Springer, one of the leading STM publishers, is launching a new journal, Theoretical Ecology, to be published quarterly from 2008. The journal will use theoretical approaches to answer questions of ecological interest and will appeal to a broad audience of ecologists. The official launch of the journal will take place at the ESA/SER (Ecological Society of America/Society for Ecological Restoration International) Joint Meeting in San Jose, CA, from 5 August to 10 August 2007.

Theoretical Ecology will provide for the in-depth discussion of theoretical research in all areas of ecology, including ecophysiology, population ecology, behavioral ecology, evolutionary ecology, ecosystem ecology, community ecology, as well as ecosystem and landscape ecology. Theoretical papers that focus on applied ecological questions will also be featured, for example the development of ecological theory for resolving societal problems. Categories of papers will include original papers, reviews, and rapid communications. Editor-in-Chief is Alan Hastings, winner of the 2006 Robert H. MacArthur Award for his outstanding contributions in ecology.

Tamara Welschot, Publishing Editor, Environmental Sciences at Springer, said, There is currently no journal in the field of ecology which publishes theoretical work. We are confident that researchers will welcome this forum. Theoretical Ecology will offer a healthy balance between theory, concepts and modeling, and will foster communication between theoreticians and experimental and field ecologists.

Alan Hastings, Editor-in-Chief, said, Theoretical ecology has truly come of age, as the importance and influence of work in this area continues to grow. The time is ripe for a journal in this area, and Theoretical Ecology is designed to fill this need. The audience will include all ecologists and other scientists as well.