Estuaries and Coasts and Online Peer Review -- FAQs

estuariesandcoasts@erf.org, 434-977-5494

Where do I submit a paper to Estuaries & Coasts?

http://www.editorialmanager.com/esco/ The journal uses Editorial Manager™, a Web-based submission and review system.  

What is the journal’s peer review workflow?

The journal’s peer review process is 100% online. In a nutshell, the life of a manuscript goes through the following workflow:

1. Author submits word processing and figure/table files online Note: Authors may also submit electronic supplemental material which, if the paper is accepted, will be published with the online version of the paper
2. The Editorial Coordinator checks in the new submission and assigns it to a Co-Editor-in-Chief, either Carlos Duarte or Jim Cloern.
3. The Co-EIC assigns the paper to an Associate Editor (AE) with expertise in the area of the manuscript.
4. The AE invites 2-4 reviewers via email.
5. Reviewers submit a recommendation and comments on the paper for the editors and authors via the online score sheet.
6. When the requisite number of reviews have been received, or sooner at the discretion of the AE, the AE submits a recommendation to the Co-EIC.
7. The Co-EIC receives the AE’s recommendation and comments, as well as the comments of the reviewers, and renders a final decision. The Co-EIC sends the author the decision email which includes the comments of the AE and reviewers.
8. Revisions follow the same process as above, though fewer reviewers may be used.

How long does the review process take?

Our time from submission to first decision has been approximately 61.5 days for the year-to-date 2008.  

What is “online first”?

Estuaries & Coasts publishes accepted papers online before a printed issue is produced—and generally within 3- 4 weeks of acceptance. Accepted articles are bound with a printed issue of the journal at a later date. CERF members should check the online journal periodically because new papers are being added continuously. http://www.springerlink.com/content/ 120846/  

What are the expectations of reviewers?

Co-EIC Jim Cloern writes that the Estuaries & Coasts review process “...is the quality control program that ensures objectivity, soundness, and rigor of scientific papers. It also ensures that CERF members are actively engaged in the review of manuscripts submitted to their Federation’s journal. Timely publication of high-quality estuarine-coastal research is utterly dependent upon timely and careful evaluations from reviewers.  

Reviews are most valuable if they provide objective assessments of the quality of the data presented; novelty, generality, soundness and significance of conclusions; and overall quality of the presentation.  

Reviews should be written to assist the authors by identifying weaknesses (or strengths) in study design, data analyses and presentation of results, and include specific guidance for resolving weaknesses.”  

• All review comments are submitted online via the journal’s score sheet on the Editorial Manager system (this is to “database” the comments and to facilitate distribution of the comments with the decision letter).
• Reviewers are given 3 weeks to review and score.

• The online system sends overdue reviewers automated reminder messages.

Who do I contact with questions about the review process or how to use the online system? Taylor Bowen,

Editorial Coordinator, who works in Charlottesville, Virginia, USA. estuariesandcoasts@erf.org or 434-977-5494