Before You Submit

JBSR accepts original work that has not been published or submitted elsewhere. Manuscripts should align with the journal scope and demonstrate clear contributions to biosemiotic theory, empirical research, or methodological practice. Authors are responsible for accuracy of data, citations, and disclosures.

If your manuscript includes human or animal data, include ethics approvals and consent statements. Clearly disclose funding sources and conflicts of interest. We encourage data availability statements and deposition in trusted repositories when applicable. Preprints are permitted when disclosed at submission.

If you are uncertain about scope or suitability, contact [email protected] before submission.

Manuscript Structure

Organize manuscripts for clarity and reproducibility. Use clear headings and ensure the narrative moves from rationale to conclusions. The structure may vary slightly for theoretical versus empirical papers, but the logic should be explicit.

Article Types And Length

JBSR considers original research articles, reviews, theoretical analyses, short communications, methods papers, and perspectives. Manuscript length should be appropriate to the contribution. We value concise, well organized writing that highlights key results without repetition.

If the work includes extensive datasets, transcripts, or protocols, place supporting material in supplementary files and reference them clearly in the main text.

Figures, Tables, And Supplementary Files

Figures and tables must be clear, readable, and referenced in the text. Provide descriptive captions that explain the key takeaways. Use consistent units and avoid duplicating data across figures and tables. Supply high resolution files at acceptance if requested.

Supplementary material is welcome when it adds essential clarity or supports reproducibility. Supplemental files should not be required to understand the main conclusions. If video, code, or large datasets are included, provide stable links and metadata.

Formatting And Style

Use clear scientific language and define specialized terms at first use. Keep terminology consistent throughout the manuscript and explain semiotic concepts in a way that is accessible to interdisciplinary readers.

Equations should be editable and numbered if referenced in the text. Use standard nomenclature for organisms, methods, and theoretical constructs. Avoid promotional language and ensure that all claims are supported by evidence or argumentation.

For theoretical papers, use section headings to guide the reader through the argument. For empirical studies, follow standard scientific reporting conventions and ensure that key findings are presented clearly in the Results and Discussion sections.

Author Identifiers And Funding

Include ORCID iDs for all authors to improve attribution and indexing. List funding agencies, grant numbers, and project titles in a dedicated funding statement. Acknowledge institutional or field assistance separately from authorship. If no external funding was received for this work, state "No specific funding was received for this work." Where relevant, include a CRediT author contribution statement describing roles such as conceptualization, investigation, data curation, and writing. This transparency supports ethical authorship and clarifies responsibility for key elements of the research.

Statistical Reporting And Reproducibility

Provide a dedicated subsection that explains statistical methods, sample sizes, and the number of independent replicates. Report exact p values where applicable and specify the statistical software used. If data were excluded, explain the criteria and the impact on results.

Reproducibility is a core expectation. Include detailed information on coding schemes, observational protocols, or modeling assumptions so that other researchers can repeat the analysis. For computational studies, provide model parameters and validation procedures.

Field, Observational, And Case Studies

For field or observational research, describe study sites, sampling duration, and data collection procedures. Clarify how observations were recorded, coded, and interpreted, and explain how biases were minimized.

Case based submissions should explain why the case is theoretically meaningful and how it informs broader claims in biosemiotics. Provide contextual information and link observations to existing literature.

Empirical And Theoretical Standards

Empirical studies should describe data collection, sampling, and validation procedures with sufficient detail for replication. Report statistical methods, software, and confidence measures where relevant.

Theoretical manuscripts should define key concepts, state assumptions, and provide a clear logical structure. If the paper introduces a formal model, describe parameters, scope, and evaluation criteria.

Data, Materials, And Reporting Standards

Provide detailed descriptions of materials, datasets, or sources used in the study. Report assay conditions, data collection protocols, and analytical steps. If custom software or models were used, describe them clearly and include version numbers when possible.

References And Citations

Use a consistent reference style and ensure all citations are accurate. Cite primary sources for methods and key findings. Include DOIs when available. References should be numbered in the order they appear in the text.

Avoid excessive self citation or citation padding. Strong reference practices improve discoverability and support the integrity of the scholarly record.

Ethics And Publication Standards

JBSR follows recognized best practices for publication ethics. Manuscripts may be screened for originality and data integrity. Any suspected misconduct will be investigated in accordance with editorial policies.

For studies involving human participants, include informed consent procedures and privacy safeguards. For animal research, provide welfare considerations and compliance statements consistent with institutional guidelines. If sensitive data are used, explain anonymization steps and access restrictions.

Revision Preparation

If revisions are requested, respond to each reviewer comment in a point by point format and note where changes appear in the manuscript. Provide clear explanations when you disagree with a suggestion and support your rationale with evidence.

Revised manuscripts should highlight new text or use tracked changes to assist review. Timely responses help maintain momentum toward publication.

Submission Steps

Prepare your files and submit using one of the two available submission routes. Provide the cover letter, manuscript, figures, tables, and any supplementary files in the order requested by the submission system.

After Submission

Each manuscript receives an initial editorial assessment for scope and completeness, followed by external peer review. Reviewers focus on theoretical clarity, methodological rigor, and contribution to biosemiotic scholarship.

If revisions are requested, highlight all changes and provide a point by point response. Appeals can be submitted to the editorial office with a clear rationale and supporting evidence.

APC And Licensing

JBSR operates a transparent open access model. An Article Processing Charge is applied after acceptance to support peer review management, production, DOI registration, and long term hosting. See Article Processing Charges for current rates and waiver information.

All articles are published under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Authors retain copyright and grant permission for reuse with proper attribution. For full terms, review the Copyright and License page.

Language Editing Support

Authors who need language assistance may request support prior to submission. Language editing is optional and does not guarantee acceptance. For details, see the Language Editing Service page or contact [email protected].