Journal of Plant and Animal Ecology invites high quality submissions that advance plant and animal ecology, biodiversity, and ecosystem resilience. We welcome original research, reviews, and methodological advances that deepen understanding of species interactions and environmental change.

Our editorial focus prioritizes reproducible field methods, transparent reporting, and actionable insights for conservation and ecosystem management.

• Plant community dynamics and succession
• Animal behavior and population ecology
• Biodiversity monitoring and conservation planning
• Species distribution and habitat modeling
• Ecosystem services and landscape ecology
• Climate change impacts on ecosystems
• Restoration ecology and adaptive management
• Invasive species ecology and control
• Human wildlife interactions and conflict mitigation
• Long term ecological monitoring

• Data resource papers with ecological datasets
• Short communications reporting high impact findings
• Policy or management briefs grounded in evidence
• Perspectives on emerging ecology challenges

Successful submissions present a clear research question, robust field design, and transparent analytical methods. We value studies that demonstrate reproducibility and practical relevance for biodiversity and ecosystem health.

Authors should explain novelty, document data collection protocols, and connect findings to ecological processes or management outcomes.

• Clear field sampling protocols and replication strategy
• Validation against independent datasets or benchmarks
• Transparent model evaluation metrics and limitations
• Interpretation that links ecological patterns to outcomes

Submissions undergo editorial screening for scope fit, study design quality, and data transparency. Qualified manuscripts move to single blind peer review with subject matter experts.

JPAE operates under an open access model to ensure ecological research is discoverable and reusable. APCs are applied after acceptance and support peer review, production, and archiving services.

Membership options and affordable APC waivers are available for eligible authors. Contact the editorial office at [email protected] for guidance.

• Scope fit confirmed for ecology research
• Data availability statement included
• Validation metrics reported
• Field protocols and permits documented
• Cover letter explains novelty and impact
• Report study site coordinates, habitat type, and climate context to support ecological interpretation.
• Describe sampling design and replication strategy for plant and animal observations.
• Include detection probability or effort corrections when using wildlife surveys.
• Define biodiversity metrics such as richness, evenness, or Shannon indices clearly.
• Report vegetation structure measurements and canopy cover methods where applicable.
• Include taxonomic identification methods and voucher specimen details.
• Describe seasonal timing and phenological stage of sampling events.
• Provide details on animal handling, tagging, and ethical approvals.
• Explain how disturbance, land use, or management history was quantified.
• Report soil, water, or nutrient measurements used in ecosystem analysis.
• Describe remote sensing data sources, resolution, and preprocessing steps.
• Clarify spatial scale and plot size for field experiments.
• Provide statistical models for species distribution or occupancy analyses.
• Report model validation metrics for predictive ecology models.
• Describe community interactions such as predation, competition, or mutualism.
• Include methodology for estimating population abundance or density.
• Clarify how invasive species presence was assessed and quantified.
• Report how climate variables were sourced and downscaled.
• Describe restoration or conservation interventions and monitoring protocols.
• Include uncertainty estimates for ecological forecasts or projections.
• Report how missing data and observer bias were addressed.
• Provide species trait data sources and standardization steps.
• Describe landscape fragmentation metrics and connectivity analysis.
• Report how animal movement data were processed and filtered.
• Include information on trophic level or food web analysis methods.
• Clarify how ecosystem services were measured or modeled.
• Report community similarity or beta diversity measures with definitions.
• Include sampling permits and regulatory approvals where relevant.
• Explain how environmental covariates were selected and tested.
• Describe data availability statements for ecological datasets and code.
• Provide details on long term monitoring programs or datasets used.
• Report replication across sites to support generalizability.
• Include demographic stratification for wildlife population studies.
• Discuss limitations related to spatial or temporal coverage.
• Clarify how edge effects or habitat gradients were handled.
• Report calibration details for field sensors or data loggers.
• Describe protocols for plant trait measurements and herbivory assessment.
• Include details on fire regime or disturbance history when relevant.
• Report data preprocessing for ecological time series.
• Describe any machine learning models used for ecological classification.
• Provide explainability methods for predictive habitat models.
• Clarify whether data were collected in protected or managed areas.
• Describe community engagement or stakeholder involvement when applicable.
• Report outcomes related to conservation status or risk assessments.
• Include statements on reproducibility and data sharing commitments.
• Describe criteria for species inclusion or exclusion in analyses.
• Provide details on behavioral observation protocols and sampling intervals.
• Report effects of climate extremes or disturbances on study outcomes.
• Clarify how species interactions were observed or inferred.
• Include measures of habitat quality or degradation indicators.
• Describe landscape scale mapping methods and classification accuracy.
• Report seed dispersal or pollination study protocols when relevant.
• Provide details on predator prey interaction observations and sampling effort.
• Explain how microhabitat variables were measured and standardized.
• Report genetic sampling protocols if population genetics are included.

JPAE is committed to rigorous, transparent publishing in plant and animal ecology. We emphasize reproducible field methods, clear reporting of ecological context, and ethical compliance across all article types.

The editorial office supports authors, editors, and reviewers with clear guidance and responsive communication. For questions about scope or workflow, contact [email protected].

We encourage continuous improvement in reporting practices and share updates that help the community maintain high standards in ecological research and conservation science.