Journal of Mammalogy

Journal of Mammalogy
Title	Journal of Mammalogy
Discipline	Mammalogy
Abbreviation	J. Mammal.
Publisher	American Society of Mammalogists
History	1919–present
Frequency	Bimonthly

Journal of Mammalogy is a peer-reviewed scientific journal published by the American Society of Mammalogists covering research on the biology, ecology, behavior, systematics, and conservation of mammals. Founded in the early 20th century, the journal has published original research, reviews, and notes that have influenced studies across North America, South America, Africa, Eurasia, and Oceania. It serves as a primary outlet for work by researchers affiliated with institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution, University of California, University of Chicago, and University of Oxford.

History

The journal was established in 1919 amid growth in natural history and taxonomic work associated with institutions including the American Museum of Natural History, Field Museum of Natural History, and the United States National Museum. Early editors and contributors included figures connected to the Smithsonian Institution, Harvard University, Yale University, and the University of Michigan. Over the decades it documented faunal surveys tied to expeditions such as those by the Smithsonian–Roosevelt African Expedition, and regional programs connected to the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The journal's trajectory intersected with shifts in ecology and conservation influenced by events and policies like the Dust Bowl, the rise of the Ecological Society of America, and international agreements such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Editorial reforms in the late 20th and early 21st centuries mirrored changes at organizations like the National Science Foundation and publishing practices adopted by presses including Oxford University Press and Cambridge University Press.

Scope and Content

The journal publishes manuscripts addressing mammalian taxonomy, systematics, morphology, physiology, behavior, population dynamics, biogeography, and conservation biology. Typical content draws on datasets and fieldwork connected to sites such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the Amazon Rainforest, the Serengeti, the Congo Basin, and island systems like Galápagos Islands and Hawaii. Contributors are often based at universities and research centers such as Cornell University, University of Florida, Harvard University, Princeton University, University of Toronto, University of São Paulo, University of Cape Town, and Australian National University. The journal also publishes taxonomic monographs and regional reviews that inform conservation policy in contexts linked to agencies including the International Union for Conservation of Nature, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and the European Commission.

Editorial Structure and Peer Review

The editorial office is overseen by an Editor-in-Chief and an editorial board drawn from scholars at institutions such as Stanford University, University of California, Berkeley, University of Washington, and Duke University. Peer review is double-blind or single-blind depending on departmental policies and follows standards similar to those recommended by organizations including the Committee on Publication Ethics and practices used by journals such as Science and Nature. Manuscripts undergo statistical and methodological checks referencing guidelines used by bodies like the Society for Conservation Biology and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Editorial decisions have historically involved associate editors with expertise tying into projects funded by agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, and regional programs like the Australian Research Council.

Abstracting and Indexing

The journal is indexed in major bibliographic services and citation databases comparable to those maintained by Clarivate Analytics, Scopus (Elsevier), PubMed (National Library of Medicine), and Web of Science. Its content is discoverable through library platforms used by institutions such as the Library of Congress, the Bodleian Libraries, Harvard Library, and consortia like JSTOR and Project MUSE. Abstracting services and taxonomic registries that cite the journal include databases associated with the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, the Integrated Taxonomic Information System, and regional inventories curated by organizations such as NatureServe.

Impact and Reception

The journal's influence is reflected in citation metrics and in its role in shaping mammalogy curricula at universities including Michigan State University, Texas A&M University, University of British Columbia, and University of Melbourne. Landmark papers have informed conservation measures implemented by bodies such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature and regional conservation frameworks in the European Union and the United States. Reviews and editorials in the journal have engaged with debates prominent at meetings of societies like the Society for Conservation Biology, the Ecological Society of America, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Notable Articles and Contributions

The journal has published influential taxonomic revisions, range extensions, ecological syntheses, and methodological advances that have been cited in works by authors affiliated with institutions such as Princeton University, Yale University, Columbia University, University of Chicago, Brown University, University of California, Davis, University of Arizona, and University of Edinburgh. Papers from the journal have contributed to species assessments cited by the IUCN Red List, informed landmark conservation cases before the U.S. Supreme Court involving habitat and species protection, and provided baseline data for long-term projects at sites like the Long-Term Ecological Research Network.

Publication Details and Access

Published bimonthly by the American Society of Mammalogists, the journal issues include original research articles, brief communications, review articles, and occasional special issues collated around symposia held at meetings such as the Society's annual meetings and international congresses like the International Mammalogical Congress. Libraries and subscribers access content through platforms used by major academic publishers and consortia including holdings at the Library of Congress, university libraries such as Harvard University Library and University of California Libraries, and digital archives maintained by organizations like JSTOR and national repositories.

Category:Mammalogy journals