Indian Biological Research Consultancy Services

Guide to Authors

 

• Research papers must not exceed 20 manuscript pages including Tables and Figures.

• Short communications are results of brief but significant work. It should not exceed 8 pages, must have an abstract, but may omit the usual major headings of full papers.

• Invited reviews will be solicited by the Editor and the Editorial Board. Manuscripts must have an abstract and must not exceed 40 pages.

 

Only original, unpublished manuscripts not under consideration for publication elsewhere may be submitted. Articles must be technically sound and written in British English. Authors must display good knowledge of the primary scientific literature. Authors must also prepare manuscripts according to the journal's standards and instructions in order to facilitate prompt review and processing of papers.

 

Preparation of Manuscripts

• Organize the research paper logically and clearly, with sections complementing but not repeating each other, as follows:

  • Title page - with concise but specific title and author's name and affiliation

  • Abstract - summarizes the study in not more than 200 words, on a page by itself

  • Introduction - lays out the problem addressed, current level of knowledge, the aims of the study, and the hypotheses tested

  • Materials and methods - includes all crucial information to allow replication of the study

  • Results - gives concise summary of data in Tables and Figures

  • Discussion - provide an interpretation of the results and their significance with regard to previously published work. There should not be any significant repetition of the experimental procedures or reiteration of the introduction

  • Conclusion - encapsulates the scientific contribution of the study

  • Acknowledgement - credits contributors of thoughts, expertise and funds

  • References - must substantially include the peer-reviewed primary literature

  • Tables, Figure captions and Figures

• The manuscript should be prepared in English using “MS Word” with 2.5 cm margin on all sides of page. “Times New Roman” font should be used. The font size should be of 12pt for the body text and 10 for legends and table and figures. Manuscript should be concisely typewritten in double-space in A4 sized page.

• Headings should be bold. Use capital and lower case letters, never all capitals. Avoid footnotes, addenda or appendices; if they are really important, incorporate them briefly in the text. Underline only the words to be italicized. Define acronyms or unfamiliar abbreviations at first mention in the text. Do not give any acronym in parenthesis if it is not used later again in the text.

• Give the Latin name and family of the species at first mention in the manuscript. Subsequent references may use the common name. Italicize (or underline) Latin names. Example: Asian sea bass (Lates calcarifer).

• Place a (leading) zero before the decimal in numbers less than 1. Give dates in the form 10 January 1994. Spell out numbers less than 10 unless they stand beside standard units of measure (eight animals and 8 kg). Do not spell out numbers larger than 10 unless they are used to start a sentence.

• Use metric units or the International System of Units (with base units meter, gram, second, liters, mole, joule, etc.). Common units such as day, tonnes, hectare, watts, horsepower, °C and ppt salinity may be acceptable. Use abbreviations of units only beside numerals (e.g., 5 m); otherwise spell out units (e.g., only meters away). Do not use plural forms or periods for abbreviations of units.

• In designing Tables and Figures, bear in mind the journal’s page (17.8 cm x 25.3 cm or 7" x 10") and any reduction needed. Table headings, Figure explanations and other labels must be understandable without reference to the text. Number Tables and Figures consecutively. Tables must have horizontal lines only at the top and bottom and no vertical lines at all. Leave spaces to indicate groupings of data. Figures must be neat and simple line drawings, computer-generated graphics, or good-quality black and white photographs. Labels or lettering on Figures must be of a size readable after reduction (up to 60%). Send electronic images (.jpeg or .tif format) at first submission and the originals only with the revised manuscript if necessary.

• Cite references in the text as Author (year). Cite three or more authors as (First Author et al. year) and references still in press as (Author, in press). If a reference is unpublished, say (Author, unpubl. data) or (Author, pers. comm.), but avoid such citations. Arrange references in series by year as in (Beta 1980; Omega 1985; Alpha 1990).

• Arrange references alphabetically by (first) authors' family names as follows:

  • Book

    • Bardach JE, Ryther JH, McLarney WO. (1972). Aquaculture: the farming and husbandry of freshwater and marine organisms. Wiley Interscience, New York. 100 pp.

  • Proceedings

    • Ronquillo IA. (1974). A review of the roundscad fishery of the Philippines. Proceedings Indo-Pacific Fisheries Council 15 (3):351-375.

  • Book chapter

    • Smith I, Chong KC. (1984). Southeast Asian milkfish culture: economic status and prospects. In: Advances in milkfish biology and culture (eds. J.V. Juario, R.P. Ferraris and L.V. Benitez), pp. 1-20. Island Publishing House, Manila.

  • Journal article

    • Tilman D, Kiesling R, Sterner R, Kilman SS, Jhonson FA. (1986). Green, blue-green and diatom algae: differences in competitive ability for phosphorous, silicon and nitrogen. Archiv fuer Hydrobiologie, 106, 474-485.

  • Web publication

    • Fish Farming Expert. 2008. http://www.fishfarmingxpertno/index.php?page_id37&article_id=78056. Accessed 30 April 2010.

• Number all pages consecutively, including title, Tables and Figures.

 

 

Copyright

 

Submission of the manuscript represent that the manuscript has not been published previously and is not considered for publication elsewhere. Authors would be required tosign a CTA form (Copy Right Transfer Agreement) once the manuscript is accepted which would be sent to the corresponding author’s email. The corresponding author can download the form and after getting authors and co-authors signature it can be send as an attachment file after scanning to the journal or by post/courier along with the publication charges.

 

Ethical Matters

 

Authors involving in the usage of experimental animals and human subjects in their research article should seek approval from the appropriate Ethical committee in accordance with “Principles of Laboratory Animal Care”. The Method section of the manuscript should include a statement to prove that the investigation was approved and that informed consent was obtained.

 

Submission of Manuscript

 

All manuscripts should be submitted via e-mail to editorilm@yahoo.co.in or ibrcservices@yahoo.co.in as an attachment for quick evaluation. The Editor may return (without reviewing) any manuscript that falls outside the journal's policy or scope. All other manuscripts will be peer-reviewed by at least two external referees.

 

Reprints

 

The final copy of the manuscript in PDF format will be sent to the corresponding author via email.