title: Incorrect citations give unfair credit to review authors in ecology journals.
abstract: The number of citations that papers receive has become significant in measuring researchers' scientific productivity, and such measurements are important when one seeks career opportunities and research funding. Skewed citation practices can thus have profound effects on academic careers. We investigated (i) how frequently authors misinterpret original information and (ii) how frequently authors inappropriately cite reviews instead of the articles upon which the reviews are based. To reach this aim, we carried a survey of ecology journals indexed in the Web of Science and assessed the appropriateness of citations of review papers. Reviews were significantly more often cited than regular articles. In addition, 22% of citations were inaccurate, and another 15% unfairly gave credit to the review authors for other scientists' ideas. These practices should be stopped, mainly through more open discussion among mentors, researchers and students.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Nupélia, Maringá-PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariana C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Nupélia, Maringá-PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sidinei M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Thomaz
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Nupélia, Maringá-PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thaisa S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Michelan
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Nupélia, Maringá-PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Roger P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Mormul
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Nupélia, Maringá-PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thamis
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Meurer
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Nupélia, Maringá-PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Vitor B
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Fasolli
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Nupélia, Maringá-PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Márcio J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Silveira
mesh_terms: D001319:Authorship; D004463:Ecology / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D055811:Journal Impact Factor; D017712:Peer Review, Research / Q000941:ethics*; D015714:Plagiarism