We are pleased to announce that Prof. Dr. Bror Jonsson has been appointed Editor-in-Chief of the Section “Biology and Ecology” in Fishes (ISSN: 2410-3888).

The following is a short Q&A with Prof. Dr. Bror Jonsson, who shared his vision for the journal with us, as well as his view of the research area and open access publishing:

1. What appealed to you about the journal that made you want to take the role as its Section Editor-in-Chief?

During the last 30 years, I have been a member of editorial boards of several ecological and biological journals, and I really like reviewing and editing scientific manuscripts to make them clearer, more informative and useful for an international readership. I like the journal Fishes for accepting such a wide variety of manuscripts from genetics, physiology and toxicology to systematics, ecology, fisheries science and conservation of ecosystems and species.

2. What does the future of this field of research look like?

I feel that the effects on organisms of environmental problems, such as climate change and pollution, will be even more pressing in the future. I assume that these effects will influence many of the future submissions within the fields of biology and ecology. These environmental problems affect all ontogenetic stages from eggs to adults and influence life histories in a variety of ways because of evolutionary selection, epigenetics and phenotypic plasticity. We have only seen the beginning of the research on these ecological effects. Earlier, a large part of the ecological literature was based on field studies, but there is a trend towards more experimental studies and a combination of the two, as well as analyses of time series to detect causes and effects in aquatic systems. I think this is the way future research in this field will grow.

3. What is your vision for the journal?

Because of its wide scope, I assume the journal will grow quickly, given that prominent scientists find it attractive. The present Editorial Board will do its best to increase its attractiveness. It is self-evident that good papers from eminent scientists are the fastest way to success for a scientific journal, and I assume that Fishes will increase its efforts to attract good researchers.

4. What do you think of the development of open access in the publishing field?

Open access is mandatory for the dissemination of results from research work financed by research councils, at least in many European countries. Scientists have presented different views on the need for open access publishing, but at present, open access publishing has become politically correct and is therefore the future for all scientific publishing. Typically, public money finances scientific research, and open presentation of the results seems correct.

We wish Prof. Dr. Jonsson every success both in his research and in the development of the Fishes journal.

Further details about the Editorial Board can be found at: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/fishes/editors.