Submit Special Issue Manuscript
Submit your work to a current JBSR special issue and join a focused scholarly conversation.
Follow the steps below to ensure your manuscript is routed to the correct issue.
Choose The Right Special Issue
Each special issue has a defined theme, scope, and submission window. Before submitting, review the call for papers and confirm that your manuscript aligns with the issue focus. If you are unsure, contact the editorial office or the guest editors for guidance.
If your manuscript was invited, mention the invitation and the guest editor name in the cover letter. For collaborative projects, identify corresponding author responsibilities and clarify whether data are shared across multiple papers. This helps editors assign reviewers and avoid conflicts across the issue.
Submission Requirements
Scope Fit
Clearly show how your manuscript contributes to the special issue theme and biosemiotic scholarship.
Cover Letter
State the special issue title and explain why your article is a strong match.
Ethics And Data
Include ethics approvals, conflict statements, and a data availability statement.
Quality Expectations
Special issue manuscripts follow the same standards as regular submissions. Present a clear research question, rigorous methods, and transparent reporting. Connect your contribution to the special issue theme, but avoid repeating the call text. Strong submissions articulate how the work advances biosemiotic theory, empirical evidence, or methodological practice.
Important Dates And Deadlines
Special issues have defined submission windows. We recommend submitting early to allow time for peer review and revision before the planned publication date. If you anticipate delays due to fieldwork or data access, contact the editorial office as early as possible to discuss options.
APC And Open Access
Accepted special issue articles are published open access under the same licensing and APC model as regular JBSR articles. Review the Article Processing Charges page for current rates and waiver details.
How To Submit
Use ManuscriptZone for full tracking or the simple submission form for a quick submission. Select the appropriate special issue from the dropdown list and mention it in the cover letter to avoid delays.
Prepare Files
Finalize the manuscript, figures, tables, and supplementary materials in clear file formats.
Select Issue
Choose the correct special issue in the submission system and confirm in your cover letter.
Track Progress
Monitor reviewer feedback and respond to revision requests promptly.
What Happens Next
Submitted manuscripts follow the same peer review standards as regular articles. Guest editors may recommend reviewers and provide a subject level assessment, but final editorial decisions are made by the journal editors. This ensures consistent quality across the journal.
Revisions should include a point by point response to reviewer comments and a marked version highlighting changes. Guest editors may offer thematic guidance to keep the issue cohesive, but authors remain responsible for accuracy and completeness.
If your manuscript is accepted, it will be published within the special issue collection and promoted through JBSR channels.
Submit To A Special Issue
Use the official submission systems to ensure your paper is routed to the correct issue.
