Open access publishers: The new players.

The essential role of journals as registries of scientific activity in all areas of knowledge justifies concern about their ownership and type of access. The purpose of this research is to analyze the main characteristics of publishers with journals that have received the DOAJ Seal. The specific objectives are a) to identify publishers and journals registered with the DOAJ Seal; b) to characterize those publishers; and c) to analyze their article processing fees. The research method involved the use of the DOAJ database, the Seal option and the following indicators: publisher, title, country, number of articles, knowledge area, article processing charges in USD, time for publication in weeks, and year of indexing in DOAJ. The results reveal a fast-rising oligopoly, dominated by Springer with 35% of the titles and PLOS with more than 20% of the articles. We've identified three models of expansion: a) a few titles with hundreds of articles; b) a high number of titles with a mix of big and small journals; and c) a high number of titles with medium-size journals. We identify a high number of titles without APCs (27%) in all areas while medicine was found to be the most expensive area. Commercial publishers clearly exercise control over the scope of journals and the creation of new titles, according to the interests of their companies, which are not necessarily the same as those of the scientific community or of society in general.

Periódicos científicos de ciências biológicas: estudo dos títulos classificados no estrato A1 do Qualis / Scientific journals of biological sciences: study of the titles classified in the stratum A1 of the Qualis / Revistas científicas de ciencias biológicas: studio de los títulos clasificados en el estracto A1 del Qualis

Este artigo apresenta um estudo dos periódicos em que é publicada a produção nacional da área de ciências biológicas com a finalidade de: a) descrever as características editoriais dos periódicos; b) identificara participação de editoras comerciais; e c) verificar a adoção do acesso aberto. O universo da pesquisa realizada no estudo é composto pelos periódicos classificados no estrato A1 do Qualis 2014 da área de Ciências Biológicas I, totalizando 131 títulos, e os dados foram coletados na Web of Science. Os resultados mostraram que, em sua totalidade, os títulos foram editados no exterior, com domínio de publicações nos Estados Unidos e no Reino Unido (83,21%). Os periódicos foram criados desde 1860, mas a sua expansão ocorreu a partir de 1960 (75,57%) e são mantidos por associações e editoras comerciais (83,96%), com evidente destaque dos grupos Elsevier (23,66%), Wiley (18,32%) e Springer (12,21%). A maioria dos artigos está publicada em língua inglesa (99,98%) e a adoção do acesso aberto por esses periódicos é baixa (8,4%).(AU)

This article presents a study of the journals in which the national production in the area of biological sciences is published, with the purpose of: a) to describe the editorial characteristics of the journals; b) to identify the participation of commercial publishers; and c) to verify the adoption of open access. The universeof the study is composed of journals classified in the stratum A1 of Qualis 2014 of the area of Biological Sciences I, totalling 131 journals, and the data were extracted from the Web of Science. The results of the research show that all the journals were edited in foreign countries, especially in United States and United Kingdon (83,21%). The journals were created since 1860, but their expansion started in 1960 (75,57%) and they are maintained by associations and commercial publishers (83,96%), being in an evident position of prominence the groups Elsevier (23,66%), Wiley (18,32%) and Springer (12,21%). The greatest number of articles is published in English (99,98%) and the offer of open access by these journals is low (8,4%).

Este artículo presenta un estudio de las revistas científicas en que se publica la producción nacionalen el campo de las ciencias biológicas, con el fin de: a) describir las características editoriales de lasrevistas; b) determinar la participación de las editoras comerciales; y c) verificar la adopción del accesoabierto. El universo de la investigación consiste en las revistas clasificadas en el estrato A1 del Qualis2014 del área de Ciencias Biológicas I, un total de 131 revistas, y los datos fueron recogidos en la Webof Science. Los resultados muestran que la totalidad de las revistas es publicada en el extranjero sobretodo en los Estados Unidos y en el Reino Unido (83,21%). Las revistas científicas fueron creadas desde1860, pero su expansión ocurrió a partir de 1960 (75,57%) y ellas son mantenidas por las asociaciones yeditoras comerciales (83,96%), con evidente relevancia de los grupos Elsevier (23,66%), Wiley (18,32%)y Springer (12,21%). La mayoría de los artículos es publicada en inglés (99,98%) y la adopción del acceso abierto por esas revistas es baja (8,4%)