Marine Ecology Progress Series

Marine Ecology Progress Series
Title	Marine Ecology Progress Series
Discipline	Marine ecology
Abbreviation	MEPS
Publisher	Inter-Research Science Center
Country	Germany
Frequency	Biweekly
History	1979–present
Issn	0171-8630

Marine Ecology Progress Series

Marine Ecology Progress Series is a peer-reviewed scientific journal covering marine biology, oceanography, and related fields. Established in 1979, it publishes original research, reviews, and syntheses addressing ecological processes in marine and coastal systems. The journal serves as a venue for researchers affiliated with institutions such as the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, CSIRO, and the University of Tokyo to disseminate findings relevant to conservation, fisheries, and biogeochemical cycling.

History

The journal was founded in 1979 by Helmut Hopkins and staff at the Inter-Research Science Center, during a period marked by expansion in marine research tied to programs like United Nations Environment Programme initiatives and the rise of large-scale expeditions such as the International Indian Ocean Expedition. Early editorial leadership included researchers connected to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Max Planck Society, and the University of British Columbia. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s MEPS published studies linked to events and programs like the International Whaling Commission debates, the Exclusive Economic Zone negotiations, and the development of coastal monitoring under the European Union's marine directives. In the 21st century the journal adapted to digital distribution alongside platforms used by Smithsonian Institution and Royal Society publishers, and it has reflected shifts prompted by conferences such as the International Coral Reef Symposium and policy frameworks like the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Scope and Topics

The journal covers empirical and theoretical studies on topics including trophic dynamics, community structure, population ecology, and ecosystem processes in pelagic, benthic, and estuarine environments. Contributions often intersect with research from centers like Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, and programs such as the Global Ocean Observing System and the Census of Marine Life. Thematic areas encompass primary production studies connected to work by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography researchers, larval dispersal research informed by collaborations with the Australian Institute of Marine Science, and fisheries-related ecology relevant to the Food and Agriculture Organization analyses. Topics also include anthropogenic impacts, linking to studies from the International Panel on Climate Change and assessments by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.

Publication and Editorial Practices

Articles undergo peer review coordinated by editors and editorial boards drawn from universities and agencies such as University of California, Santa Barbara, University of Southampton, Plymouth University, Zoological Society of London, and national laboratories including US Geological Survey. The publisher, Inter-Research Science Center, manages production and distribution, and the journal has historically offered both print and electronic formats similar to those adopted by Nature Publishing Group and Science (journal). Editorial policies emphasize data transparency, with many authors associated with repositories like the PANGAEA data publisher and collaborative networks such as the Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Special issues have been guest-edited by scientists from organizations including the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and the Alfred Wegener Institute.

Impact and Reception

The journal is widely cited across literature produced at institutions such as Stanford University, Yale University, University of Washington, and McGill University, and its articles have informed management at agencies like the National Marine Fisheries Service and the European Commission. MEPS papers have contributed to assessments by bodies including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The reception among scholars has been reflected in citation metrics used by Clarivate Analytics and indexing in services provided by Scopus and PubMed Central. Debates published within the journal have intersected with policy discussions in forums such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and national advisory panels.

Notable Articles and Special Issues

Notable contributions include foundational studies on food-web structure by researchers affiliated with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and classic benthic production syntheses involving teams from University of Liverpool and University of Bergen. Special issues have gathered papers from symposia at events like the International Coral Reef Symposium, workshops hosted by the North Pacific Marine Science Organization, and collaborative projects tied to the Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics program. Guest editors have come from institutions including the Marine Biological Laboratory, University of Hawaii, and the National Institute of Oceanography (Portugal).

Abstracting and Indexing

The journal is abstracted and indexed in major services such as Science Citation Index, Scopus, BIOSIS Previews, Zoological Record, and AGRIS. It is discoverable through academic aggregators used by libraries at Harvard University, University of Oxford, and National Taiwan University, and it appears in databases curated by organizations like EBSCO and ProQuest.

Category:Academic journals Category:Marine ecology