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Ecological modelling — A review of editorial policy
Ecological Modelling, 11 (1980) 79--80
79
Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, Amsterdam -- Printed in The Netherlands Editorial
ECOLOGICAL MODELLING -- A REVIEW OF E D I T O R I A L POLICY SVEN ERIK JORGENSEN
Ecological Modelling is still receiving an overwhelming n u m b e r of good quality papers, with the result that, in 1981, four volumes (Vols. 11--14) will be published. This success, however, raises a n u m b e r of questions, such as w h e t h e r the editorial policy is correct, or w h e t h e r we m a y assume it is correct, if so m a n y quality papers are received, and w het her the area covered b y the journal is t o o wide? These and ot her questions have been discussed b y memb er s o f the Editorial Board, but it has been difficult to arrive at any general conclusion. However, I have a t t e m p t e d t o ascertain the average conclusion, which is t o reaffirm the present editorial policy. It is our i nt ent i on to publish papers which m a y be of value to those who are building ecological models for environmental management, or to ecologists who m a y be using models as a powerful t ool in their research. It is hardly possible t o distinguish b e t w e e n papers of interest t o either group individually, hence it is our h o p e th at all ecological modellers will find something of interest in m ost o f t h e papers published in the journal. It has been, and remains, the editorial policy t o limit acceptance o f papers to those which contain new models or m ode l c o m p o n e n t s , preferably with data which d e m o n s t r a t e the validity of the models. Papers presenting models w i t h o u t co r r o b o r at i ve data will only be accepted if t h e y can be considered t o be o f outstanding interest t o o t h e r modellers. More theoretical papers dealing with new approaches are very welcome, e.g. those which examine stability using new mathematical techniques, but such papers should always d e m o n s t r a t e the applicability of the approach to ecological modelling. Case studies are o f t e n valuable, despite being based on previously published models, and are t h e r e f o r e acceptable provided t hat the practical experience gained f r o m the case study is clearly presented. However, we would prefer to reserve such papers for the ISEM journal, since this also includes reviews of reports, which o f t e n d e m o n s t r a t e the practical use of models in c o n n e c t i o n with specific case studies. It has been decided to include an EDB literature review service in the ISEM journal as f r o m 1 January 1980. This should allow scientists and engineers in the field of ecological modelling and systems analysis, as applied to environmental and ecological problems, to obtain almost all literature relevant t o their w or k t h rough the t w o journals. We should like to summarise this review with r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s to authors o f papers in ten d e d for submission t o Ecological Modelling: (1) Case studies applying to models, or slightly modified models, already published, should be s ubm i t t ed t o the ISEM journal. 0304-3800/80/0000--0000/$02.25 © 1980 Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company
80 (2) Since it is important to validate models with data from the literature, or with original data, such corroborative material should always be included, preferably in the form of tables or figures. (3) Papers on new approaches, techniques and systems analysis t h e o r y should always include a discussion on their applicability to ecological modelling, preferably including specific examples of what ecological modelling can gain from them in practice. (4) Models should always be clearly and fully explained, e.g. by the inclusion of equations (but not computer programs) and flow diagrams. Ecological Modelling -- y o u r journal -- looks forward to publishing many more interesting, scientifically sound and well-documented papers in the coming decade. SVEN ERIK J(~RGENSEN (EDITOR IN CHIEF) (Copenhagen, D e n m a r k )
79
Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, Amsterdam -- Printed in The Netherlands Editorial
ECOLOGICAL MODELLING -- A REVIEW OF E D I T O R I A L POLICY SVEN ERIK JORGENSEN
Ecological Modelling is still receiving an overwhelming n u m b e r of good quality papers, with the result that, in 1981, four volumes (Vols. 11--14) will be published. This success, however, raises a n u m b e r of questions, such as w h e t h e r the editorial policy is correct, or w h e t h e r we m a y assume it is correct, if so m a n y quality papers are received, and w het her the area covered b y the journal is t o o wide? These and ot her questions have been discussed b y memb er s o f the Editorial Board, but it has been difficult to arrive at any general conclusion. However, I have a t t e m p t e d t o ascertain the average conclusion, which is t o reaffirm the present editorial policy. It is our i nt ent i on to publish papers which m a y be of value to those who are building ecological models for environmental management, or to ecologists who m a y be using models as a powerful t ool in their research. It is hardly possible t o distinguish b e t w e e n papers of interest t o either group individually, hence it is our h o p e th at all ecological modellers will find something of interest in m ost o f t h e papers published in the journal. It has been, and remains, the editorial policy t o limit acceptance o f papers to those which contain new models or m ode l c o m p o n e n t s , preferably with data which d e m o n s t r a t e the validity of the models. Papers presenting models w i t h o u t co r r o b o r at i ve data will only be accepted if t h e y can be considered t o be o f outstanding interest t o o t h e r modellers. More theoretical papers dealing with new approaches are very welcome, e.g. those which examine stability using new mathematical techniques, but such papers should always d e m o n s t r a t e the applicability of the approach to ecological modelling. Case studies are o f t e n valuable, despite being based on previously published models, and are t h e r e f o r e acceptable provided t hat the practical experience gained f r o m the case study is clearly presented. However, we would prefer to reserve such papers for the ISEM journal, since this also includes reviews of reports, which o f t e n d e m o n s t r a t e the practical use of models in c o n n e c t i o n with specific case studies. It has been decided to include an EDB literature review service in the ISEM journal as f r o m 1 January 1980. This should allow scientists and engineers in the field of ecological modelling and systems analysis, as applied to environmental and ecological problems, to obtain almost all literature relevant t o their w or k t h rough the t w o journals. We should like to summarise this review with r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s to authors o f papers in ten d e d for submission t o Ecological Modelling: (1) Case studies applying to models, or slightly modified models, already published, should be s ubm i t t ed t o the ISEM journal. 0304-3800/80/0000--0000/$02.25 © 1980 Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company
80 (2) Since it is important to validate models with data from the literature, or with original data, such corroborative material should always be included, preferably in the form of tables or figures. (3) Papers on new approaches, techniques and systems analysis t h e o r y should always include a discussion on their applicability to ecological modelling, preferably including specific examples of what ecological modelling can gain from them in practice. (4) Models should always be clearly and fully explained, e.g. by the inclusion of equations (but not computer programs) and flow diagrams. Ecological Modelling -- y o u r journal -- looks forward to publishing many more interesting, scientifically sound and well-documented papers in the coming decade. SVEN ERIK J(~RGENSEN (EDITOR IN CHIEF) (Copenhagen, D e n m a r k )