JOURNAL OF CAVE AND KARST STUDIES STYLE: A GUIDE

FOR CONTRIBUTORS

Malcolm S. Field

Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington,

D.C. 20460

1

Preparing a paper for publication in the Journal of Cave and Karst Studies requires that

the author(s) preparing the manuscript conform to the guidelines set down by the

National Speleological Society. This document illustrates the basic manuscript form

required for consideration for publication in the Journal of Cave and Karst Studies.

Journal text is typeset using Roman type in the Journal of Cave and Karst Studies

which requires that journal names, such as the Journal of Cave and Karst Studies or a

biological species name, be in italic type. For example, the biological species name for the

blind cave fish, Amblyopsis rosae, must appear in italic form when text appears in

Roman form so as to set off the scientific name from the rest of the text.

2

INTRODUCTION

The National Speleological Society serves the karst community and society at large

in several ways, among them by publishing the Journal of Cave and Karst Studies

which presents the results of investigations. The Journal of Cave and Karst Studies is a

multidisciplinary journal devoted to cave and karst research that seeks original,

unpublished manuscripts concerning the scientific study of caves and/or karst features.

Authors do not need to be members of the National Speleological Society (NSS), but

preference is generally given to manuscripts of importance to North American

speleology. The Editor of the Journal of Cave and Karst Studies has the responsibility

for maintaining the Journal quality and for reviewing and accepting papers submitted

for publication.

These guidelines derive from the Journal Editor’s, Associate Editors’ and Advisory

Board’s definition of the standards of quality for scientific research and its publication

in the Journal, and from the karst community's desire and need to have a high-quality

journal dedicated to karst scholarship. The guidelines that follow are intended to

provide prospective authors with clear instructions and an example for developing

manuscripts suitable for publication in the Journal of Cave and Karst Studies, by

ensuring proper grammatical and aesthetic quality and by ensuring that the highest

ethical standards are adhered to at all times.

3

BASIC FORMAT OF EVERY PAPER

Every paper submitted to the Journal of Cave and Karst Studies must follow the

basic format. The accepted format is a standard form used by all scientific journals. To

assist authors with manuscript preparation, this MS Word template may be used.

Although subheads are not shown, it is expected that authors will clearly distinguish

first-, second-, third-, and fourth-level heads in their manuscript

ORDER OF PARTS

The order of parts in a paper is title page, abstract (except in comments or

discussion, replies, and corrections), text, notation list, appendixes, endnotes (or notes),

acknowledgments, references, figure captions list, tables, and figures.

Title Page

Authors and Co-Authors’ Addresses

Abstract

Introduction

Materials and Methods

Results and Discussion

Summary and/or Conclusions

Notations List

Acknowledgments

References

4

Appendices

Figure Captions

Tables

Not all headings will be used in any given manuscript. For example, manuscripts

with no equations or very few equations will not need a Notations List. Other papers

may have heading names different than those listed. For example, a Materials and

Methods heading may be replaced by one or more appropriately named headings.

Note that the interdisciplinary nature of the Journal of Cave and Karst Studies will

necessarily require that the Editor accept papers that may vary considerably from the

headings listed above. However, the basic form must be adhered to at all times.

Below is a basic scientific style that should be loosely followed. It is intended to be a

basic guide while recognizing that scientific articles often require some variances from

a standard form.

Title Page

Manuscripts should begin with a concise informative title. The title should then be

followed by the name(s) of the author(s), affiliation(s) and address(es) of the authors,

and e-mail address, telephone, and fax numbers for communicating with the author(s).

Abstract

5

Every paper must be preceded by an abstract of not more than 250 words.

Abstracts should concisely summarize research methods, results, and conclusions, but

not include citations to references.

Introduction

The introduction should consist of a brief discussion of the nature of the problem,

relevant literature review, and the purpose of the paper. The length and level of detail

included are subject to the author’s discretion, but will likely depend on the extent of

the problem and the author’s sense of how much introductory material is needed to

define the problem.

Materials and Methods

Materials and methods, a somewhat generic heading (authors may substitute more

specific heading names as deemed appropriate), should provide sufficient information

to allow replication of the study’s procedures and results.

Results and Discussion

The results and discussion section(s) may appear together or as separate headings.

The results section should focus specifically on the outcome of the study. Data should

be presented as concisely as possible, preferably in tabular form whenever possible.

6

The discussion should be an interpretation of the results and their significance.

Appropriate references to other relevant publications usually form an integral part of a

discussion.

Summary and/or Conclusions

A brief summary of the study findings or a discussion of the conclusions of the reported

study should follow the results and discussion section.

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments should be as brief as possible. Grant funding as part of the

research requires acknowledgment and should be mentioned with the names of funding

organizations written in full. Significant support from various individuals and

reviewers should also be noted.

References

The list of references should include works that are cited in the text, figures and

tables, captions, and that have been published or accepted for publication. All

references must have been mentioned in a citation and all citations must have a

matching listed reference. Personal communications should be mentioned only in the

text. Citations in the text must be identified by the first author’s last name followed by

a comma and the date of publication enclosed by parentheses, unless the author(s)

is(are) referred to directly in the text, in which case only the date of publication should

appear in parentheses. For example, one author would appear either as (Smith, 2002)

7

or Smith (2002); two authors would appear as (Smith and Jones, 2000), or Smith and

Jones (2000); three or more authors would appear as (Smith et al., 2004) or Smith et al.

(2004). Note that et al. is not italicized and is followed by a comma only when the

entire citation is enclosed in parentheses.

The list of references should appear at the end of the manuscript and be

alphabetized under the first author’s last name. References by the same author or team

of authors should be listed in chronological order.

References should follow the style used by the Geological Society of America.

Guidelines for references listed on GSA’s web site are shown in Table 1. Note that the

punctuation shown in Table 1 must be adhered to when adding references to a

manuscript. [Brackets shown around selected items in Table 1 are not to be included in

the actual references, except for the specific instance in which the term, abstract, is

abbreviated and appears in brackets as [abs.].]

When available, the Digital Object Identifier (DOI) of the cited literature should be

added at the end of a reference. Note that for accessed web sites, the date that the web site was

accessed for the paper in question should also be included in the reference.

References such as “personal communication” or “unpublished research” cannot be

published in the references list, but should be cited where appropriate in the text in

parentheses as (Smith, pers. comm.) or Smith (pers. comm.). Papers accepted for

8

publication, but not yet been published, should be included in the references list with

the name of the journal and “in press.”

Table 1. Required forms for references for Journal of Cave and Karst Studies accepted manuscriptsReference Type Required Format

Abstract [last name], [initials], [year], [abstract title]: [organization name], [Abstracts], [volume], [number]a, [pages].or[last name], [initials], [year], [abstract title], [abs.]: [publication name], [volume], [number]a, [pages].

Book [last name], [initials], [year], [book title]: [city], [publisher], [number of pages].or[last name], [initials], [year], [chapter title], in [last name], [initials], ed., [book title]: [city], [publisher], [pages].

Journal Article [last name], [initials.], [year], [article title]: [journal title], [volume], [number] b, [pages].

Comment, Discussion, Reply

[last name], [initials.], [year], [comment title]: [Comment, Discussion, or Reply]: [journal title], [volume], [number], [pages].

Guidebook [last name], [initials.], [year], [guidebook title]: [city], [publisher], [number of pages].or[last name], [initials.], [year], [guidebook title], in [last name], [initials], ed., [field trip title]: [city], [publisher], [pages].

In Press [last name], [initials.], [year], [map title]: [journal, book, etc. title], [volume]b,c, (in press).

Map [last name], [initials.], [year], [article title]: [city], [publisher], [map number], [scale x:y], [number of sheets].

Government or University Serial Publication

[last name], [initials.], [year], [report title]: [publisher], [report number], [number of pages].or[last name], [initials.], [year], [section or chapter title], in [last name], [initials], ed., [report title]: [publisher], [report number], [number of pages].

Conference, Convention, or Symposium Proceeding

[last name], [initials.], [year], [article title], in Proceedings, [conference, convention, or symposium title]: [city], [publisher], [pages].

Web Site [last name], [initials.], [year], [title], [additional details as appropriate],

9

[web site address], [[date accessed month day, year]]d.

Thesis and Dissertation

[last name], [initials.], [year], [thesis title], [[Ph.D. Dissertation or M.S. Thesis]]: [city], [school], [number of pages].

a Issue number is required for this publication. b Issue number is optional for this publication. c If known. d The date the web site was accessed must be included within brackets.

Some examples of correct reference styles as described in Table 1 appear below:

Abstract Examples

Croskrey, A., Kambesis, P., Tobin, B., Futrell, Downey, K., Kovarik, J., Groves, Jiang

Zhoncheng, and Jiang Guanghui, 2005, Geologic and hydrologic observations from

Wanhuayan Cave, Hunan, China [abs.]: Journal of Cave and Karst Studies, v. 67,

no. 3, p. 186. [Note that Chinese names are commonly arranged family name first,

followed by the given name; in this example, the family names of the Chinese

authors are Jiang and Jiang. For references with Chinese authors, spell out the

entire name.]

Jenson, J.W., Mylroie, J.E., Mylroie, J.R., and Wexel, C., 2002, Revisiting the

Carbonate Island Karst Model: Geological Society of America Abstracts with

Program, v. 34, no. 6, p. 226.

Lavoie, K.H., Studier, E.H., and Cauthorn, O.F., 2005, Guano invertebrate

communities in a highly acidic cave [abs.]: Journal of Cave and Karst Studies, v.

67, no. 3, p. 182.

10

White, W.B., 2005, Secondary minerals in volcanic caves: Data from Hawai`i [abs.]:

Journal of Cave and Karst Studies, v. 67, no. 3, p. 189.

Book Examples

Bögli, A., 1980, Karst hydrology and physical speleology: Berlin, Springer, 284 p.

[Use all correct diacritical marks and special characters for non-English languages.]

Dreybrodt, W., Gabrovšek, F., and Romanov, D., 2005, Processes of speleogenesis: A

modeling approach: Ljubljana, Slovenia, ZRC Publishing, 374 p. [Use all correct

diacritical marks and special characters for non-English languages.]

Gunn, J., and Hobbs, S., 1999, Limestone quarrying: hydrogeological impacts,

consequences, implications, in Drew, D., and Hötzl, H., eds., Karst hydrogeology and

human activities: impacts, consequences and implications: Brookfield, Vt., A.A.

Balkema Publishers, p. 192–201. [Use all correct diacritical marks and special

characters for non-English languages.]

Journal Examples

Doğan, U. and Yeşılyurt, S., 2004, Gypsum karst south of İmranlı, Sivas, Turkey: Cave

and Karst Science, v. 31, no. 1, p. 7–14. [Use all correct diacritical marks and

special characters for non-English languages.]

11

Behrens, H., Beims, U., Dieter, H., Dietze, G., Eikmann, T., Grummt, T., Hanisch, H.,

Henseling, H., Käss, W., Kerndorff, H., Leibundgut, C., Müller-Wegener, U.,

Rönnefahrt, I., Scharenberg, B., Schleyer, R., Schloz, W., and Tilkes, F., 2001,

Toxicological and ecotoxicological assessment of water tracers: Hydrogeology

Journal, v. 9, p. 321–325.

Lin Yushi, Zhang Meiliang, and Qin Jiaming, 1996, The division of geologic age of a

stalagmite in Panlong Cave in Guilin: Carsologica Sinica, v. 15, no. 1–2, p. 167–

173. [Note that Chinese names are commonly arranged family name first, followed

by the given name; in this example, the family names of the Chinese authors are

Lin, Zhang, and Qin. For references with Chinese authors, spell out the entire

name.]

Pint, J.J., 2006, Vulcanospeleology in Saudi Arabia: Acta Carsologica, v. 35, no. 1, p.

107–119.

Comment, Discussion, Reply Examples

Barton, H.A., and Pace, N.R., 2005, Persistent coliform contamination in Lechuguilla

Cave pools: Discussion: Journal of Cave and Karst Studies, v. 67, no. 1, p. 55–56.

Hunter, A.J., Northup, D.E., Dahm, C.N, and Boston, P.J., 2005, Persistent coliform

contamination in Lechuguilla Cave pools: Reply: Journal of Cave and Karst

Studies, v. 67, no. 2, p. 133–135.

12

Guidebook Example

Nardacci, M., 1991, Guide to the caves and karst of the northeast: Huntsville, Ala.,

National Speleological Society, 50th Anniversary NSS Convention, 167 p.

In Press Examples

Dobrowski, R., Bogucki, A., and Zaleski, I., 2005, Morphogenesis of chalk karst in the

Volhynia Elevation (NW Ukraine): Kras I Speleologia, v. 11 (in press).

Dogwiler, T., and Wicks, C., 2006, Thermal variations in the hyporheic zone of a karst

stream: International Journal of Speleology, v. 35 (in press).

Government or University Serial Publication Examples

Dunn, B. 1968, Nomographs for determining amount of Rhodamine B dye for time-of-

travel studies, in Selected Techniques in Water Resources Investigations 1966-67.

U.S. Geological Survey Water Supply Paper 1892, p. 9–14.

Field, M.S., 2002, A lexicon of cave and karst terminology with special reference to

environmental karst hydrology: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,

EPA/600/R-02/003, 214 p.

Proceedings from a Symposium or Conference Examples [Include year of conference if

it differs from publication year.]

13

Bakalowicz, M., 2004, The epikarst, the skin of karst, in Epikarst, Proceedings of the

Symposium, Shepherdstown, W.Va., Oct. 2003: Charlestown, W.Va., Karst Waters

Institute, Inc., p. 16–22.

Lewis, J.J., and Lewis, S.L., 2006, Cave faunal study for the Interstate 66 E.I.S.

(Somerset to London, Kentucky), in Proceedings of the 2005 National Cave and

Karst Management Symposium, 17th, Albany, New York, Oct.–Nov. 2005:

Greyhound Press, p. 15–20. [Note that no city is listed for this publisher in the

original publication.]

Thesis and Dissertation Examples

Powell, R.L., 1976, Some geomorphic and hydrologic implications of jointing in

carbonate strata of Mississippian age in south-central Indiana [Ph.D. thesis]: West

Lafayette, Purdue University, 169 p.

Web Sites Examples

USEPA, 2002, National Primary Drinking Water Regulations: Ground Water Rule; Proposed

Rules, Federal Register, 40 CFR Parts 141 and 142, v. 65, n. 91, p. 30194–30274 (May 10,

2000), http://www.epa.gov/ogwdw/gwr/gwrprop.pdf, [accessed March 8, 2004].

SUMMARY SPECIFICATION FOR PAPERS

Spacing

14

Double space all copy, including the title page, abstract, text, notation list, appendices,

references, figure captions, and table captions but not table entries. Triple spacing is

acceptable but unnecessary. Do not use single spacing or 1.5 spacing.

15

Margins

Margins on the left should be at least 2.5 cm (1 in.). Margins on the top, right, and bottom

should also be at least 2.5 cm (1 in.). An exception to this rule is allowed for wide tables that

are necessarily included in the manuscript.

STATE ABBREVIATIONS

Abbreviations for State names should follow standard form and not that of the U.S. Postal

Service as shown in Table 2 except when explicitly providing a postal address.

ITALICS

In the paper’s text sections, italics should be used only for formal publication names (e.g.,

Journal of Cave and Karst Studies), for formal biological species names (e.g., Euhadenoecus

fragilis), and/or unusual foreign terms. In the reference list, publication names are not

italicized; italics are used for the word ‘in’ before the editor’s name and/or title of a multi-

author volume. Italics are also required for a biological species name when such appears in the

reference list.

16

Table 2. Proper State name abbreviations and unacceptable postal abbreviations.

State NameState Name

AbbreviationPostal

AbbreviationAlabama Ala. ALAlaska Alaska AKAmerican Samoa ∙∙∙ ASArizona Ariz. AZArkansas Ark. ARCalifornia Calif. CAColorado Colo. COConnecticut Conn. CTDelaware Del. DEDistrict of Columbia D.C. DCFlorida Fla. FLGeorgia Ga. GAGuam Guam GUHawai`i Hawai`i HIIdaho Idaho IDIllinois Ill. ILIndiana Ind. INIowa Iowa IAKansas Kans. KSKentucky Ky. KYLouisiana La. LAMaine Maine MEMaryland Md. MDMarshall Islands ∙∙∙ MHMassachusetts Mass. MAMichigan Mich. MIMicronesia ∙∙∙ FMMinnesota Minn. MNMississippi Miss. MSMissouri Mo. MOMontana Mont. MTNebraska Nebr. NENevada Nev. NVNew Hampshire N.H. NHNew Jersey N.J. NJNew Mexico N.M. NMNew York N.Y. NYNorth Carolina N.C. NCNorth Dakota N.D. NDNorthern Marianas ∙∙∙ MPOhio Ohio OHOklahoma Okla. OKOregon Ore. ORPalau ∙∙∙ PWPennsylvania Pa. PAPuerto Rico P.R. PRRhode Island R.I. RISouth Carolina S.C. SCSouth Dakota S.D. SDTennessee Tenn. TNTexas Tex. TXUtah Utah UTVermont Vt. VTVirginia Va. VAVirgin Islands V.I. VIWashington Wash. WAWest Virginia W.Va. WVWisconsin Wis. WIWyoming Wyo. WY

17

MATHEMATICS

All mathematical characters in the manuscript that are available using a standard

wordprocessing program or typewriter must be typeset. Use mathematical or Greek

fonts when appropriate and available. Identify characters in handwritten mathematics

and distinguish between similar-looking letters, numbers, and special symbols (whether

typed or handwritten) at their first use on each page or in the Notations section. Place

all subscripts and superscripts in their appropriate position; when used together they

should appear directly over one another (e.g., S21

is correct; S21 and S1

2 are incorrect).

All mathematical variables should appear in italic form except for Greek fonts (β is

correct; β is incorrect). Never italicize numbers (e.g., S1 is correct; S1 is incorrect) and

never substitute the letter “x” for the multiplication symbol “×” or a hyphen “-” for a

minus sign “−”. Use an appropriate equation editor when necessary to obtain proper

form of mathematical symbols when not available otherwise. Note that quotes,

although used here, are almost never appropriate for a scientific journal and should only

be used when directly quoting previously published material.

For example, in Microsoft Word, a variable with both superscripts and subscripts

may be accessed only from the Microsoft Equation Editor (go to the Insert pull-

down menu, select Object, scroll down to the Microsoft Editor 3.0, and then select the

appropriate mathematical functions from the pop-up menu).

Numbers

18

The required decimal marker is a dot on the line. When writing numbers less than

one, a zero is required before the decimal marker.

Large numbers sometimes warrant special treatment. For example, large numbers

with several digits to the left of the decimal point (more than four) should be separated

into groups of three by a comma. An exception would be years (e.g., 2006). Numbers

with a large number of digits to the right of the digit may, but not always, warrant

separation into groups of three separated by a blank space. Acceptable examples

appear below.

For example: 1,234,564 2.351 025 5,368 0.1254

Equations

Equations should be created using the an appropriate equation editor (e.g.,

Microsoft Equation Editor in MS Word), centered, properly formulated (e.g., italic

for variables, but no italics for Greek characters), properly aligned, and numbered

sequentially (do not use the MS Word automatic numbering feature). For example, the

reduced equilibrium volume-averaged solute transport equation in dimensionless form

might appear as

Rd∂CP

∂ t= 1

P∂2 CP

∂ Z2 −∂CP

∂Z−λE CP+γ E( Z )

(1)

and which may be solved as a production value problem as

19

CP (Z , T )=1Rd

∫0

Tγ1 Γ2

E (Z , T ; 0 )+γ2 Γ 3E (Z , T ; ξP ) (2 )

¿ {γ 1

λE [1−Γ 2E (Z , T ; 0 )−Γ1

E ( Z , T ; λE ) ]+γ 2

Rd∫0

TΓ3

E ( Z , T ; ξP ) dt ( λE>0 ) (3 )

γ 1

RdΓ4

E ( Z , T )+γ 2

Rd∫0

TΓ2

E (Z , T ; ξ P ) dt ( λE=0 ) (4 )

where Γ iE

are auxiliary functions defined in the appendix1 and the variables are listed in

the Notations section1. Note that Equations (2)–(4) are correctly aligned on the equals

sign.

PAGINATION

Number each sheet of the manuscript consecutively with the first page after the title

page and ending with the last page of tables.

TABLES

Type each table single spaced on a separate sheet. Give each table a title (caption)

and cite each table in the text in numerical sequence (do not use the MS Word

automatic numbering feature). Tables 1 and 2 present examples of properly formatted

tables. Simple table template examples for one- and two-column tables are shown in

the Appendix2. Footnotes should be identified using superscript lower-case letters.

Instances of missing data should be identified using ellipses (e.g., ∙∙∙).

1 Not included in this document.2 Tables 1 and 2 appear as defined templates; authors should modify each table as necessary to accommodate the necessary number of columns and rows required.

20

More specific details regarding the proper formatting of tables may be found at the

National Speleological Society web site. Note that the example table on the web site

also includes a link for the proper use of SI units.

21

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors thank the Journal of Cave and Karst Studies Associate Editors and

Advisory Board for their encouragement and constructive criticism.

22

APPENDIX

FIGURE AND TABLE CAPTIONS

Example: One-column table

Figure 1. Figure or plate captions consist of a

paragraph containing several phrases or

sentences.

Example: Two-column table

Figure 1. Figure or plate captions consist of a paragraph containing several

Phrases or sentences.

Example: Extra-wide table (landscape mode)

Figure 1. Figure or plate captions consist of a paragraph containing several phrases/sentences.

BASIC TABLE TEMPLATES

The basic forms of tables are shown below.

Table 1. Template for a One-Column Tablea Heading 1 Heading 2

a Note that all footnotes should be keyed; that is, a lowercase letter should be used. Avoid the traditional symbols, i.e., *, †, ‡, etc.

Table 2. Template for a Two-Column Tablea

Heading 1 Heading 2 Heading 3 Heading 4

23

a Note that this is the maximum width (17.35 cm, 6.83 inches) for a two-column table. The minimum width is 25 picas (10.6 cm, 4.1 inches). For a broadside table, highlight (block) this table, right click, and select Table Properties. Change Size, Preferred width to 9.4 inches. Be sure to change to a landscape page orientation when preparing a broadside table.

24