WE cover
Editor-in-chief: Daniel Montesinos
Managing editor: Jutta Stadler
eISSN: 1399-1183

Web Ecology (WE) is an open-access journal issued by the European Ecological Federation (EEF), an organization representing the European ecological societies. Web Ecology publishes papers from all fields of ecology without any geographic restriction, but focused on the natural interactions that sustain communities, rather than on environmental policy or management. The journal is a forum to communicate results of experimental, theoretical, and descriptive studies of general interest to an international audience. Original contributions, short communications, and reviews on ecological research on all kinds of organisms and ecosystems are welcome, as well as papers that express emerging ideas and concepts with a sound scientific background. Papers must be original and not previously published in another journal. We also aim to serve as a publication forum for those European ecological societies that do not maintain their own society journal.

After 25 years (2000–2025) leading the Diamond Open Access model in the field of ecology (free to publish, free to read), Web Ecology's growth has required a transition to a conventional Gold Open Access model with moderate Article Processing Charges (APCs). Discounts (10%) are offered to members of any ecological society member of the EEF, and waivers can be requested according to the financial support policy.

Highlight articles

04 Dec 2025
Identifying refugia from the synergistic threats of climate change and invasive species
Finnbar Lee, Ian A. K. Kusabs, George L. W. Perry, and Calum MacNeil
Web Ecol., 25, 221–239, https://doi.org/10.5194/we-25-221-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/we-25-221-2025, 2025
Short summary
05 Feb 2025
Biodiversity futures: digital approaches to knowledge and conservation of biological diversity
Helena Freitas and António C. Gouveia
Web Ecol., 25, 29–37, https://doi.org/10.5194/we-25-29-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/we-25-29-2025, 2025
Short summary
28 Nov 2024
Low-intensity insect herbivory could have large effects on ecosystem productivity through reduced canopy photosynthesis
Kristiina Visakorpi, Sofia Gripenberg, Yadvinder Malhi, and Terhi Riutta
Web Ecol., 24, 97–113, https://doi.org/10.5194/we-24-97-2024,https://doi.org/10.5194/we-24-97-2024, 2024
Short summary
04 Oct 2023
Pollination supply models from a local to global scale
Angel Giménez-García, Alfonso Allen-Perkins, Ignasi Bartomeus, Stefano Balbi, Jessica L. Knapp, Violeta Hevia, Ben Alex Woodcock, Guy Smagghe, Marcos Miñarro, Maxime Eeraerts, Jonathan F. Colville, Juliana Hipólito, Pablo Cavigliasso, Guiomar Nates-Parra, José M. Herrera, Sarah Cusser, Benno I. Simmons, Volkmar Wolters, Shalene Jha, Breno M. Freitas, Finbarr G. Horgan, Derek R. Artz, C. Sheena Sidhu, Mark Otieno, Virginie Boreux, David J. Biddinger, Alexandra-Maria Klein, Neelendra K. Joshi, Rebecca I. A. Stewart, Matthias Albrecht, Charlie C. Nicholson, Alison D. O'Reilly, David William Crowder, Katherine L. W. Burns, Diego Nicolás Nabaes Jodar, Lucas Alejandro Garibaldi, Louis Sutter, Yoko L. Dupont, Bo Dalsgaard, Jeferson Gabriel da Encarnação Coutinho, Amparo Lázaro, Georg K. S. Andersson, Nigel E. Raine, Smitha Krishnan, Matteo Dainese, Wopke van der Werf, Henrik G. Smith, and Ainhoa Magrach
Web Ecol., 23, 99–129, https://doi.org/10.5194/we-23-99-2023,https://doi.org/10.5194/we-23-99-2023, 2023
Short summary
29 Mar 2023
Plant spatial aggregation modulates the interplay between plant competition and pollinator attraction with contrasting outcomes of plant fitness
María Hurtado, Oscar Godoy, and Ignasi Bartomeus
Web Ecol., 23, 51–69, https://doi.org/10.5194/we-23-51-2023,https://doi.org/10.5194/we-23-51-2023, 2023
Short summary

News

07 May 2026 Temporary unavailability of article and preprint PDFs due to technical issues

Since Tuesday, 5 May, 06:30 CET, we have been experiencing technical issues caused by high demand on our systems, which have significantly affected our journal libraries. To maintain platform stability and ensure continued access to critical services, all preprint and journal article PDFs were temporarily restricted, while HTML full-text content and XML files remained available. Since Thursday, 7 May, 08:30 CET, we have made the preprint PDFs available again; however, journal article PDFs remain restricted until the technical issues have been resolved. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience as we work to restore full PDF access as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

07 May 2026 Temporary unavailability of article and preprint PDFs due to technical issues

Since Tuesday, 5 May, 06:30 CET, we have been experiencing technical issues caused by high demand on our systems, which have significantly affected our journal libraries. To maintain platform stability and ensure continued access to critical services, all preprint and journal article PDFs were temporarily restricted, while HTML full-text content and XML files remained available. Since Thursday, 7 May, 08:30 CET, we have made the preprint PDFs available again; however, journal article PDFs remain restricted until the technical issues have been resolved. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience as we work to restore full PDF access as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

03 Dec 2025 New MS Word template available for manuscript preparation

The existing MS Word template for authors has been significantly expanded and now includes many important notes on the standard sections that must be included in the manuscript. Please visit the "Submission" page, section "Templates for your manuscript file" and download the new template before writing your next manuscript.

03 Dec 2025 New MS Word template available for manuscript preparation

The existing MS Word template for authors has been significantly expanded and now includes many important notes on the standard sections that must be included in the manuscript. Please visit the "Submission" page, section "Templates for your manuscript file" and download the new template before writing your next manuscript.

06 Mar 2025 Get involved, become a referee, and help shape WE's community publication output

We are pleased to announce that a new referee application form is now available. This means that if you are interested in contributing to the peer-review process and supporting high-quality scientific publishing in your community then you can apply today to become a referee. Your expertise can make a difference. Visit the online form here to learn more and join our reviewer community.

06 Mar 2025 Get involved, become a referee, and help shape WE's community publication output

We are pleased to announce that a new referee application form is now available. This means that if you are interested in contributing to the peer-review process and supporting high-quality scientific publishing in your community then you can apply today to become a referee. Your expertise can make a difference. Visit the online form here to learn more and join our reviewer community.

Notice on APC invoices

In accordance with current European restrictions, Copernicus Publications does not step into business relations with and issue APC invoices (articles processing charges) to Russian and Belarusian institutions. The peer-review process and scientific exchange of our journals including preprint posting is not affected. However, these restrictions require that the first contact (contractual partner of Copernicus) has an affiliation and invoice address outside Russia or Belarus.