Mandating data archiving: Experiences from the frontline

Abstract

There is a strong drive for greater openness in scientifi c publishing. The British Ecological Society (BES) introduced a mandatory data archiving policy for its journals at the beginning of 2014 to increase accessibility and improve preservation. This article presents some preliminary results on the impact of that policy. Submissions to BES journals have risen 6.7% since the introduction of the policy and early indications are that Dryad is the most popular repository. The reaction of the ecological community to mandatory archiving is also discussed.