Draft for Methods in Ecology and Evolution with confidence. The template sets the correct structure, abstract, and references up front, so your manuscript clears editorial screening.
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Authored by Sumalatha Gangadhar | Published on 25 July, 2026
Submitting to Methods in Ecology and Evolution goes smoothly when your draft already matches the journal's own rules. Editors screen new manuscripts against the Methods in Ecology and Evolution 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.
It is a manuscript shell aligned to Methods in Ecology and Evolution. 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 Methods in Ecology and Evolution journal page before you draft.
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 Methods in Ecology and Evolution guide for authors lists, and cite figures and tables in order.
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 Methods in Ecology and Evolution guide for authors before you submit.
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.
| Element | MEE requirement |
|---|---|
| Abstract | Numbered 1-4 according to Manuscript Specifications; aim not to exceed 350 words. Should list the main results and conclusions, setting the context for and purpose of the work, indicating the approach and methods, outlining the main results and identifying the conclusions and the wider implications. Translated abstracts in any language can be published alongside articles. |
| 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 | Not exceeding 8 words or short phrases, listed in alphabetical order. The most important keywords should appear in the title, abstract, and keyword list. |
| References | Author-date method in-text (e.g., Jones, 1998). Complete reference list appears alphabetically by name at the end of the paper. DOI should be provided for all references where available. Surnames and initials for up to 20 authors should be provided. Publisher location is no longer included. |
| Peer review | Double-anonymous and transparent peer review model. Double-anonymous: both authors' and reviewers' identities are anonymous during the peer review process. Reviewers may still choose to sign their review. Transparent: Authors can opt out of transparent review during submission, and reviewers can decide whether their name appears alongside their report when published. If an article is accepted, the reviewer reports, authors' responses, and the editor's decision letter (including Associate Editor comments) will all be published on Publons and the published article will include a direct link to these review details. |
| Submission | authorservices.wiley.com |
Read the Methods in Ecology and Evolution 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 Methods in Ecology and Evolution in under a page.
Skim two or three recent MEE 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 Methods in Ecology and Evolution journal page requires it. Disclose any preprint or conference version with identifiers in the cover letter.
Do one focused pass against the Methods in Ecology and Evolution guide for authors: scope, length, reference style, required declarations, and figure quality. Then submit through ScholarOne / Research Exchange.