Journal profile · Ecology
Theoretical Ecology
ISSN 1874-1738 · eISSN 1874-1746 · Springer Netherlands · GERMANY · Quarterly · Founded 2008
Theoretical Ecology: CAS Zone 4 · Environmental Science & Ecology (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 1.39; hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,190; median 207 days to acceptance (47 articles, last 24 months); community-reported acceptance: fairly easy; 30 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Theoretical Ecology is published by Springer Netherlands and is in Zone 4 of Environmental Science & Ecology in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Evolution and Genetic Dynamics, Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies and Plant and animal studies, together about 39.7% of its articles. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Theoretical Ecology publishes innovative research in theoretical ecology, broadly defined. Papers should use theoretical approaches to answer questions of ecological interest and appeal to and be readable by a broad audience of ecologists. Work that uses mathematical, statistical, computational, or conceptual approaches is all welcomed, provided that the goal is to increase ecological understanding. Papers that only use existing approaches to analyze data, or are only mathematical analyses that do not further ecological understanding, are not appropriate. Work that bridges disciplinary boundaries, such as the intersection between quantitative social sciences and ecology, or physical influences on ecological processes, will also be particularly welcome. All areas of theoretical ecology, including ecophysiology, population ecology, behavioral ecology, evolutionary ecology, ecosystem ecology, community ecology, and ecosystem and landscape ecology are all appropriate. Theoretical papers that focus on applied ecological questions are also of particular interest. Categories of papers include regular articles, review papers, and rapid communications. Review papers will be published after a thorough review process; please contact the reviews editor before submission. We also offer a rapid communications option for short manuscripts of unusually broad interest to the ecological community.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Ecology
Editor-in-chief Alan HastingsPublisher website
Editorial board by country: none in mainland China; most named United States 12, Canada 2, United Kingdom 1, Japan 1, Germany 1 (24 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Evolution and Genetic DynamicsBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology13.6%
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics StudiesEnvironmental Science13.3%
- Plant and animal studiesAgricultural and Biological Sciences12.8%
- Evolutionary Game Theory and CooperationSocial Sciences9.7%
- Mathematical and Theoretical Epidemiology and Ecology ModelsMedicine9.2%
- Animal Ecology and Behavior StudiesEnvironmental Science7.4%
- Ecosystem dynamics and resilienceEnvironmental Science7.4%
- Marine and fisheries researchEnvironmental Science2.9%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Environmental Science & Ecology Zone 4
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Environmental Science & Ecology | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Ecology | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Environmental Science & Ecology Zone 4
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Environmental Science & Ecology | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Ecology | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Environmental Science & Ecology Zone 4
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Environmental Science & Ecology | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Ecology | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Indexing the journal's website claims
CAB AbstractsPublisher 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
- 1.39LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 1.4Publisher website ·
- 5-year impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 1.6Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 2.2LetPub ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.48LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 0.56LetPub ·
- h-index
- 28LetPub ·
- h-index
- 58OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 349OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 1.84OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 0%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 48.15%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 30LetPub ·
- Downloads per year (publisher) 2025
- 150,600Publisher website ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 671 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 13 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 30 | 16 | 44 |
| 2024 | 27 | 17 | 84 |
| 2023 | 25 | 14 | 96 |
| 2022 | 24 | 8 | 149 |
| 2021 | 34 | 19 | 265 |
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
207 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 143 days – 275 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 17 days (47 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 244 days
- Sample
- 47 articles with submission and acceptance dates (51 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)
- over 12 weeksLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- Fairly easyLetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 33 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 3,190 / EUR 2,590 / GBP 2,290 | — | — |
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)
What to prepare5 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- 150–250 words
- Keywords
- ≥ 4
- Reference style
- Author–date
- Suggested reviewers
- Required, 5
- Cover letter
- Required
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Data availability, Publication ethics, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review
- 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 explaining how to access data supporting the results and analysis, including links/citations to publicly archived datasets. Model summary
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
Journal is a member of COPE and will follow COPE guidelines on dealing with potential acts of misconduct. Model summary
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
Open Choice articles retain copyright with the author and are published under a Creative Commons license. Model summary
To find out more about publishing your work Open Access in Theoretical Ecology, including information on fees, funding and licences, visit our Open access publishing page. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review
Authors should suggest 5 potential reviewers in the cover letter. Model summary
Please suggest 5 potential reviewers in your cover letter who would be appropriate to review your manuscript.
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 Netherlands
- Country or region
- GERMANY
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Quarterly
- Founded
- 2008
- ISSN
- 1874-1738
- Electronic ISSN
- 1874-1746
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗LetPub
- Author guidelines ↗LetPub
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Theoretical Ecology
What CAS zone is Theoretical Ecology in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Theoretical Ecology is in Zone 4 of Environmental Science & Ecology, and in Zone 4 of the minor category Ecology. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 4 of Environmental Science & Ecology. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Theoretical Ecology?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 1.39; CiteScore 2.2, h-index 58.
How long does peer review take at Theoretical Ecology?
Based on the dates recorded on 47 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 207 days (interquartile range 143–275 days); authors report an average review time of over 12 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 Theoretical Ecology?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: 150–250 words; Keywords: ≥ 4; Reference style: Author–date; Suggested reviewers: Required, 5; 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 Theoretical Ecology based?
Of the 24 board members whose country the journal's board page names, none are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (12), Canada (2) and United Kingdom (1). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Theoretical Ecology?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Theoretical Ecology is indexed in SCIE and Scopus. The journal's website also lists CAB Abstracts; that list has not been checked against each database.
Is Theoretical Ecology open access, and what is the APC?
Theoretical Ecology is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,190.
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: .