Statements by Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Otto Kinne
About forty years ago, I agreed with SPRINGER VERLAG to found a new international journal: Marine Biology (MB). Developing MB into a world-wide leading publication outlet required considerable effort, not least in terms of working time, organizational activities and persuasion skills to win renowned scholars as members of the editorial board. Hence, to ensure that my efforts would be honored over time, I asked SPRINGER VERLAG for a contract. In his replies - in words and writing - Dr. Konrad F. Springer pointed out that his Verlag did not make contracts of the sort that I had in mind, but that - at Springer - the word of a publisher had the same weight as a formal contract. He specified: "I confirm that you can be Editor-in-Chief as long as you wish and that, in case you no longer see yourself in the position to continue, a successor nominated by you will be accepted."
I then proceeded with my task and invited further Regional Editors and Advisors. They gave generously of their time and talent and thereby significantly promoted the journal.
Later, I founded Marine Ecology Progress Series (MEPS) - originally intended to function as an update of my Book Series Marine Ecology. A Comprehensive, Integrated Treatise on Life in Oceans and Coastal Waters (published by JOHN WILEY & SONS). But with time, MEPS developed its own characteristics. Hence, I aimed at minimizing potential competition effects between MEPS and MB. The world-wide success of both MEPS and MB documents the validity of my endeavors. Both journals receive high impact factors and high eigenfactor evaluations. According to a recent analysis by Eigenfactor.org (a non-commercial project that ranks journals by their influence), in the category "Marine & Freshwater Biology", arranged by "EigenFactor", MEPS occupies Position 1 among 68 scientific journals examined, and MB Position 4.
On April 18, 2007, Dr. Czeschlik, Editorial Director of Life Sciences for SPRINGER VERLAG, informed me that he considered it beneficial for the future of MB to appoint a new MB Editor-in-Chief. He added that it is also planned to reorganize the MB Editorial Board. The latter will lead to the termination of MB Editors and Reviewers whom I had selected.
Consequences:
- I am stepping down from my position as Editor-in-Chief of MB immediately (but will finalize current work);
- I am founding a new global publication venture: Aquatic Biology;
- The Vice President of INTER-RESEARCH, Howard Browman, and I are presently completing the composition of Aquatic Biology's editorial board. I will be Editor-in-Chief, Howard will be Associate Editor-in-Chief and Matthias Seaman will be Assistant Editor-in-Chief. We are selecting highly qualified and deeply devoted colleagues as Contributing Editors and Review Editors - among them experts I had appointed for MB and who may now face termination.
INTER-RESEARCH is officially introducing Aquatic Biology to the international community of marine and limnetic scientists.
Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Otto Kinne
Oldendorf/Luhe, May 29, 2007