Issues
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Cover image
Cover Image
Cover: Three-dimensional reconstruction of the bones (grey) and osteoderms (green) of a crocodile skink [Tribolonotus cf. gracilis; MorphoSource: ark:/87602/m4/M40298; funded by oVert Thematic Collections Network (TCN)]. The eye socket was filled with black using an image processing software. Scincid lizards have a great diversity of osteoderms and make a perfect model for the study of osteoderms. Kéver et al. (jeb244551) show that different species of lizard differ in the deformation of their osteoderms when static and dynamic loads are applied. These results suggest that osteoderms may have different functional roles associated with differences in lifestyle. Photo credit: Loïc Kéver.
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INSIDE JEB
REVIEW
Impact of intraspecific variation in teleost fishes: aggression, dominance status and stress physiology
Summary: In this Review, we discuss the development of dominance hierarchies, how social rank is signalled through visual and chemical cues and the neurobiological mechanisms controlling or correlating with agonistic behaviour.
SHORT COMMUNICATION
Absence of atrial smooth muscle in the heart of the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta): a re-evaluation of its role in diving physiology
Summary: Unlike emydid turtles, the loggerhead sea turtle heart does not have atrial smooth muscle. However, like other turtles, loggerheads exhibit smooth muscle in the sinus venosus, which likely regulates cardiac filling.
METHODS & TECHNIQUES
Acoustic tethering of microorganisms
Summary: We show how to construct and apply a setup to acoustically tether and enable behavioral observations of individual microorganisms using simple laboratory equipment and a standard light microscope.
RESEARCH ARTICLES
Underwater hearing in sea ducks with applications for reducing gillnet bycatch through acoustic deterrence
Highlighted Article: Investigation of underwater hearing ability in multiple sea duck species using psychoacoustic and electrophysiological techniques, with potential for development of effective pinger devices applicable to conversation strategies to reduce sea duck bycatch.
Seasonal variation in rest–activity patterns in barnacle geese: are measurements of activity a good indicator of sleep–wake patterns?
Highlighted Article: Accelerometry-based activity measurements can serve as a good proxy for sleep–wake patterns in barnacle geese.
c-fos expression in the olfactory epithelium of the East African cichlid (Haplochromis chilotes) in response to odorant exposure
Summary:In situ hybridization with c-fos riboprobe indicates differential responses of olfactory sensory neurons to odorants in East African cichlids, providing insight into how olfaction has contributed to the diversification of cichlids.
Multiple stressors, allostasis and metabolic scaling in developing zebrafish
Summary: Plasticity of the energetic costs of growth and scaling relationships in larval zebrafish revealed a complex and dynamic allostatic response to multiple environmental stressors in early fish stages.
Ontogeny of risk assessment and escape-hatching performance by red-eyed treefrog embryos in two threat contexts
Summary: Development reduces risk assessment and improves hatching performance by red-eyed treefrog embryos in both flooding and simulated attacks. Predation cues elicit faster decisions and hatching, congruent with more immediate risk.
Subsets of leg proprioceptors influence leg kinematics but not interleg coordination in Drosophila melanogaster walking
Summary: Transient optical inhibition of leg proprioceptors demonstrates their importance for leg kinematics and motor control during free walking in Drosophila melanogaster.
The flavonoid kaempferol protects the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster against the motor impairment produced by exposure to the insecticide fipronil
Summary: Prophylactic administration of the flavonoid kaempferol induces protection against the motor impairment produced by exposure of fruit flies to the insecticide fipronil.
Biomechanical behaviour of lizard osteoderms and skin under external loading
Summary: Comparison of biomechanical properties of temporal osteoderms in 11 lizard species reveals significant differences in stiffness between taxa, reflecting differences in microstructure and macrostructure and, likely, in function.
Characterization of two novel ammonia transporters, Hiat1a and Hiat1b, in the teleost model system Danio rerio
Editor's choice: Functional characterization of two novel ammonia transporters (Hiat1a/b) in fish: Hiat1 is critical for development and likely involved general ammonia handling.
Aerial maneuvering by plethodontid salamanders spanning an arboreality gradient
Summary: Arboreal salamanders frequently demonstrate steep but stable glides, effective parachuting and controlled aerial maneuvers that may be useful when falling through the tree canopy.
2023 JEB Outstanding Paper Prize shortlist and winner
The JEB Editors are delighted to announce the shortlisted authors for the 2023 JEB Outstanding Paper Prize. Read the winning paper - Tiny spies: mosquito antennae are sensitive sensors for eavesdropping on frog calls - by Hoover Pantoja-Sanchez and Brian Leavell from Ximena Bernal's lab at Purdue University, USA.
JEB Science Communication Workshop for ECRs
If you’re an early-career researcher interested in science communication and are attending the SEB Annual Conference in Prague this summer, come a day early and join the JEB Editors at a sci comm workshop to learn the key writing skills needed to promote your research to a broad audience beyond your peers (1 July at 14.30-17.30). Places are limited to 24 attendees, and applicants should apply through the SEB registration page by 30 April 2024.
Bridging the gap between controlled conditions and natural habitats in understanding behaviour
Novel technologies enable behavioural experiments with non-model species, in naturalistic habitats and with underexplored behaviours. In their Commentary, Scholz and colleagues discuss how to obtain a deeper understanding of the natural ecology and lifestyle of study animals.
Beluga metabolic measures could help save species
To help save animals from extinction, it’s important to understand what each species needs to survive. This led Jason John et al. to measure the metabolic rates of captive belugas to develop a ‘fish calculator’ showing that the whales need to eat ~23 salmon per day.
ECR Workshop on Positive Peer Review
Are you an ECR looking for tips on how to write concise, astute and useful manuscript reviews? If so, join the JEB Editors at a 2-hour JEB-sponsored Workshop on Positive Peer Review at the Canadian Society of Zoologists annual meeting in Moncton on 9 May 2024 at 13.00-15.00. There are 25 spaces for ECRs and selection is first come, first serve. To sign up, check the ECR Workshop box when you register for the CSZ meeting.