Functional Ecology Template
Get your Functional Ecology paper right the first time: a ready-made structure with the right abstract and citations, so editors see your science, not formatting slips.
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How to Use the Functional Ecology Template | A Step-by-Step Guide
Authored by Sumalatha Gangadhar | Published on 25 July, 2026
Submitting to Functional Ecology goes smoothly when your draft already matches the journal's own rules. Editors screen new manuscripts against the Functional Ecology guide for authors before peer review, so formatting, structure, and required statements should be right on the first draft rather than repaired during upload. This template sets that structure up for you.
What is the Functional Ecology Template?
It is a manuscript shell aligned to Functional Ecology. It covers front matter, the abstract the journal expects, a body organized to the journal's article types, and a reference list in the journal's required style. Confirm current scope and article types on the Functional Ecology journal page before you draft.
What's actually in a FE submission:
Prepare the title, authors, affiliations, and ORCID iDs. Write the abstract to the journal's rule and word limit, organize the body to the article type, and apply the required reference style from the first citation. Complete every declaration (ethics, competing interests, funding, data availability) the Functional Ecology guide for authors lists, and cite figures and tables in order.
What separates a clean submission from one that gets kicked back:
The common failure modes are formatting or reference style that does not match the guide for authors, missing required statements, and an incomplete portal checklist. Clear all three against the Functional Ecology guide for authors before you submit.
What does this Functional Ecology Template include?
The shell mirrors what editorial staff check first: article-type fit, the abstract rules, required declarations, and the journal's reference style. For more detail see the author resources. When your draft is ready, upload it through ScholarOne / Research Exchange.
Steps to Use This Template with Scispace Agent
- Click Start Writing on this page. The Scispace Agent prompt screen opens with the template loaded.
- Use the loaded template, or upload a version your group already uses for FE.
- Edit the prompt with your topic and article type, and note any requirement from the Functional Ecology guide for authors.
- Run the prompt. The agent drafts into the correct structure and reference style.
- Use View Outputs to verify required statements and formatting are present.
- Export and submit through ScholarOne / Research Exchange.
Functional Ecology Template Structure at a Glance
| Element | FE requirement |
|---|---|
| Abstract | The abstract should not exceed 350 words and should list the main results and conclusions, using simple, factual, numbered statements. The abstract must be numbered according to journal style. Research articles use a structured, numbered format. |
| Main text | Section order and length per article type |
| Declarations | Ethics, competing interests, funding, data as required |
| Figures/tables | Publication-ready; cited in order |
| Supplemental | Upload separately when used |
| Keywords | A list in alphabetical order not exceeding eight words or short phrases |
| References | Author-date method (Harvard style): in-text citations follow author-date format with author's last name and year (e.g., Jones, 1998). Complete reference list appears alphabetically by name at end of paper. DOI should be provided for all references where available. No reformatting required during initial submission or peer review. |
| Peer review | Double-anonymous peer review (also called double-blind peer review). Based on trial results, Functional Ecology transitioned to mandatory double-anonymous peer review where reviewers do not know the identities of authors and vice-versa. Editors, Associate Editors, and Editorial office are able to see author identities. |
| Submission | authorservices.wiley.com |
Quick Tips for Using the Functional Ecology Template
Read the Functional Ecology guide for authors once before drafting and once before upload. Draft the abstract after results are stable. Set the reference style before adding citations. Keep a cover letter that states your contribution and fit to Functional Ecology in under a page.
Best Practices
Skim two or three recent FE papers to calibrate depth and figure style. Make the novelty clear in the first two pages. Deposit data and code when the policy on the Functional Ecology journal page requires it. Disclose any preprint or conference version with identifiers in the cover letter.
Before You Submit: Final Check
Do one focused pass against the Functional Ecology guide for authors: scope, length, reference style, required declarations, and figure quality. Then submit through ScholarOne / Research Exchange.
