Sleeping Eurasian oystercatchers adjust their vigilance in response to the behaviour of neighbours, human disturbance and environmental conditions

McBlain, M., Jones, K.A. and Shannon, G. (2020). Sleeping Eurasian oystercatchers adjust their vigilance in response to the behaviour of neighbours, human disturbance and environmental conditions. Journal of Zoology, vol. 312, pp. 75-84. https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.12812 The aim of the study was to identify the effects of sociality, environmental conditions and anthropogenic disturbance on the trade-off between sleep...

Winner of the 2019 Journal of Zoology ‘Paper of the Year’ award: Learning skills in Tropidurus lizards are associated with territory harshness

We congratulate the winners of the 2019 Journal of Zoology ‘Paper of the Year’ award André Vieira Rodrigues and Tiana Kohlsdorf at the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, with their paper entitled 'Learning skills in Tropidurus lizards are associated with territory harshness'. This is a very clever and unique study combining field data on the territories of Tropidurus...

Excavations of giant armadillos alter environmental conditions and provide new resources for a range of animals

Di Blanco, Y.E., Desbiez, A.L.J., di Francescantonio, D. and Di Bitetti, M.S. (2020). Excavations of giant armadillos alter environmental conditions and provide new resources for a range of animals. Journal of Zoology, vol. 311, pp. 227-238. https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.12782 Burrowing species can be considered important ecosystem engineers that increase landscape heterogeneity, create subterranean shelters, and provide foraging opportunities....

Introducing our new Reviews Editor, Dr. Richelle Tanner

I’m excited to join the editorial board of the Journal of Zoology as a Reviews Editor alongside Dave Hone! In my new role with the Journal of Zoology, I want to prioritize review articles written by early career, BIPOC, and other underrepresented groups in the publication record. Writing a review paper as a graduate student...

Predictors of individual differences in play behavior in Eurasian lynx cubs

Antonevich, A.L., Rödel, H.G., Hudson, R., Alekseeva, G.S., Erofeeva, M.N. and Naidenko, S.V. (2020), Predictors of individual differences in play behavior in Eurasian lynx cubs. Journal of Zoology, vol. 311, pp. 56-65. https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.12761 In mammals, play is a widespread and conspicuous activity. And yet we still do not completely understand why animals engage in play,...

Mechanics and kinematics of fluid uptake and intraoral transport in the leopard gecko

Bels, V.L., Jamniczky, H.A., Montuelle, S., Pallandre, J.‐P., Kardong, K.V. and Russell, A.P. (2020), Mechanics and kinematics of fluid uptake and intraoral transport in the leopard gecko. Journal of Zoology, vol. 311, pp. 33-44. https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.12763   To both take in nutrients and to consume water that is vital for the continuance of the metabolic processes...

Open Call for Reviews Editor for Journal of Zoology

  The Zoological Society of London is looking for a Reviews Editor to join the Editorial Board of Journal of Zoology. Journal of Zoology publishes high-quality research papers and reviews in all areas of zoology, including animal behaviour, ecology, physiology, anatomy, developmental biology, evolution, systematics, genetics and genomics. We are seeking an enthusiastic Reviews Editor, who: has...

Estimating small mammal prey size based on owl pellet remains in the Arctic

Schmidt, E., Fauteux, D., Therrien, J.‐F., Gauthier, G. and Seyer, Y. (2020), Improving diet assessment of Arctic terrestrial predators with the size of rodent mandibles. Journal of Zoology, vol. 311, pp. 23-32. https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.12756   Understanding food webs and how resources are shared among consumers can be difficult due to the number of complex species interactions...

I don’t like crickets, I love them: invertebrates are an important prey source for varanid lizards

Cross, S.L., Craig, M.D., Tomlinson, S. and Bateman, P.W. (2020), I don’t like crickets, I love them: invertebrates are an important prey source for varanid lizards. Journal of Zoology, vol. 310, pp. 323-333. https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.12750 Arid habitats have low and unpredictable rainfall, and as a result tend to be low productivity ecosystems and present exceptionally challenging...

Rapid behavioural responses of native frogs caused by past predation pressure from invasive mongooses

Komine, H., Fukasawa, K., Akasaka, M., Watari, Y., Iwai, N. and Kaji, K. (2020), Rapid behavioural responses of native frogs caused by past predation pressure from invasive mongooses. Journal of Zoology, vol. 310, pp. 126-134. https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.12734   It is well known that strong predation pressure by invasive predators cause native prey populations to decline. However,...