JPAE publishes original research, reviews, methods papers, and data resources that advance plant and animal ecology. Submissions should demonstrate rigorous methods and clear ecological or conservation relevance.

• Title page with author affiliations and corresponding author details
• Structured abstract with objectives, methods, results, and conclusions
• Introduction that defines the ecological context and research gap
• Methods with detailed field sampling and analytical protocols
• Results with validated outcomes and clear interpretation
• Discussion linking findings to conservation or management implications
• Conclusion highlighting key contributions and future work

• Use clear headings and consistent terminology
• Define abbreviations and species codes at first use
• Provide units for all measurements and metrics
• Include figure legends that describe sample sizes and data sources
• Prepare tables in editable format with clear headings
• Label supplementary files clearly and reference them in the text

Authors should provide data availability statements and, when possible, deposit data in trusted repositories. Code or pipelines should be shared or documented to support reproducibility.

• Include accession numbers or repository links
• Describe preprocessing and quality control steps
• Document software versions and computational environments
• State any access restrictions for sensitive data

• Submit high resolution figures in standard formats
• Label axes and include units for quantitative plots
• Provide color blind friendly palettes when possible
• Ensure tables are editable and include footnotes

• Ensure references are complete and consistent
• Include DOIs where available
• Use standard citation formats
• Confirm all in text citations appear in the reference list

• Provide ethics approval and permits
• Disclose conflicts of interest and funding sources
• Follow reporting standards for ecology studies
• Describe limitations and generalizability

JPAE uses single blind peer review. Reviewers evaluate study rigor, data quality, and clarity of reporting. Initial decisions are typically issued within two to four weeks depending on reviewer availability.

Accepted manuscripts move to production for copyediting, proof review, and DOI registration. Articles are published under CC BY 4.0 to support open access reuse with attribution.

Authors should review proofs promptly to confirm accuracy of figures, tables, and metadata.

APCs are applied after acceptance and cover peer review management, production, and archiving services. Partial waivers may be available for eligible authors. Contact the editorial office for guidance.

• Scope alignment confirmed
• Data availability statement included
• Field protocols and permits documented
• Cover letter prepared with scope summary
• Ethics and consent statements included
• 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.
• Describe citizen science data validation steps when used.
• Clarify how ecological thresholds or tipping points were identified.
• Include measures of ecosystem resilience or recovery where applicable.
• Provide a structured abstract with clear objectives, methods, results, and conclusions.
• Use consistent ecological terminology and define abbreviations at first use.
• Include a data availability statement with repository links or accession numbers.
• Provide details on software versions, packages, and computational environments.
• Report statistical tests, effect sizes, and confidence intervals where applicable.
• Describe cohort demographics, species definitions, and sampling criteria.
• Include descriptions of field protocols and observer training.
• Provide clear figure legends and indicate sample sizes and data sources.
• Confirm references include DOIs where available and match in text citations.
• Disclose funding sources, grant numbers, and potential conflicts of interest.
• Report ethical approvals and permits for field or animal studies.
• Clarify how habitat classification thresholds were chosen.
• Include a brief limitations statement that addresses generalizability.
• If code is shared, provide repository links and licensing details.
• State whether preprints exist and disclose prior dissemination.
• Describe how raw data and code can be accessed, including access controls.
• Provide study timelines, sampling intervals, and seasonal context.
• Confirm all tables are editable and include clear headings and units.

For questions about formatting or submission steps, contact [email protected].

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.