Editors guide the peer review process and ensure that published research meets JPAE standards for methodological rigor and ecological relevance. Editors also help maintain transparency and fairness in manuscript decisions.

• Sound data provenance and ethical compliance
• Reproducible field and analytical methods
• Clear interpretation of ecological findings
• Adequate validation and benchmarking

Editors must disclose conflicts of interest and recuse themselves when necessary. Appeals are handled transparently and may involve additional editorial review.

• Confirm scope alignment and data availability
• Check ethical approvals and permits
• Verify reviewer expertise and balance
• Ensure decisions are supported by evidence
• Confirm reviewer expertise aligns with plant and animal ecology.
• Request additional statistical review when complex models are used.
• Ensure reviewer feedback addresses data quality and ecological relevance.
• Encourage authors to clarify site selection and sampling design.
• Check that data availability statements are complete and accurate.
• Monitor review timelines and send reminders as needed.
• Assess whether conclusions match the evidence presented.
• Flag potential ethical concerns or conflicts promptly.
• Recommend revisions for unclear field protocols.
• Verify that code or pipeline documentation is adequate.
• Promote balanced reviewer feedback and avoid bias.
• Encourage transparency in reporting limitations.
• Use standard decision templates to maintain consistency.
• Check for compliance with journal formatting requirements.
• Ensure revisions address reviewer comments comprehensively.
• Escalate cases of suspected plagiarism or data issues.
• Document decision rationale in the editorial system.
• Provide authors with clear, actionable decision letters.
• Encourage reviewers to comment on habitat classification accuracy.
• Confirm that reviewer recommendations align with journal scope.
• Encourage clear summary statements in editorial decisions.

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.