Instructions for Contributors

     Banisteria accepts manuscripts that contribute to the public and scientific knowledge of the natural history of Virginia. This publication is intended to be an outlet for the kind of information that is useful but would not be accepted in the mainstream journals. Information found in field notebooks and files that never made it into scientific journals is especially important.  Manuscripts derived from natural history observations, small‑scale field projects, distribution surveys and reviews, species inventories, reports for contracted environmental projects, and unpublished theses are especially desired. The focus of Banisteria is classical and therefore slanted toward organismal biology. Reviews of books relevant to Virginia’s natural history and biographies of naturalists influential in this field are also welcomed by the editors. The journal also is suited for papers on the history of natural history as it pertains to Virginia.

To qualify for publication in Banisteria, the manuscript must pertain in some way to the flora, fauna, geology, geography or Native Americans of the Commonwealth. Papers focusing largely on projects conducted outside of the state will be considered only if there is a strong connection to Virginia. Papers may be full length or shorter contributions, and we are always looking for book reviews. Authors are not required to be members of the Virginia Natural History Society to submit manuscripts, although membership in VNHS is strongly encouraged. There are no page charges for members. The editors will be happy to assist authors in their preparation of manuscripts. We would rather help get natural history information published for others to use than have it remain on the shelf or in someone's desk.

Manuscripts on vertebrates, history, biography, and material for the Miscellanea section (book reviews, announcements, news of members, obituaries, etc.) should be sent to Joe Mitchell.  Manuscripts on plants and invertebrates should be sent to Steve Roble. Papers on other topics can be submitted to either editor. Mitchell and Roble will serve as editors for each other’s papers and an associate editor will be asked to serve as editor for those papers written jointly by the co-editors.

Manuscripts should be sent in duplicate to the appropriate co-editor (see previous paragraph), who will in turn seek one or two reviews. Authors should retain both the original typescript and figures until final acceptance for publication. Photocopies are adequate for review purposes.         

Manuscripts must be written on one side of standard size paper (8.5 x 11 inches) using double spacing throughout. Words should not be hyphenated. Manuscripts should be arranged in the following order: title, author's name, author's address, text, acknowledgments, literature cited, tables, figure legends, figures. Long manuscripts should have standard sections, e.g., Materials and Methods, Results, and Discussion, although some papers may not be amenable to such division, and short manuscripts (<4-6 pages) need not have these sections. All pages should be numbered, including tables. The title should be concise but informative. It and the author's name and address should be centered at the top of the first page. The text should begin on the first page beneath the author's address. Use good judgment on arrangement of sections when other than the standard approach is necessary. Use italics or underlines for species' scientific names.

 References: Use the following as a guide. Do not abbreviate journal names.

 Journal article with 1 author:

Scott, D. 1986. Notes on the eastern hognose snake, Heterodon platyrhinos Latreille (Squamata: Colubridae), in a Virginia barrier island. Brimleyana 12: 51-55.

 Journal article with 2 authors:

Tilley, S. C., & D. W. Tinkle. 1968. A reinterpretation of the reproductive cycle and demography of the salamander Desmognathus ochrophaeus. Copeia 1968: 299-303.

 Journal article with 3+ authors:

Funderburg, J. B., P. Hertz, & W. M. Kerfoot. 1974. A range extension for the carpenter frog, Rana virgatipes Cope, in the Chesapeake Bay region. Bulletin of the Maryland Herpetological Society 10: 77-79.

 Book:

Harris, L. D. 1984. The Fragmented Forest. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL. 211 pp.

 Chapter in a book:

Gentry, A. H. 1986. Endemism in tropical versus temperate plant communities. Pp. 153-181 In M. Soule (ed.), Conservation Biology. Sinauer Associates, Inc., Sunderland, MA.

 Report:

The Nature Conservancy. 1975. The preservation of natural diversity: A survey and recommendations. Report to the U.S. Department of Interior, Washington, DC. 189 pp. (include report series and number if present).

 Thesis:

Riddick, M. B. 1973. Freshwater mussels of the Pamunkey River system, Virginia. Master’s Thesis, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA. 105 pp.

 Tables: Each table should be typed on a separate sheet of paper, preferably using 10 point font.  A legend for each table should follow the number and must be on the same page as the table. Ruled, horizontal lines should be avoided except at the top and bottom of the table. Remember that each table must fit within a space of 6.5 x 8.5 inches, and that reduction may cause loss of detail.

 Figures: Black and white line drawings are acceptable for publication. They should be no more than twice the size of final publication size, and if several are assembled as a plate, keep the ratio of height to width consistent with the rectangular shape of the page. The back of each figure should be labeled with the author’s name.

 Photographs: Banisteria will accept high contrast black and white photographs.  Submit at least 5 x 7 inch photos (mounted if possible) or jpeg files. Remember that reduction to fit column or page width will cause loss of detail.

 Abbreviations: The following common abbreviations are accepted in Banisteria: n (sample size), no. (number), SVL (snout-vent length; define on first usage), DBH (diameter at breast height), yr (years), mo (months), wk (weeks), h (hours), min (minutes), s (seconds), P (probability), df (degrees of freedom), SD and SE (standard deviation and standard error), ns (not significant), l (liter), g (gram), mm (millimeter), m (meter), km (kilometer), and C (degrees Celsius). Do not abbreviate dates or undefined terms.

 Electronic transfer of manuscripts: After a manuscript has been accepted for publication, one paper copy and an electronic copy (3.5 inch diskette or email attachment) should be sent to S. M. Roble. If possible, use IBM-compatible systems with Microsoft Word or Word Perfect.  Please do not justify right-hand margins, and do not attempt to produce “camera-ready copy.”

 Reprints: Reprints are not provided. However, authors will be sent one printed copy of their formatted article to allow them or their institutions to prepare photocopies or electronic files for personal use or exchange purposes.

 Page charges: Page charges are waived for manuscripts written or coauthored by members of the Virginia Natural History Society, although members with grant funds are encouraged to contribute toward printing costs. Nonmember authors will be assessed page charges at a rate of $15 per printed page.