Article
Environmental Sciences
Kyoung-Bin Ryu, Gun-Hee Jo, Young-Chun Gil, Donggu Jeon, Na-Rae Choi, Seung-Hyun Jung, Seonmi Jo, Hye Suck An, Hae-Youn Lee, Seong-il Eyun, Sung-Jin Cho
Summary: The eye of a cephalopod, such as the common long-arm octopus, is an example of convergent evolution and shares similarities with vertebrate eyes. This study focuses on the genetic and developmental analysis of crystallin genes in the eye of Octopus minor to understand the convergent evolution of lens-containing eyes.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Anik G. Grearson, Alison Dugan, Taylor Sakmar, Dominic M. Sivitilli, David H. Gire, Roy L. Caldwell, Cristopher M. Niell, Guel Doelen, Z. Yan Wang, Bret Grasse
Summary: Cephalopods, particularly Octopus chierchiae, with their complex nervous systems, rapid growth rates, and unique reproductive characteristics, have the potential to serve as ideal experimental models for conducting a wide range of biological research in laboratory settings.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Juan Lei, Nur Syuhaida Binti Yusof, Nicholas C. Wu, Zhengwang Zhang, David T. Booth
Summary: Butterfly lizards show high site fidelity to their burrows, using them primarily as an escape mechanism from predators rather than for regulating body temperature.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Roger Villanueva, Montserrat Coll-Llado, Laure Bonnaud-Ponticelli, Sergio A. Carrasco, Oscar Escolar, Fernando A. Fernandez-Alvarez, Ian G. Gleadall, Jaruwat Nabhitabhata, Nicolas Ortiz, Carlos Rosas, Pilar Sanchez, Janet R. Voight, Jim Swoger
Summary: The Kolliker's organs (KO) on the skin surface of octopus embryos play an unknown role during the early life stages, with consistent size distribution and density across different species. These organs are a constant structure from planktonic hatchling to benthic juvenile, influencing flow-related forces and potentially aiding in camouflage. Additional research is needed to further investigate the function of KO in live animals.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ruth Styfhals, Grygoriy Zolotarov, Gert Hulselmans, Katina I. Spanier, Suresh Poovathingal, Ali M. Elagoz, Seppe De Winter, Astrid Deryckere, Nikolaus Rajewsky, Giovanna Ponte, Graziano Fiorito, Stein Aerts, Eve Seuntjens
Summary: This study analyzed the cell types in the octopus brain and constructed a cell type atlas. The research found that the octopus brain has diverse cell types, which share common gene features with cell types in other species. Additionally, transcriptionally related cell types were found in different brain regions.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Physiology
Piero Amodio, Graziano Fiorito
Summary: Mirror self-recognition (MSR) is a potential indicator of self-awareness. In this study, the behavioral responses of common octopuses towards their own reflected images were investigated, and a marking procedure was explored for conducting the Mark test. The results showed that octopuses exhibited stronger exploratory responses towards the mirror compared to a non-reflective panel, but showed agonistic responses only in the presence of the mirror. In addition, mark-directed behaviors were observed even in the absence of the mirror and in sham-marked individuals, suggesting that proprioceptive stimuli drove these responses. Despite the limitations of the marking procedure, the baseline data collected in this pilot study may facilitate further research on MSR in octopuses and other cephalopods.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Itamar Katz, Tal Shomrat, Nir Nesher
Summary: The control of the octopus's flexible body is a challenging task, but a mechanism involving phototactic response has been observed, where the arms retract in response to increased illumination, possibly as a defense mechanism against predators. This response is mediated by the brain and is instinctive rather than consciously controlled, compensating for the octopus's poor proprioception.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Dominic M. Sivitilli, Terrell Strong, Willem Weertman, Joseph Ullmann, Joshua R. Smith, David H. Gire
Summary: This study investigates the strategies used by octopuses to find and capture prey within visually occluded spaces. The results show that octopuses simplify the control of their limbs and rely on a contact-based search strategy to adapt to their environment.
BIOINSPIRATION & BIOMIMETICS
(2023)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Nicole L. Bedford, Jesse N. Weber, Wenfei Tong, Felix Baier, Ariana Kam, Rebecca A. Greenberg, Hopi E. Hoekstra
Summary: Animals vary in their behavioral flexibility depending on social context. By comparing three species of deer mice, researchers found that mice living in monogamous societies were more likely to cooperate in digging longer burrows. Additionally, opposite-sex pairs were more socially cohesive and efficient digging partners than same-sex pairs.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Graciela Esmeralda Colunga-Ramirez, Oscar B. Del Rio-Zaragoza, Sheila Castellanos-Martinez
Summary: This study investigates the impact of pathogens and diseases on the Bimaculatus octopus species in the wild and captivity. Three females of O. bimaculatus were observed to have air bubbles in their arms and mantle during handling, suggesting the need for further research on the physiological and behavioral responses of these cephalopods to stress caused by handling.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Songge Deng, Yizhao Wu, Hanqi Duan, Jo-Anne E. Cavanagh, Xiuhong Wang, Jiangping Qiu, Yinsheng Li
Summary: This study investigated the ecotoxicity of arsenate on earthworms by exposing them to different concentrations of As-V in soil for 28 days. Results showed dynamic changes in oxidative stress biomarkers and burrowing behavior, as well as dose-dependent activation of Nrf2 and HO-1 as useful biomarkers. The comprehensive understanding of arsenic toxicity includes redox homeostasis regulation, biochemical and behavioral changes, and suggests new strategies for assessing soil pollutants.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Fisheries
Ramiro Braga, Silvina van der Molen, Yamila E. Rodriguez, Analia V. Fernandez-Gimenez, Nicolas Battini, Carlos Rosas, Nicolas Ortiz
Summary: During the digestive maturation of Octopus tehuelchus hatchlings, the ingestion of Exosphaeroma sp. is related to enzymatic and cytological changes in the digestive gland. Exosphaeroma sp. may promote the rapid growth of O. tehuelchus during their early post-hatching stage.
Article
Fisheries
Yuta Yamate, Takumi Ohya, Toshifumi Wada, Takeshi Takegaki
Summary: The study investigated the seasonal occurrence of the Japanese pygmy octopus in the intertidal zone of Fukue Island, Nagasaki, Japan, and found that they increased in size from summer to winter while utilizing the intertidal zone as feeding grounds. Both males and females of O. parvus displayed similar growth characteristics, with earlier gonadal development in males. The observations suggest that O. parvus uses intertidal zones for rapid growth and maturation before potentially moving to the subtidal zone for spawning.
Article
Geography, Physical
H. Sanders, S. P. Rice, P. J. Wood
Summary: This study demonstrates that crayfish burrowing activity can significantly accelerate bank erosion, leading to increased bank retreat and larger areas of collapse. While direct sediment supply by burrowing is relatively low, accelerated bank retreat caused by burrows contributes a substantial proportion of the total sediment supply.
EARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS
(2021)
Article
Fisheries
Magalli Sanchez, Pedro Gallardo, Pedro Domingues, Carlos Rosas, Cristina Pascual, Bertha P. Ceballos-Vazquez
Summary: This study examined the changes in digestive physiology and nutritional reserve content of the Pacific pygmy octopus during early stages. The results showed that the transition from endogenous to exogenous feeding occurs between 6 and 8 days after hatching, and these findings are crucial for the development of effective feeding schemes for this species.