Manuscript Preparation Overview

The Journal of Zoological Research publishes original research across animal biology, ecology, behavior, taxonomy, and conservation. Authors should prepare manuscripts following these guidelines to ensure efficient processing and review. Submissions not conforming to basic requirements may be returned without review.

Manuscripts must present original, unpublished work not under consideration elsewhere. Authors bear responsibility for accuracy and appropriate permissions for all content including figures, tables, and supplementary materials. All authors must have contributed substantially and approved the final submitted version.

Document Format and Structure

Specific Section Requirements

Introduction: Establish context, review relevant literature, state research objectives, and explain study significance. Conclude with clear hypothesis or research questions guiding the investigation.

Materials and Methods: Provide sufficient detail for replication including study location, sampling design, specimen collection, laboratory procedures, and statistical analyses. Cite established methods with references; describe modifications in detail.

Results: Present findings clearly without interpretation, using text to highlight key patterns while directing readers to figures and tables for detailed data. Avoid redundancy between text and graphical elements.

Discussion: Interpret results in context of existing literature, acknowledge limitations, and state conclusions supported by evidence. Avoid repeating results; focus on meaning and implications.

Figures and Tables

Include figures and tables at appropriate positions within the main document for review. Also upload high-resolution figures separately (300 dpi minimum for photographs, 600 dpi for line art). Use consistent formatting across all graphical elements. Tables should be editable (not images) with clear headers and appropriate footnotes explaining abbreviations.

Ensure all figures and tables are cited in the text and numbered consecutively. Provide descriptive legends enabling understanding without reference to main text. Include scale bars for photographs of specimens or habitats.

References

Cite all sources using author-date format in text (Smith and Jones 2023; Brown et al. 2024). List references alphabetically by first author surname in the References section. Include DOIs where available. Verify all citations are accurate and complete before submission. Self-citations should be limited to genuinely relevant prior work.

Ethical Requirements

Research involving live animals requires institutional ethics committee approval with permit numbers stated in Methods. Include collection permits for wildlife sampling and export/import documentation where applicable. For conservation-sensitive species, consult editors about data obscuring before submission to protect vulnerable populations from potential exploitation.

Authors must disclose funding sources, potential conflicts of interest, and competing interests that could influence interpretation. Confirm that all human subjects provided informed consent where applicable (e.g., citizen science projects involving human participants).

Data and Supplementary Materials

Deposit genetic sequences in GenBank, EMBL, or DDBJ before acceptance; include accession numbers in Methods. Large datasets should be archived in Dryad, Zenodo, or discipline-appropriate repositories. Video supplements should be MP4 format with reasonable compression. Supplementary materials undergo review alongside main manuscripts.

Writing Style and Language

Manuscripts must be written in clear, grammatically correct English. Authors whose first language is not English are encouraged to have their manuscripts reviewed by fluent colleagues or professional editing services before submission. Scientific terminology should follow established conventions within relevant zoological subdisciplines. Define abbreviations upon first use, except for commonly accepted terms like DNA, RNA, and GPS.

Use active voice where appropriate to enhance clarity and readability. Avoid excessive jargon that may obscure meaning for readers from related but distinct research areas. Technical terms should be defined upon first appearance for accessibility to the broader zoological community. Maintain consistent terminology throughout the manuscript, particularly when referring to species, methods, and experimental treatments.

Species Nomenclature

Scientific names should be italicized with genus capitalized and species epithet lowercase (e.g., Panthera leo). Provide common names where widely recognized, with scientific name in parentheses on first mention. Higher taxonomic classifications should follow established authority sources. For new species descriptions, follow ICZN guidelines precisely, including etymology sections explaining name derivation.

Cite taxonomic authorities on first mention of species names, particularly for recently described or taxonomically complex taxa. When multiple classification systems exist, state which authority is followed. Geographic subspecies or populations should be clearly designated according to accepted nomenclatural practice within the relevant taxonomic group.

Statistical Reporting

Present statistical analyses with appropriate detail for reproducibility. Report test statistics, degrees of freedom, and exact p-values (e.g., t = 2.34, df = 45, p = 0.024) rather than inequality symbols (p < 0.05) alone. Describe statistical software used with version numbers. Justify sample sizes and explain any data exclusions or transformations applied before analysis.

For complex analyses, consider including supplementary materials with complete statistical outputs. Effect sizes should accompany significance tests where appropriate. Clearly distinguish between statistical significance and biological importance when interpreting results, avoiding overstatement of findings based solely on p-values without consideration of effect magnitude and practical relevance.

Geographic and Specimen Information

Provide precise geographic coordinates (latitude/longitude in decimal degrees) for field study sites and specimen collection localities. Include uncertainty estimates where GPS accuracy varies. Describe habitat characteristics relevant to understanding species occurrence or experimental context. For sensitive species susceptible to collection pressure or habitat disturbance, consult editors about coordinate obscuring before submission.

Specimen voucher information must include repository institution, catalog numbers, and confirmation that specimens are permanently deposited in recognized scientific collections accessible to future researchers. For molecular studies, tissue sample sources should be documented with collection details and preservation methods.

Supplementary Materials

Supplementary materials should enhance rather than substitute for main text content. Large datasets, extended methodological details, additional figures, and video content are appropriate for supplementary submission. Format supplementary files consistently, with clear labeling and cross-references from the main manuscript.

Video files should be MP4 format with descriptive titles and legends explaining content. Audio recordings of vocalizations require spectrograms or waveform displays. High-resolution specimen photographs should include scale bars and uniform lighting. Raw data files should use nonproprietary formats (CSV, TXT) accessible without specialized software.

Revision Guidelines

Authors receiving revision decisions should prepare point-by-point responses to all reviewer comments, explaining how each concern was addressed or providing reasoned disagreement where appropriate. Highlight changes in the revised manuscript using tracked changes or highlighted text. Maintain professional, respectful tone throughout responses even when disagreeing with specific suggestions.

Meet revision deadlines or request extensions proactively. Major revisions typically undergo additional review while minor revisions are often evaluated by editors directly. Incorporate helpful suggestions thoroughly rather than making minimal changes that may require additional revision rounds.