About the Journal

Aims & Scope

The Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals (LAJAM) publishes peer reviewed articles on the research, management and conservation biology of aquatic mammals in Latin America. Articles on theory or techniques broadly applicable to aquatic mammals will also be considered, even when the research has taken place outside Latin America.

Page Charges

There are no page charges for authors to publish in LAJAM.

Peer Review Process

A minimum of three reviewers are assigned to each manuscript. At least one of the reviewers should be a native English speaker. Reviewers are asked to return their completed report and comments to the authors within three weeks from the time they agree to complete the review.

Publication Frequency

LAJAM is published biannually, in April and October

Open Access Policy

This journal provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge. Unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium is permitted, provided the original work is properly cited. Open access is provided under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution License.

Language

Since its inception LAJAM has used English as its language in publication. English is also used in all official communications between editors, authors and reviewers. The reasons for publishing in English include:

• Although Spanish and Portuguese are the predominant languages in much of Latin America, interactions between speakers of these two related but distinct languages often becomes difficult when dealing with important issues, making it necessary to use another language such as English as the "lingua franca".
• Editors and manuscript reviewers working for the journal hail from many parts of the world and often English is the only language common to reviewers, authors and editors.
• English has become the universal language of science. By publishing in English LAJAM will be able to reach the international scientific community and achieve its greatest impact.
• Thomson Reuters focuses on journals that publish in English among its criteria for inclusion in the Science Citation Index.

Consultation with the membership of SOLAMAC has indicated that using English as the publication language is widely supported.

Sponsors

Since its beginning LAJAM has been generously sponsored by:

• Yaqu Pacha (Germany)

Sources of Support

LAJAM has received additional support from:

• U.S. Marine Mammal Commission
• Cetacean Society International
• Wildlife Conservation Society
• International Whaling Commission
• Instituto Aqualie
• Petrobras
• Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Brazil)
• Andrews University (Michigan, USA)

Journal History

Founding

Since the creation of the Sociedad Latinoamericana de Especialistas en Mamíferos Acuáticos (SOLAMAC) in 1994-1996 there had been discussion about the need for a scientific journal where members of the Society could publish their academic work. However, it was not until 2000 that LAJAM was formally founded following the momentum created by the "IV Workshop for the Coordination of Research and Conservation of Franciscana in the Southwest Atlantic," held in November of that year in Porto Alegre, Brazil. At that workshop Salvatore Siciliano revived the idea of the creation of a journal as an outlet for the publication of the proceedings of the meeting. The journal was to be based in of Rio de Janeiro where Salvatore could oversee its creation and Eduardo Secchi would serve as Guest Editor. Thus, in 2002 the "Special Issue on the Biology and Conservation of Franciscana, including the Report of the Fourth Workshop for the Coordinated Research and Conservation of the Franciscana Dolphin (Pontoporia blainvillei) in the Western South Atlantic" was published as Vol. 1, No. 1.

The publication was well received by SOLAMAC members and it was agreed that Salvatore would become the Managing Editor and that Eduardo would stay on as Editor-in-Chief, with the support of a diverse Editorial Board. The production costs were to be financed by Yaqu Pacha (Germany), with additional support from Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Brazil).

In 2004, at the 5^th SOLAMAC Congress in Quito, Ecuador, it was agreed that LAJAM would be jointly published by SOLAMAC and SOMEMMA (Sociedad Mexicana de Mastozoología Marina), arrangement that persisted through 2017.

In 2007 Nélio Barros became co-Editor-in-Chief and in 2008 he took over as Editor-in-Chief, when Daniel Palacios became his co-Editor-in-Chief. Nélio served in LAJAM's Board until his death in early 2010. Daniel Palacios started serving as Editor-in-Chief then, until 2015, when Miriam Marmontel took over the role.

In 2011 LAJAM ceased its print version and became an online-only publication, using PKP's Open Journal Systems. To this end, LAJAM acquired an online ISSN (through IBICT, the Instituto Brasileiro de Informação em Ciência e Tecnologia) and a DOI prefix (through CrossRef).

About Our Logo

The franciscana (Pontoporia blainvillei) is a small dolphin endemic to coastal Atlantic waters of southeastern South America. The species is of particular conservation concern because of its restricted distribution and vulnerability to incidental capture in fishing gear. Our logo is a stylized drawing of franciscana, an emblematic species embodying the conservation issues of many Latin American aquatic mammals. This image graced the cover of the first published issue of LAJAM in 2002, a special on the biology and conservation of franciscana.