Research into the terrestrial locomotion of birds is often based upon laboratory treadmill experiments. However, it is unclear how transposable these results are for birds moving in the wild. Here, using video recordings, we compared the kinematics of locomotion (stride frequency, stride length, stance phase, swing phase, duty factor) and speed range of Svalbard rock ptarmigan (<i>Lagopus muta ...

Natural cases of zooanthroponotic transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to animals have been reported during the COVID-19 pandemic, including to free-ranging white-tailed deer (<i>Odocoileus virginianus</i>) in North America and farmed American mink (<i>Neovison vison</i>) on multiple continents. To understand the potential for angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)-mediated viral tropism we characterised the ...

The brain of diving mammals is repeatedly exposed to low oxygen conditions (hypoxia) that would have caused severe damage to most terrestrial mammals. Some whales may dive for > 2 h with their brain remaining active. Many of the physiological adaptations of whales to diving have been investigated, but little is known about the molecular mechanisms that enable their brain to survive sometimes ...

<b>Background: </b>During long dives, the brain of whales and seals experiences a reduced supply of oxygen (hypoxia). The brain neurons of the hooded seal (Cystophora cristata) are more tolerant towards low-oxygen conditions than those of mice, and also better survive other hypoxia-related stress conditions like a reduction in glucose supply and high concentrations of lactate. Little is known ...