Journal decision profile

Nature Ecology & Evolution

Environmental Science · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Nature Ecology & Evolution's 2026 Journal Metrics Score is 10.7, ranking Q1 in Ecological Modeling and 3 other subfields. Two-year citation average from OpenAlex data, updated August 2026.

Nature PortfolioUnited KingdompISSN 2397-334XeISSN 2397-334X
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Bookmark this page — track observed submission-to-acceptance timing, FWCI and field-normalized citation data for this journal in one view.

Journal Metrics Score
i
Journal Metrics ScoreThe raw score is citations received in the latest complete year by works from the two previous years, divided by the number of those works. It is calculated from OpenAlex open data (CC0) and is not a percentage grade.
2026
10.7

Journal Metrics Score 2026 · 2021–2024 window citedness 10.31.

Submission-to-acceptance
i
Submission-to-acceptanceCalendar days between the received and accepted dates reported in recent PubMed records. This interval includes editorial handling and author revisions, so it is not time to first decision or pure peer-review time.
PUBMED
228 daysmedian

Middle 50%: 175–321 days

68 of 100 PubMed-indexed articles · 68% coverage · 2024–2025

Indicative APC
i
Indicative APCThis journal-level estimate comes from the OpenAlex source record. It is not a verified quote and may exclude taxes, waivers, society discounts, or article-type charges. Check the journal's official website before deciding.
OPENALEX · VERIFY
$11,690

Journal-level estimate only. Verify current charges, taxes, waivers, discounts, and article-type fees with the journal.

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At a glance

Journal decision profile

Each spoke is a 0–100 percentile within a comparable journal cohort—not a percentage grade or a single black-box rating.

Relative profile

Metrics ScoreThe raw 2026 Journal Metrics Score is the recent two-year citation average shown above. The radar converts it to a 0–100 cohort percentile: farther out means a higher score than more comparable journals. It is not a percentage grade.iSource outputThe raw rank compares lifetime output inside the journal’s leading-topic source set. The radar then compares that rank position across Decision Profile journals in the same primary OpenAlex field; when that field has too few profiles, it uses the broader profile set. Farther out means relatively more output, not better research quality.iTop 10% shareThe share of recent papers in the global top 10% for citations after comparing papers of the same type, publication year, and subfield. The radar converts that share to a 0–100 cohort percentile; it does not predict how a new paper will perform.iMedian FWCICitation performance of the middle recent paper after field, year, and work type are considered. A raw FWCI of 1.0 is the expected citation level for comparable papers; the radar shows its 0–100 cohort percentile.iSubmission-to-acceptanceCalendar days from the received date to the accepted date in recent PubMed records. This includes editorial handling and author revisions, so it is not the time to first decision and not pure peer-review time. The radar uses a 0–100 cohort percentile with shorter observed timing plotted farther out; it does not measure review quality.iOutput volumeAverage works published per year in the recent analysis window, converted to a 0–100 cohort percentile. Farther out means the journal publishes more papers; it does not mean those papers are better.i
Cost is intentionally excluded. Missing APC data is never converted to a zero-dollar fee or a fabricated cost score.

Raw values behind the shape

Always visible
Metrics Score
i
Metrics ScoreThe 2026 raw Journal Metrics Score shown above. The bar is its 0–100 percentile within the radar's comparable journal cohort; it is not a percentage score.
10.72026 · OPENALEX
Source output rank
i
Source output rankThis lifetime journal-wide output rank compares works published by the OpenAlex source with sources associated with the journal’s leading topic. More output does not mean higher quality.
#405 / 3,095LIFETIME OUTPUT
Highly cited papers
i
Highly cited papersShare of recent works in the global top 10% for citations after comparing papers of the same type, publication year, and subfield.
54.8%FIELD-NORMALIZED TOP 10%
Field-normalized impact
i
Field-normalized impactCitation performance of the middle recent paper after field, year, and work type are considered. A raw FWCI of 1.0 is the expected level for comparable work.
4.29MEDIAN FWCI
Submission-to-acceptance
i
Submission-to-acceptanceReceived-to-accepted calendar days from qualified PubMed records. It includes editorial handling and author revisions; it is not time to first decision or pure peer-review time.
228 daysIQR 175–321 DAYS
Recent output
i
Recent outputAverage works published per year across the complete analysis window. This is a volume measure, not a quality score.
310 / yr2021–2024 AVG
Field-normalized top 10% share54.8%

679 of 1,238 works · same type, year & subfield

Field-normalized top 1% share21.3%

264 works · same type, year & subfield

Median FWCI4.29×

Above field-year expectation

Source output rank#405

of 3,095 topic-associated OpenAlex sources by lifetime output

What does Median FWCI mean?

FWCI compares papers with the same publication year, type, and field. 1.0 is the world average; above 1.0 is above expectation. This journal's median is 4.29, so its typical recent paper runs about 329% above its field benchmark.

What does Top 10% Share mean?

54.8% of recent papers rank in the global top 10% after field normalization. This is easier to compare across specialties than raw citation totals.

Publishing pattern

Publication volume and article mix

Volume is separated from citation accumulation so newer papers are not presented as weaker simply because they are newer.

Works published by year

OpenAlex source records · 2016–2025

122016
3982017
3362018
3022019
2872020
2782021
2922022
3262023
3422024
3242025

Recent work-type mix

1,238 OpenAlex works · 2021–2024

Article93.1%
Erratum5.1%
Letter1.5%
Retraction0.2%
Editorial0.1%
Review0.1%
OpenAlex article is broader than “original research.” PubMed Publication Types can add case-report and clinical-study detail.
Fit signals

Topics and medical subject coverage

OpenAlex topics show research communities; MeSH keeps the medical taxonomy recognizable.

Major MeSH signals

PubMed-indexed works

Select a MeSH signal to see how much Nature Ecology & Evolution publishes on it, from PubMed counts for the last five complete years.

Leading OpenAlex topics

2021–2024 works
Species Distribution and Climate Change65
Evolution and Genetic Dynamics49
Plant and animal studies49
Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies44
Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology40
Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management36
Wildlife Ecology and Conservation36
Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies23
Animal Behavior and Reproduction22
Evolution and Paleontology Studies22
Methodology: OpenAlex snapshot 2026-08-12. FWCI, percentile badges, topics, and type mix use 1,238 works published 2021–2024. Radar normalization is versioned in the cached profile, and no cost score is assigned without reliable APC data.

Subject Category Quartiles

Quartiles computed within each OpenAlex subfield
CategoryQuartile
Ecological ModelingQ1
Nature and Landscape ConservationQ1
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and SystematicsQ1
GeneticsQ1

Is Nature Ecology & Evolution a good journal?

Yes. One of the most-cited journals in Biology & Basic Science

Yes. By citation data, Nature Ecology & Evolution is one of the most-cited journals in Biology & Basic Science: it ranks #109 of 3,784 Biology & Basic Science journals by Journal Metrics Score (top 3%) and is Q1 in Ecological Modeling and 3 other subfields. Nature Ecology & Evolution's 2026 Journal Metrics Score is 10.7. Recent papers took a median of 228 days from submission to acceptance, according to PubMed dates. OpenAlex lists an indicative article processing charge of $11,690 USD. OpenAlex classifies its papers in subfields including Ecological Modeling, Nature and Landscape Conservation, and Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, so check that your topic fits its scope.

Best quartile
Q1
Ecological Modeling
Rank in Biology & Basic Science
#109 of 3,784
Top 3%
2026 Journal Metrics Score
10.7
Acceptance rate
Not published
By the journal or publisher
Submission to acceptance
228 days
Median, PubMed records
Indicative APC
$11,690
OpenAlex, verify with the journal
Papers published in 2025
325
OpenAlex works

Check before you submit

  • Confirm the current article processing charge, waivers, and any institutional agreement on the journal website; the OpenAlex figure is indicative.
  • Confirm the journal is indexed where your institution or funder requires (for example Scopus or PubMed) before you submit.

Verdict from citation data only: quartile and field rank by Journal Metrics Score (OpenAlex), publisher-reported acceptance rates, and PubMed submission and acceptance dates. See how we rank journals and how to verify indexing.

Q1
Subfield Quartile
B1
CAS Block

Ranking and source check

#109
of 3,784 Biology & Basic Science field journals
#109
among Q1 Biology & Basic Science journals

Confirm the exact title and ISSNs against the publisher homepage before a high-stakes submission decision.

Nature journals compared

2026 Journal Metrics Scores for 13 of 59 Nature journals published by Nature Portfolio, highest score first. Each journal is scored separately; there is no combined score for the Nature family.

  1. Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology41.7Q1
  2. Nature Reviews Disease Primers35.5Q1
  3. Nature Reviews Materials33.2Q1
  4. Nature Reviews Microbiology32.8Q1
  5. Nature Medicine30.0Q1
  6. Nature Energy29.9Q1
  7. Nature Genetics17.4Q1
  8. Nature Microbiology16.3Q1
  9. Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology14.7Q1
  10. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery13.8Q1
  11. Nature Reviews Endocrinology13.1Q1
  12. Nature Food12.3Q1
  13. Nature Ecology & Evolutionthis journal10.7Q1

Journal Details

OpenAlex Works
3,138
H-Index
205
Fully Open Access
No
Recent OA Works
1,627
Subject Areas
Ecological ModelingNature and Landscape ConservationEcology, Evolution, Behavior and SystematicsGenetics

Source: the current OpenAlex source record. OpenAlex works can include multiple work types. Fully Open Access is a source-level flag. Recent OA Works is summed from OpenAlex's counts_by_year series (up to the latest ten years); it is not a lifetime OA percentage. Any APC shown here is an indicative OpenAlex value—verify current charges on the journal's official website.

How to submit to Nature Ecology & Evolution

  1. 1

    Check the scope

    OpenAlex classifies Nature Ecology & Evolution's papers in subfields including Ecological Modeling, Nature and Landscape Conservation, and Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics. Read the aims and scope page and a few recent papers close to your topic before you prepare the manuscript.

  2. 2

    Follow the author guidelines

    Article types, word and figure limits, reference style, and the required statements (data availability, ethics, conflicts of interest, author contributions) are set by the journal. Prepare the cover letter and files to match them.

    Nature Ecology & Evolution homepage ↗
  3. 3

    Submit online

    Use the submit link in Nature Ecology & Evolution's author guidelines; Nature Portfolio runs the submission site. Every author usually needs an ORCID iD, and the corresponding author needs an account on the submission site.

  4. 4

    Plan for costs

    OpenAlex lists an indicative article processing charge of $11,690 USD. Check the current fee, waivers, and any institutional agreement on the journal website.

  5. 5

    Know what to expect

    Recent accepted papers took a median of 228 days from submission to acceptance, including revisions (PubMed dates). Nature Ecology & Evolution does not publish an acceptance rate.

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Common questions about Nature Ecology & Evolution

Is Nature Ecology & Evolution a good journal?

Yes. By citation data, Nature Ecology & Evolution is one of the most-cited journals in Biology & Basic Science: it ranks #109 of 3,784 Biology & Basic Science journals by Journal Metrics Score (top 3%) and is Q1 in Ecological Modeling and 3 other subfields. Nature Ecology & Evolution's 2026 Journal Metrics Score is 10.7. Recent papers took a median of 228 days from submission to acceptance, according to PubMed dates. OpenAlex lists an indicative article processing charge of $11,690 USD. OpenAlex classifies its papers in subfields including Ecological Modeling, Nature and Landscape Conservation, and Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, so check that your topic fits its scope.

What is Nature Ecology & Evolution's Journal Metrics Score in 2026?

Nature Ecology & Evolution's 2026 Journal Metrics Score is 10.7, from the August 2026 data release. The score is a two-year citation average computed from OpenAlex (CC0) data: citations received in the most recent complete year to works published in the two prior years, divided by the number of those works.

What is the acceptance rate of Nature Ecology & Evolution?

We have not found an official acceptance rate published by Nature Ecology & Evolution or its publisher, and Journal Metrics does not estimate one because submission counts are not public. What recent PubMed records do show is speed: accepted papers took a median of 228 days from submission to acceptance. To judge selectivity, compare Nature Ecology & Evolution's quartile and score with similar journals, or ask the editorial office.

What quartile is Nature Ecology & Evolution in?

Nature Ecology & Evolution's best quartile is Q1. By OpenAlex subfield: Q1 in Ecological Modeling; Q1 in Nature and Landscape Conservation; Q1 in Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Q1 in Genetics. Quartiles rank journals by Journal Metrics Score within each subfield.

Is the Journal Metrics Score the same as other journal citation metrics?

No. Journal Metrics computes the score independently from OpenAlex open data. Other providers use different citation databases, document types, and counting rules, so their published figures for Nature Ecology & Evolution will not match this score exactly. Compare journals using one source at a time.

How long does Nature Ecology & Evolution take from submission to acceptance?

Across 68 recent PubMed records with both dates, Nature Ecology & Evolution took a median of 228 days from submission to acceptance; the middle half took 175–321 days. This interval includes editorial handling and revisions, so it is not the time to a first decision.

How much does it cost to publish in Nature Ecology & Evolution?

OpenAlex lists an indicative article processing charge of $11,690 USD for Nature Ecology & Evolution. This journal-level estimate may exclude taxes, waivers, discounts, or article-type fees, so confirm the current charge on the journal's website.

Which journals are alternatives to Nature Ecology & Evolution?

Comparable journals include Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Annual Review of Ecology Evolution and Systematics, Ecography, and Biological Conservation. Compare their scores, acceptance times, and costs in the recommended alternatives on this page before choosing where to submit.

How do I submit a paper to Nature Ecology & Evolution?

Submit online through the link in Nature Ecology & Evolution's author guidelines on the journal homepage. Before submitting, check the scope, follow the author guidelines for article type, length, and required statements, and prepare a cover letter. Accepted papers took a median of 228 days from submission to acceptance in recent PubMed records.

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