Issues
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Cover image
Cover Image
Cover: Bechstein’s bats (Myotis bechsteinii) are well adapted to their forest habitat, but their ability to fly imposes constraints on body mass and thus thermoregulation. To overcome these challenges, females communally raise their offspring during summer under the best possible conditions. Wolf et al. (jeb249975) investigated the impact of roost temperature on metabolic rates in a wild maternity colony during the critical lactation period. The results indicate that bats buffer low temperatures through digestion-induced thermogenesis, social thermoregulation and torpor. However, metabolic rates of bats increased markedly above the thermoneutral zone, highlighting their vulnerability to increasingly frequent hot summers driven by climate change. Photo credit: Jesús Hernández Montero.
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INSIDE JEB
EDITORIAL
REVIEW
Ecophysiological responses to heat waves in the marine intertidal zone
Summary: Heat waves are intensifying with climate change. We review recent literature that highlights causes and physiological impacts of heat waves on intertidal zone organisms, including mortality, plasticity and adaptation.
SHORT COMMUNICATIONS
Artificial light at night impairs visual lateralisation in a fish
Summary: Exposure to ALAN in early developmental stages influences natural lateralisation in relation to visual stimuli, but not motor lateralisation, in a teleost fish.
Salinity does not affect late-stage in-egg embryonic or immediate post-hatch development in an ecologically important land crab species
Summary: Salinity has no effect on late stage embryonic or early larval development in the Christmas Island red crab, opposite to findings in later larval stages, highlighting the importance of considering all early life stages when characterising crustacean development.
RESEARCH ARTICLES
Cardiac performance mirrors the passive thermal tolerance range in the oyster Ostrea edulis
Summary: Whole-organism responses, cardiac activity and heart metabolites of oysters, Ostrea edulis, challenged by rapid and gradual warming beyond their thermal optimum range indicate that the total capacity of passive thermal tolerance is equal regardless of warming rate.
Flexibility of cutaneous evaporative water loss in response to hydration in pregnant prairie rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis) and their neonates
Summary: Hydration and water loss of mother rattlesnakes impacts those variables in their neonates.
Field respirometry in a wild maternity colony of Bechstein's bats (Myotis bechsteinii) indicates high metabolic costs above but not below the thermoneutral zone
Highlighted Article: A respirometry study reveals the physiological and behavioural adaptability of Bechstein's bat maternity colonies to cooler conditions, while highlighting their limited abilities to cope energetically with high temperatures.
Regulation and function of the gill corticotropin-releasing factor system during osmoregulatory disturbances in Atlantic salmon
Summary: A combination of in vivo and in vitro studies reveals that the corticotropin-releasing factor system serves osmoregulatory functions in the gills of Atlantic salmon.
Does the unusual phenomenon of sustained force circumvent the speed–endurance trade-off in the jaw muscle of the southern alligator lizard (Elgaria multicarinata)?
Summary: The southern alligator lizard jaw muscles are used in mate-holding, and generally have slower contractile properties, yet retain somewhat faster activation kinetics that potentially allow them to meet conflicting demands.
Heat sensitivity of sperm in the lizard Anolis sagrei
Summary: Investigation of gamete heat sensitivity reveals heat tolerance and repeatability in lizard sperm. These findings are essential for understanding reproductive responses to climate change.
Acoustics of rubbing feathers: the velvet of owl feathers reduces frictional noise
Summary: Experimentally rubbing isolated feathers together shows that the velvet on owl feathers substantially diminishes the sound of feathers rubbing against neighboring feathers.
Coming home: how visually navigating ants (Myrmecia spp.) pinpoint their nest
Summary: Visually navigating Australian bull ants find their way back to their nest from large distances, but often have difficulties with pinpointing the entrance. Detailed analysis of their behaviour reveals why and how they succeed.
From molecular to physiological responses: improved stress tolerance and longevity in Drosophila melanogaster under fluctuating thermal regimes
Summary: Fluctuating thermal regimes enhance stress tolerance and longevity in Drosophila melanogaster through rapid physiological and mitochondrial adjustments, providing insight into ectothermic thermal stress responses and thermal acclimation.
Diet-induced plasticity modifies relationships between larval growth rate and post-metamorphic behavior and physiology in spadefoot toads
Highlighted Article: Developmental plasticity induced by early life diet type modifies relationships between life history traits and individual behavior or physiology in spadefoot toads (Spea multiplicata).
The metabolic cost of producing joint moments is greater at the hip than at the ankle
Highlighted Article: Empirical evidence that human hip extensors consume more metabolic energy than ankle extensors to produce joint moments.
Nutritional stress in larvae induces adaptive responses that transcend generations in males of a model insect
Summary: Adult Drosophila exposed to nutritional stress prime their offspring to survive in unfavourable environments. Priming is diluted after just one generation of optimal nutrition.
Taurine efflux counters the hydrodynamic impact of anaerobic metabolism to protect cardiorespiratory function under acute thermal stress in brook char (Salvelinus fontinalis)
Summary: Cardiac taurine efflux is necessary to counteract swelling and protect function following osmotic stress caused by increased cardiac demands and the accumulation of anaerobic end products at high temperatures in fish.
ECR SPOTLIGHTS
Reflections on a year of supporting and promoting our early-career researchers

In this Editorial, editors Patricia Wright, Michaela Handel and Craig Franklin reflect on what JEB has done over the last year to support and promote the future of comparative physiology and biomechanics – our inspiring early-career researchers – through workshops, grants, special issues and award sponsorship.
Thanking our reviewers in 2024
A big thank you to everyone who reviewed for JEB in 2024.
Ecophysiological responses to heat waves in the marine intertidal zone

Heat waves are intensifying with climate change and intertidal zones are the only ecosystem to experience both atmospheric and marine heat waves. In this Review, Jonathon Stillman and colleagues highlight the physiological impacts of heat waves on intertidal organisms, including effects on mortality, plasticity and adaptation.
Snakes require super-stretchy neck skin to consume massive mouthfuls

Some snakes are capable of gulping down meals that are far larger than their heads in a single mouthful and now Jarrod Petersen, Lucy Campbell and Thomas Roberts show that super-stretchy neck skin is likely one of the key factors that allowed boa constrictors and egg-eating snakes to evolve this extraordinary feat.
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. Register by 28 February 2025.
About us

JEB’s publisher, The Company of Biologists, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Learn more about its history from some of the Company’s Directors, including JEB Editorial Board member Holly Shiels, and read what Sarah Bray, the Chair of the Board, has to say.