N. C. Bennett

Naked mole rats have distinctive cardiometabolic and genetic adaptations to their underground low-oxygen lifestyles

The paper identifies metabolic and genetic adaptations in naked mole-rats that confer resistance to cardiovascular disease and hypoxia.

Zika virus infection of pregnant Ifnar1-/- mice triggers strain-specific differences in fetal outcomes

This study compares fetal outcomes in pregnant Ifnar1-/- mice infected with different ZIKV strains, finding strain-specific differences in fetal demise rates.

Immune competence and spleen size scale with colony status in the naked mole-rat

This study examines spleen size and immune function in naked mole-rats, finding that enlarged spleens correlate with better anti-microbial profiles and higher social rank.

Naked mole-rats (Heterocephalus glaber) do not specialise on cooperative tasks

This study shows that non-breeding naked mole-rats do not specialise on specific cooperative tasks, instead showing correlated investment across tasks and no sex bias.

Forces experienced by instrumented animals depend on lifestyle

The paper shows that tag forces on animals depend on lifestyle, not just mass, challenging the 3% mass limit for animal tags.

Path tortuosity changes the transport cost paradigm in terrestrial animals

The paper shows that path tortuosity affects transport cost in terrestrial animals, with minimum cost of transport speed decreasing as tortuosity increases.

The development of individual differences in cooperative behaviour: maternal glucocorticoid hormones alter helping behaviour of offspring in wild meerkats

This study shows that maternal cortisol during pregnancy in meerkats reduces offspring growth and increases cooperative behavior in daughters but not sons.