JDS -- Figures and Tables

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JDS Author Instructions---Figures and Tables

FIGURES

Additional guidance on preparing figures can be found at http://www.fass.org/authinst.htm. The use of figures should be minimized. Do not repeat material already included in Materials and Methods or in tables. However, verify that each figure is independently comprehensible without reference to the text, to other figures, or to tables. For each figure, captions should define all abbreviations used in the figure. Abbreviations, when used, should be consistent with text usage. Figure format and style should be consistent across figures.

On line graphs, symbols should not contain other symbols within them (e.g., a circle within a triangle) to indicate data points. When possible, symbols should be defined in the caption; when the legend is a part of the figure, it should appear within the axes but outside the data field. Lettering on the y-axis should be printed vertically along the axis. Dot or complex line patterns or gray shading in bar charts will not reproduce evenly and, thus, should be avoided. Three-dimensional figures, although attractive, often obscure the data presentation and should generally be avoided; however, if three-dimensional bar graphs are necessary, indicate in the caption which portion of the bar is to be used for making comparisons.

For plates, individual photographs are preferred. If submitted as a composite, plates should be carefully mounted on a white background. Margins between photographs should be minimal and even. Labels should be on photographs, not outside them, whenever possible.

Captions
Captions should be typed double-spaced on a separate page preceding the figures. Identify curves with symbols that can be typeset (solid and open squares, circles, triangles, diamonds). Nonstandard abbreviations used in the figure or caption must be defined in caption (even if previously defined in text) and abbreviations should conform to journal style.

Electron Micrographs
Authors should submit original plates and high-grade photographs for reviewers. Micrographs should be submitted as near as possible to the desired publication size. If micrographs are reduced during the publication process, authors should use scale bars to indicate size. If scale bars are not used, authors need to alter magnification amounts in the figure caption to reflect the percentage of reduction.

Color Illustrations
The cost to publish each color figure is $995; an additional surcharge for reprints will be assessed. Authors must indicate in writing that they are willing to pay the additional cost of color reproduction. Authors may ask for supplementary color figures to be published online only. Contact Louise Adam, Assistant Managing Editor (loua@assochq.org) for details.

TABLES
The use of tables should be minimized. When used, tables should be self-explanatory and may be a most effective way to organize extensive data. Refer to Scientific Style and Format: The CBE Manual for Authors, Editors, and Publishers.

When possible, tables should be organized to fit across the page without running broadside. Be aware of the dimensions of the printed page when planning tables. A table that is more than 15 columns wide causes problems with layout.

Place table number and title on the same line above the table (as shown in sample table). Note that the table title (unless a complete sentence) does not end with a period.

Do not use vertical lines and few horizontal lines within the table. Do not use boldface or italics in the table body.

Limit the data field to the minimum needed for meaningful comparison within the accuracy of the methods.

For each table, spell out the first use of nonstandard abbreviations in parentheses or in numbered footnotes. Abbreviations should conform to journal style and be consistent with those used in the text. Avoid reference to other tables, figures, or text.

Table Footnotes
Footnotes to tables should be numerals. Superscript letters should be used for statistical analyses within the body of the table. Each footnote should begin a new line (see sample table). Probability may be indicated thus: P < 0.10; *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001.