How to contribute as a peer reviewer
To allow objective and standardised revision of manuscripts Abc Taxa has developed an instruction for referees document that can be downloaded here.
Each referee is asked to conscientiously fill in all the sections on the instructions for referees form. At the same time we encourage peers to annotate the manuscript under review with more detailed comments. The latter is preferentially done electronically. Comments on the manuscript may also be added on the hard copy of the manuscript, preferably in red ink.
To avoid unneeded delay in the publication of appropriate manuscripts, we ask the referees to send their peer review back to the responsible series editor within one month, preferably by email.
The responsible editor will then transfer the referee’s criticism to the author(s) who may accept or refute the peers’ comments. In the latter case, the author(s) must provide argumentation to the responsible editor who will take the final decision (eventually after discussion with the peer).
Upon acceptance for publication, the full coordinates of the peer referee will be listed on the Abc Taxa website.
Peer referees will be invited to write 15 to 20 lines of text that stress the importance of the volume of Abc Taxa that they refereed. This text, signed by the peer referee will figure on the back cover of the particular volume of Abc Taxa. If the peer referee does not respond to this invitation the responsible editor will either write this explicative text himself or search for another expert.
Peer referees will receive two free copies of the volume they have refereed as soon as the volume is released.
At no time will peers be financially rewarded for their work.
