Cardiotonic steroids (CTS) were first documented by ancient Egyptians more than 3000
years ago. Cardiotonic steroids are a group of steroid hormones that circulate in the blood of …

Toxin evolution in animals is one of the most fascinating and complex subjects of scientific
inquiry today. Gaining an understanding of toxins poses a multifaceted challenge given the …

Despite the well-documented effects of human-induced environmental changes on the
morphology, physiology, behaviour and life history of wild animals, next to nothing is known …

Chemical defenses are frequently accompanied by salient color patterns actively avoided by
predators, a phenomenon referred to as aposematism. However, the production of both …

A wide range of taxa respond to perceived predation risk (PPR) through inducible defenses,
and many prey are capable of responding both behaviorally and morphologically to the …

Background Chemical defences are widespread in animals, but how their production is
adjusted to ecological conditions is poorly known. Optimal defence theory predicts that …

Biological invasions are widely regarded as the second major cause of the current global
biodiversity crisis. Freshwater environments in particular include many habitats and species …

Many animals capable of deploying chemical defences are reluctant to use them,
suggesting that synthesis of toxins imposes a substantial cost. Typically, such costs have …

Abstract The Garrotxa Volcanic Field is situated in the northeast region of the Iberian
Peninsula. It represents the most recent volcanic area within the Catalan Volcanic Zone …

Chemical pollutants can exert various sublethal effects on wildlife, leading to complex fitness
consequences. Many animals use defensive chemicals as protection from predators and …