Freshwater Biology

Aims & Scope

Freshwater Biology publishes papers on all aspects of the ecology of inland waters, including rivers and lakes, ground waters, flood plains and other freshwater wetlands.

We include studies of micro-organisms, algae, macrophytes, invertebrates, fish and other vertebrates, as well as those concerning whole systems and related physical and chemical aspects of the environment, provided that they have clear biological relevance.

Studies may focus at any level in the ecological hierarchy from physiological ecology and animal behaviour, through population dynamics and evolutionary genetics, to community interactions, biogeography and ecosystem functioning.

They may also be at any scale: from microhabitat to landscape, and continental to global.

Preference is given to research, whether meta-analytical, experimental, theoretical or descriptive, highlighting causal (ecological) mechanisms from which clearly stated hypotheses are derived.

Manuscripts with an experimental or conceptual flavour are particularly welcome, as are those or which integrate laboratory and field work, and studies from less well researched areas of the world.

Priority is given to submissions that are likely to interest a wide range of readers.

We encourage submission of papers well grounded in ecological theory that deal with issues related to the conservation and management of inland waters.

Papers interpreting fundamental research in a way that makes clear its applied, strategic or socio-economic relevance are also welcome.

Review articles (FRESHWATER BIOLOGY REVIEWS) and discussion papers (OPINION) are also invited: these enable authors to publish high-quality material outside the constraints of standard research papers.

View Aims & Scope

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Metrics & Ranking

Impact Factor

Year	Value
2025	2.7
2024	2.80

Journal Rank

Year	Value
2024	4583

Journal Citation Indicator

Year	Value
2024	1580

SJR (SCImago Journal Rank)

Year	Value
2024	1.032

Quartile

Year	Value
2024	Q1

h-index

Year	Value
2024	183

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Abstracting & Indexing

Journal is indexed in leading academic databases, ensuring global visibility and accessibility of our peer-reviewed research.

• Scopus
• Google Scholar
• Web of Science

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Subjects & Keywords

Journal’s research areas, covering key disciplines and specialized sub-topics in Agricultural and Biological Sciences, designed to support cutting-edge academic discovery.

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Most Cited Articles

The Most Cited Articles section features the journal's most impactful research, based on citation counts. These articles have been referenced frequently by other researchers, indicating their significant contribution to their respective fields.

• Ecological responses to altered flow regimes: a literature review to inform the science and management of environmental flows

  Citation: 1591

  Authors: N. LEROY, JULIE K. H.

• The thermal regime of rivers: a review

  Citation: 1268

  Authors: D.

• How much water does a river need?

  Citation: 1212

  Authors: BRIAN, JEFFREY, ROBERT, DAVID

• The ecological limits of hydrologic alteration (ELOHA): a new framework for developing regional environmental flow standards

  Citation: 1204

  Authors: N. LEROY, BRIAN D., ANGELA H., STUART E., ROBERT J., ELOISE, MIKE, COLIN, BRIAN P., MARY C., JAMES, ROBERT B., JONATHAN G., DAVID M., JAY H., JULIAN D., KEVIN, REBECCA E., ANDREW

• The ecological significance of exchange processes between rivers and groundwater

  Citation: 1090

  Authors: MATTHIAS, TOM

• Lake responses to reduced nutrient loading – an analysis of contemporary long‐term data from 35 case studies

  Citation: 1065

  Authors: ERIK, MARTIN, JENS PEDER, KARL E., ORLANE, LAURENCE, MICHAEL F., RAINER, MARTIN T., BOB, DANIEL, STEPHANIE E., SABINE, KÜLLI, JAN, EDDY H.H.R., TORBEN L., MARINA, MARÍA R., BRIAN, PEETER, GUNNAR, GEOFF, ROB, SUSANA, CLAIRE L., DIETMAR, ISTVAN, EVA, MONIKA

• Tangled webs: reciprocal flows of invertebrate prey link streams and riparian zones

  Citation: 969

  Authors: COLDEN V., KURT D., W.

• Leaf processing in a woodland stream*

  Citation: 922

  Authors: ROBERT C., KENNETH W.

• Species traits in relation to a habitat templet for river systems

  Citation: 881

  Authors: COLIN R., ALAN G.

• Alien species in fresh waters: ecological effects, interactions with other stressors, and prospects for the future

  Citation: 843

  Authors: DAVID L.

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