International Journal on Ecological Modelling and Systems Ecology
Guide for Authors
Ecological Modelling uses an online, electronic submission system. By accessing the website http://ees.elsevier.com/ecomod
you will be guided stepwise through the creation and uploading of the various files. When submitting a manuscript to the Elsevier Editorial
System, authors need to provide an electronic version of their manuscript. For this purpose original source files, not PDF files, are
preferred. The author should specify a category designation for the manuscript (full length article, review article, short communication,
etc.), choose a set of classifications from the prescribed list provided online and select an editor. Authors may send queries concerning
the submission process, manuscript status, or journal procedures to the Editorial Office. Once the uploading is complete, the system
automatically generates an electronic (PDF) proof, which is then used for reviewing. All correspondence, including the Editor's decision
and request for revisions, will be communicated by e-mail. Authors are requested to submit full contact details of at least four potential
reviewers including email addresses.
Types of contributions: Before submitting an article to Ecological Modelling please read
carefully the editorial policy which you can be found at the ECOMOD homepage. Editorial
Policy
Original research papers (regular papers)
Review articles
Short communications
Letters
to the Editor
Book reviews
News and announcements
Original research papers should report the
results of original research. The material should not have been previously published elsewhere, except in a preliminary form.
Review
articles should cover subjects falling within the scope of the journal which are of active current interest. They may be submitted
or invited.
A Short communication is a concise but complete description of a limited investigation, which will not be included
in a later paper. Short communication should be as completely documented, both by reference to the literature and description of the
experimental procedures employed, as a regular paper. They should not occupy more than 6 printed pages (about 12 manuscript pages, including
figures, tables and references).
Letters to the Editor offering comment or useful critique on material published in the
journal are welcomed. The decision to publish submitted letters rests purely with the Editor-in-Chief. It is hoped that the publication
of such letters will permit an exchange of views which will be of benefit to both the journal and its readers.
Book reviews
will be included in the journal on a range of relevant books which are not more than 2 years old. Book reviews will be solicited by the
Editor-in-Chief. Unsolicited reviews will not usually be accepted, but suggestions for appropriate books for review may be sent to the
Editor-in-Chief: S.E. Jørgensen, Langkaer Vaenge 9, Vaerloese DK-3500, Denmark. Tel: +45 35 370850, Fax: +45 35 375744. E-mail: sej@dfuni.dk.
Submission of manuscripts
Submission of an article is understood to imply that the article is
original and is not being considered for publication elsewhere. Upon acceptance of the article by the journal, the author(s) will be
asked to sign a "Journal Publishing Agreement" (for more information on this and copyright see http://www.elsevier.com/copyright).
Acceptance of the agreement will ensure the widest possible dissemination of information
Abstracts
The abstract should be
clear, descriptive and not longer than 400 words.
Preparation of manuscript We accept most wordprocessing formats, but Word,
WordPerfect or LaTeX is preferred. Always keep a backup copy of the electronic file for reference and safety. Save your files using the
default extension of the program used.
Line spacing should be double-spaced form with wide margins and numbered lines.
Please
write your text in good English (American or British usage is accepted, but not a mixture of these). Italics are not to be used for expressions
of Latin origin, for example, in vivo, et al., per se. Use decimal points (not commas); use a space for thousands (10 000 and above).
Tables
Authors should take notice of the limitations set by the size and layout of the journal. Large tables should
be avoided. Reversing columns and rows will often reduce the dimensions of a table.
If many data are to be presented, an attempt
should be made to divide them over two or more tables.
Tables should be numbered according to their sequence in the text. The
text should include reference to all tables.
Each table should be typewritten on a separate page of the manuscript. Tables should
never be included in the text.
Each table should have a brief and self-explanatory title.
Column headings should be
brief, but sufficiently explanatory. Standard abbreviations of units of measurement should be added between parentheses.
Vertical
lines should not be used to separate columns; leave some extra space between the columns instead.
Any explanation essential
to the understanding of the table should be given as a footnote at the bottom of the table.
References
All
publications cited in the text should be presented in a list of references following the manuscript text. The author should carefully
check the list for accuracy and correspondence with the text.
The references list should be arranged alphabetically on authors'
names, and chronologically per author. If an author's name in the list is also mentioned with co-authors, then the following order should
be used: publications of the single author, arranged according to publication dates; publications of the same author with one co-author;
publications of the author with more than one co-author. Publications by the same author(s) in the same year should be listed as 1999a,
1999b, etc.
In the text refer to the author's name (without initial) and year of publication, followed, if direct quote, by
reference to appropriate pages. Examples: "Since Smith (2004) has shown that...". "This is in agreement with results obtained later (Jones,
2001, pp. 12-16)".
In referring to a personal communication, give source, pers. comm., and year, e.g., "(H.T. Odum, pers. comm.,
2001)".
If reference is made in the text to a publication written by more than two authors, the name of the first author should
be used followed by "et al." This indication, however, should never be used in the list of references. In this list, names of all authors
should be given.
References cited together in the text should be arranged chronologically.
Use the International List
of Periodical Title Word Abbreviations.
In the case of publications in any language other than English, the original title is
to be retained. However, the titles of publications in non-Latin alphabets should be transliterated, and a notation such as "(in Russian)"
or "(in Greek, with English abstract)" should be added.
Use the following examples for your references:
For
periodicals
Guisan, A., Zimmermann, N.E., 2000. Predictive habitat distribution models in ecology. Ecol. Model. 135, 147-186.
For books
Logofet, D.O., 1993. Matrices and Graphs-Stability Problems in Mathematical Ecology. C.R.C. Press,
Boca Raton, FL, USA, 308 pp.
For multi-author books
Grant, W.E., Pedersen, E.K., Marin, S.L., 1997, Ecology and
Natural Resource Management: Systems Analysis and Simulation. Wiley, New York, NY, 373 pp.
For edited books
M
ller, F., Leupelt. M. (eds.), 1998. Eco Targets, Goal Functions, and Orientors. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 619 pp.
For book
chapters
Patten, B.C., Bosserman, R.W., Finn, J.T., Cale, W.G., 1976. Propagation of cause in ecosystems. In: Patten, B.C.
(ed.), Systems Analysis and Simulation in Ecology, vol. IV. Academic Press, New York, NY, USA, pp. 457-579.
For reports, departmental
notes, etc.
Beck, M.B., 1981. Identifying Models of Environmental Systems' Behaviour. IIASA Working Paper WP-81-158, Laxenburg,
Austria.
Illustrations Preparation of electronic illustrations Submitting your artwork in an electronic format
helps us to produce your work to the best possible standards, ensuring accuracy, clarity and a high level of detail.
General points
Always supply high-quality printouts of your artwork, in case conversion of the electronic artwork is problematic.
Make
sure you use uniform lettering and sizing of your original artwork.
Save text in illustrations as "graphics" or enclose the
font.
Only use the following fonts in your illustrations: Arial, Courier, Helvetica, Times and Symbol.
Number the
illustrations according to their sequence in the text.
Use a logical naming convention for your artwork files, and supply a
separate listing of the files and the software used.
Provide all illustrations as separate files and as hardcopy printouts on
separate sheets.
Provide captions to illustrations separately.
Produce images near to the desired size of the printed
version.
Submit colour illustrations as original photographs, high-quality computer prints or transparencies, close to the size
expected in publication, or as 35 mm slides. Polaroid colour prints are not suitable. If, together with your accepted article, you submit
usable colour figures then Elsevier will ensure, at no additional charge, that these figures will appear in colour on the web (e.g.,
ScienceDirect and other sites) regardless of whether or not these illustrations are reproduced in colour in the printed version. For
colour reproduction in print, you will receive information regarding the costs from Elsevier after receipt of your accepted article.
For further information on the preparation of electronic artwork, please see http://authors.elsevier.com/artwork.
Please
note: Because of technical complications which can arise by converting colour figures to 'grey scale' (for the printed version should
you not opt for colour in print) please submit in addition usable black and white prints corresponding to all the colour illustrations.
This journal offers electronic submission services and graphic files can be uploaded.
Formulae
Formulae
should be typewritten,if possible. Leave ample space around the formulae.
Subscripts and superscripts should be clear.
Greek letters and other non-Latin or handwritten symbols should be explained in the margin where they are first used. Take special
care to show clearly the difference between zero(0) and the O, and between one (1) and the l.
Give the meaning of all symbols
immediately after the equation in which they are first used.
For simple fractions, use the solidus (/)instead of a horizontal
line, e.g.,Ip/2m
rather than Ip-2m
Equations should be numbered serially at the right-hand side in parentheses. In general only
equations explicitly referred to in the text need be numbered.
The use of fractional powers instead of root signs is recommended.
Also, powers of e are often more conveniently denoted by exp.
Levels of statistical significance which can be mentioned without
further explanation are P<0.05, P<0.01 and P<0.001.
In chemical formulae, the valence of ions should be given as, e.g.
Ca2+ and CO2–3
Isotope numbers should precede the symbols, e.g.13O.
The
repeated writing of chemical formulae in the text is to be avoided where reasonably possible; instead, the name of the compound should
be given in full. Exceptions may be made in the case of a very long name occurring very frequently or in the case of a compound being
described as the end product of a gravimetric determination (e.g., phosphate as P2O5).
Please refer to Author Instructions
in the journal to clarify details for formulae.
Footnotes Footnotes should only be used if absolutely essential. In most cases
it will be possible to incorporate the information in normal text.
If used, they should be numbered in the text, indicated by superscript
numbers, and kept as short as possible.
Nomenclature Authors and editors are, by general agreement, obliged to accept the rules
governing biological nomenclatureas laid down in the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature, the International Code
of Nomenclature of Bacteria, and the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.
All biotica (crops, plants, insects,
birds, mammals, etc.) should be identified by their scientific names when the English term is first used, with the exception of common
domestic animals.
All biocides and other organic compounds must be identified by their Geneva names when first used in the text.
For
chemical nomenclature, the conventions of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry and the official recommendations
of the IUPAC-IUB Combined Commission on Biochemical Nomenclature should be followed.
Non-electronic illustrations
Provide all illustrations as high-quality printouts, suitable for reproduction (which may include reduction) without retouching. Number
illustrations consecutively in the order in which they are referred to in the text. They should accompany the manuscript, but should
not be included within the text. Clearly mark all illustrations on the back (or - in case of line drawings - on the lower front side)
with the figure number and the author's name and, in cases of ambiguity, the correct orientation. Mark the appropriate position of a
figure in the article.
Captions Ensure that each illustration has a caption. Supply captions on a separate sheet, not attached
to the figure. A caption should comprise a brief title (not on the figure itself) and a description of the illustration. Keep text in
the illustrations themselves to a minimum but explain all symbols and abbreviations used.
Supplementary data Elsevier accepts
electronic supplementary material to support and enhance your scientific research. Supplementary files offer the author additional possibilities
to publish supporting applications, movies, animation sequences, high-resolution images, background datasets, sound clips and more. Supplementary
files supplied will be published online alongside the electronic version of your article in Elsevier web products, including ScienceDirect:
http://www.sciencedirect.com. In order to ensure that your submitted material is directly usable, please ensure that data
is provided in one of our recommended file formats. Authors should submit the material in electronic format together with the article
and supply a concise and descriptive caption for each file. More detailed instructions can be obtained at http://authors.elsevier.com.
Proofs Proofs will be sent to the author (first-named author if no corresponding author is identified on multi-authored papers)
by PDF wherever possible and should be returned within 48 hours of receipt, preferably by e-mail. Corrections should be restricted to
typesetting errors; any other amendments made may be charged to the author. Any queries should be answered in full. Elsevier will do
everything possible to get your article corrected and published as quickly as possible. Therefore, it is important to ensure that all
of your corrections are returned to us in one all-inclusive e-mail or fax. Subsequent additional corrections will not be possible, so
please ensure that your first communication is complete.
Offprints The corresponding author, at no cost, will be provided
with a PDF file of the article via e-mail or, alternatively, 25 free paper offprints. The PDF file is a watermarked version of the published
article and includes a cover sheet with the journal cover image and a disclaimer outlining the terms and conditions of use.
Colour
charges Authors will be charged for including colour illustrations in the printed version at the following rates and are encouraged
only to consider colour if necessary for clarity or comprehension: 1st page: Euro 350. Every 2nd page: Euro 175 (Prices per October 2004).
Copyright guidelines All authors must sign the 'Transfer of Copyright' agreement before the article can be published.
This transfer agreement enables Elsevier Ltd to protect the copyrighted material for the authors, but does not relinquish the author's
proprietary rights. The copyright transfer covers the exclusive rights to reproduce and distribute the article, including reprints, photographic
reproductions, microform or any other reproductions of similar nature and translations, and includes the right to adapt the article for
use in conjunction with computer systems and programs, including reproduction or publication in machine-readable form and incorporation
in retrieval systems. Authors are responsible for obtaining from the copyright holder permission to reproduce any figures for which copyright
exists.
Conflicts of Interest To allow scientists, the public, and policy makers to make more informed judgements about
published research, this journal adopts a strong policy on conflicts of interest and disclosure. Authors should acknowledge all sources
of funding and any direct financial benefits that could result from publication. Editors likewise require referees to disclosure current
or recent association with authors and other special interest in this work.
Author enquiries
For enquiries relating to
the submission of articles (including electronic submission where available) please visit this journal's homepage at http://www.elsevier.com/locate/ecolmodel.
From here you can also track accepted articles (http://www.elsevier.com/trackarticle) and set up e-mail alerts to inform
you of when an article's status has changed, as well as detailed artwork guidelines, copyright information, frequently asked questions
and more.
Contact details for questions arising after acceptance of an article, especially those relating to proofs, are provided
after registration of an article for publication.
Summary Guide and Checklist for Authors: Ecological Modelling
This
page is a summary of essential information. It is hoped that this list will be useful during the final checking of an article prior to
sending it to the journal's Editor for review. Please consult this Guide for Authors for further details of any item.
Submission
of an article to ECOMOD implies that it is an original submission which has not been published previously or has not been submitted to
any other journal.
All authors must suggest 4 reviewers on submission, together with their full addresses and email details.
The suggested reviewers should not be a colleague, a close collaborator or in the same institutional location as the author(s).
Before submitting a manuscript to ECOMOD, please carefully read the Editorial Policy that can be found at the journal website. Be
sure that the answer to the following five questions concerning the content of the manuscript is Yes:
Does the paper focus
on an ecological model or on systems ecology?
Are the results based on ecological observations?
Is the ecological component sufficiently
strong?
Does the paper present new results in ecological modelling or in systems ecology?
Does the paper clearly emphasize the
scientific progress of results in ecological modelling or systems ecology compared with our established knowledge and with previously
published results?;
As outlined in the Editorial Policy, all submissions will be reviewed according to the following criteria:
Has the model been presented by a conceptual diagram?
Has the model been presented in such details that the reader is able
to develop the model?
Are the state variables, the forcing functions, and the parameters clearly presented?
Are the equations
presented in sufficient details? Should the equations eventually be presented in an appendix (or on-line)?
Are all relevant references
included?
Is the discussion also focusing on the scientific progress in ecological modelling?
Manuscripts should be
in English and grammatically correct. Authors whose native language is not English are strongly advised to have their manuscripts checked
by an English-speaking colleague prior to submission.
Manuscripts should have wide margins and double spacing throughout. Every
page of the manuscript should be numbered. Continuous line numbers should be inserted in order to facilitate reviewing.
Manuscripts
should be organized in the following order: Title; Name(s) of author(s); Complete address(es) of affiliations; Full telephone number,
fax number and e-mail address of the corresponding author; Present address(es) of author(s) if applicable; Complete correspondence address
to which the proofs should be sent; Abstract; key words normally 3-6 items; Introduction; material studied, area descriptions, methods,
techniques, quality assurance/quality control program, etc.; results; discussion; conclusion; Acknowledgements and any additional information,
research grants; References; Tables; Figure captions.
Your manuscript should be as concise and to-the-point as possible: brevity
of papers is encouraged.
Tables
should be numbered according to their sequence in the text;
should have a brief
and self-explanatory title;
Large tables and databases can be published as an Appendix in the web based version of the journal. Citation
to this placement of the large data must be made in the printed version of the paper.
numbered according to the sequence in which they appear in the text;
accompanied by a caption;
Digital photographs are only acceptable if they have good contrast and intensity.
Color: if you submit usable color figures
together with your accepted article Elsevier will ensure, at no additional charge, that these figures will appear in color on the web,
regardless of whether or not these illustrations are reproduced in color in the printed version. For color reproduction in print, you
will receive information regarding the costs from Elsevier after receipt of your accepted article.
References:
References
should be presented in a list following the text. Authors' names and dates should be exactly the same in the text as in the reference
list;
in the text should refer to the author's name (without initial) and year;
by more than 2 authors should use the name of
the first author followed by "et al." though never in the list of references;
in the text should be arranged chronologically. The
reference list should be arranged alphabetically on authors' names, and chronologically per author;
should be formatted by reference
to a recent copy of the journal;
concerning unpublished data and "personal communications" should not be cited in the reference list
but may be mentioned in the text;
citation by the number system is not acceptable.
Formulae should be presented in the
line of normal text where possible. Number consecutively any equations that have to be displayed separate from the text (if referred
to explicitly in the text).
SI units should be used. The recommendations of the IUPAC IUBMB Joint Commission on Biochemical
Nomenclature at http://www.chem.qmw.ac.uk/iubmb/ should be followed.
