Aim & Scope

Aim

Aquatic Ecosystems and Environmental Frontiers aims to advance scientific understanding of aquatic ecosystems and the environmental processes that influence their structure, function, biodiversity, and long-term sustainability. The journal provides an interdisciplinary platform for research that improves knowledge of aquatic environments and supports evidence-based approaches to conservation, restoration, pollution control, and ecosystem management.

The journal encourages studies that address current scientific questions, develop or apply reliable research methods, and contribute meaningful findings to aquatic and environmental sciences.

Scope

The journal welcomes original and scientifically rigorous contributions relating to freshwater, brackish-water, and marine ecosystems, including the following areas:

Aquatic Ecology and Biodiversity

• Aquatic ecosystem structure, function, and ecological processes
• Population, community, and ecosystem ecology
• Aquatic biodiversity, food webs, and species interactions
• Habitat assessment, ecosystem services, and ecological indicators

Freshwater Science, Limnology, and Hydrology

• Lakes, rivers, reservoirs, wetlands, and groundwater-connected ecosystems
• Hydrological processes, water circulation, and catchment dynamics
• Water chemistry, sediment transport, and nutrient cycling
• Hydrological modelling and aquatic ecosystem monitoring

Marine and Coastal Ecosystems

• Marine biodiversity, coastal habitats, and oceanographic processes
• Estuarine ecology and coastal ecosystem functioning
• Marine biogeochemical cycles and ocean–climate interactions
• Coastal degradation, habitat loss, and marine ecosystem restoration

Water Quality, Pollution, and Ecotoxicology

• Physical, chemical, and biological assessment of water quality
• Industrial, agricultural, and urban pollution
• Microplastics, emerging contaminants, and chemical toxicity
• Eutrophication, harmful algal blooms, and contaminant pathways
• Effects of pollutants on aquatic organisms and ecosystem health

Climate Change and Environmental Change

• Effects of climate variability and change on aquatic systems
• Ocean acidification, warming, and changes in water availability
• Interactions between land-use change and aquatic ecosystem health
• Environmental stressors and ecosystem resilience

Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Organisms

• Fisheries ecology, stock assessment, and resource management
• Sustainable aquaculture and its environmental implications
• Aquatic animal health and disease ecology
• Effects of fisheries and aquaculture practices on ecosystem functioning

Conservation, Restoration, and Sustainable Management

• Aquatic habitat conservation and biodiversity protection
• Restoration of degraded freshwater, coastal, and marine ecosystems
• Invasive species and ecological recovery
• Integrated watershed and coastal management
• Environmental assessment, conservation planning, and management strategies

Environmental Monitoring and Emerging Methods

• Remote sensing and geographic information systems in aquatic research
• Environmental modelling and predictive assessment
• Field monitoring, laboratory analysis, and ecological indicators
• Innovative technologies for aquatic observation and management

Interdisciplinary Contributions

The journal also considers interdisciplinary studies connecting aquatic sciences with environmental policy, socio-economic dimensions of water management, community-based conservation, and sustainable development, provided that the manuscript makes a clear and substantial contribution to aquatic or environmental research.

Types of Contributions

The journal considers original research articles, review articles, and other scholarly article types explicitly permitted by its author guidelines.

Scope and Editorial Suitability

Manuscripts must demonstrate a clear connection to the journal’s stated subject areas and offer a meaningful scholarly contribution. Submissions that are outside the scope, lack sufficient scientific support, or do not meet the journal’s minimum standards of research quality may be declined before external peer review.