Reviewer Guidelines
Guidance for reviewers assessing evolutionary manuscripts.
Journal at a Glance
ISSN: 2689-4602
DOI Prefix: 10.14302/issn.2689-4602
License: CC BY 4.0
Peer reviewed open access journal
Scope Alignment
Evolutionary biology, phylogenetics, population genetics, macroevolution, molecular evolution, evolutionary ecology, paleobiology, evo-devo, comparative genomics, and biodiversity science. We prioritize mechanistic insight and robust comparative methods.
Publishing Model
Open access, single blind peer review, and rapid publication after acceptance and production checks. Metadata validation, DOI registration, and data transparency support are included.
JES reviewers evaluate methodological rigor, data transparency, and evolutionary relevance in submissions. Reviews should be constructive, evidence based, and focused on improving the manuscript.
- Clear research question and scope alignment
- Transparent sampling and analytical methods
- Appropriate analytical methods and validation
- Interpretation aligned with evolutionary outcomes
- Reproducibility and data sharing considerations
Assess Scope
Confirm alignment with evolutionary focus.
Evaluate Methods
Check phylogenetic protocols and validation.
Review Results
Assess clarity, significance, and limitations.
Provide Feedback
Offer actionable, respectful guidance.
- Maintain confidentiality of manuscripts
- Declare conflicts of interest
- Report ethical or data integrity concerns
- Avoid using unpublished data for personal gain
How long should a review take?
Most reviews are expected within 2 to 3 weeks.
Can I decline a review?
Yes. Inform the editor promptly so alternatives can be found.
What if data are missing?
Recommend revisions or request clarifications.
- Assess clarity of evolutionary questions and hypotheses.
- Verify methodological rigor and appropriate statistical analysis.
- Check adherence to reporting guidelines for evolutionary studies.
- Comment on theoretical contribution and field relevance.
- Review data availability and reproducibility statements.
- Confirm ethical approvals and field permits.
- Provide constructive feedback and prioritize major issues.
- Indicate whether revisions can be addressed within the stated timeline.
- Check that sampling methods and taxon coverage are clearly defined.
- Assess whether model assumptions are reported and justified.
- Evaluate whether conclusions overstate evolutionary implications.
- Check consistency between tables, figures, and text.
- Assess whether calibration points and priors are described clearly.
- Check that comparative methods match study design.
- Evaluate statistical reporting of effect sizes and confidence intervals.
- Confirm data limitations and missing data handling are disclosed.
- Assess whether results generalize to related taxa or regions.
- Verify that specimen provenance is documented where required.
JES is committed to rigorous, transparent publishing in evolutionary science. We emphasize reproducible phylogenetic and population genetic analyses, clear reporting of model assumptions, and ethical compliance in field and laboratory research.
The editorial office supports authors, editors, and reviewers with clear guidance and responsive communication. For questions about scope or workflow, contact [email protected].
We encourage open data, code sharing, and careful documentation of specimens and sequences to support replication and long-term reuse across the evolutionary biology community.
Become a Reviewer
Support rigorous evolutionary research through peer review.