At KAUPIA-DARMSTAEDTER BEITRAEGE ZUR NATURGESCHICHTICHTE, we uphold the highest ethical standards in our editorial practices. This page outlines our editorial policies to ensure transparency, integrity, and accountability in the publication process.

1. Editorial Independence

The editorial team operates independently of external influences, ensuring that all editorial decisions are made based solely on the quality and integrity of the submitted research.

2. Peer Review Policy

  • All submitted manuscripts undergo a rigorous double-blind peer review process.
  • Reviewers are selected based on their expertise in the relevant field and are required to provide unbiased feedback on the manuscripts.

3. Ethical Standards

Authors must adhere to ethical guidelines when conducting and reporting research, including:

  • Ensuring the integrity of the research process.
  • Avoiding plagiarism and properly citing all sources.
  • Disclosing any potential conflicts of interest.
  • Obtaining necessary approvals for studies involving human or animal subjects.

4. Authorship Criteria

  • All individuals listed as authors must have made significant contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the research.
  • All authors are responsible for ensuring the accuracy and integrity of the work.

5. Conflict of Interest

Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any financial or personal relationships that could influence their work. Manuscripts submitted without full disclosure of potential conflicts may be rejected.

6. Retraction Policy

  • If serious ethical breaches or errors are identified in published articles, a retraction may be issued.
  • The retraction process follows the guidelines set forth by COPE – Committee on Publication Ethics

7. Plagiarism Policy

  • All submitted manuscripts are screened for plagiarism using appropriate software.
  • Manuscripts found to contain plagiarized content will be rejected, and appropriate measures will be taken.

8. Editorial Board

Our editorial board comprises experts in various fields of natural history who are committed to maintaining the journal’s integrity and academic standards.