PALAEONTOLOGY

Scope & Guideline

Illuminating Evolution Through the Lens of Paleontology

Introduction

Immerse yourself in the scholarly insights of PALAEONTOLOGY with our comprehensive guidelines detailing its aims and scope. This page is your resource for understanding the journal's thematic priorities. Stay abreast of trending topics currently drawing significant attention and explore declining topics for a full picture of evolving interests. Our selection of highly cited topics and recent high-impact papers is curated within these guidelines to enhance your research impact.
LanguageEnglish
ISSN0031-0239
PublisherWILEY
Support Open AccessNo
CountryUnited Kingdom
TypeJournal
Convergefrom 1979 to 1985, 1987, from 1989 to 1994, from 1996 to 2024
AbbreviationPALAEONTOLOGY / Paleontology
Frequency6 issues/year
Time To First Decision-
Time To Acceptance-
Acceptance Rate-
Home Page-
Address111 RIVER ST, HOBOKEN 07030-5774, NJ

Aims and Scopes

The journal 'PALAEONTOLOGY' is dedicated to advancing the understanding of the history of life on Earth through the study of fossils. Its primary focus encompasses a variety of disciplines within palaeobiology, integrating ecological, morphological, and evolutionary perspectives to shed light on past organisms and ecosystems.
  1. Palaeobiology and Evolution:
    The journal emphasizes research on the biological and evolutionary aspects of fossils, exploring how ancient organisms adapted to their environments and the evolutionary processes that shaped biodiversity over geological time.
  2. Ecological Dynamics:
    A significant area of focus includes the interactions between ancient organisms and their environments, including studies on ecosystem engineering, biogeography, and the impact of environmental changes on species distribution and diversity.
  3. Morphological Analysis:
    Research often involves detailed morphological studies of fossils, examining anatomical structures, functional adaptations, and their implications for understanding the biology and ecology of extinct taxa.
  4. Innovative Methodologies:
    The journal encourages the use of cutting-edge techniques, such as machine learning, computational modeling, and advanced imaging, to analyze fossils and derive insights about ancient life.
  5. Taphonomy and Fossilization Processes:
    A core aim is to understand the processes that affect fossil preservation and the implications for interpreting the fossil record, including taphonomic biases and the conditions favoring fossilization.
The journal has shown a notable shift towards several emerging themes that reflect current interests and advancements in palaeontological research, underscoring the dynamic nature of the field.
  1. Ecosystem Engineering and Niche Construction:
    There is an increasing trend in research focusing on the roles of organisms as ecosystem engineers and the concept of niche construction, highlighting how ancient species altered their environments and influenced evolutionary trajectories.
  2. Quantitative and Computational Approaches:
    Recent publications demonstrate a rise in the application of quantitative methods and computational modeling to analyze fossil data, facilitating more sophisticated interpretations of evolutionary and ecological patterns.
  3. Interdisciplinary Studies:
    The journal showcases a growing integration of disciplines, including palaeobiology, ecology, and geology, reflecting a trend towards holistic approaches that consider multiple factors influencing the evolution and diversity of life.
  4. Taphonomic Insights:
    Research exploring taphonomy and the processes influencing fossilization is gaining prominence, emphasizing the importance of understanding preservation biases in interpreting the fossil record.
  5. Impacts of Climate Change on Historical Biodiversity:
    Emerging studies are increasingly addressing the historical impacts of climate change on biodiversity, linking ancient patterns of extinction and survival with contemporary ecological challenges.

Declining or Waning

While the journal 'PALAEONTOLOGY' continues to evolve, certain themes have started to receive less emphasis in recent publications, indicating a potential shift in research focus or interest among the palaeontological community.
  1. Traditional Taxonomy:
    There appears to be a declining focus on purely taxonomic descriptions of new fossil species, as the field increasingly leans towards integrative approaches that combine morphological, ecological, and molecular data.
  2. Descriptive Paleobiology:
    Research that primarily describes fossil organisms without connecting them to broader evolutionary or ecological contexts seems to be waning, as studies now favor a more interdisciplinary approach.
  3. Geological Time Scales in Isolation:
    The use of geological time scales in isolation for paleontological studies has become less prominent, with a growing trend towards integrating temporal data with ecological and evolutionary dynamics.

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