Journal profile · Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Journal of Chemical Ecology
ISSN 0098-0331 · eISSN 1573-1561 · Springer US · NETHERLANDS · Monthly · Founded 1975
Journal of Chemical Ecology: CAS Zone 3 · Environmental Science & Ecology (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 2.06; hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,890; median 110 days to acceptance (101 articles, last 24 months); community-reported acceptance: about 95%; 122 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Journal of Chemical Ecology is published by Springer US 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 Insect and Pesticide Research, Plant and animal studies and Insect-Plant Interactions and Control, together about 39.4% of its articles. Its main subfields are Insect Science and Plant Science. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Journal of Chemical Ecology is devoted to promoting an ecological understanding of the origin, function, and significance of natural chemicals that mediate interactions within and between organisms. Such relationships, often adaptively important, comprise the oldest of communication systems in terrestrial and aquatic environments. With recent advances in methodology for elucidating structures of the chemical compounds involved, a strong interdisciplinary association has developed between chemists and biologists which should accelerate understanding of these interactions in nature. Scientific contributions, including review articles, are welcome from either members or nonmembers of the International Society of Chemical Ecology. Manuscripts must be in English and may include original research in biological and/or chemical aspects of chemical ecology. They may include substantive observations of interactions in nature, the elucidation of the chemical compounds involved, the mechanisms of their production and reception, and the translation of such basic information into survey and control protocols. Sufficient biological and chemical detail should be given to substantiate conclusions and to permit results to be evaluated and reproduced. Letters to the Editor provide an opportunity for opinion, discussion and rebuttal. Journal of Chemical Ecology is the official journal of the International Society of Chemical Ecology (http://www.chemecol.org/). It is also the official journal of the Asia-Pacific Association of Chemical Ecologists (http://www.apace97.org/) and the Latin American Association of Chemical Ecology (https://www.alaeq.org/). Journal of Chemical Ecology now incorporates the journal Chemoecology.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Editor-in-chief Gary W. FeltonPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 4 in mainland China (about 6%); most named United States 30, Germany 9, Mainland China 4, Switzerland 4, France 3 (68 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Insect and Pesticide ResearchAgricultural and Biological Sciences15.2%
- Plant and animal studiesAgricultural and Biological Sciences12.7%
- Insect-Plant Interactions and ControlAgricultural and Biological Sciences11.5%
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and BehaviorBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology8.9%
- Insect Pheromone Research and ControlAgricultural and Biological Sciences7.8%
- Forest Insect Ecology and ManagementEnvironmental Science6.8%
- Insect Pest Control StrategiesAgricultural and Biological Sciences6.7%
- Plant Parasitism and ResistanceAgricultural and Biological Sciences4.4%
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 | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Ecology | Zone 3 |
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 | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | 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 | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Ecology | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Indexing the journal's website claims
MEDLINECASCAB AbstractsCurrent ContentsPublisher website
Other: Google Scholar, EBSCO, ProQuest, Dimensions, CNKI, Baidu, AGRICOLA, Astrophysics Data System, Naver, OCLC, Portico, CLOCKSS
As the journal's website lists them, not checked against each database; for Web of Science editions the records above apply.
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
- 2.06LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 2.1Publisher website ·
- 5-year impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 2.5Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 3LetPub ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.48LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 0.86LetPub ·
- h-index
- 102LetPub ·
- h-index
- 181OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 6,372OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 2.31OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 4.8%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 44.44%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 117LetPub ·
- Downloads per year (publisher) 2025
- 705,700Publisher website ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 7,810 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 91 | 45 | 27 |
| 2025 | 122 | 68 | 239 |
| 2024 | 84 | 44 | 420 |
| 2023 | 66 | 34 | 419 |
| 2022 | 68 | 34 | 517 |
| 2021 | 99 | 35 | 1,508 |
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
Review time from article dates manuscript dates registered with Crossref · to
110 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 71 days – 166 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 19 days (101 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 137 days
- Sample
- 101 articles with submission and acceptance dates (213 in the window); the latest was accepted on
Only articles that were accepted and published are counted, not the time spent on rejected manuscripts, so this usually runs longer than a publisher's "time to first decision".
Other sources
- Average review time (community reports)
- about 4 monthsLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- 95%LetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 5 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Double 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 3,890 / EUR 2,890 / GBP 2,490 | — | — |
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 papers1, by deadline
Publisher websiteWhat to prepare4 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- 150–250 words
- Keywords
- ≥ 4
- Reference style
- Author–date
- Suggested reviewers
- Optional
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Data availability, Publication ethics, License & copyright, Open access
- AI use Generative AI Images
Please check Springer’s policy on generative AI images and make sure your work adheres to the principles described therein. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Authorship principles
These guidelines describe authorship principles and good authorship practices to which prospective authors should adhere to. Authorship clarified The Journal and Publisher assume all authors agreed with the content and that all gave explicit consent to submit and that they obtained consent from the responsible authorities at the institute/organization where the work has been carried out, before th…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Disclosures and declarations
All authors are requested to include information regarding sources of funding, financial or non-financial interests, study-specific approval by the appropriate ethics committee for research involving humans and/or animals, informed consent if the research involved human participants, and a statement on welfare of animals if the research involved animals (as appropriate). The decision whether such …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Data availability Data availability statements
All original research must include a data availability statement. This statement should explain how to access data supporting the results and analysis in the article, including links/citations to publicly archived datasets analysed or generated during the study. Please see our full policy here. If it is not possible to share research data publicly, for instance when individual privacy could be com…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Publication ethics Compliance with Ethical Standards
To ensure objectivity and transparency in research and to ensure that accepted principles of ethical and professional conduct have been followed, authors should include information regarding sources of funding, potential conflicts of interest (financial or non-financial), informed consent if the research involved human participants, and a statement on welfare of animals if the research involved an…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright Copyright
Open Choice articles do not require transfer of copyright as the copyright remains with the author. In opting for open access, the author(s) agree to publish the article under a Creative Commons license. Details of the OA licences offered to authors can be found on the individual journal website, in the journal's How to publish with us guide. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access publishing
To find out more about publishing your work Open Access in Journal of Chemical Ecology, including information on fees, funding and licences, visit our Open access publishing page. Back to top
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
- Springer US
- Country or region
- NETHERLANDS
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Monthly
- Founded
- 1975
- ISSN
- 0098-0331
- Electronic ISSN
- 1573-1561
- Society / sponsor
- International Society of Chemical Ecology
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Author guidelines ↗LetPub
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Journal of Chemical Ecology
What CAS zone is Journal of Chemical Ecology in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Journal of Chemical Ecology is in Zone 3 of Environmental Science & Ecology, and in Zone 3 of the minor category Biochemistry & Molecular Biology / 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 Journal of Chemical Ecology?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 2.06; CiteScore 3, h-index 181.
How long does peer review take at Journal of Chemical Ecology?
Based on the dates recorded on 101 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 110 days (interquartile range 71–166 days); authors report an average review time of about 4 months; the community-reported acceptance is “about 95%”. 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 Journal of Chemical Ecology?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: 150–250 words; Keywords: ≥ 4; Reference style: Author–date; Suggested reviewers: Optional. 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 Journal of Chemical Ecology based?
Of the 68 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 4 (about 6%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (30), Germany (9) and Mainland China (4). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Journal of Chemical Ecology?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Journal of Chemical Ecology is indexed in SCIE and Scopus. The journal's website also lists MEDLINE, CAS, CAB Abstracts and Current Contents; that list has not been checked against each database.
Is Journal of Chemical Ecology open access, and what is the APC?
Journal of Chemical Ecology is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,890.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, OpenAlex, Publisher website; 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: .