Plagiarism Policy

Plagiarism Screening

  • All submitted manuscripts are checked using plagiarism detection software.
  • The journal follows strict anti-plagiarism guidelines, and manuscripts with more than 15% similarity index (excluding references) will be rejected or sent back for revision.

Types of Plagiarism Considered Unacceptable

  • Direct Plagiarism: Copying text without proper citation.
  • Self-Plagiarism: Reusing significant parts of one’s previous work without proper citation.
  • Mosaic Plagiarism: Paraphrasing content without citation.
  • Fabrication/Falsification: Manipulating research data or images.

Consequences of Plagiarism

  • If plagiarism is detected before publication, the manuscript will be rejected.
  • If plagiarism is found after publication, the article will be retracted, and the author’s institution will be informed.
  • Authors may be blacklisted from future submissions.

Types of Plagiarism in Scientific Research

Plagiarism in scientific research refers to the unethical practice of using someone else’s work, ideas, or words without proper attribution. It compromises academic integrity, misleads the scientific community, and can result in serious consequences. Below are the different types of plagiarism commonly found in scientific research:

Direct Plagiarism (Verbatim Plagiarism)

  • Copying text word-for-word from another source without quotation marks or proper citation.
  • Example: Using sentences or paragraphs from a published paper without acknowledging the original author.
  • Consequence: Immediate rejection of the manuscript, and potential ban from future submissions.

Self-Plagiarism (Duplicate Publication or Redundant Publication)

  • Reusing one’s own previously published work without proper citation.
  • Example: Submitting the same or slightly modified research findings to multiple journals.
  • Consequence: Retraction of the article, and academic disciplinary action.

Mosaic Plagiarism (Patchwriting)

  • Paraphrasing content from multiple sources without proper citation, creating a "mosaic" of copied ideas.
  • Example: Altering a few words while retaining the original structure of another researcher’s work.
  • Consequence: Manuscript rejection and requirement for substantial rewriting.

Idea Plagiarism (Intellectual Theft)

  • Using another researcher’s hypothesis, concept, or experimental design without giving credit.
  • Example: Taking unpublished ideas from a conference presentation or grant proposal and using them in one’s own research.
  • Consequence: Ethical investigation, loss of credibility, and potential legal action.

Data Plagiarism (Data Fabrication or Falsification)

  • Presenting someone else's research data as one’s own or manipulating research data.
  • Example: Falsifying experimental results to support a hypothesis.
  • Consequence: Retraction of published work, loss of funding, and damage to scientific reputation.

Image Plagiarism (Figure Manipulation)

  • Using graphs, images, or illustrations from another work without proper citation or permission.
  • Example: Modifying an image slightly and presenting it as original.
  • Consequence: Retraction of the paper, and blacklisting from journals.

Citation Plagiarism

  • Failing to cite the original source and instead citing a secondary source that references the original work.
  • Example: Using a fact from a research article but only citing a review paper that discusses it.
  • Consequence: Possible revision request from the journal or rejection if intentional.

Collusion Plagiarism (Unauthorized Collaboration)

  • Working with others but submitting the work as an individual effort without proper acknowledgment.
  • Example: Co-authoring a research project but submitting it as a single-author publication.
  • Consequence: Ethical review by institutions, and potential rejection or academic penalties.

Paraphrasing Plagiarism

  • Rewriting another author’s work without proper acknowledgment while maintaining the original meaning.
  • Example: Restating someone else’s results or conclusions in different words without citing them.
  • Consequence: Request for revision or rejection if found to be extensive.

Ghostwriting (Unattributed Authorship)

  • Having someone else write a paper but presenting it under one’s own name.
  • Example: Using a research paper written by a professional writer or another scientist without crediting them.
  • Consequence: Severe ethical violations, potential academic dismissal, and reputation damage.

How to Avoid Plagiarism in Scientific Research?

  • Always cite original sources correctly using standard referencing styles (APA, Harvard, etc.).
  • Use plagiarism detection software (Turnitin, iThenticate) before submission.
  • Paraphrase properly and provide credit to original authors.
  • Follow journal guidelines on ethical research and data integrity.
  • When in doubt, seek permission from original authors for using images or large content portions.

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in scientific writing is evolving rapidly. While AI can assist researchers in drafting, summarizing, and improving manuscripts, Animal BioSphere maintains strict ethical and academic integrity standards regarding AI-generated content.

Acceptable Uses of AI in Scientific Writing

Researchers may use AI tools responsibly in the following ways:

  • Language and Grammar Improvement: AI-based writing assistants (e.g., Grammarly, QuillBot) can help refine grammar, spelling, and clarity.
  • Data Analysis Support: AI-powered tools (e.g., statistical software, machine learning models) can aid in data processing and visualization, provided all analyses are transparent and reproducible.
  • Reference Management: AI-assisted citation tools (e.g., EndNote, Zotero, Mendeley) can be used to format references correctly.
  • Summarization and Idea Structuring: AI tools may help structure content or summarize key points, but the intellectual contribution must come from the authors.

Use of AI in Scientific Writing

Note: If AI tools were used for any of the above purposes, authors must clearly state this in the "Acknowledgments" section of the manuscript.

Prohibited Uses of AI in Scientific Writing

The following uses of AI are strictly prohibited:

  • AI-Generated Text as Primary Content: The main body of the manuscript (Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusion) must be written by the authors. AI-generated content without critical human oversight is not acceptable.
  • Fabrication or Falsification of Data: AI should not be used to generate, alter, or manipulate scientific data, figures, or results.
  • Plagiarism and AI-Generated Paraphrasing: Using AI to rephrase existing work without proper attribution constitutes plagiarism.
  • Ghostwriting with AI: Complete reliance on AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, GPT-4, Bard) to write substantial portions of a manuscript is considered unethical.

Detection and Consequences: Manuscripts suspected of containing AI-generated content without proper disclosure will be flagged, reviewed, and may be rejected or retracted.

Declaration of AI Use

Authors must disclose any AI-assisted contributions in the following format:

"AI tools were used for language editing and grammatical improvement but did not contribute to the generation of original ideas, data analysis, or conclusions in this manuscript."

Failure to disclose AI use may result in ethical scrutiny and possible rejection of the manuscript.