Publication Ethics

Our Commitment to Ethical Standards

Fungal Taxa: Systematics & Evolution is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics and integrity. Ethical publishing is essential for safeguarding the credibility of the taxonomic and evolutionary record. Our policies ensure fairness, transparency, and accountability for authors, reviewers, and editors, while promoting responsible research practices within the mycological and broader biological community.

Adherence to COPE Guidelines

The journal follows the principles and guidelines developed by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). In cases of suspected misconduct or disputes, the editorial team is guided by COPE flowcharts to ensure impartial, objective, and systematic resolution.

Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting manuscripts to Fungal Taxa: Systematics & Evolution are expected to observe the following principles:

● Authorship and Contributions: Only individuals who have made significant contributions to the research should be listed as authors. Each submission must include a statement of individual author contributions. Authorship disputes will be handled according to COPE guidance.
● Originality and Plagiarism: Submissions must represent original work and may not be under consideration elsewhere. Duplicate submission is prohibited. All manuscripts are screened for plagiarism.
● Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest: Authors must declare any financial, professional, or personal relationships that could be perceived as conflicts of interest.
● Data, Specimen, and Material Sharing: Authors must ensure that type specimens of newly described taxa are deposited in recognized herbaria, fungaria, or culture collections, and that DNA sequence data are deposited in public repositories such as GenBank. Fungal Taxa: Systematics & Evolution also encourages sharing of supplementary datasets and materials, in compliance with national and international regulations.
● Nomenclatural Compliance: All new names must comply with the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICNafp). Registration of new taxa and typifications in MycoBank is mandatory, with accession numbers included in the manuscript. Cross-checks with Index Fungorum are encouraged to prevent duplication.
 

Definition of Scientific Misconduct

The journal actively seeks to prevent the publication of manuscripts where misconduct has occurred. Misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

● Plagiarism: Using the words, data, or ideas of others without proper attribution, including self-plagiarism.
● Fabrication and Falsification: Invention or manipulation of data, images, or results to misrepresent findings.
● Duplicate Publication: Republishing the same work in multiple journals without disclosure or justification.
● Authorship Misconduct: Inappropriate assignment of authorship, including honorary (guest) authorship or omission of contributors.
● Peer Review Manipulation: Attempts to compromise the review process, such as suggesting false reviewers or interfering with editorial decisions.

Procedures for Handling Misconduct

Fungal Taxa: Systematics & Evolution treats all allegations of misconduct with seriousness and fairness.

● Reporting Misconduct: Readers, authors, and reviewers are encouraged to report suspected misconduct directly to the Editorial Office.
● Investigation: Complaints are investigated promptly by the editorial team. Complainants receive an interim acknowledgment within three working days.
● Resolution: The Editor-in-Chief, guided by COPE recommendations, makes the final decision. Possible outcomes include corrections, expressions of concern, or formal retraction of published work. Any editor or board member found complicit in unethical practices will be removed.