ACADEMIA Biota Nexus Journal (ABNJ) is a peer-reviewed, quarterly scholarly publication dedicated to the exploration and advancement of biological sciences. The journal serves as a global nexus for researchers, academics, and practitioners to share innovative findings and critical insights in biodiversity, ecology, biotechnology, environmental sciences, and related disciplines.
With a strong commitment to scientific integrity and knowledge dissemination, ABNJ publishes high-quality original research articles, reviews, and case studies that contribute to understanding biological systems, conservation efforts, and emerging biotechnological advancements. The journal follows a rigorous double-blind peer-review process to ensure the publication of impactful and credible research.
ACADEMIA Biota Nexus Journal aims to bridge gaps between fundamental research and applied sciences, fostering innovative solutions for global biological and environmental challenges.
ACADEMIA Biota Nexus Journal (ABNJ) aims to advance knowledge and innovation in the biological sciences by providing a rigorous, inclusive, and interdisciplinary platform for high-quality scholarly research. The journal seeks to bridge the gap between fundamental biological research and applied sciences, fostering scientific solutions to contemporary biological, ecological, and environmental challenges at local, regional, and global levels.
ABNJ is committed to:
Through a strict blind peer-review process, the journal ensures the publication of credible, impactful, and ethically sound research.
ABNJ publishes original research articles, review papers, short communications, and case studies across a broad range of biological sciences, including but not limited to:
The journal particularly welcomes studies that integrate biological sciences with environmental management, environmental policy, and biological sciences.
By serving as a global nexus for biological knowledge, ACADEMIA Biota Nexus Journal (ABNJ) aspires to contribute meaningfully to scientific progress, environmental stewardship, and the responsible application of biological research for the benefit of society.
The ACADEMIA Biota Nexus Journal is a fully open-access journal, meaning all content is freely available to users and their institutions. Users are allowed to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of the articles, or use them for any other lawful purpose, without asking prior permission from the publisher or the author. All published articles are immediately and permanently available online without subscription or access barriers.
All content is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). Authors retain copyright and grant the journal the right of first publication.
Under CC BY 4.0, users may read, download, copy, distribute, print, share, adapt, and reuse the content for any lawful purpose, provided proper attribution is given to the original authors.
ABNJ does not impose any embargo period on published content.
Upholding Scientific Integrity
ACADEMIA Biota Nexus Journal (ABNJ) is firmly committed to academic honesty, ethical scholarship, and the protection of original scientific contributions. Plagiarism, whether intentional or unintentional, undermines research integrity and erodes trust within the scientific community. Therefore, ABNJ enforces a strict zero-tolerance policy against all forms of plagiarism.
What Constitutes Plagiarism
Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, direct plagiarism, which involves copying text, figures, tables, or other content from previously published work without proper citation or quotation; improper paraphrasing, where another author’s ideas, methods, or findings are rewritten without appropriate acknowledgment; self-plagiarism, which refers to republishing one’s own previously published work in whole or in part without proper disclosure or citation; and unauthorized data use, including the use of datasets, images, figures, or graphical material without permission or proper reference.
Similarity Thresholds
ABNJ applies a maximum similarity threshold of 19%. Although the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan allows similarity levels of up to 19%, ABNJ enforces a stricter limit to promote originality and uphold high ethical standards in scientific publishing.
Plagiarism Detection and Author Responsibility
All manuscripts submitted to ABNJ are screened using recognized plagiarism-detection software such as Turnitin or equivalent tools. Authors bear full responsibility for the originality and authenticity of their submissions. Manuscripts exceeding the allowable similarity threshold are flagged and subjected to detailed editorial evaluation.
Handling of Plagiarism Cases
Minor overlap, such as missing or improper citations, may result in the manuscript being returned to the authors for correction and resubmission. Major plagiarism, including extensive or deliberate copying, will lead to immediate rejection or post-publication retraction. Repeated offenses or severe misconduct may result in blacklisting of the author or authors and notification of their affiliated institutions.
Author Declaration of Originality
All authors are required to submit a signed Statement of Originality confirming that the manuscript is original, unpublished, and not under consideration elsewhere; that all sources and references are properly cited; and that the work is free from plagiarism, including self-plagiarism.
Policy on AI-Generated Content
ABNJ does not permit the use of generative artificial intelligence tools, including but not limited to ChatGPT, Bard, or Gemini, for creating, analyzing, interpreting, or drafting scientific content. Submissions containing AI-generated text, data interpretation, or analysis will be rejected or retracted. All submitted work must reflect authentic human scholarship, scientific reasoning, and research expertise.
Appeals Process
Authors who believe a plagiarism-related decision was made in error may submit a formal written appeal to the ABNJ Editorial Office. The manuscript will be re-evaluated by the Editorial Board or an independent review panel. Decisions resulting from the appeals process are final and binding.
Retraction and Transparency
In cases where plagiarism results in retraction, ABNJ will publish a formal retraction notice clearly stating the reason. The original article will remain accessible but will be clearly marked as retracted for transparency. Relevant indexing and abstracting services will be notified to preserve the integrity of the scholarly record.
Ethical Alignment
This policy is aligned with the principles and guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). By enforcing this policy, ACADEMIA Biota Nexus Journal (ABNJ) ensures the integrity, authenticity, and ethical soundness of every article it publishes in the fields of biological and environmental sciences.
Biota Nexus is committed to the long-term preservation and accessibility of published scholarly content.
The journal utilizes the PKP Preservation Network (PKP PN) and other preservation mechanisms available through the Open Journal Systems (OJS) platform to ensure permanent accessibility of published articles.
Regular backups of journal data, articles, metadata, and system files are maintained to safeguard against accidental loss.
Published content remains freely available and permanently accessible through the journal website.
If the journal ceases publication, all published content will remain accessible through preservation services and institutional archives whenever possible.
At ABNJ, we are committed to the highest standards of academic rigor, ethical responsibility and scientific relevance. The peer review process is central to ensuring that all published research is original, methodologically sound, ethically compliant, and scientifically impactful. All submitted manuscripts undergo a blind peer review process to uphold objectivity and fairness.
Author Anonymity: Reviewers are not provided with the identity of the authors.
Reviewer Anonymity: Authors do not know the identity of reviewers.
This double-blind approach guarantees that evaluations are based purely on scientific merit, without influence from the authors' affiliations, background, or nationality.
Once submitted through the ABNJ online portal, each manuscript is assessed by the editorial office for:
Relevance to biological and environmental sciences
Adherence to formatting and submission requirements
Ethical approval for research involving animals, humans, or sensitive data
Plagiarism screening using Turnitin or similar tools (≤19% similarity index required)
Submissions that fail to meet the baseline standards are desk-rejected without external review.
After the internal review, eligible manuscripts are sent to at least two independent reviewers who are selected based on:
Subject-matter expertise in biology, ecology, biotechnology, zoology, botany, etc.
Publication record and peer review experience
Absence of conflicts of interest with the authors or affiliated institutions
Reviewers evaluate submissions according to the following:
Originality and contribution to biological knowledge
Methodological validity (e.g., experimental design, sampling, statistical rigor)
Data accuracy and reproducibility of findings
Clarity of scientific writing and logical flow
Relevance to current research trends or ecological challenges
Ethical compliance with animal/human subject research standards
Reviewer recommendations may include:
✅ Accept
✏️ Minor Revisions
Major Revisions (may require re-review)
❌ Reject
The handling editor compiles reviewer comments and makes one of the following decisions:
Accept
Request revisions (minor/major)
Reject
Authors receive:
A formal decision letter
Anonymized reviewer comments
Clear revision instructions (if applicable)
A revision deadline (typically 2–4 weeks)
Average peer review duration: 4–6 weeks
Delays may occur due to article complexity, reviewer availability, or multiple revision cycles
Authors are advised to submit revisions promptly to avoid publication delays
All ABNJ reviewers must:
Maintain strict confidentiality of the manuscript
Provide objective, constructive, and respectful feedback
Declare any conflict of interest
Avoid bias based on gender, nationality, or affiliation
Reviewers must not:
Use or share unpublished data
Contact the authors directly
Discuss the manuscript outside the review process
If an author disagrees with the editorial decision:
A formal appeal may be submitted to the Editor-in-Chief
The appeal must include a detailed justification and supporting documentation
The editorial board may consult an independent reviewer or advisor
Final decisions rest with the Editor-in-Chief and are not open to further appeal
ABNJ upholds the ethical guidelines of:
COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics)
Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan
International standards for responsible scholarly publishing
ABNJ acknowledges the vital role of peer reviewers through:
Annual publication of reviewer names (with consent)
Certificates of recognition upon request
Invitation to join the Editorial Advisory Board for top reviewers
The peer review process at ABNJ is designed to protect scientific credibility, encourage constructive academic dialogue, and enhance the quality of published research. By maintaining blind review, ethical oversight, and transparent communication, ABNJ ensures that all manuscripts meet global standards of scholarly excellence in the biological and environmental sciences.
The copyright policy of ABNJ is based on a non-exclusive publishing agreement, according to which the journal retains the right of first publication, but the author(s) are free to publish their work subsequently. The copyright of all work rests with the author(s).
All articles published by ABNJ are made available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0).
Under CC BY 4.0, users may read, download, copy, distribute, print, share, adapt, and reuse the content for any lawful purpose, provided proper attribution is given to the original authors.
Repository & Self-Archiving Policy
ABNJ permits authors to deposit all versions of their work in institutional or other repositories like Research Gate, ORCID, Academia, ArXiv, etc. without embargo, including:
Preprint (submitted version)
Author’s Accepted Manuscript (AAM)
Published Version (Version of Record)
Proper citation to the original published article is required.
Publisher: ACADEMIA (PRIVATE) LIMITED | Address: H. No. N.E 2210, Zafar-ul-Haq Road, Rawalpindi, Pakistan | Email: jawad@academia.edu.pk
Copyright © 2025 The Author(s) distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License - CC BY- 4.0 
Note: All our journals are using Open Journal Systems (OJS) originally developed and released by PKP.
