Evolutionary biomechanics is an interdisciplinary field that integrates biology, physics, and engineering to understand the mechanical principles governing movement, function, and adaptation across diverse species. By examining how anatomical structures evolve in response to mechanical demands, researchers can uncover the adaptive strategies that enable species to survive and thrive in their environments.

This Collection will highlight research on the biomechanics of movement in extant and extinct animals, from invertebrates to large vertebrates, across land, water and air. By linking biomechanics with ecological interactions and evolutionary processes, studies in this field provide key insights into locomotion, musculoskeletal function, movement ecology, and the energetic costs of life in different environments.

Topics of research may include but are not limited to:

Musculoskeletal biomechanics and locomotion

Comparative biomechanics

Biomechanics of soft-bodied and flexible organisms

Movement ecology and migration

Locomotion in complex environments

Predator-prey interactions and functional morphology

Insect biomechanics

Adaptation and evolutionary biomechanics

Bio-inspired robotics and engineering

Advances in biomechanical methodologies

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 15: Life on Land and SDG 14: Life Below Water.

BMC Ecology and Evolution invites researchers to submit their work on soil ecosystems and their implications for environmental sustainability. Soils are living, dynamic systems that support a vast array of organisms, from tiny microbes to plants and animals. They play a vital role in keeping our planet healthy by recycling nutrients, storing carbon, and helping regulate water and climate. Understanding how soil life functions and adapts is essential for tackling major environmental challenges like climate change, habitat loss, and soil degradation.

This collection of articles aims to showcase the latest research in soil ecology, emphasizing the interactions among soil organisms, biogeochemical processes, and ecosystem functions across various landscapes. We invite submissions that explore the following topics:

Microbial and faunal diversity in soils: Patterns, drivers, and functional roles of bacteria, fungi, protists, and invertebrates

Soil biogeochemistry and ecosystem functioning: Nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, and soil health in both natural and managed ecosystems

Soil-plant interactions: Rhizosphere processes, plant-microbe symbioses, and their effects on vegetation dynamics

Land use and climate change impacts on soil communities: Responses of soil biodiversity and functions to agricultural intensification, urbanization, pollution, and climate shifts

Soil metagenomics, phylogenetics, and functional ecology: Advances in molecular approaches for studying soil microbial and faunal communities

Conservation and restoration of soil ecosystems: Strategies for maintaining soil biodiversity and ecosystem services in degraded landscapes

All manuscripts submitted to BMC Ecology and Evolution, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 15: Life on Land.