《海洋生態(tài)學(xué)》發(fā)表關(guān)于海洋底棲生物和遠(yuǎn)洋生態(tài)系統(tǒng)、社區(qū)和人口的結(jié)構(gòu)和動(dòng)態(tài)以及生態(tài)學(xué)與海洋生物進(jìn)化之間的關(guān)鍵聯(lián)系的原始貢獻(xiàn)。該雜志優(yōu)先從生態(tài)學(xué)的角度，通過(guò)整合不同組織層次(分子到生態(tài)系統(tǒng))和不同學(xué)科(分子生物學(xué)、遺傳學(xué)、生物化學(xué)、生理學(xué)、海洋生物學(xué)、自然史、地理學(xué)、海洋學(xué)、古生物學(xué)和建模)的信息，闡明物種相互作用和適應(yīng)環(huán)境的基本方面。該期刊還關(guān)注種群遺傳過(guò)程、生活史進(jìn)化、形態(tài)特征和行為、歷史生態(tài)學(xué)和生物地理學(xué)、宏觀生態(tài)學(xué)和海景生態(tài)學(xué)、古生態(tài)重建以及由于引入新生物群、人類壓力或環(huán)境變化引起的生態(tài)變化。大多數(shù)應(yīng)用海洋科學(xué)，包括漁業(yè)生物學(xué)、水產(chǎn)養(yǎng)殖、天然產(chǎn)品化學(xué)、毒理學(xué)和地方污染研究都不在該雜志的研究范圍之內(nèi)。論文應(yīng)該解決生態(tài)學(xué)家們感興趣的生態(tài)問(wèn)題;主要是當(dāng)?shù)馗信d趣的論文，包括動(dòng)植物的描述，分類描述和范圍擴(kuò)展將不予考慮。在編寫稿時(shí)，作者應(yīng)明確指出:他們作品中那些特別新穎的方面(2)研究結(jié)果對(duì)其他區(qū)域、其他生態(tài)系統(tǒng)和其他學(xué)科的影響。作者應(yīng)該努力通過(guò)清楚地確定他們研究的問(wèn)題和假設(shè)，通過(guò)將他們的工作放在一般的背景下(通過(guò)相關(guān)的文獻(xiàn)引用)，以及通過(guò)澄清他們的研究結(jié)果的歷史、地方、區(qū)域和全球含義，來(lái)達(dá)到盡可能廣泛的受眾。

Marine Ecology publishes original contributions on the structure and dynamics of marine benthic and pelagic ecosystems, communities and populations, and on the critical links between ecology and the evolution of marine organisms.The journal prioritizes contributions elucidating fundamental aspects of species interaction and adaptation to the environment through integration of information from various organizational levels (molecules to ecosystems) and different disciplines (molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, physiology, marine biology, natural history, geography, oceanography, palaeontology and modelling) as viewed from an ecological perspective. The journal also focuses on population genetic processes, evolution of life histories, morphological traits and behaviour, historical ecology and biogeography, macro-ecology and seascape ecology, palaeo-ecological reconstruction, and ecological changes due to introduction of new biota, human pressure or environmental change.Most applied marine science, including fisheries biology, aquaculture, natural-products chemistry, toxicology, and local pollution studies lie outside the scope of the journal. Papers should address ecological questions that would be of interest to a worldwide readership of ecologists; papers of mostly local interest, including descriptions of flora and fauna, taxonomic descriptions, and range extensions will not be considered. In preparing manuscripts the authors should clearly identify: (1) those aspects of their work that are particularly novel (2) the implications of their results for other regions, other ecosystems and other disciplines.Authors should strive to reach the broadest possible audience by clearly identifying the questions and hypotheses underlying their research, by placing their work in a general context (through relevant literature citations), and by clarifying the historical, local, regional and global implications of their findings.