Is the Nature Index at Odds with DORA?

Correspondence

Is the Nature Index It is therefore not in violation biomass. The rise in capelin and the associated taxonomic at odds with DORA? of DORA, which champions might also have slowed. We information in the relevant appropriate ways of appraising therefore strongly advise against databases. We find Nature Research’s individual researchers and stepping up fishing for northern Peter Uetz Virginia critical attitude towards journal opposes the abuse of the journal cod at this time. Doing so risks Commonwealth University, impact factors, embodied in impact factor as a metric for derailing long-term stock Richmond, USA. its signing of the San Francisco research assessment. recovery and a rebuilt fishery. Akhil Garg McGill University, Declaration on Research Sherrylynn Rowe, George Montreal, Canada. Assessment (DORA; Nature 544, A. Rose Memorial University [email protected] 394; 2017), to be inconsistent Don’t derail cod’s of Newfoundland, St. John’s, with the aims of its Nature Index. comeback in Canada Canada. The Nature Index provides [email protected] Predatory journals: statistics on the publication We urge Canada’s government outwit with a safe list output of institutions and not to act on proposals to countries. These statistics are imminently ramp up the Species disconnected Urologists have taken a stance collated from “high-quality fishery for northern cod (Gadus from DNA sequences against predatory publishers research” published in an morhua) along Newfoundland by compiling a ‘green list’ of independently selected set and Labrador’s east coast. DNA sequences are the bedrock reputable journals within of 68 “high-quality science Although the stock has made a of molecular taxonomy and the speciality (see https:// journals” (see www.natureindex. remarkable comeback since its phylogenetics. Alarmingly, we urologygreenlist.wordpress.com). com/faq). The data are presented collapse in the early 1990s — in find that 20% of the reptilian Urology researchers are invited as metrics that can be used to parallel with other factors such as sequences in GenBank’s DNA to recommend journals that assess “research excellence and a greater abundance of cod’s key database cannot be mapped to should be included on or institutional performance”. prey, capelin (Mallotus villosus) actual species or subspecies. removed from the list, and This seems to us to be in — numbers are still well below Using the Reptile Database to send supporting evidence violation of DORA’s principles, historical norms. (see go.nature.com/2pgkdbw), that will be judged by an which state that research should A decision to increase cod we investigated how many taxa international advisory panel. I be assessed “on its own merits fishing would fly in the face of in the taxonomic database of the strongly encourage all research rather than on the basis of the scientists’ recommendations US National Center for Biology disciplines to create their own journal in which the research is under the Canadian Information (NCBI) could be green lists. published” (www.ascb.org/dora). government’s decision-making mapped to accepted species. Such lists seem less likely to Even though we disagree with framework for fisheries, We found that just 60% of the result in litigation and are simple some of the ideas underlying which uses a precautionary 10,510 species in the Reptile to maintain, unlike the task of DORA (see L. Waltman and approach. Their advice includes Database have their taxon blacklisting an ever-increasing V. A. Traag, preprint at https:// encouraging ecosystem-based identified in the NCBI database. number of predatory journals arxiv.org/abs/1703.02334; 2017), management that recognizes the Moreover, 1,704 reptile names (see also V. J. Giglio and O. J. Luiz we believe that Nature Research importance of food webs, and in NCBI (19.5% of all reptile Nature 544, 416; 2017, and should practice what it preaches keeping fish removals as low as NCBI names) did not match up W. Strielkowski Nature 544, and abandon the Nature Index. possible until the stock surpasses with their currently accepted 416; 2017). The absence of a Ludo Waltman, Vincent the minimum abundance needed species’ name in the Reptile journal from the green list does Traag Leiden University, the for optimal production. Database. not necessarily indicate that it Netherlands. After last year’s stock Sloppy practice by authors is a predatory publication, but I [email protected] assessment, modified and journals contributes to these would advise authors to confirm management practices allowed discrepancies. We found that a journal’s credentials before On behalf of the Nature Index, the catch to double — even 1,037 species names in published submitting a manuscript. David Swinbanks replies — though no rebuilding plan papers were either not rigorously The urologists’ green list The Nature Index provides was in place to provide target spelled out (for example, the currently contains 52 bona an indicator of an institution’s reference points, timelines or lizard Eremias grammica has fide journals (including two contributions to high-quality harvest-control rules. There been designated as Eremias sp. owned by Springer Nature, research, on the basis of papers was no stock assessment this TMT-2004a) or had not been the publishers of Nature). We from a suite of journals that spring, despite the advice of updated in either GenBank or still need to define the criteria exhibit high editorial standards the Canadian parliamentary the NCBI after publication of for inclusion more clearly, but and have been independently fisheries committee for annual their DNA sequence. factors such as association with chosen by a committee of active assessments. Meanwhile, the The problem is likely to a professional society, indexing, researchers — without regard available data indicate that the get worse as metagenomic quality of the editorial board and to impact factor (see go.nature. cod’s comeback may have stalled and DNA-barcoding studies history are a good start. com/2qo53pj). The Nature (see go.nature.com/2r9stje). proliferate. For the sake of Henry Woo University of Sydney, Index enables the tracking of Signs of a pending decline the international biodiversity Australia. institutional research output and in cod productivity include community, we urge authors of [email protected] collaboration at the city, state and lower inshore catch rates and taxonomic papers to lodge and Competing interests declared: country levels. smaller increases in surveyed update their DNA sequences see go.nature.com/2rtnpjg.