Oikos is a journal issued by the Nordic Ecological Society and is one of the leading peer-reviewed journals in ecology.

Oikos – advancing ecology

Oikos publishes original research and perspectives that have the potential to change or substantially improve our understanding of ecological mechanisms, processes, or patterns in nature. These original perspectives can be generated from new theory and/or concepts, well-designed experiments that test theory or uncover processes, and/or from resounding analyses of ecological patterns. Oikos considers publishing interdisciplinary studies that integrate across ecology and other relevant domains to tackle ecological, environmental, or societal challenges. Oikos gives low priority to studies that confirm or extend current knowledge by extending well-established results to unstudied taxa or regions. 

Besides the standard Research papers and Meta-analyses, Oikos aims to stimulate discussion by promoting novel ideas and synthesis. These Forum articles should strive for conceptual unification and serve as a point of departure for future work rather than reviewing bodies of theory and data.

Oikos additionally publishes two categories of concise papers that are subject to an expedited peer review. Dialogues fosters the articulation of constructive debate by confronting alternative, conflicting, or opposing viewpoints among contributors. Ignites address critical ecological research topics by igniting further and critical research. In contrast to traditional research papers, Ignites may report unexpected patterns and processes in nature without having a strong explanatory basis.

It is the mission of Oikos to advance synthesis in ecology by promoting an open and inclusive science that reflects diversity of viewpoints, approaches, taxa and environments. Oikos recognises that these aims can only be reached by welcoming submissions from authors of all origins, ethnicities, religions, ages, career stages, gender identities, sexual orientations, ability level, or any other self-identified individual state. We request all authors to adhere to Best Practices in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Research as provided by the learned societies, institutions, funding agencies or other stakeholders in the sciences.

Oikos sections:

Research papers - Research papers report original research in all fields of ecology and must aim at a wide readership.

Forum - Oikos Forum section is the home for synthesis and review. The format can be short notes or more substantial reviews to bring fields together, to link existing boundaries by synthesizing larger fields or seemingly disparate areas, and to offer new ways of interpreting existing data. Forum articles must provide conceptual unification and serve as a point of departure for future work rather than summaries. It is an arena for challenging current thinking on ecological issues by revising established concepts and insights from critical experiments or for developing new theory to promote novel research. Purely speculative pieces are discouraged. Where uncertainties, problems, or debates in current theory are identified, authors are strongly encouraged to, wherever possible, highlight productive and positive lines of research that may resolve the issue. In particular, we encourage collaboration in debates to promote more effective synthesis and balance.

Papers in the Forum section are given priority in the publication process.

Meta-analyses - Synthesis is a critical component of modern ecology and involves big data in many forms. We welcome meta-analyses and systematic reviews provided quantitative analyses are included either of the literature or of the evidence reported within studies. Novelty, future research, and analysis of gaps are strongly encouraged versus summary. Transparent reporting of the synthesis process is required.

Dialogues - Oikos Dialogues papers promote ecological synthesis via critical thinking and the expression of contrasting viewpoints on historical or current critically important ecological topics. They have a concise format.  Topics are chosen to foster the articulation of constructive debate in the form of, alternative, conflicting or opposed viewpoints among contributors. Dialogues may act as a source for synthesis and insights for future research on the topic. Consult our Author Guidelines for more information or contact the Dialogues Editor, Pedro Peres-Neto, for more details (pedro [dot] peres-neto [at] concordia [dot] ca).

Ignite - papers are short contributions involving very specific and clear results from empirical (observational or experimental) or theoretical research. These results should be considered as timely to address critical ecological research topics and ignite further and critical research to address them. Consult our Author Guidelines for more information or contact the Ignite Editor, Pedro Peres-Neto, for more details (pedro [dot] peres-neto [at] concordia [dot] ca).

Oikos does not publish book reviews.

Oikos is available as fulltext for subscribers online at www.ingenta.com and at Wiley Online Library. Back issues of Oikos are available at JSTOR, www.jstor.org.

Oikos is published in cooperation with the journals Ecography, Lindbergia, Wildlife Biology, Journal of Avian Biology, Nordic Journal of Botany and the monograph series Ecological Bulletins.