This is vital information moving forward in research on the #biomechanical trade-offs within avian feeding and vocalisation, but also has broad applications for many muscle-driven lever systems. Read more here: 🔗 doi.org/10.1242/jeb....

Using a model of a Java finch mandible 🐦, the study shows muscle fibre type is key: overdeveloped muscles recruit slow-twitch fibres, boosting torque but reducing frequency (Henneman’s principle).

Alternating contractions of antagonistic #muscle pairs can produce rapid cyclical movements, but systems adapted for high static #torque are expected to move more slowly. Cas tested how fibre type, muscle size, moment arms & inertia shape this trade-off 💪

By integrating evidence from #mammals 🦁, #fish 🐟, #amphibians 🐸, #reptiles 🦎, and #birds 🐦, this paper highlights broader evolutionary patterns and provides a clearer comparative framework that facilitates interpretation of future results. Read more here: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

In a new review paper in Biological Reviews, co-authored by @uafunmorph.bsky.social PhD student @maja-mielke.bsky.social, Daniel Schwarz et al. synthesize this diversity across vertebrates and propose a unified terminology and conceptual framework for oropharyngeal food processing.

Read the article published in the Journal of Thermal Biology here: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

We look forward to seeing many more collaborative studies of this integrative nature in the near future from our lab!

#physiology #experimentalbiology #temperature

Using common wall lizards in a set-up mimicking the lizards’ natural, spatiotemporally heterogeneous thermal #environment, higher cognition scores were linked to exploitation of the thermal heterogeneity, but not more accurate thermoregulation.

#Podarcis

In collaboration with cichlid fish experts from the Evolutionary Ecology Lab @SvardalGroup at #UAntwerpen
Read more here: www.nature.com/articles/s42...

To help them with a smooth start, we organised an introduction session where they got the opportunity to present themselves and their project.

Keep an eye out for more updates from our lab, including the student projects, throughout the coming year!

#masterinbiology

Lukas Hageneder from @uafunmorph.bsky.social is studying how the tongue and skeleton of ducks interact to successfully filter food

link.springer.com/article/10.1...