Call for papers - Marine mammals: adaptations, challenges, and conservation strategies

Guest Editors

Luís Miguel Duarte Barcelos, MSc, University of the Azores, Portugal
Maritza Sepúlveda, PhD, University of Valparaíso, Chile

Submission Status: Open | Submission Deadline: 25 November 2025

BMC Zoology is calling for submissions to our Collection, Marine mammals: adaptations, challenges, and conservation strategies. This Collection invites researchers to contribute papers that deepen our understanding of marine mammals, covering topics such as their unique adaptations to aquatic life and their interactions with human-driven environmental changes.

New Content Item This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 14: Life Below Water.

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Meet the Guest Editors

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Luís Miguel Duarte Barcelos, MSc, University of the Azores, Portugal

Luís Miguel Duarte Barcelos completed a Master's Degree in Nature Management and Conservation in 2013 and a Bachelor's Degree in marine biology in 2004 at the University of the Azores. He works in the area of natural sciences with an emphasis on Marine Biology. He has published 13 articles in peer-reviewed journals in areas related to marine vertebrates (cetaceans, sea turtles, fishes, and birds), checklists, species distribution, feeding ecology, and deep-sea prey. He has co-supervised three Master's of Science dissertations and has also peer reviewed 24 manuscripts.

Maritza Sepúlveda, PhD, University of Valparaíso, Chile

Maritza Sepúlveda has more than 25 years of experience researching different areas of marine mammal ecology, including population biology, trophic ecology, and species interactions in fishing and aquaculture activities. She is a marine biologist at the University of Valparaíso and has a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Ecology from the University of Chile. She is an academic at the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Valparaíso. She is also a member of the Technical Advisory Group of Marine Mammals in Chile, the Marine Mammal Bycatch Working Group, and the Ocean Modeling Forum. From 2018 to 2022 she was the president of the Latin American Society of Specialists in Aquatic Mammals (SOLAMAC).

About the Collection

BMC Zoology is pleased to announce our upcoming Collection, Marine mammals: adaptations, challenges, and conservation strategies.

Marine mammals are some of the most recognizable creatures in our seas and oceans. This diverse group of mammals possesses unique adaptations that enable them to live in aquatic environments characterized by extreme temperatures, depths, pressure, and darkness. Marine mammals are classified into four main taxonomic groups including cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises), pinnipeds (seals, sea lions, and walruses), sirenians (manatees and dugongs), and fissipeds (polar bears and sea otters). These species play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems and serve as key indicators of the overall health of the oceans. Unfortunately, their underwater habitats are changing rapidly due to human activities, resulting in significant declines in the populations of many marine mammals. Further research is needed to evaluate the impact of these activities, protect these species, and guide policy decisions.

BMC Zoology invites submissions that deepen our understanding of marine mammals, covering topics such as their unique adaptations to aquatic life and their interactions with human-driven environmental changes.

Areas of particular interest include, but are not limited to:

Investigating unique adaptations for life in water, such as diving physiology, thermoregulation, echolocation, and social structures
Assessing distribution, abundance, and habitat use
Developing new tools such as surveys, sensory equipment, bioacoustics, eDNA, electronic tracking, genomic data, and citizen science programs to study marine mammals
Exploring the effects of human activities, including: fisheries, shipping, noise, pollution, and renewable energy generation
Research into the role of marine mammals in sustaining healthy ecosystems (e.g. nutrient cycling)
The protection, conservation, and management of marine mammal populations
Generating data and insights to inform policy development and conservation strategies aimed at ensuring the long-term survival of marine mammal populations

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 14: Life Below Water.

All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.

There are currently no articles in this collection.

Submission Guidelines

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This Collection welcomes submission of original Research Articles. Should you wish to submit a different article type, please read our submission guidelines to confirm that type is accepted by the journal. Articles for this Collection should be submitted via our submission system, Snapp. During the submission process you will be asked whether you are submitting to a Collection, please select "Marine mammals: adaptations, challenges, and conservation strategies" from the dropdown menu.

All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.