- For authors
- ISSN 2997-2248
- Open access · CC BY 4.0
Instructions for Authors
How to prepare and submit a manuscript to the Journal of Wildlife: submission routes, article types, manuscript structure, reporting standards, ethics statements and fees.
Submission routes
ManuscriptZone
The publisher's online submission and review system. Register or sign in, choose the Journal of Wildlife and upload the manuscript files.
Simple manuscript submission form
A single-page form that opens with the Journal of Wildlife selected.
[email protected]
For authors who are unable to use either online route. Send the manuscript files with a cover letter to the editorial office.
Authors must use only one submission route for the same manuscript.
Article types
JWL publishes the article types below. Requirements depend on the format: hypotheses, sampling designs, power calculations and a Methods and Results structure apply where the design calls for them. The scope of each type is set out in the Aims and Scope.
Original Research
Empirical studies of wild animals and their habitats using field, laboratory, quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods, including surveys, experiments, observational and modeling studies.
- Abstract
- Structured: Background, Methods, Results, Conclusions.
- Main text
- Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusions. State the research question and, where applicable, the hypotheses, the sampling design, the study area and period, and the sample-size rationale.
- Reporting
- ARRIVE 2.0 for animal studies; STROBE for observational studies, where applicable.
Review Article
A critical, balanced synthesis of the literature on a defined topic that identifies knowledge gaps and directions for research or management.
- Abstract
- Brief, unstructured or structured.
- Main text
- Introduction; thematic sections with descriptive headings; synthesis and future directions. State how the literature was identified.
- Reporting
- Reference the evidence for each claim.
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Systematic syntheses of evidence on a defined question, with or without meta-analysis. Scoping reviews that use systematic methods are included.
- Abstract
- Structured.
- Main text
- Introduction; Methods (eligibility criteria, information sources and the full search strategy, study selection, data extraction, risk-of-bias or quality assessment and synthesis); Results with a flow diagram; Discussion. Give the protocol registration where applicable.
- Reporting
- PRISMA 2020; PRISMA-ScR for scoping reviews.
Methods
New, adapted or validated field, analytical or monitoring methods, software, and protocols for planned studies.
- Abstract
- Structured, with headings adapted to the method.
- Main text
- Rationale; a description of the method with the detail, code or materials others need to apply it; validation or a worked application, compared with existing approaches where available; limitations. A protocol sets out the design, analysis plan and permits, and has no Results section.
- Reporting
- The guideline for the design where applicable, for example PRISMA-P for review protocols.
Short Communication
A concise report of a focused or preliminary finding, a notable observation, or a range or behavioral record.
- Abstract
- Brief, structured or unstructured.
- Main text
- A condensed Introduction, Methods, Results and Discussion centered on the main finding.
- Reporting
- As for Original Research, where applicable.
Data Note
A description of a dataset of value for wildlife research, such as survey, telemetry, camera-trap, acoustic, genetic or occurrence data, to support its reuse.
- Abstract
- Brief, unstructured.
- Main text
- Background and rationale; data collection methods; description of the dataset (variables, format, coverage); quality control; data access, with the repository, persistent identifier and license; limitations for reuse. Analyses are limited to those that describe the data.
- Reporting
- Deposit the dataset in a recognized repository before submission; Darwin Core is recommended for occurrence data.
Case Study
A documented case, such as a conservation or management intervention, a human-wildlife conflict, a population response or an unusual event, with a lesson that applies beyond the site.
- Abstract
- Brief, unstructured.
- Main text
- Introduction; case description, with a timeline where useful; outcomes and lessons; discussion. Hypotheses and power calculations do not apply.
- Reporting
- Report the methods used to document the case; ARRIVE 2.0 where animals were handled.
Perspective
A forward-looking, evidence-based viewpoint on a research question, method or management and policy issue.
- Abstract
- Brief, unstructured.
- Main text
- Free structure with descriptive headings; claims supported by cited evidence and conclusions proportionate to it. Methods and Results sections are not required.
- Reporting
- Reference the evidence for each claim.
Commentary
An evidence-based argument on a current issue in wildlife science or on published research.
- Abstract
- Brief, unstructured.
- Main text
- Free structure with descriptive headings; claims supported by cited evidence and conclusions proportionate to it. Methods and Results sections are not required.
- Reporting
- Reference the evidence for each claim.
Letter
A brief response to an article published in JWL, or a short observation of relevance to wildlife science.
- Abstract
- None.
- Main text
- Short text without section headings and with a small number of references. A letter about a published article cites it in full, and its authors may be invited to reply.
- Reporting
- Reference the article or evidence discussed.
Length. There are no fixed length limits for any article type; manuscripts should be concise and proportionate to their content.
Choosing a type. Where a manuscript sits between types, choose the closest type and explain the choice in the cover letter; the editors confirm the classification. A field case series is classified as a Case Study, a scoping review as a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, and a study protocol as Methods.
Preparing the manuscript
These requirements apply to every article type. The structure of the main text follows the guidance for the type above.
- Files
- The main text as an editable word-processing file (for example, Microsoft Word), with figures, tables that cannot be edited in the text, and supplementary material supplied as separate files.
- Title page
- A concise, informative title that names the study taxon where relevant; full names, affiliations and ORCID iDs (recommended) of all authors; and the corresponding author's contact details.
- Double-blind review
- For double-blind review, remove author names, affiliations, acknowledgments, funding details, institution names, and other identifying information from the reviewer manuscript. Provide identifying information separately in the title-page file or submission form.
- Abstract
- As set for the article type. Structured abstracts use the headings Background, Methods, Results and Conclusions.
- Keywords
- A short list of specific, searchable terms, including the study taxon, system and region where relevant.
- Species names
- Give the common name and the scientific name in italics at first mention, with the authority where taxonomy is the subject of the paper.
- Statistics
- Describe statistical methods in enough detail for replication; report effect estimates with measures of uncertainty, give exact p-values where statistical tests are used, and name the software and version.
- Declarations
- Author contributions (CRediT), funding, conflicts of interest, ethics approval and permits where applicable, data availability and any use of AI tools.
- Cover letter
- States the article type and the relevance of the work to wild animals and their habitats, confirms that the manuscript is not under consideration elsewhere, and notes any preprint and any request for double-blind review.
- Language
- Clear English, with abbreviations defined at first use.
Reporting guidelines
Report the study following the guideline that matches its design and upload the completed checklist as a supplementary file, where applicable. The guidelines are available from the EQUATOR Network.
| Study design | Guideline |
|---|---|
| Animal research | ARRIVE 2.0 |
| Observational studies | STROBE |
| Systematic reviews and meta-analyses | PRISMA 2020 |
| Scoping reviews | PRISMA-ScR |
| Review protocols | PRISMA-P |
| Qualitative research | SRQR or COREQ |
| Occurrence and biodiversity data | Darwin Core is recommended |
References, tables and figures
- Reference style
- Numbered in order of first citation. List the first five authors, then et al., and give a DOI or stable URL where one exists. Authors are responsible for the accuracy of references.
- Tables
- Numbered consecutively, each with a descriptive title; abbreviations and symbols explained in a footnote.
- Figures
- High resolution (at least 300 dpi) in TIFF, EPS, PNG or high-quality JPEG, with a caption for each figure and text that remains legible after reduction. Maps state their data sources, scale and coordinate system.
- Supplementary files
- Numbered (for example, Supplementary Table S1), cited in the text and listed with short titles at the end of the manuscript. They are published as supplied, so they must be final.
- Reused material
- Written permission from the copyright holder to reproduce or adapt published figures, tables or text, unless the material is already available under a license that permits reuse; the source is cited in the legend.
Reference examples
- Journal article
- Author AA, Author BB, Author CC, Author DD, Author EE, et al. (Year) Title of the article. Journal Name. Volume(Issue):pages. DOI: 10.xxxx/xxxxx
- Book
- Author AA, Author BB (Year) Title of the Book. Edition. Place of publication: Publisher.
- Report or webpage
- Organization Name (Year) Title of the report or page. URL (accessed Month Day, Year)
- Dataset
- Author AA, Author BB (Year) Title of the dataset. Version. Repository Name. DOI or accession number
- Preprint
- Author AA, Author BB (Year) Title of the preprint. Preprint Server Name [Preprint]. DOI: 10.xxxx/xxxxx
- Trial registration
- Sponsor or Principal Investigator (Year) Title of the trial. Registry Name. Registration number. Registered Month Day, Year. URL
Ethics and declarations
Each manuscript includes the statements below that apply to it. The full policies are set out in the Editorial Policies.
Animal research
Approval from the relevant animal care and use committee or animal ethics committee with its reference number where animals were captured, handled or sampled, compliance with animal-welfare regulations and the 3Rs, and reporting in line with the ARRIVE guidelines, where applicable. Observational field studies state whether ethics review was required.
Permits
Research, collection, export and access permits, with issuing authority and reference where applicable, and compliance with regulations on protected species and specimen transport, such as CITES, where applicable.
Human participants
The name of the approving ethics committee or institutional review board and the approval reference number, and confirmation of informed consent, or a waiver documented by the ethics committee, where applicable.
Conflicts of interest and funding
All financial and non-financial interests of every author, each source of funding and the role of the funder.
Data availability
Every empirical research manuscript must include a data-availability statement. It explains where the data can be found or the conditions for access. Locations of vulnerable species may be generalized.
Use of AI tools
Any use of AI tools in writing, analysis or figure preparation, with the tool named and its use described. AI tools are not listed as authors.
Peer review and decisions
All submissions undergo initial editorial screening. Manuscripts that meet the journal's scope and minimum requirements proceed to independent peer review. Submitted manuscripts include a similarity check with Crossref Similarity Check.
Single-blind by default; double-blind review is available on request.
Manuscripts that proceed to external peer review are normally evaluated by at least two independent subject-matter experts. Editorial decisions are based on scope, scientific quality, methodological rigor, ethical compliance, reporting quality, and relevance to the journal.
Revised manuscripts are accompanied by a point-by-point response to the reviewers' comments. After acceptance, authors check the proofs, and the article is published open access under CC BY 4.0 with a DOI.
Fees
The article processing charge is USD 1,440 for all article types.
The article processing charge is payable only after acceptance; withdrawal after submission is subject to the journal's withdrawal policy.
No charge is made at submission. Fee-relief requests are considered case by case; contact the editorial office. Full details are on the Article Processing Charges page.
Final checklist
A fuller checklist and the submission routes are on the Submit Manuscript page.
- The manuscript addresses a question about wild animals or their habitats and uses one of the article types above.
- The title page, abstract, keywords and main text follow the guidance for the article type.
- For double-blind review, the reviewer manuscript is anonymized and identifying information is in the title-page file.
- Ethics approval, permits, consent or waiver, and trial registration are reported where applicable.
- The completed reporting checklist is attached where applicable.
- Declarations cover contributions, funding, conflicts of interest, data availability and AI use.
- Figures, tables and supplementary files are cited in the text, and permissions are in place for reused material.
- A cover letter accompanies the submission, which is made through one route only.
Author inquiries
Questions about preparing or submitting a manuscript can be sent to the editorial office at [email protected].