Journal profile · Ecology
Ecological Complexity
ISSN 1476-945X · eISSN 1476-9840 · Elsevier · NETHERLANDS · Quarterly · Founded 2004
Ecological Complexity: CAS Zone 3 · Environmental Science & Ecology (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 1.76; hybrid open access; APC about USD 2,990; review about 262 days (submission to acceptance, publisher); community-reported acceptance: fairly easy; 16 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Ecological Complexity is published by Elsevier and is in Zone 3 of Environmental Science & Ecology in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies, Mathematical and Theoretical Epidemiology and Ecology Models and Evolution and Genetic Dynamics, together about 33.2% of its articles. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
An International Journal on Biocomplexity in the Environment and Theoretical EcologyEcological Complexity is an international journal devoted to publishing high-quality, peer-reviewed articles on the complex nature of ecological systems, observed and theoretical and special issues on related and emerging topics. In addition to ecological questions, the journal welcomes papers that ask ecological questions by linking natural and social processes at various spatio-temporal scales.Ecological Complexity will publish research into the following areas: • Ecosystems and the biosphere as complex adaptive systems • Self-organization of spatially extended ecosystems • Emergent properties and structures of complex ecosystems • Ecological pattern formation in space and time • The role of biophysical constraints and evolutionary attractors on species assemblages • Ecological scaling (scale invariance, scale covariance and dynamics across scales), allometry, and hierarchy theory • Ecological topology and networks • Studies towards an ecology of complex systems • Approaches to complex systems for the study of dynamic human-environment interactions • Using knowledge of nonlinear phenomena to better guide policy development for adaptation strategies and mitigation to environmental change • New tools and methods for studying ecological complexityThe papers that should appear in this journal are characterized by: • Biocomplexity related to the environment and vice versa • Inter disciplinarity (e.g. biology, ecology, environmental science, mathematics, modelling) • Integration of natural and social processes (esp. over time)
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Ecology
Editor-in-chief Jurek KolasaPublisher website
Editorial board by country: none in mainland China; most named United States 7, United Kingdom 7, Canada 7, France 2, Spain 2 (33 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics StudiesEnvironmental Science11.3%
- Mathematical and Theoretical Epidemiology and Ecology ModelsMedicine11.2%
- Evolution and Genetic DynamicsBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology10.7%
- Ecosystem dynamics and resilienceEnvironmental Science8.3%
- Plant and animal studiesAgricultural and Biological Sciences7.5%
- Evolutionary Game Theory and CooperationSocial Sciences7.3%
- Land Use and Ecosystem ServicesEnvironmental Science6.1%
- Animal Ecology and Behavior StudiesEnvironmental Science4.6%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Environmental Science & Ecology Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Environmental Science & Ecology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Ecology | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Environmental Science & Ecology Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Environmental Science & Ecology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Ecology | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Environmental Science & Ecology Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Environmental Science & Ecology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Ecology | 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
- 1.76LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 1.9Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 6.3LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 6.3Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.54LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 0.97LetPub ·
- h-index
- 50LetPub ·
- h-index
- 82OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 653OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 1.71OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 0%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 31.71%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 12LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 1,066 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 20 | 8 | 5 |
| 2025 | 16 | 6 | 22 |
| 2024 | 22 | 12 | 72 |
| 2023 | 16 | 3 | 114 |
| 2022 | 31 | 10 | 262 |
| 2021 | 48 | 11 | 800 |
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
262 dayssubmission to acceptance · community reports over 24 weeks
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)
- over 24 weeksLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- Fairly easyLetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 64 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 196 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 262 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 14 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 2,990 / EUR 2,800 / GBP 2,390 / JPY 370,850 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 3,370 | — | — |
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)
Open calls for papers2, by deadline
Publisher websiteWhat to prepare6 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
- Keywords
- 1–7
- Suggested reviewers
- Optional
- Highlights
- Required
- Graphical abstract
- Optional
- Cover letter
- Required
Article types accepted7
- book reviewsOriginal research papers and case studies, Review articles, Special themes issues, Short notes, Viewpoint articles, Letters to the Editor, and Book ReviewsLength not stated
- letters to the editorOriginal research papers and case studies, Review articles, Special themes issues, Short notes, Viewpoint articles, Letters to the Editor, and Book ReviewsLength not stated
- original research papers and case studiesOriginal research papers and case studies, Review articles, Special themes issues, Short notes, Viewpoint articles, Letters to the Editor, and Book ReviewsLength not stated
- review articlesOriginal research papers and case studies, Review articles, Special themes issues, Short notes, Viewpoint articles, Letters to the Editor, and Book ReviewsLength not stated
- short notesOriginal research papers and case studies, Review articles, Special themes issues, Short notes, Viewpoint articles, Letters to the Editor, and Book ReviewsLength not stated
- special themes issuesOriginal research papers and case studies, Review articles, Special themes issues, Short notes, Viewpoint articles, Letters to the Editor, and Book ReviewsLength not stated
- viewpoint articlesOriginal research papers and case studies, Review articles, Special themes issues, Short notes, Viewpoint articles, Letters to the Editor, and Book ReviewsLength not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Data availability, 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
Submission declaration: work not published previously (except preprint, abstract, lecture, thesis, registered report); not under consideration elsewhere; approved by all authors; not published elsewhere in same form without written consent of copyright-holder. Model summary
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 ·- Data availability
Elsevier takes a neutral position on territorial disputes/jurisdictional claims; maps should only show the area actually studied; authors should use full standard title or standard abbreviation of institutional name. Model summary
Elsevier respects the decisions taken by its authors as to how they choose to designate territories and identify their affiliations in their published content.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Publication ethics
Authors must follow 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
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; submissions initially assessed by editors; if suitable, sent to a minimum of two reviewers; editors make the decision. 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 per Elsevier policy; free preprint posting service on SSRN offered; posting on SSRN has no effect on editorial process or publication outcome. 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
- Country or region
- NETHERLANDS
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Quarterly
- Founded
- 2004
- ISSN
- 1476-945X
- Electronic ISSN
- 1476-9840
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗LetPub
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Ecological Complexity
What CAS zone is Ecological Complexity in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Ecological Complexity is in Zone 3 of Environmental Science & Ecology, and in Zone 4 of the minor category Ecology. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 3 of Environmental Science & Ecology. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Ecological Complexity?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 1.76; CiteScore 6.3, h-index 82.
How long does peer review take at Ecological Complexity?
The publisher reports about 262 days (submission to acceptance); authors report an average review time of over 24 weeks; the community-reported acceptance is “Fairly easy”. 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 Ecological Complexity?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 250 words; Keywords: 1–7; Suggested reviewers: Optional; Highlights: Required; Graphical abstract: Optional; Cover letter: 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 Ecological Complexity based?
Of the 33 board members whose country the journal's board page names, none are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (7), United Kingdom (7) and Canada (7). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Ecological Complexity?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Ecological Complexity is indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Is Ecological Complexity open access, and what is the APC?
Ecological Complexity is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 2,990.
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 2026-08-26). Last updated: .