Arquipelago Life and Marine Sciences 1980-2024: 44 years promoting marine and terrestrial science from the Azores

Arquipelago. Life and Marine Sciences, a scientific journal of the University of the Azores, has been published since 1980. The first serial of this journal published, until 1985, five regular volumes and the proceedings of an international symposium on geology. With a restricted circulation, the journal published 62 articles dealing with agriculture and animal production, others on biodiversity and ecology from the Azores, and various theoretical essays. The authors were mainly from the University of the Azores and more than 55% of the papers were written in Portuguese. With the second serial (1990–2024), the journal evolved from a local publication into a peer-reviewed international journal focused on marine and terrestrial ecosystems. The 31 volumes published contained 302 contributions from 495 authors of 28 different nationalities. About 64% of the studies focused on marine science, covering biodiversity, fisheries biology, deep-sea ecology, and oceanic research, particularly in Azores and Macaronesia. Fish, cephalopods, and cetaceans were among the most studied groups. Terrestrial studies (34%) emphasized biodiversity, biogeography, and conservation, with a strong focus on arthropods and plants in native and human-modified habitats. While 38% of the authors were affiliated with the University of the Azores, many contributions came from international collaborations, strengthening the journal’s global reach. Despite its scientific impact, Arquipelago faces challenges in visibility and competitiveness. To ensure sustainability, a transition to thematic issues and editorial reconstruction would be necessary. This review highlights the legacy of the journal and its future prospects.