The New Zealand Journal of Botany (NZJB) call for papers: Special Issue on insular diversity and reticulate evolution of Paleotropical ferns

Ferns exhibit extraordinarily high diversity in the Paleotropics, particularly on islands within biodiversity hotspots across Asia and the Pacific. These regions collectively harbor over one-third (~4,500) of all fern species in the world, with more than 70% occurring on islands. However, despite extensive documentation of their remarkable species richness, the evolutionary histories of these ferns remain poorly understood. For instance, the exceptional insular fern diversity has yet to be fully explored in a phylogenetic and biogeographic context. Another striking observation is the unusually low proportion of hybrid taxa—estimates suggest that reported hybrids make up less than 5% of the tropical fern flora in these areas, whereas in well-studied temperate regions, this proportion typically exceeds 20%. This discrepancy underscores a significant gap of our understanding of reticulate evolution among Paleotropical ferns.

To address key knowledge gaps, we encourage investigation that explores their insular (phylo-)diversity and reticulate evolutionary relationships, including hybrids and polyploids. This special issue invites contributions focusing on fern hybrids or hybrid-origin taxa from the Paleotropics, as well as studies on the island fern diversity in Asia and the Pacific. With an improved understanding of fern systematics, studies incorporating or excluding DNA phylogenetics are both welcome. 

Keywords

Biogeography, hybrid, polyploid, fern, Asia, Pacific, phylogeny, systematics

To address key knowledge gaps, we encourage investigation that explores their insular (phylo-)diversity and reticulate evolutionary relationships, including hybrids and polyploids. This special issue invites contributions focusing on fern hybrids or hybrid-origin taxa from the Paleotropics, as well as studies on the island fern diversity in Asia and the Pacific. With an improved understanding of fern systematics, studies incorporating or excluding DNA phylogenetics are both welcome.

Submission Information

Please send a preliminary title, indicative author list, affiliations and a short descriptive paragraph outlining the scope of your proposed manuscript as soon as convenient to Dr Li-Yaung Kuo via kuo_fern_lab@gapp.nthu.edu.tw by 31 May 2025. 

For selected Expressions of Interest (EOIs), your formal submission must be made via the NZJB portal on ScholarOne by 28 February 2026. During submission, please select the relevant special issue title from the drop-down menu. Early submission is encouraged. A robust peer review process will be employed, and your manuscript will only be published if it successfully navigates the review process.

It is important that your manuscript is prepared according to the NZJB Instructions for Authors. Note that NZJB has a limit of 7,500 words (excluding references) for original research articles, but longer articles, including review articles may be accepted provided that the case for the greater length should be presented to the guest editors for approval prior to submission.

The complete reference style formatting can be found in this reference guide. An EndNote output style or Mendeley Citation Plugin is also available to assist you.

There are no page charges or publication fees if authors publish under the traditional subscription-based model. In the meantime, Taylor & Francis partners with global institutions and funding organizations to support researchers to publish gold open access in NZJB. Through open access agreements, affiliated authors can publish open access at no cost to themselves or benefit from discounted article publishing charges (APCs). 

Please direct queries to Dr Li-Yaung Kuo, Managing Guest Editor or to the Publishing Team of Royal Society Te Apārangi.

Guest Editors

Li-Yaung Kuo, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
Email: kuo_fern_lab@gapp.nthu.edu.tw
Interests: fern evolution, pteridology, phylogenetics, DNA barcode

Atsushi Ebihara, Department of Botany, National Museum of Nature and Science, Amakubo, Japan
Email: ebihara@kahaku.go.jp
Interests: pteridology, hybrids, systematics