We are pleased to announce a forthcoming special issue of the Journal of Systematics and Evolution (JSE) entitled “Deep Sea Biodiversity”. This special issue focuses on the systematics, evolutionary biology, and genomic mechanisms underlying biodiversity in deep-sea and extreme marine environments. We warmly invite submissions of original research articles, comprehensive reviews, genome resources, bioinformatics tools, and databases that advance our understanding of life in the deep ocean.
This special issue is organized by Dr. Zhongli Sha (Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences), Dr. Songhai Li (Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences), and Dr. Wenliang Zhou (Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou). The deep sea—encompassing abyssal plains, trenches, hydrothermal vents, cold seeps, and deep-sea coral ecosystems—hosts unique ecosystems shaped by extreme conditions, such as high pressure, low temperature, darkness, and chemosynthetic energy sources. Despite its inaccessibility, recent advances in deep-sea exploration and omics technologies have revealed extraordinary biodiversity and novel evolutionary adaptations among marine organisms.
This special issue aims to showcase cutting-edge research on the origin, maintenance, and functional significance of biodiversity in deep-ocean habitats. By integrating taxonomic discovery, phylogenetic inference, comparative genomics, and ecological insights, we seek to illuminate the evolutionary trajectories and adaptive strategies that have allowed life to thrive in one of Earth’s most challenging environments.
Themes
The special issue will highlight interdisciplinary studies that address key questions in deep-sea biodiversity and evolution, including but not limited to:
• Systematics and Taxonomy of Deep-sea Organisms
• Discovery and Classification of New Species with an Emphasis on Understudied Taxa (e.g., meiofauna, microbial eukaryotes, deep-sea fishes, and invertebrates)
• Evolutionary Adaptations to Extreme Environments
• Phylogenomics and Phylogeography of Deep-sea Lineages
• Biodiversity Patterns in Chemosynthetic Ecosystems
• Genomic and Transcriptomic Resources for Deep-sea Species
• Microbial Diversity and Function in Deep-sea Habitats
• Conservation and Sustainable Use of Deep-sea Genetic Resources
• Bioinformatics Tools and Databases for Deep-sea Evolutionary Studies
Organizers
Dr. Songhai Li
Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, China
E-mail: lish@idsse.ac.cn
Dr. Zhongli Sha
Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China
E-mail: shazl@qdio.ac.cn
Dr. Wenliang Zhou
Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China
E-mail: zhouwl@gmlab.ac.cn
Subject Coverage
We welcome contributions across all domains of deep-sea biodiversity science, with an emphasis on integrative approaches that combine field observations, experimental biology, molecular systematics, and computational genomics. Submissions may focus on animals, microbes, fungi, or other marine lineages inhabiting depths below 200 meters, including hadal zones (>6,000 m), polar deep seas, and remote island-associated ecosystems.
Contributing Authors Benefits
• All articles published in this special issue will be free access (open access).
• The journal will waive all page charges and color figure fees.
• Accepted manuscripts will be published online ahead of print and featured on the journal's website.
Notes for Prospective Authors
We encourage the submission of full-length research papers, authoritative reviews, brief genome reports, software notes, and database descriptions. To ensure reproducibility and transparency:
• Authors are encouraged to deposit code and analysis workflows in CodeOcean (https://codeocean.com) and provide a capsule link during submission.
• Sequence alignments, gene trees, and other essential phylogenetic files should be included as supplementary materials.
• For genome resource papers, please include genome annotation files (e.g., GFF/GTF) as supplementary data.
• Bioinformatics tool submissions should include clear usage instructions and be concise (main text ≤ 3 pages recommended).
All manuscripts must be original and not under consideration elsewhere. Each submission will undergo rigorous peer review; suggestions for potential reviewers are welcome. Please consult the journal’s author guidelines (www.jse.ac.cn) for formatting requirements.
When submitting, please go to: https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/josae, and note in your cover letter that the manuscript is intended for the special issue Deep Sea Biodiversity.
Important Dates
Authors interested in contributing to the special issue should submit their manuscripts by 31 January, 2027 at https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/josae
The target date for publication of the special issue is 1 July, 2027, although accepted manuscripts will be published online in advance of the issue.
Questions?
For inquiries regarding the scope of the special issue or potential contributions, please contact the organizers:
Dr. Songhai Li, Dr. Zhongli Sha, or Dr. Wenliang Zhou
Alternatively, reach out to the JSE Editorial Office at: jse@ibcas.ac.cn
We look forward to your groundbreaking contributions, which will help shape our understanding of life in the deep sea.
