Mycotaxon Weblog

December 15, 2007

Important! Recent changes in formatting, submission procedures, and other innovations are finally integrated into the newly revised and updated Instructions to Mycotaxon Authors PDF, now available on our downloads web page. All authors are urged to download this PDF before beginning a paper intended for the Mycotaxon journal, as there are numerous changes and shortcuts that should help make manuscript preparation more efficient. The sample manuscript at the end has been modified to reflect current Mycotaxon requirements and expanded with the addition of a sample footnote, illustration, legend caption, and table.

Also NEWLY REVISED to conform to the updated instructions and current Mycotaxon requirements:

• all text, legend, and table document file templates. The master/body text file template now offers styles for keys with leader dots in place.

• The Reviewer Guidelines & Expert Reviewer Comments Form still includes an abbreviated checklist but has been reworked to allow extra space for comments by reviewers.

• The Final Submission Form.

Authors and Expert reviewers are urged to delete, erase, burn, and get rid of all old forms and templates and use the new 2008 versions. The transition to the ‘final’ Mycotaxon look is now complete and the 2008 instructions are not expected to change in the foreseeable future.

COVER ART COMES TO MYCOTAXON. To celebrate its 100th volume, Mycotaxon 100 carried a previously published drawing by one of its founding editors, Gregoire Hennebert. We so liked having a drawing on our front cover that we redesigned the covers to permit us to selecting one cover drawing from among papers published within. An ‘illustrative reconstruction’ of Xerula setulosa by Petersen & Bandoni graced the cover of Mycotaxon 101, and a rendition of sporodochial conidiomata of Pseudocercosspora rigidae by Silva & Pereira was selected for the cover of Mycotaxon 102, sent to press earlier this week.

posted by Richard @ 10:41 PM

IMPORTANT! Three recent Mycotaxon formatting changes are not yet included in our instructions:

Mycotaxon now italicizes all Latin taxonomic names (effective with the October–December, 2006, volume)

Previously our journal required italics for Latin names only up through order. Mycotaxon now asks authors italicize Latin names of ALL taxa (from subspecific through kingdom).

Explanation: This is recommended (but not required) by the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature and now required by Mycological Research. It is also much easier for authors to remember than our old requirement “The Latin names of all taxa up through the level of order must be placed in italics.”
Now, reviewers and authors will know that all Latin names, regardless of taxonomic level, must be italicized. Even Fungi should be in italics when used as a formal taxonomic name.

Mycotaxon basic font size has increased (effective with the closed July–September, 2006, volume)

During 2006, Mycotaxon converted all author-submitted text from Times/Times New Roman & Arial fonts (still required) to Minion Pro & Myriad Pro fonts during PDF conversion. Minion Pro fonts run slightly smaller than Times fonts, permitting more characters per line.
Therefore, the Editors agreed unanimously to increase size of the primary running text in all papers from 9-pt to 10-pt and the Acknowledgments sections from 8-pt to 9-pt. Extensive technical Materials & methods sections may appear in either 9-pt or 10-pt, depending on the subject matter. All other font sizes remain the same: 10-pt stand-alone subheadings, text for abstracts, specimens examined, figure legends, and references at 8-pt, and table entriesat 8-pt or 7-pt, as needed.
Until mid-January, 2007, authors who have already prepared their texts using the previously required set of font sizes need not reformat their files, as the InDesign template has been adjusted to display text it the proper size. However, they should be aware that text flow and illustration placement in the final paper will differ from files prepared using the old font sizes.

Explanation: Both authors and editors agree that font sizes had become too difficult to read in recent Mycotaxon volumes. Typographic experts also agree that 10-pt font sizes are optimal for the Mycotaxon line length (11 cm).

Mycobank registration now required for all newly proposed names (effective with the current October–December, 2006, volume)

This is easily done by logging onto www.mycobank.org and following the instructions there. Authors should write the registration number under the name of their newly proposed taxon in 8-pt font between the name and Latin diagnosis. GenBank numbers should be placed on the same line.

Explanation: Mycobank (not affiliated with Mycotaxon) is maintained on the web site of the Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures in the Netherlands. Name registration ensures that names are unique, protects the author’s name until it is published, and provides a central location for type descriptions (with or without illustrations) after formal publication.

posted by noni @ 11:58 PM

Recent Notes from Mycotaxon's Editor-in-Chief
A new MSWord shell has been prepared for authors who wish to submit manuscripts that contain footnotes, legends, artwork, and tables. The shell (downloading as Mycotaxon_legend.doc) is designed for legends but can easily be adapted for tables as well. Easy instructions are given for preparing legend and table clones.

Regarding graphics files:
Authors who wish to submit digitized artwork may submit the art in TIF, JPG, or EPS formats. TIF formatting is preferred. Large TIF files should be sent in LZW compressed mode instead of JPG format whenever possible. This type of compression preserves all bytes so that no information is lost, which does occur when TIF files are converted to JPG format.
Authors who wish to publish their plates for printing in full color may do so. The charge per color plate is $475. Those wishing to publish in color should check with the Editor-in-Chief prior to final submission so that arrangements can be made.

If you have questions contact the Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Lorelei L. Norvell at editor@mycotaxon.com or at her back-up email address, llnorvell@pnw-ms.com

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posted by Richard @ 1:49 PM