Why publication matters in conservation biology

Abstract

Conservation biologists increasingly follow Soulé (1985) and describe conservation biology as a "crisis discipline". Crises require quick, comprehensive appraisal of the situation and prompt, firm decisions. These actions can be at odds with peer review and publication, which are often slow processes. Although peerreviewed journals in the physical sciences may take as little as six to eight weeks between first receipt of a paper and its publication (Daniel 1993), journals in ecology, wildlife science and conservation biology may take much longer. This problem is being exacerbated by a growth in submissions (e.g., Bull 1998).