Submissions

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Author Guidelines

All submissions should relate to one or more of the following keywords: Biodiversity, Ecology, Ecosystems, Conservation, Sustainability, Nature.  

Primary research articles and literature reviews should be approximately 2,000-5,000 words, excluding title, abstract, figures, and references. Abstracts for research articles should be 300 words. We also accept opinion/think pieces, book reviews, art, and photography. Submissions for short editorials should be 500-1,500 words (editorial board only please, unless otherwise advised). Science letters should be limited to 750 words, Project reports under 3000, Book reviews should be under 2,000 and Reflections under 3500.

All submissions should be made using Harvard citation style. 

We are committed to an anonymous review procedure, so please remove your names from the text before submitting your research articles. You may upload an additional text file listing the names of all authors as you would like them displayed in the publication.

Submission Preparation Checklist

All submissions must meet the following requirements.

  • This submission meets the requirements outlined in the Author Guidelines.
  • This submission has not been previously published, nor is it before another journal for consideration.
  • All references have been checked for accuracy and completeness. Where possible, make sure to include the DOI so reviewers and editorial staff can easily verify the source.
  • All tables and figures have been numbered and labeled.
  • Permission has been obtained to publish all photos, datasets and other material provided with this submission.
  • The subject relates to at least one of the following fields: biodiversity, ecosystems, sustainability, ecology, conservation, global health, nature.

Research Articles

Research articles following common standards of practice will be published in this section. Limit 6000 words., excluding abstract, titles, references, and figures.

*PLEASE NOTE*

Response to Review

If your article is chosen for peer review, once you receive comments or suggestions following this review, the standard method for addressing these is to respond to all review comments individually in a point-by-point list, explaining how you have altered your manuscript to address each concern. This allows the second tier of reviewers to understand the modifications you have made. In some rare instances, you may find you disagree with the reviewer, and this is your chance to justify this. A rigorous review process is a major pillar of scientific enquiry and we appreciate your dedication to sharing our value of high quality scientific publication. 

Science Letters

Before the digital age, many scientists communicated with each other through written letters sent through the physical post system. Today, so many of us use email or instant messaging to reach one another, but this section aims to pay homage to the rustic beginnings of scientific discourse. Authors are encouraged to submit brief science letters on topics within the scope of our journal as a way to share their ideas. 

Letters may be to express an opinion or to give a critical response to other content we have published or to bring up a topic that you feel is important. Perhaps you would like to write a brief summary about an issue or topic that is relevant to their geographical area or institution, or share a brief glimpse into an ongoing project. What would you like to tell the world about biodiversity in your area? You could profile a lesser known species or ecosystem of interest, discuss advancements in policies or showcase an NGO doing vital work. A letter to the editor may also be a short essay on a topic that you feel is important and relevant to our scope. 

We aim to give a voice to scientists around the world, within our scope, so it can be pretty open-ended, although still subject to editorial review. Respectful and factual discourse is required. All letters must still be within the scope of biodiversity, ecology, conservation, etc. A handful of references at the end, usually less than ten or twelve.  As we are a new journal, this section may evolve slightly over time, if you have any questions, please reach out to us at openbiodiversity@gmail.com

DuShane, G. (1956) " "Letters" in Science." Science, 124:3215

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.124.3215.249 

For interest and inspiration, here is a link to the Darwin Correspondence Project: www.darwinproject.ac.uk/

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Word limit 750.

Project Reports

For authors wishing to describe a project that perhaps does not fit into a standard research article or perhaps is ongoing.

Photo Essays and Art

One of the aspects of conservation is aesthetic beauty. This section intends to highlight this by sharing photograph and artistic works that highlight some of the reasons we are drawn to nature, and to celebrate our connection with the natural world through human expression. Please include a brief written description or caption.

Here's an example of a photo essay that can help guide you, although other formats may be appropriate, so feel free to contact us with any questions. This piece starts with a brief introductory paragraph, followed by several photos with captions.

https://jamesclear.com/photo-essay-colorado

Book Reviews

Please share with us your favourite books on topics related to the scope of our journal. These may be recent books or older works that you feel should be highlighted for their contribution to the field. Word limit 1000.

Reflections

Our final section will be a place to share deeper reflections and more philosophical writings within our journal scope. Reflection is a vital part of scientific discourse and we are open to hear your thoughts and musings. Word limit 3500.

Cover Art

If you would like to submit art or photography to be considered for our cover art, please do it here.

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