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About the Journal The University of Sindh Journal of Animal Sciences (USJAS) is an international, open-access, peer-reviewed journal that has been published by the Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan, since 2017. It was published quarterly from 2017 to 2023 and is now transitioning to biannual publication. The journal is indexed in major online indexing services, including Google Scholar, CrossRef, EBSCO, Biological Abstracts, BIOSIS, etc. The journal publishes original scientific research in the form of research articles, review papers, short communications, mini-reviews, case studies, data sources, and case reports pertaining to all fields of animal sciences. Scope The "University of Sindh Journal of Animal Sciences (USJAS)" is dedicated to addressing critical issues within the fields of animal sciences and zoology. Focused on the promotion of research and the dissemination of knowledge, this journal covers a wide spectrum of subjects, including biodiversity conservation, highlighting the significance of preserving the planet's diverse animal species amid growing global challenges. Additionally, USJAS delves into the ecological impact of human activities, advocating responsible practices and ecosystem preservation. It also emphasizes sustainable food production, recognizing the pivotal role of animals in the global food supply chain. Furthermore, USJAS explores ecosystem services provided by animals, contributes to understanding human-animal interaction, and encourages interdisciplinary research spanning entomology, endocrinology, molecular biology, parasitology, wildlife management and conservation, and animal diversity and systematics. Serving as a platform for researchers, educators, and students, the journal facilitates the exchange of ideas and research findings while promoting access to advanced education programs. Lastly, USJAS underscores the urgency of global ecosystem preservation, aiming to equip stakeholders with knowledge and strategies to safeguard our planet's ecosystems. Through these endeavors, the journal seeks to advance animal sciences, promote responsible practices, and address the intricate challenges faced by both animal species and human societies. Journal Publication Policy The journal accepts original papers that have not been published, submitted, or considered to be submitted elsewhere. The authors have to submit a declaration showing a guarantee not to submit the paper to any other journal until it is under consideration by this journal. The authors are also required to declare that the work presented in the paper is a part of any funded research project, thesis work, or research report. It is mandatory to acknowledge such resources. The names of authors with affiliations must be given in full on the first page of the article. The author’s primary affiliation should be the institute, where most of the work has been done. If the author has moved to any other institution, the current affiliation should be provided. All authors. Disclosure and conflict of interest Conflict of interest: Authors should declare any conflict of interest at the end of the manuscript. This will be published with the published article text. Funding: The authors are strictly advised to mention the funding sources either for research execution or for publication. The details of the funder should be provided while submitting an article. If no funders are available, authors can simply declare “there is no funding source for this research or publication”. Ethics: Research involving human and animal subjects should provide a bioethics certificate duly signed by the bioethics committee/office of the institute. If copyrighted material is used in a manuscript, it is mandatory for authors to seek permission from the original source before using it in their manuscript. Corrections and Retractions of Articles The journal follows a strict correction/retraction policy in the following cases: Publishers corrections This defines an important error, which affects the publication’s original record or the scientific integrity, made by the editorial office or publisher at any stage of publication. The publication office will notify you of the error and correct it accordingly. The corrected version of the article will be made available online (only) with embedded notification of the correction. Author corrections This defines the notification by the authors on an important error which affects the originality, integrity of the research publication or the reputation of journal or authors. The errors will be corrected once notified and if found compulsory,. No change in author list (deletion or addition of name of any author) is allowed. The corrections will be made in the online version of the article only. The decision of the editorial board will be final. Additions This defines additional information (addendum), other than originally provided in publication, notified by authors, or required by editors or reviewers. This information will be made available online with the publication. Retractions This defines the inclusion of invalid, misleading, or inappropriate information or results in the publication. Authors (including co-authors) are required to sign a retraction agreement once the article is accepted. If such errors are found, the authors will be communicated with and asked to justify. If authors fail to justify, the editors will seek suggestions from the reviewers and editorial board. Based on recommendations, decisions will be made. Policy and Principles on Research Data The data is defined as a minimal dataset (numerical or qualitative) on which the findings reported in article are interpreted and which can be used to replicate the findings easily. This dataset is termed as “supporting data,” which should be made available to all members of editorial board when and where required. All original articles must include a Data availability statement. Data availability statements should include information on where data supporting the results reported in the article can be found, including, where applicable, hyperlinks to publicly archived datasets analyzed or generated during the study. A valid hyperlink of public repositories should be included in data availability statement for following types of data: Taxonomic/faunistic data on any taxon of any geological age. New descriptions of taxa, if they are accomplished with proper diagnoses, keys, and/or revisions at least at species group level,. Taxonomic revisions of extant (or ‘recent'') and fossil animal groups. Checklists and catalogs, phylogenetic and evolutionary analyses. Breeding and ecology of animals. Integrate pest management tactics. Economic thresholds and optimization. Genetic manipulation of the pest population. Utilization of precision agriculture as an IPM tool. Speciation, adaptive radiation, and extinction of species. Genetics and reproduction behavior. Gene & DNA replication and recombination. Environmental planning and rational use allocation. A global program for the protection of genetic resource areas. Deserts and areas are subject to desertification. Fossil records of animals from any region, etc. Author contributions Author contributions are the intellectual contribution each author puts into the publication from conceiving, designing, execution, and data collection to data analysis and interpretation of results. The drafting of articles and revising them are also included in this list of contributions. Each author is required to submit his/her contribution in a separate author contribution statement, or the corresponding author may take on this responsibility to give a contribution statement on behalf of all the co-authors. But remember, approval will be verified at any stage by the editorial board members. Authors are required to agree to be personally accountable for all the contributions and to ensure that all questions related to the accuracy and integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated.