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Journal of Great Lakes Research

The multidisciplinary Journal of Great Lakes Research publishes manuscripts on a wide range of theoretical and applied topics relating to the natural and social science of the world's large lakes and their watersheds. We welcome contributions from such fields as biology, chemistry, physics, geology, economics, and policy, among others. Large lakes generally are considered as those with a mean surface area of greater than 500 km2 (see Herdendorf, C.E. 1982. Large lakes of the world. J. Great Lakes Res. 8:379-412 and our Large Lakes of the World database for examples). We may consider manuscripts on smaller lakes, especially if the lakes are very deep. We also welcome contributions on saline lakes and research on estuarine waters where the results have application to large lakes. The journal is published six times per year.

Members Access

A subscription to the journal is a benefit of membership in the association. Access is provided through ScienceDirect to all current members. Please view instructions for activating your account with ScienceDirect to gain access. Once you renew or join, please allow additional time for Elsevier to process your subscription.

Recent Issues

52-1

On the Cover

View of the northern basin of Lake Lugano, a perialpine lake south of the Alps, near the lake’s deepest point.

Credits: Photo credit: Federica Rotta.

Volume 52, Issue 1

February 2026

51-6

On the Cover

View of the Thousand Islands region, Upper Saint Lawrence River (Kaniotarowanenneh) looking west towards Lake Ontario.

Credits: Photo credit: Michael Twiss.

Volume 51, Issue 6

December 2025

Includes special section titled "Connecting Waters"
51-5

On the Cover

Light-based fishing boats equipped with nets and solar lamps docked at Kaiso landing site, Lake Albert, Uganda.

Credits: Photo credit: Nakiyende Herber.

Volume 51, Issue 5

October 2025

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Journal Contacts

The journal's Editorial Board is made up of the Editorial Office (below) and a suite of associate editors with a wide range of expertise. For journal inquiries, please contact the Editorial Office:

Margaret Docker

Lead Editor

Margaret Docker
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Jessica Ives

Technical Editor

Jessica Ives
Great Lakes Fishery Commission
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

On Elsevier

Submissions

We welcome submissions to the journal at no charge to authors, with the option to upgrade to open access for a fee. Please view the Guide for Authors first. When you are ready to submit a paper, log in to Elsevier's Editorial Manager.

Special Sections

IAGLR occasionally features special sections on a range of topics in the journal. If you're interested in publishing a special section, please contact the editors to discuss your idea and/or submit a Special Section Proposal Form to them for feedback. There are no page charges for special sections.

Journal Awards

Three awards are presented at our annual Conference on Great Lakes Research for the most notable papers published in the previous year's volume.

Nominate a Paper

Media Access

Elsevier offers free journal access to qualifying journalists. Learn more on the Elsevier Newsroom page.

Back Issues

Contact Business Manager Wendy Foster at wendy@iaglr.org or (734) 665-5303 about ordering individual back issues (print) of the journal.