Bridging complex ecological theory with pressing environmental challenges for over three decades
Imagine scientists grappling with a sudden invasion of alien species in a local forest, or urban planners trying to design a city that breathes like a living ecosystem. Where do they turn for insights? For over three decades, The Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology has served as a critical bridge between complex ecological theory and the pressing environmental challenges of the real world.
This article delves into the character and classification of this key journal, revealing how it organizes and directs the flow of knowledge that helps us better understand and protect our world.
The Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology is a premier scientific publication, founded in 1991 and sponsored by the Chinese Ecological Society and the Shenyang Institute of Applied Ecology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences1 . Its central mission is to publish high-quality research that connects ecological science to practical applications.
The journal's scope is remarkably broad, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of modern ecology. Its pages are filled with research reports, reviews, and commentaries spanning dozens of critical fields1 :
It covers traditional branches like forest ecology, agricultural ecology, and grassland ecology, which form the bedrock of understanding terrestrial ecosystems.
It explores domains where human and natural systems collide, such as urban ecology, pollution ecology, and global change ecology.
A significant focus is placed on fields that design solutions, including ecological engineering, restoration ecology, and ecological planning and design.
The journal also stays at the cutting edge with topics like bioinvasion ecology, tourism ecology, and epidemiological ecology1 .
To navigate the vast universe of academic literature, journals are categorized and ranked based on their influence and specialization. The Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology is indexed in major international databases, including Scopus and the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE)3 . Its current SCImago Journal Rank (SJR) is 0.328, placing it in the Q3 quartile for the subject categories of Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, and Ecology1 3 .
The journal's impact has seen notable trends over the years. The table below tracks its recent trajectory, showing a steady rise in its SJR indicator after 20151 .
| Year | SJR Score | Quartile (Ecology) |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 0.221 | Q3 |
| 2016 | 0.212 | Q4 |
| 2020 | 0.295 | Q3 |
| 2024 | 0.328 | Q3 |
Another indicator, the h-index of 55, reveals that 55 of the articles it has published have each been cited at least 55 times, demonstrating a sustained output of influential research1 3 .
How does a journal covering such diverse topics get classified? The answer lies in sophisticated systems used by global databases to map the landscape of knowledge.
Scopus, one of the largest abstract and citation databases, uses the All Science Journal Classification (ASJC), a hierarchical system with hundreds of "minor" subject categories9 . A key feature of this system is that a single journal can be, and often is, assigned to multiple subject categories.
For instance, a study on the effects of pesticides on soil microbes might belong to both "Agronomy and Crop Science" and "Soil Science." This multiple-category scheme reflects the deeply interconnected nature of modern research.
Researchers have developed tools to measure how "specialized" or "dominant" a journal is within its assigned categories. One such metric is the Dominance Index (DOMI)9 . In this context, DOMI is calculated as the ratio of the number of journals (J) in a filtered category to the total number of subject category instances (SC) assigned to those journals.
A higher DOMI value (closer to 1) indicates a more specialized field where journals tend to be clustered tightly within a few categories. A lower value suggests a more interdisciplinary field, where the knowledge draws from a wider array of subject categories9 .
This concept helps illustrate the bridging role that journals like the Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology play between different scientific domains.
Let's conceptualize a research experiment to analyze the subject category dominance of the Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology within the Scopus database.
Using the October 2022 Scopus journal list, we would first identify the Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology and note all the "minor" ASJC subject categories to which it is assigned (e.g., Ecology, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, etc.)9 .
We would then filter the entire Scopus database to create a dataset comprising all journals that share at least one subject category with the Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology. This gives us the journal's "intellectual network."
For this filtered dataset, we would calculate the key subject category indices9 :
The results of our hypothetical experiment would likely reveal the deeply integrative nature of applied ecology.
| Index | Symbol | Hypothetical Value | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Journals | J | 150 | A substantial network of peer journals. |
| Subject Category Instances | SC | 525 | Journals in this network are assigned many different categories. |
| Unique Subject Categories | USC | 45 | Knowledge is drawn from a very diverse set of fields. |
| Dominance Index | DOMI | 0.29 | Indicates low dominance and high interdisciplinarity. |
A low DOMI value would be a key finding. Unlike a highly specialized field like "Equine" studies (which had a DOMI of 0.64 in a similar study9 ), applied ecology thrives on its connections. This low dominance score perfectly captures the journal's core identity: it is a central node in a wide web of knowledge, linking insights from chemistry, social sciences, engineering, and biology to solve ecological problems.
Applied ecology employs various tools and concepts to address environmental challenges. Here are some key approaches used in the field:
Uses mathematical simulations to predict ecosystem responses to changes, such as climate change or new land-use policies.
A sophisticated metric used to evaluate journal influence, which accounts for differences in citation practices between fields3 .
Computer-based tools for mapping and analyzing phenomena on Earth's surface, crucial for landscape ecology and conservation planning.
A technique to assess the environmental impacts associated with a product or service, from raw material extraction to disposal.
The Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology is far more than a collection of academic papers. Through its broad thematic scope and its position within the interconnected network of scientific disciplines, it acts as a vital compass.
Its classification across multiple subjects and its likely low dominance index are not signs of a lack of focus, but rather proof of its essential role in a world where the most pressing challenges—from climate change to food security—refuse to stay within the neat boundaries of a single scientific discipline.
As these challenges grow, the integrative, solution-oriented science found in this journal will only become more indispensable.