Primary research
Article
An Article reports an important novel research study of general interest to the ecology and evolution community, and often draws on several techniques or approaches. The main text (excluding introductory paragraph, Methods section, references and figure legends) is limited to 3,500 words. Articles can have up to 6 display items (figures and/or tables). The maximum title length is 100 characters (including spaces). The introductory paragraph is typically 150 words and is unreferenced; it contains a brief account of the background and rationale of the work, followed by a statement of the main conclusions introduced by the phrase "Here we show" or some equivalent. An introduction (without heading) of up to 500 words of referenced text expands on the background of the work (some overlap with the summary is acceptable), and is followed by a concise, focused account of the findings (headed 'Results'), and one or two short paragraphs of discussion (headed 'Discussion').
Articles include received/accepted dates and may be accompanied by supplementary information. Articles are peer reviewed.
Brief Communication
A Brief Communication reports a concise study of high quality and broad interest. Brief Communications begin with a brief unreferenced abstract (3 sentences, no more than 100 words), which will appear on abstracting services. The main text is typically 1,000-1,500 words, excluding abstract, references and figure legends, and contains no headings. Brief Communications normally have no more than 2 display items, although this may be flexible at the discretion of the editor, provided the page limit is observed.
Brief Communications include received/accepted dates and may be accompanied by supplementary information. Brief Communications are peer reviewed.
Other formats
Review
A review is an authoritative, balanced survey of recent developments in a research field. Although reviews should be recognized as scholarly by specialists in the field, they should be written with a view to informing non-specialist readers. Thus, reviews should be presented using simple prose, avoiding excessive jargon and technical detail. Reviews are approximately 3,000—4,000 words long and typically include 4—6 display items (figures, tables or boxes). Footnotes are not used. The scope of a Review should be broad enough that it is not dominated by the work of a single research institution, and particularly not by the authors' own work.
Reviews include received/accepted dates. Reviews are always peer reviewed to ensure factual accuracy, appropriate citations and scholarly balance.
Perspective
A Perspective is intended to provide a forum for authors to discuss models and ideas from a personal viewpoint. They are more forward looking and/or speculative than Review Articles and may take a narrower field of view. They may be opinionated but should remain balanced and are intended to stimulate discussion and new experimental approaches. Perspectives follow the same formatting guidelines as Reviews. As with Review Articles, many Perspectives are invited by the editors, so it is advisable to send a pre-submission enquiry including a synopsis before preparing a manuscript for formal submission.
Perspectives include received/accepted dates. Perspectives are always peer reviewed and edited by the editors in consultation with the author.
News and Views
News and Views articles inform readers about the latest advances in the ecology and evolution, as reported in recently published papers (in Nature Ecology & Evolution or elsewhere) or at scientific meetings. Unsolicited contributions will not normally be considered, although prospective authors are welcome to make proposals. News and Views are not peer reviewed, but undergo editing in consultation with the author.
Correspondence
The Correspondence section provides a forum for comment on papers or discussion of issues relevant to the journal’s community. A Correspondence should not exceed more than one printed page and is typically 250–500 words; it is limited to one display item and, as guideline, Correspondence allows up to 10 references. Article titles are omitted from the reference list. Titles for Correspondences are supplied by the editors. Correspondence may be peer-reviewed at the editors’ discretion. Note that Correspondence pieces are not technical comments on peer-reviewed research papers which would be considered Matters Arising.
Matters Arising
Matters Arising are exceptionally interesting and timely scientific comments and clarifications on original research papers published in Nature Ecology & Evolution. These comments should ideally be based on knowledge contemporaneous with the original paper, rather than subsequent scientific developments.
For detailed information on how to submit a Matters Arising, please follow instructions here.
Comment
Comment articles can focus on policy, science and society or purely scientific issues related to ecology and evolution. Articles by single authors or small groups of authors are preferred as this is an 'opinion' section of the journal. Comments are usually commissioned by the editors, but proposals are welcome. They should be of immediate interest to a broad readership and should be written in an accessible, non-technical style. Figures and diagrams are encouraged, but are not a requirement. Comments are typically no longer than 1,500 words and include up to 15 references. Article titles are omitted from the reference list.
Comments may be peer-reviewed at the editors' discretion.
Books & Arts
The Books & Arts section comprises timely reviews of books and other cultural and pedagogical resources of interest to ecologists and evolutionary biologists. The pieces are limited to one page. They are usually commissioned, though unsolicited contributions will be considered.
Features and News Features
These sections are written and commissioned by the journal editors. They do not contain unsolicited material. We are, however, keen to accept freelance pitches of exclusive stories, particularly conference coverage from locations where we do not have staff, or reports from interesting field work.
All of our features are written with a lively, proactive tone, using language that is clear even to readers for whom English is not their native tongue. Stories should be accessible to those with a general interest and background in science.
For details on how to pitch to Nature Ecology & Evolution, contact ecoevo@nature.com.
Patrick joined the company in 2005 as an Assistant Editor at
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Luíseach started out as an archaeologist, and completed a DPhil at the University of Oxford focused on Stone Age hunter-gatherers in southern Africa, archaeo/ethnobotany, and heritage conservation. In early 2016 she joined