This is a time of great change, not just for Journal of Animal Ecology (JAE), but also for publishing in general. Traditional 'legacy' publishing practices are being challenged by alternative models, including the open access 'author-pays' model, which is gaining momentum in the UK and USA particularly (Vollmer 2013). In addition, the rapid development of digital technologies has opened up many exciting new opportunities for presenting and disseminating research. Such changes can present risks as wells as possibilities, but it is important that our journal is responsive to change in this dynamic environment and we have tried to ensure that JAE is at the leading-edge of these trends, where possible. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.