Journal of Applied Ecology

Contents

Journal of Applied Ecology is a peer-reviewed scientific journal published by the British Ecological Society focusing on applied research in conservation biology, restoration ecology, invasive species, wildlife management, and agricultural ecology. The journal publishes research articles, reviews, and policy-relevant syntheses that inform practice in contexts such as National Parks, Ramsar Convention, European Union environmental policy, United Nations Environment Programme, and management by organizations like World Wildlife Fund and International Union for Conservation of Nature.

History

The journal was established in 1964 under the auspices of the British Ecological Society, contemporaneous with developments at institutions such as the Natural Environment Research Council and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, and during policy debates including the Rivers Pollution Prevention Act era and the rise of Rachel Carson-era environmentalism. Early editorial leadership drew contributors associated with universities such as University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, University of Edinburgh, Imperial College London, and research institutes like the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology and the Smithsonian Institution. Throughout its history the journal has reflected shifts prompted by international agreements including the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Kyoto Protocol, and by events such as the establishment of World Heritage Sites and the growth of agri-environment schemes in the European Commission.

The journal's remit covers applied studies relevant to managers at bodies such as Natural England, Forestry Commission, Environment Agency (England), and agencies in jurisdictions like the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and the Australian Department of Agriculture. Topics encompass field experiments conducted in landscapes managed by entities such as the National Trust (United Kingdom), work on species including Apis mellifera, Anas platyrhynchos, Vulpes vulpes, Corvus corax, and habitats from peatlands to Mediterranean Basin scrub. Editorial policy emphasizes methodological rigor comparable to standards at journals like Nature Ecology & Evolution, Conservation Biology, Ecological Applications, and Journal of Ecology, and aligns with research-data mandates endorsed by organizations such as the Wellcome Trust and the Research Councils UK.

The journal is indexed in major bibliographic databases used by institutions including the British Library, Library of Congress, National Library of Australia, and indexing services such as Web of Science, Scopus, BIOSIS Previews, CAB Abstracts, and Zoological Record. Citations are tracked alongside publications from journals like Science, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Ecology Letters, and Global Change Biology by systems maintained by Clarivate, Elsevier, and the Institute for Scientific Information.

The journal's impact factor and influence are often discussed in contexts alongside awards and recognitions like the Darwin Medal, Zayed International Prize for the Environment, and fellowships awarded by the Royal Society. Its articles have informed policy decisions by bodies including the European Court of Justice in environmental cases, guidance from the Food and Agriculture Organization, and management plans used by BirdLife International and The Nature Conservancy. Citation analyses compare its performance to outlets such as Ambio and Biological Conservation, and it is routinely cited in synthesis reports authored by groups like the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services and assessments for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Influential contributions have addressed topics relevant to signatories of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, case studies from regions including the Amazon Basin, Great Barrier Reef, Congo Basin, and Mediterranean Sea, and applied methods used in projects supported by the European Research Council and the National Science Foundation (United States). Notable articles have influenced restoration projects at sites managed by English Heritage, species recovery plans adopted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and invasive-species responses coordinated by the International Maritime Organization and regional bodies like the African Union.

The editorial board comprises academics and practitioners affiliated with universities such as University of California, Davis, University of British Columbia, Wageningen University, Monash University, and governmental and non-governmental organizations including the British Antarctic Survey, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Scottish Natural Heritage, and Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. The peer-review workflow follows standards comparable to those at publishers like Wiley-Blackwell and involves editorial handling, anonymous peer review, revision, and final decision, with production and dissemination coordinated by the British Ecological Society and commercial partners.

Category:Ecology journals Category:Academic journals established in 1964