Topical collection information

Topical collection information

Guides to Australian Annelida aims to make the biodiversity data on Australian annelid fauna more widely accessible through keys and identification guides.  Specialist taxonomic literature is difficult to access and to use, especially by non-taxonomists. This topical collection will provide a resource to facilitate identification of the phylum Annelida, at various taxonomic levels. Guides will assemble keys, reviews and other identification resources catering for the non-specialist, with an initial focus on the marine annelid (‘polychaete’) families – in particular, four families that encompass some of the most ecologically important and most frequently encountered species, and about 30% of all polychaete genera: Nereididae, Polynoidae, Serpulidae and Terebellidae.

Guides to Australian Annelida is the outcome of a 4-year research project collaboration between three Australian Museums (Australian Museum, Museum Victoria, Museum & Art Gallery Northern Territory), supported by a grant from the Australian Biological Resources Study, Canberra.

Topical collection information

Topical collection information

The Global Taxon Reviews is a topical collection of papers in the field of zoology that aims to provide comprehensive and up-to-date reviews of suprageneric taxa of significant diversity, with a special emphasis on taxonomy, phylogeny, and other aspects of taxon-centered biodiversity exploration. These reviews are intended to serve as authoritative resources for researchers, students, and enthusiasts interested in the inventorying, classification, evolutionary relationships of animals, and other related topics.

Each paper in the collection focuses on an entire taxonomic group, such as a class, order, family, subfamily or tribe, of any zoological taxon. Large genera distributed over one or more continents can be considered for publication in the collection as well. The authors of the papers should be proven experts in their respective fields, with extensive experience and knowledge of the group in question. 

The reviews are typically structured to provide a comprehensive overview of a taxon, including information on its morphology, ecology, and distribution. A particular focus is placed on the phylogenetic relationships of the group. Priority will be given to manuscripts that specifically concentrate on widely distributed taxa. Manuscripts primarily focusing on high-ranked monotypic taxa can also be considered, but only if they are discussed within a broader context. We also encourage illustrated identification keys, as they provide an efficient way to recognize taxa. 

The Global Taxon Reviews collection is designed to be a valuable resource for both researchers and students in the field of zoology, as well as for anyone interested in learning more about animal diversity and classification. By providing authoritative and up-to-date reviews of higher taxa, these papers can help in advancing our understanding of the astonishing diversity of animals at a global scale.

Realizing the importance of this series to the scientific community, the editorial team will consider special conditions for publication in the Global Taxon Reviews collection, including potential high discounts or waivers. These conditions will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, taking into account individual circumstances and the overall merit of the manuscript.

Topical collection information

ZooKeys invites research publications on the biology of bats and pangolins with the aim to shed light on the factors that make certain organisms like bats and pangolins particularly efficient vectors of diseases capable of causing global emergencies and irreversible damages, such as COVID-19 (Coronavirus). The APCs for this upcoming collection will be waived.

By means of Open Science, ZooKeys aims to contribute with real-time findings and data to the efforts of scientific teams, experts and other decision-makers across the globe, in order to advance the world’s understanding of the transmission pathways and potential vectors of zoonotic diseases. By adding further knowledge to the key factors that pave the way for global public health emergencies, such quality research publications are to ultimately help the mitigation and prevention of similar devastating events in the future.