Journal profile · Ecology
Ecological Modelling
ISSN 0304-3800 · eISSN 1872-7026 · Elsevier · NETHERLANDS · Semimonthly · Founded 1975
Ecological Modelling: CAS Zone 3 · Environmental Science & Ecology (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 3.44; hybrid open access; APC about USD 2,810; review about 115 days (submission to acceptance, publisher); community-reported acceptance: easy; 367 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Ecological Modelling 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, Plant Water Relations and Carbon Dynamics and Fish Ecology and Management Studies, together about 22.1% of its articles. Its main subfields are Global and Planetary Change. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
International Journal on Ecological Modelling and Systems EcologyEcological Modelling publishes new mathematical models and systems analysis for describing ecological processes, and novel applications of models for environmental management. We welcome research on process-based models embedded in theory with explicit causative agents and innovative applications of existing models. And because applications can help refine models and propose new directions for research, the journal publishes both to help foster reproducibility and utility.Human activity and well-being are dependent on and integrated with the functioning of ecosystems and the services they provide. We aim to understand these basic ecosystem functions using mathematical and conceptual modelling, systems analysis, thermodynamics, computer simulations, and ecological theory, and look to a wide spectrum of applications ranging from basic ecology to human ecology to socio-ecological systems. The journal welcomes original research articles, review articles, viewpoint articles and short communications.The journal also supports the activities of the International Society of Ecological Modelling (ISEM).
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Ecology
Editor-in-chief Hsiao-Hsuan WangPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 8 in mainland China (about 17%); most named United States 13, Mainland China 8, Germany 6, Russia 3, United Kingdom 2 (48 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics StudiesEnvironmental Science10.5%
- Plant Water Relations and Carbon DynamicsEnvironmental Science5.8%
- Fish Ecology and Management StudiesEnvironmental Science5.8%
- Marine and fisheries researchEnvironmental Science5.7%
- Species Distribution and Climate ChangeEnvironmental Science5.6%
- Sustainability and Ecological Systems AnalysisEnvironmental Science5.6%
- Marine and coastal ecosystemsEarth and Planetary Sciences4.8%
- Wildlife Ecology and ConservationEnvironmental 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 3 |
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
- 3.44LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 3.5Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 5.9LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 5.9Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.86LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1LetPub ·
- h-index
- 139LetPub ·
- h-index
- 234OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 7,489OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 3.13OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 14.3%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 41.57%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 332LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 12,125 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 327 | 207 | 118 |
| 2025 | 367 | 186 | 970 |
| 2024 | 316 | 205 | 2,074 |
| 2023 | 270 | 135 | 3,144 |
| 2022 | 291 | 132 | 4,011 |
| 2021 | 243 | 96 | 4,463 |
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
115 dayssubmission to acceptance · community reports about 3 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 monthsLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- EasyLetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 2 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 52 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 115 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 10 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 2,810 / EUR 2,630 / GBP 2,250 / JPY 348,520 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 3,290 | — | — |
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 papers3, by deadline
Publisher websiteWhat to prepare5 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
- Keywords
- 1–7
- Reference style
- Author–date
- Templates
- LaTeX
- Highlights
- Required
Article types accepted19, with length limits
- book reviewBefore submitting an article to Ecological Modelling please read carefully the editorial policy which can also be found on the ECOMOD homepage. Editorial Policy…Length not stated
- book reviews6. Book reviewsLength not stated
- commentaryBefore submitting an article to Ecological Modelling please read carefully the editorial policy which can also be found on the ECOMOD homepage. Editorial Policy…Length not stated
- editorialBefore submitting an article to Ecological Modelling please read carefully the editorial policy which can also be found on the ECOMOD homepage. Editorial Policy…Length not stated
- jorgensen research and reviews4. Jorgensen Research and ReviewsLength not stated
- letterBefore submitting an article to Ecological Modelling please read carefully the editorial policy which can also be found on the ECOMOD homepage. Editorial Policy…Length not stated
- letters to the editors7. Letters to the EditorsLength not stated
- original researchBefore submitting an article to Ecological Modelling please read carefully the editorial policy which can also be found on the ECOMOD homepage. Editorial Policy…Length not stated
- original research paperBefore submitting an article to Ecological Modelling please read carefully the editorial policy which can also be found on the ECOMOD homepage. Editorial Policy…Length not stated
- original research papers (regular papers)1. Original research papers (regular papers)Length not stated
- perspectiveBefore submitting an article to Ecological Modelling please read carefully the editorial policy which can also be found on the ECOMOD homepage. Editorial Policy…Length not stated
- regular paperBefore submitting an article to Ecological Modelling please read carefully the editorial policy which can also be found on the ECOMOD homepage. Editorial Policy…Length not stated
- reviewBefore submitting an article to Ecological Modelling please read carefully the editorial policy which can also be found on the ECOMOD homepage. Editorial Policy…Length not stated
- review articleBefore submitting an article to Ecological Modelling please read carefully the editorial policy which can also be found on the ECOMOD homepage. Editorial Policy…Length not stated
- review articles2. Review articlesLength not stated
- short communicationBefore submitting an article to Ecological Modelling please read carefully the editorial policy which can also be found on the ECOMOD homepage. Editorial Policy…Length not stated
- short communications3. Short communicationsLength not stated
- viewpointBefore submitting an article to Ecological Modelling please read carefully the editorial policy which can also be found on the ECOMOD homepage. Editorial Policy…main text ≤ 2,000 words
- viewpoint articles5. Viewpoint ArticlesLength 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 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 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
- Country or region
- NETHERLANDS
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Semimonthly
- Founded
- 1975
- ISSN
- 0304-3800
- Electronic ISSN
- 1872-7026
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗LetPub
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Ecological Modelling
What CAS zone is Ecological Modelling in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Ecological Modelling 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 Modelling?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 3.44; CiteScore 5.9, h-index 234.
How long does peer review take at Ecological Modelling?
The publisher reports about 115 days (submission to acceptance); authors report an average review time of about 3 months; the community-reported acceptance is “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 Modelling?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 250 words; Keywords: 1–7; Reference style: Author–date; Templates: LaTeX; 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 Ecological Modelling based?
Of the 48 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 8 (about 17%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (13), Mainland China (8) and Germany (6). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Ecological Modelling?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Ecological Modelling is indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Is Ecological Modelling open access, and what is the APC?
Ecological Modelling is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 2,810.
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: .