The journal "Animal Biology" adheres to the principles of academic integrity, transparency of the editorial process, confidentiality of manuscripts, author responsibility for the content of publications, and independence of editorial decisions. This policy defines the procedure for using generative artificial intelligence during the preparation, submission, peer review, and editorial processing of manuscripts. The policy has been developed taking into account the recommendations of COPE.
Generative artificial intelligence may be used only as an auxiliary tool for language editing, stylistic improvement, translation, technical structuring of text, or supplementary analysis, provided that the results are subject to mandatory human verification. Its use does not replace scientific authorship, professional judgment, peer review, or editorial control. Artificial intelligence tools may not be listed as authors or co-authors of a publication.
Use of Generative AI by Authors
Authors may use generative artificial intelligence only for auxiliary purposes and only under full human control of the final result.
Authors are required to verify the accuracy of all wording, data, quotations, references, tables, figures, conclusions, and interpretations prepared with the use of such tools.
The use of generative AI is not permitted:
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to create fabricated data, results, quotations, or bibliographic sources;
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to generate text presented as an original scientific contribution without proper author involvement;
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to covertly distort the interpretation of results;
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to transmit confidential, unpublished, or protected materials to external AI systems without proper legal and ethical grounds.
Disclosure of the Use of Generative AI
The journal requires authors to transparently disclose the use of generative artificial intelligence and AI-assisted technologies in the preparation of a manuscript. If such tools were used to create, rephrase, summarize, translate, or substantially edit text; prepare tables, diagrams, or illustrations; or analyze or interpret data, authors must indicate this in the appropriate section of the manuscript, specifying the name of the tool, the purpose of its use, and the degree of human oversight.
This information should be provided in a separate declaration at the end of the manuscript, in the Acknowledgements section, or, if the use of AI is part of the research methodology, in the Materials and Methods section.
Use of Generative AI by Reviewers
Reviewers are prohibited from uploading manuscripts, manuscript fragments, tables, figures, data, or any other materials received for review to external generative AI systems.
This restriction is related to the obligation to maintain manuscript confidentiality and the risk of unauthorized use of unpublished materials. The reviewer’s expert opinion must be the result of the reviewer’s own scientific assessment.
Use of Generative AI by the Editorial Office
The Editorial Office may use generative AI only for auxiliary technical or administrative tasks, including language improvement of official correspondence or organizational support of the editorial process. Such tools may not be used to make decisions regarding the acceptance, rejection, or scientific evaluation of manuscripts.
Final editorial decisions are made exclusively by the editor or the Editorial Board.
Responsibility and Consequences of Policy Violations
Authors bear full responsibility for the reliability of data, accuracy of presentation, correctness of references, compliance with ethical requirements, and proper disclosure of the use of generative AI.
If undeclared or improper use of AI is identified, the Editorial Office may request explanations or clarification of the declaration, require correction of the manuscript, suspend consideration of the material, reject the manuscript, or, after publication, publish a correction, editorial notice, or retract the article.
Policy Updates
The journal reserves the right to review and update this policy in accordance with the development of generative artificial intelligence technologies, changes in international editorial standards, and practices of scholarly communication.
