated migratory birds show higher sarcolipin transcription but no corresponding influence on calcium handling, indicating sarcolipin may relate to fat storage/catabolism to fuel migration but not in mediating SERCA uncoupling.
ECR SPOTLIGHTS
CORRECTION
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 17 January 2025. Early-bird registration ends on 17 January 2025.
Extraordinary creatures: mantis shrimp
In our new Conversation series focusing on extraordinary creatures, Tom Cronin and Sheila Patek tell us about the incredible biology of mantis shrimp, from their complex vision to their powerful striking abilities.
Behaviour as a physiological process
In this Commentary, Shamil Debaere & colleagues argue the case for integration of behaviour into animal physiology, and advocate for behaviour to be considered as a physiological process.
Tiny ring-necked snakes keep warm heads despite their size
Some ectotherms are able to raise the temperature of certain body parts above the temperature of other regions & now Christian Fox and Albert Chung, with undergraduates from the University of Virginia, reveal that the heads of tiny ring-necked snakes can be 2.1C warmer than their tails, even though they are only 20cm long.
