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Cover image
Cover Image
Cover: Gilthead seabream are found along the European coast. Like many fishes, they rely on their sense of smell for many important tasks, such as finding food and mates, and avoiding predators. However, coastal environments around the world are experiencing a decrease in oxygen as a result of anthropogenic factors. Tigert et al. (jeb249771) investigated whether a decrease in oxygen can affect the ability of seabream to detect odorants. Using electrophysiology, it was found that even at a mild level of hypoxia these fish were less sensitive to different amino acid odorants. Photo credit: João Encarnação.
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INSIDE JEB
OUTSIDE JEB
EDITORIAL
REVIEW
A review of the empirical evidence for costs of plasticity in ectothermic animals
Summary: This Review reveals that true costs of plasticity are rare, challenging existing evolutionary theory and emphasizing the need for clearer definitions and broader research focus in the plasticity field.
SHORT COMMUNICATIONS
Effects of hypoxia on the olfactory sensitivity of gilt-head seabream (Sparus aurata)
Electrophysiology shows that low external oxygen levels can impair the olfactory sensitivity of a coastal marine fish species.
Behavior and biomechanics: flapping frequency during tandem and solo flights of cliff swallows
Compared with solo flight, cliff swallows flying in tandem with another bird have uniformly high flapping frequencies that are highest at intermediate speeds, the opposite of the solo pattern.
METHODS & TECHNIQUES
A microcontroller-based system for flexible oxygen control in laboratory experiments
Summary: Development of a new, microcontroller-based oxygen control system for laboratory experiments.
RESEARCH ARTICLES
Residual force enhancement is not altered while force depression is amplified at the cellular level in old age
Summary: Residual force depression is amplified in old age at the cellular level, while residual force enhancement appears to be unchanged; thus, previously reported age-related modification of rFE likely occurs upstream of the cellular level.
Chronic bacterial infections exert metabolic costs in Drosophila melanogaster
Summary: High-load chronic infections with a variety of bacterial pathogens induce a strong immune response and decrease starvation resistance in Drosophila melanogaster.
Calcification in sea urchin larvae is associated with low metabolic costs
Summary: Generation of a calcitic skeleton in the sea urchin larva is associated with low energetic costs even under acidified conditions.
Scaling of quantitative cardiomyocyte properties in the left ventricle of different mammalian species
Summary: Hearts of small mammals have the same number and volume of cardiomyocytes per body mass but a higher mitochondrial and lower myofibrillar volume per cardiomyocyte compared with large mammals.
Torque–angle relationships of human toe flexor muscles highlight their capacity for propulsion in gait
Summary: A systematic evaluation of the torque–angle relationships of the human foot muscles supports the importance of these muscles for healthy foot function and bipedal gait.
Frictional adhesion of geckos predicts maximum running performance in nature
Summary: Maximum gecko acceleration in nature is predicted by maximum adhesive force, whereas maximum running speed is predicted only by temperature and not adhesion, suggesting that adhesion is an ecologically relevant trait in geckos.
Behavioural evidence of spectral opponent processing in the visual system of stomatopod crustaceans
Summary: Our study provides the first behavioural evidence of spectral opponency in stomatopods, revealing their hybrid colour processing system, combining multi-opponent and binning colour processing mechanisms.
Solar radiation alters heat balance and thermoregulation in a flying desert bee
Solar radiation is a major heat source during flight of the Sonoran Desert bee, Centris pallida.
Confrontation experience against escaping bait improves pursuit strategy in mice
Summary: Transfer learning is an effective tool for leveraging deep learning in acceleration-based behavior identification for wildlife monitoring, enabling existing models to be adapted to the species under study.
Chemotactile perception and associative learning of amino acids in yellowjacket workers
Summary: Vespula germanica can detect and discriminate between free amino acids and exhibit associative learning towards them, indicating an ability to discern the nutritional quality of food. This has potential implications for pest management.
ECR SPOTLIGHTS
Harnessing physiological research for smarter environmental policy
In their Perspective, Alexia Dubuc and colleagues discuss strategies to strengthen collaboration, communication and engagement between physiological researchers and environmental policy makers to ensure that conservation strategies address the threats posed by climate change.
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.
Early testing could make risky falls a thing of the past for elderly people
Falls cost healthcare systems billions each year, but there may be a solution. Jiaen Wu and colleagues of Stanford University, USA, suggest that measuring the way someone walks before they get old might let doctors know who is at risk for a potentially life-threatening fall in the future.
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.
Fast & Fair peer review
Our sister journal Biology Open has recently launched the next phase of their Fast & Fair peer review initiative: offering high-quality peer review within 7 working days. To learn more about BiO’s progress and future plans, read the Editorial by Daniel Gorelick, or visit the Fast & Fair peer review page.
