JES provides reviewers with tools and guidance to support efficient, high quality reviews. Resources focus on evaluating evolutionary methods, data transparency, and theory relevance.

• Verify that study design is described clearly
• Check that sampling and taxon choices align with objectives
• Assess whether data and code access statements are complete
• Recommend clarifications for evolutionary interpretation

Reviewers can contact the editorial office for clarification on review criteria or conflicts. Email [email protected] for assistance.

• 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.
• Comment on clarity of trait measurements and data coding.
• Review whether ethical approvals match the described sampling.
• Check adherence to data sharing and repository requirements.
• Ensure that key abbreviations are defined and used consistently.

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.