Aims & Scope
Journal of Primates publishes rigorous scientific research advancing our understanding of primate biology, behavior, ecology, evolution, and conservation across wild populations and natural ecosystems.
Research Scope: Tiered Framework
Behavioral Ecology Core
- Social behavior and group dynamics in wild populations
- Foraging strategies and feeding ecology
- Mating systems and reproductive strategies
- Communication systems and vocal behavior
- Cognitive ecology and problem-solving
- Behavioral plasticity and adaptation
Field study examining how seasonal resource availability influences foraging behavior and social structure in wild lemur populations across fragmented forest habitats.
Conservation Biology Core
- Population viability analysis and demographic modeling
- Habitat fragmentation and connectivity
- Human-wildlife conflict and coexistence
- Conservation genetics and genetic diversity
- Protected area effectiveness and management
- Climate change impacts on primate populations
Population genetics study assessing genetic diversity and gene flow among isolated orangutan populations to inform corridor design and translocation strategies.
Evolutionary Biology Core
- Phylogenetics and systematics
- Comparative morphology and functional anatomy
- Molecular evolution and genomics
- Biogeography and speciation processes
- Life history evolution and trade-offs
- Sexual selection and dimorphism
Phylogenomic analysis resolving evolutionary relationships among New World monkeys using whole-genome sequencing data to understand diversification patterns.
Population Ecology Core
- Population dynamics and demography
- Spatial ecology and ranging behavior
- Community ecology and species interactions
- Disease ecology and epidemiology
- Nutritional ecology and diet composition
- Reproductive biology and life history
Long-term demographic study tracking survival, reproduction, and population growth rates in wild chimpanzee communities to identify key life history parameters.
Secondary Focus Areas
Cognitive Science & Psychology
Primate cognition, social learning, cultural transmission, tool use, decision-making, and comparative psychology in ecological contexts. Studies must connect cognitive abilities to fitness outcomes or ecological challenges.
Physiological Ecology
Endocrinology, stress physiology, energetics, thermoregulation, and physiological adaptations to environmental conditions. Focus on wild populations or captive studies with clear ecological relevance.
Paleontology & Paleoecology
Fossil primates, evolutionary history, paleoenvironmental reconstruction, and morphological evolution. Studies integrating fossil and modern data to understand evolutionary processes.
Methodological Innovations
Novel field methods, analytical techniques, remote sensing applications, bioacoustics, genomic tools, and statistical approaches advancing primate research. Must demonstrate broad applicability.
Emerging Research Frontiers
Microbiome & Host-Microbe Interactions
Gut microbiome composition, host-microbe coevolution, microbiome-mediated nutrition, and microbial ecology in wild primate populations. Emerging area linking microbiology to primate ecology and health.
Conservation Technology
Application of drones, camera traps, acoustic monitoring, environmental DNA, and machine learning for primate conservation and population monitoring. Technology must address conservation challenges.
Social-Ecological Systems
Human dimensions of primate conservation, ecosystem services, community-based conservation, and coupled human-natural systems. Interdisciplinary approaches integrating social and ecological data.
Climate Change Biology
Phenological shifts, range dynamics, behavioral thermoregulation, and adaptive responses to climate change. Predictive modeling and long-term monitoring studies particularly welcome.
Editorial Note: Submissions in emerging areas undergo additional editorial review to ensure alignment with journal scope and scientific rigor. Authors are encouraged to clearly articulate ecological relevance and broader implications.
Out of Scope: Explicit Exclusions
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Clinical Veterinary Medicine
Individual patient diagnosis, treatment protocols, surgical techniques, or clinical case reports without population-level or conservation implications.
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Captive Management Without Ecological Context
Zoo husbandry, captive breeding programs, or enrichment studies lacking direct application to wild population conservation or behavioral ecology.
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Biomedical Research Using Primate Models
Laboratory studies using primates as disease models, drug testing, or biomedical research without evolutionary or ecological framing.
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Pure Anthropology or Human Evolution
Studies focused exclusively on human behavior, human evolution, or archaeological research without comparative primate data or context.
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Artificial Intelligence Applications Without Biological Focus
AI or machine learning studies that use primate data as test cases but lack substantive biological questions or conservation applications.
Article Types & Editorial Priorities
- Original Research Articles
- Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses
- Methods & Protocols
- Conservation Reports
- Short Communications
- Data Notes
- Perspectives & Commentaries
- Technical Notes
- Opinion Pieces
- Single Case Reports
- Purely Descriptive Studies
- Anecdotal Observations
Editorial Standards & Requirements
Reporting Guidelines
- ARRIVE guidelines for animal research
- PRISMA for systematic reviews
- STROBE for observational studies
- CONSORT for experimental designs
- Transparent reporting of methods and statistics
Data & Materials Policy
- Data availability statements required
- Raw data deposition encouraged
- Code and analysis scripts shared when applicable
- Compliance with FAIR principles
- Sensitive location data protection protocols
Ethics & Permissions
- Institutional ethics approval required
- Compliance with national and international regulations
- CITES permits for endangered species
- Community consent for research in indigenous territories
- Adherence to ASP/IPS ethical guidelines
Preprint & Open Science
- Preprint deposition encouraged (bioRxiv, EcoEvoRxiv)
- Open access publication model
- Preregistration welcomed for hypothesis-driven studies
- Registered reports considered
- Transparent peer review option available
Editorial Decision Metrics
Ready to Submit?
If your research advances understanding of primate biology, ecology, evolution, or conservation in wild populations, we invite your submission.
Contact Editorial Office
