Issues

Summary: This Commentary addresses whether mitochondria are the main source of cellular ROS. We argue that they are a significant site, but not necessarily the main source of cellular ROS under most conditions.

Summary: Relatively small levels of dehydration elicit drinking of fresh water in three species of North American watersnakes, including a semi-marine species in which moderate, progressive dehydration is also shown to inhibit feeding.

Summary: A new method for the evaluation of intrinsic resilience during unsteady locomotion in humans and animals, analysing the relationship between the structure of movement variability and resilience.

Summary:Nematostella vectensis quickly responds to changes in temperature to modulate parental effects that influence thermal tolerance of larvae in a reversible (plastic) manner, which could be significant for survival under global climate change.

Summary: A stiffer target and shorter contact duration increase energy transfer during trap-jaw ant mandible strikes measured with micro-impact pendulums.

Summary:In vivo measurements and computer-based simulations of the cranial mechanics of two large lizards indicate that similar mechanical behaviour is shared by lizards with distinct cranial architecture, and show the importance of the postorbital bar in resisting the feeding loads.

Summary: Work-based optimization predicts that mammalian gait choice emerges from managing the energetic trade-off of pitching versus translating the body.

Highlighted Article: An extraocular photoreception mechanism in the octopus arm displays negative phototactic responses.

Summary: Anthropogenic stressors can shape early developmental stages of Ciona intestinalis, increasing their resilience to predicted future heatwave scenarios when compared with control populations from undisturbed locations.

Summary: Strong interrelationships between the components of the masticatory system in red foxes suggest that it is strongly integrated, but not more so than for dogs. Yet, the components of the masticatory system are less variable in foxes than in dogs.

Summary: Experiments using tools that approximate the crushing surfaces of Pyrenestes ostrinus beak morphs show that variation in width and surface morphology has no significant effect on the efficiency of cracking seeds of variable hardness.

Highlighted Article: Naive gyrfalcons attacking aerial targets are modelled by the same proportional navigation guidance law as peregrine falcons, but with a lower navigation constant that promotes tail-chasing rather than efficient interception.

Summary: Tactile sensitivity of the feet and tail in a species of lizard changes in response to tail loss and regeneration.

Summary: Fluctuating temperatures increase immune strength of hatchling snapping turtles over constant temperature regimes, as does greater egg mass. However, there is no support for a sex-by-environment interaction on immune strength.

Summary: To survive predation, the volume of space prey can flee must exceed the volume of space predators can reach, providing a generalizable framework to explain predator–prey interactions.