INSIDE JEB
EDITORIAL
REVIEW
- Feedback to the future: motor neuron contributions to central pattern generator function
Summary: Motor neurons relay signals from the brain and spinal cord to muscles that perform behaviors. However, studies across phyla indicate that motor neurons also contribute to the function of pattern-generating circuits.
METHODS & TECHNIQUES
- Augmenting biologging with supervised machine learning to study in situ behavior of the medusa Chrysaora fuscescens
Summary: High-resolution motion sensors paired with supervised machine learning can be used to infer fine-scale in situ behavior of zooplankton over long durations.
RESEARCH ARTICLES
- CB1 and CB2 receptors play differential roles in early zebrafish locomotor development
Summary: The endocannabinoid system in zebrafish is pivotal to the development of the locomotor system, and perturbations of the system early in life alter morphology, locomotion and development of motor neurons.
- Streak formation in flow over biomimetic fish scale arrays
Summary: Fish scale arrays produce steady laminar streaks inside the boundary layer of the fish, which reduces the skin friction drag and could delay transition.
- Developmental effects of heatwave conditions on the early life stages of a coral reef fish
Summary: Juvenile damselfish exposed in early life to a sufficient duration of heatwave conditions are smaller in size but have better predator-escape performance.
- Ground reaction forces of overground galloping in ridden Thoroughbred racehorses
Summary: Forces experienced by the limbs of racehorses during galloping increase with speed, concomitant with predictions from duty factor, though show an approximate 50:50 front:back impulse distribution, suggesting symmetry may be beneficial for injury avoidance.
- Aimed limb movements in a hemimetabolous insect are intrinsically compensated for allometric wing growth by developmental mechanisms
Highlighted Article: A developmentally programmed change in the scratching movements of locusts permits adult animals to aim their movements at new wing tip targets, without learning.
- Effects of natural wing damage on flight performance in Morpho butterflies: what can it tell us about wing shape evolution?
Summary: Investigation of natural wing damage in Morpho butterflies shows that flight performance depends on damage location, indicating that different wing parts play different roles during flight.
- The distinct phenotypic signatures of dispersal and stress in an arthropod model: from physiology to life history
Summary: Physiological and life-history differences between dispersers and residents in a model mite are independent from stress responses, but may explain their success in different contexts.
- Thermal acclimation and seasonal acclimatization: a comparative study of cardiac response to prolonged temperature change in shorthorn sculpin
Highlighted Article: The effects of seasonal acclimatization on cardiac responses to low temperatures are stronger than those of acclimation to similar temperatures in laboratory conditions, highlighting the importance of seasonal cues for cardiac remodelling in a eurythermal fish.
- Context-dependent biosonar adjustments during active target approaches in echolocating harbour porpoises
Highlighted Article: Porpoises performing target approaches adjust biosonar outputs and clicking rates differently depending on the environment, thus highlighting context as an important factor to consider in addition to range-dependent biosonar adjustments.
- Soft-surface grasping: radular opening in Aplysia californica
Summary: Newly described muscle fibers control a soft, flexible surface that the marine slug Aplysia californica uses to feed on seaweed, suggesting a novel mechanism for constructing a soft grasping device.
- Behavioural responses to video and live presentations of females reveal a dissociation between performance and motivational aspects of birdsong
Summary: Zebra finches are less motivated to court videos of females than live females, but courtship songs to these stimuli are similar in performance, suggesting a dissociation between motivation and performance.
- Regulation of blood flow in the pulmonary and systemic circuits during submerged swimming in common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina)
Summary: In common snapping turtles, beta-adrenergic stimulation increases heart rate during swimming and surfacing, whereas vagal withdrawal facilitates a systemic to pulmonary shunt during swimming.
- The effects of target contrast on Drosophila courtship
Summary: Typically, contrast is thought to mediate visual saliency, but surprisingly, when presented with fly-sized, painted objects, male Drosophila melanogaster strongly preferred courting low-contrast, gray targets.
- Ontogenetic change in predicted acoustic pressure sensitivity in larval red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus)
Summary: Computed tomography imagery in a finite-element model predicts that larval fishes detect acoustic pressure but that this pressure sensitivity declines ontogenetically, likely altering the detection and use of acoustic cues.
- Ontogeny of effective mechanical advantage in eastern cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus)
Editors' Choice: Hindlimb muscle leverage declines during growth in cottontail rabbits, likely promoting increased locomotor performance during the precarious juvenile period of life history.
This issue
Other journals from The Company of Biologists
Meet the Editors at SICB Virtual 2021
Reserve your place to join some of the journal editors, including Editor-in-Chief Craig Franklin, at our Meet the Editor session on 17 February at 2pm (EST). Don’t forget to view our SICB Subject Collection, featuring relevant JEB papers relating to some of the symposia sessions.
2020 at The Company of Biologists
Despite 2020's challenges, we were able to bring a number of long-term projects and new ventures to fruition. As we enter a new year, join us as we reflect on the triumphs of the last 12 months.
Critical temperature window sends migratory black-headed buntings on their travels
The spring rise in temperature at black-headed bunting overwintering sites is essential for triggering the physical changes that they undergo before embarking on their spring migration – read more.
Developmental and reproductive physiology of small mammals at high altitude
Cayleih Robertson and Kathryn Wilsterman focus on high-altitude populations of the North American deer mouse in their review of the challenges and evolutionary innovations of pregnant and nursing small mammals at high altitude.
Read & Publish participation extends worldwide
“Being able to publish Open Access articles free of charge means that my article gets maximum exposure and has maximum impact, and that all my peers can read it regardless of the agreements that their universities have with publishers.”
Professor Roi Holzman (Tel Aviv University) shares his experience of publishing Open Access as part of our growing Read & Publish initiative. We now have over 60 institutions in 12 countries taking part – find out more and view our full list of participating institutions.