Complaints and appeals policy

Acta Zoológica Mexicana (n.s.) is committed to maintaining a fair, transparent, and ethical editorial process. We recognize the right of authors, reviewers, and readers to submit complaints or appeals related to editorial decisions or the publication process. Our complaints and appeals policy is based on the following principles:

Types of Complaints and Appeals
Complaints or appeals may be submitted regarding the following matters:

  • Editorial Decisions: Appeals concerning manuscript rejections, conditional acceptances, or any other editorial decision that the author considers unjust or based on an error.
  • Editorial Conduct: Complaints related to the behavior of the editorial team, reviewers, or any individual involved in the publication process, including undeclared conflicts of interest, bias, or lack of professionalism.
  • Peer Review Process: Complaints about the quality of reviews, unjustified delays, or any irregularities in the peer review process.
  • Plagiarism or Ethical Misconduct: Complaints regarding potential cases of plagiarism, data fabrication, falsification, or any other form of ethical misconduct in published or under-review articles.

Procedure for Submitting a Complaint or Appeal

  • Initial Communication: The complaint or appeal must be submitted in writing to the Editor-in-Chief of Acta Zoológica Mexicana (n.s.) via the journal’s official email address (acta.zoologica@inecol.mx). The message should be clear and concise, detailing the nature of the complaint or appeal and including any relevant supporting evidence.
  • Acknowledgment of Receipt: An acknowledgment of receipt will be sent to the complainant within [specify number] business days, confirming that the complaint or appeal has been received.
  • Internal Review: The Editor-in-Chief, in consultation with the editorial team and, if necessary, members of the Editorial Board or external experts, will review the complaint or appeal. Additional information may be requested from the complainant or other involved parties.
  • Resolution: The complainant will be informed of the resolution within [specify number] weeks. The decision will be final and communicated clearly and with justification.

Principles for Handling Complaints and Appeals

  • Confidentiality: All complaints and appeals will be handled with the utmost confidentiality, protecting the identity of all parties involved unless disclosure is necessary for investigation or resolution.
  • Impartiality: The review process will be impartial and objective, based on evidence and the journal’s editorial policies.
  • Transparency: Transparency will be maintained throughout the process, with clear communication of the steps taken and the rationale behind decisions.
  • Adherence to COPE: Acta Zoológica Mexicana (n.s.) follows the guidelines and recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) in handling complaints and appeals, ensuring the application of international best practices in editorial integrity.

This policy aims to ensure that all concerns are addressed fairly and efficiently, contributing to trust and credibility in the publication process of Acta Zoológica Mexicana (n.s.).

 

Conflict of Interest Policy
Acta Zoológica Mexicana (n.s.) is committed to ensuring the integrity and objectivity of its editorial process and publications. Conflicts of interest may arise when an individual’s personal, academic, political, financial, or commercial interests could influence their actions or judgments during the publication process. To maintain transparency and trust, the journal has established the following conflict of interest policy:

Definition of Conflict of Interest
A conflict of interest occurs when an author, reviewer, or editor has financial or personal relationships, or affiliations, that could inappropriately influence their judgment or the perception of their judgment. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Financial interests: Employment, consultancies, stock ownership, honoraria, patents, grants, or other funding.
  • Personal interests: Family relationships, close friendships, rivalries, or personal animosities.
  • Academic interests: Supervisory relationships, mentorships, prior collaborations, or direct competition.
  • Institutional interests: Affiliation with an institution that could benefit from or be affected by the publication.

Declaration of Conflicts of Interest

  • Authors: All authors must disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest at the time of manuscript submission. This declaration should include any financial or personal relationships that could influence the results or interpretations of their work. If no conflicts exist, authors must explicitly state this.
  • Reviewers: Reviewers must disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest before accepting to review a manuscript. If a reviewer has a conflict that could affect their objectivity, they should decline the invitation or inform the editor so that an alternative reviewer can be assigned.
  • Editors: Editors must disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest related to the manuscripts they handle. If an editor has a conflict of interest, they must recuse themselves from the editorial decision and delegate responsibility to another member of the editorial team.

Management of Conflicts of Interest
The editorial team of Acta Zoológica Mexicana (n.s.) will review all conflict of interest declarations and take appropriate measures to mitigate any undue influence. These may include:

  • Excluding a reviewer or editor from evaluating a specific manuscript.
  • Publishing the authors’ conflict of interest statement alongside the article.
  • Requesting clarifications or additional information regarding declared conflicts.

Commitment to Transparency
Acta Zoológica Mexicana (n.s.) adheres to the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) in managing conflicts of interest. Transparency in the disclosure and management of such conflicts is essential to maintaining the scientific community’s trust in the integrity of our publications.