Journal profile · Evolutionary Biology
Biochemical Systematics and Ecology
ISSN 0305-1978 · eISSN 1873-2925 · Elsevier Ltd · ENGLAND · Bimonthly · Founded 1974
Biochemical Systematics and Ecology: CAS Zone 4 · Biology (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 2.14; hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,500; review about 90 days (submission to acceptance, publisher); 216 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Biochemical Systematics and Ecology is published by Elsevier Ltd and is in Zone 4 of Biology in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Phytochemistry and Biological Activities, Natural product bioactivities and synthesis and Genetic diversity and population structure, together about 33.8% of its articles. Its main subfields are Molecular Biology. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Biochemical Systematics and Ecology is devoted to the publication of original papers and reviews, both submitted and invited, in two subject areas: I) the application of biochemistry to problems relating to systematic biology of organisms (biochemical systematics); II) the role of biochemistry in interactions between organisms or between an organism and its environment (biochemical ecology).In the Biochemical Systematics subject area, comparative studies of the distribution of (secondary) metabolites within a wider taxon (e.g., genus or family) are welcome. Comparative studies, encompassing multiple accessions of each of the taxa within their distribution are particularly encouraged. Welcome are also studies combining classical chemophenetic studies (such as comparative HPLC-MS or GC-MS investigations) with (macro-) molecular phylogenetic studies. Studies that involve the comparative use of compounds to help differentiate among species such as adulterants or substitutes that illustrate the applied use of chemophenetics are welcome. In contrast, studies solely employing macromolecular phylogenetic techniques (gene sequences, RAPD studies etc.) will be considered out of scope. Discouraged are manuscripts that report known or new compounds from a single source taxon without addressing a systematic hypothesis. Also considered out of scope are studies using outdated and hard to reproduce macromolecular techniques such as RAPDs in combination with standard chemophenetic techniques such as GC-FID and GC-MS.In the Biochemical Ecology subject area, studies addressing the role compounds play in the ecology of the organisms producing them are invited. Moreover, manuscripts that address hypothesis associated with the influence of factors such as altitude, geography, and seasonal variation on the expression of primary and secondary metabolites are encouraged. Research papers should generally represent a complete investigation and not preliminary data. Preliminary reports will only be considered where findings are of sufficient interest to justify rapid publication. New Source Reports will only be considered in cases where a significant chemophenetic or ecological finding is reported. New Source Reports have to be written in a standard format (Example).
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Evolutionary Biology
Editorial board by country: 5 in mainland China (about 21%); most named Mainland China 5, United Kingdom 5, Italy 5, Germany 2, Türkiye 2 (24 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Phytochemistry and Biological ActivitiesAgricultural and Biological Sciences14.2%
- Natural product bioactivities and synthesisBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology12.3%
- Genetic diversity and population structureBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology7.4%
- Essential Oils and Antimicrobial ActivityAgricultural and Biological Sciences6.5%
- Sesquiterpenes and Asteraceae StudiesBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology6%
- Plant and animal studiesAgricultural and Biological Sciences5.9%
- Plant biochemistry and biosynthesisBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology4.3%
- Plant Diversity and EvolutionAgricultural and Biological Sciences4%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Biology Zone 4
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Biology | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Ecology | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Evolutionary Biology | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Biology Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Biology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Ecology | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Evolutionary Biology | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Biology Zone 4
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Biology | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Ecology | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Evolutionary Biology | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 2.14LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 2.2Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 3.8LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 3.8Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.36LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 0.71LetPub ·
- h-index
- 61LetPub ·
- h-index
- 108OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 3,764OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 1.75OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 13.6%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 11.81%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 209LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 6,963 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 129 | 35 | 27 |
| 2025 | 216 | 33 | 318 |
| 2024 | 131 | 24 | 488 |
| 2023 | 150 | 14 | 1,107 |
| 2022 | 164 | 14 | 1,204 |
| 2021 | 128 | 14 | 969 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Publisher-reported review time from the journal's website
90 dayssubmission to acceptance · community reports about 3.8 months
The publisher's own definition applies; dates from this journal's articles in the last 24 months are not available yet, so the publisher's figure is used.
Figures by source
- Average review time (community reports)
- about 3.8 monthsLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- 50%LetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 6 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 32 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 90 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 6 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Single anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 3,500 / EUR 3,270 / GBP 2,800 / JPY 434,110 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 3,920 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
What to prepare4 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
- Keywords
- 1–7
- Reference style
- Author–date
- Highlights
- Required
Article types accepted6
- new source reportsContributions will be accepted in English as Reviews, Research Papers or New Source Reports.Length not stated
- research paperContributions will be accepted in English as Reviews, Research Papers or New Source Reports. Reviews which survey important and developing areas of biochemical …Length not stated
- research papersContributions will be accepted in English as Reviews, Research Papers or New Source Reports.Length not stated
- reviewContributions will be accepted in English as Reviews, Research Papers or New Source Reports. Reviews which survey important and developing areas of biochemical …Length not stated
- reviewsContributions will be accepted in English as Reviews, Research Papers or New Source Reports.Length not stated
- surveyContributions will be accepted in English as Reviews, Research Papers or New Source Reports. Reviews which survey important and developing areas of biochemical …Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Publication ethics, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Preprints
- AI use Declaration of generative AI use
Authors must declare the use of generative AI tools in the manuscript preparation process upon submission of the paper.Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies (“AI tools”) have been rapidly adopted in research and scholarly publishing, offering significant benefits while requiring clear standards for responsible and transparent use.Authors preparing a manuscript for this journal may use AI tool…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Group authorship
Group authorship refers to the attribution of an article to a defined and named group of authors whose members have contributed to the work. Examples include research consortia, clinical trial groups, collaborative networks, task forces or working groups, expert panels or consensus groups, and participatory research groups. Group authorship must be declared on the title page at submission. When av…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Declaration of competing interests
All authors must disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence or bias their work. Examples of potential competing interests include:EmploymentConsultanciesStock ownershipHonorariaPaid expert testimonyPatent applications or registrationsGrants or any other fundingAffiliation with the journal as an Editor or Advisory Board …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Publication ethics
Elsevier's Publishing Ethics Policy Model summary
Authors must follow ethical guidelines stated in Elsevier's Publishing Ethics Policy.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright License options
Authors will be offered open access user license options which will determine how you, and third parties, can reuse your open access article. We advise that you review these options and any funding body license requirements before selecting a license option.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access
open access options available Model summary
We refer you to our open access information page to learn about open access options for this journal.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Peer review
single anonymized review process Model summary
This journal follows a single anonymized review process. Your submission will initially be assessed by our editors. If your submission is deemed suitable, it will typically be sent to be reviewed by a minimum of two reviewers for an independent expert assessment of the scientific quality. The decision as to whether your article is accepted or rejected for publication will be made by our editors.Re…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Preprints Preprints
preprint sharing allowed Model summary
Preprint sharingAuthors may share preprints in line with Elsevier's article sharing policy. Sharing preprints, such as on a preprint server, will not count as prior publication.We advise you to read our policy on multiple, redundant or concurrent publication. In support of Open Science, this journal offers its authors a free preprint posting service on SSRN, Elsevier’s preprint and early research …
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- Country or region
- ENGLAND
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Bimonthly
- Founded
- 1974
- ISSN
- 0305-1978
- Electronic ISSN
- 1873-2925
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Biochemical Systematics and Ecology
What CAS zone is Biochemical Systematics and Ecology in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Biochemical Systematics and Ecology is in Zone 4 of Biology, and in Zone 4 of the minor category Biochemistry & Molecular Biology / Ecology / Evolutionary Biology. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 3 of Biology. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Biochemical Systematics and Ecology?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 2.14; CiteScore 3.8, h-index 108.
How long does peer review take at Biochemical Systematics and Ecology?
The publisher reports about 90 days (submission to acceptance); authors report an average review time of about 3.8 months. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of Biochemical Systematics and Ecology?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 250 words; Keywords: 1–7; Reference style: Author–date; Highlights: Required. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of Biochemical Systematics and Ecology based?
Of the 24 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 5 (about 21%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are Mainland China (5), United Kingdom (5) and Italy (5). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Biochemical Systematics and Ecology?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Biochemical Systematics and Ecology is indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Is Biochemical Systematics and Ecology open access, and what is the APC?
Biochemical Systematics and Ecology is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,500.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, Publisher website, OpenAlex; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-25). Last updated: .