Molecular Ecology
Volume 33, Issue 13 e17381
EDITORIAL
Free Access

Mini Reviews: A new manuscript category for summarizing emerging topics

Joanna Freeland, 

Corresponding Author

Joanna Freeland

Department of Biology, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

Correspondence

Joanna Freeland, Department of Biology, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.

Email: [email protected]

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Ben Sibbett, 

Ben Sibbett

Wiley, Chichester, UK

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Loren Rieseberg, 

Loren Rieseberg

Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

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First published: 05 June 2024
https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.17381

Molecular Ecology (MEC) publishes cutting-edge research that utilizes molecular genetic techniques to address consequential questions in ecology, evolution, behaviour and conservation. Molecular Ecology Resources (MER), our companion journal, publishes methodological papers including analytical methods and genome resources that facilitate research within this field. In addition, both journals publish Invited Reviews (MEC) or Invited Technical Reviews (MER). Review articles provide valuable ‘one stop’ overviews of complex topics, and can also introduce new perspectives that emerge from broad analyses.

While the benefits of review articles are clear, on some occasions we receive enquiries about potential review article topics that, although interesting and relevant, are insufficient for a full review. We are therefore introducing a new manuscript category: ‘Mini Reviews’. These are concise summaries of recent insights or advances in research areas applicable to Molecular Ecology or Molecular Ecology Resources. The focus of a Mini Review may include—but is not limited to—the following:
  • A new topic or research area for which there is not yet sufficient data for a full review (MEC).
  • A focused overview of a niche topic (MEC).
  • Best practices for a particular technique or analysis (MER).
  • Emerging techniques that have been adopted relatively recently (MER).
  • Older techniques with novel applications (MER).
  • A novel insight or perspective on a topic that has previously been reviewed (MEC).
  • A connection between two or more topics that have previously been addressed in isolation (MEC).
  • The development of a novel hypothesis that could frame future research (MEC).

Mini Reviews will not normally exceed 3000 words with a maximum of two figures or tables, although authors can request modifications to these guidelines if appropriate. A Mini Review should provide a brief background, a summary of the research conducted so far, and recommendations for future investigations and applications that will increase our understanding or utilization of the topic. We will consider unsolicited Mini Reviews, although we encourage interested authors to contact the Editorial Office prior to submission: [email protected]. Owing to the novelty and relative brevity of Mini Reviews, we will aim for short turn-around times in assessing and reviewing these papers. We look forward to receiving cutting-edge insightful Mini Reviews that will be of great interest to readers of MEC and MER.

    The full text of this article hosted at iucr.org is unavailable due to technical difficulties.