Writing Rules

Instructions for Authors

  • Instructions for Authors

    The types of manuscripts suitable for submission to SRLS are detailed in the “Aims and Scope” section of this journal.
    Original research articles should generally not exceed 6,000 words, though they can be extended up to 8,000 words, excluding references.
    Manuscripts describing newly identified taxa must adhere to taxonomic standards outlined by Winston (1999), as recommended by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (Tsang et al., 2016).
    All studies involving human participants must comply with the Declaration of Helsinki, established by the World Medical Association (WMA, 2013), which sets ethical principles for human research. For more information, please follow the LINK

 Article types

Article Types

Research Articles:
These papers report significant new findings with broad scientific implications. They should include an abstract, an introduction, visual aids (figures or tables), conclusions, and references.
Supplementary materials for materials and methods may be provided separately.

Review Articles:
After initial contact with the Editor-in-Chief, review papers about current topics in life sciences are considered.
They should be concise, with a maximum of 7,000 words, and should include an abstract, introduction, relevant subheadings, and a list of future research directions.
Up to 100 references and 4–6 figures or tables are permitted.
Reviews do not require supplementary files and should synthesize recent developments and unresolved questions in the field.

Short Communications:
Brief reports of up to 2,000 words focusing on novel discoveries or records that are of rapid interest to the research community.
References are limited to 20, and a maximum of 3 figures or tables is allowed.
The abstract must be no longer than 75 words, and results and discussion should be combined.

Manuscript Structure

Manuscripts should follow this order:

  • Title
  • Authors and institutional affiliations (including full addresses and emails)
  • Abstract
  • Keywords
  • Introduction
  • Materials and methods
  • Results
  • Discussion
  • Acknowledgments
  • References

Figures and tables should be embedded within their relevant sections; however, the journal reserves the right to reorganize layout during publication.

Manuscript Formatting

All manuscripts must be prepared in 12-point Times New Roman font, double-spaced, with line numbering, and formatted on A4 paper with standard margins.
Authors are encouraged to use the journal’s Word template for consistency.

Title and Author Details

Titles should be clear, descriptive, and concise, avoiding abbreviations or formulas where permissible.
Author names must be accurately spelled, with affiliations listed below the authors’ names, marked with lowercase superscript letters.
Complete postal addresses and email contacts of all authors should be provided.

Corresponding Author

Designate a corresponding author responsible for all correspondence related to the manuscript, including post-publication inquiries, with updated contact details.

Abstract and Keywords

The abstract should summarize key findings in up to 300 words, avoiding specialized jargon and spelling out all acronyms initially.
Include a minimum of three keywords that are distinct from the words used in the title.

Introduction

Briefly state the research purpose and its context within current literature, typically limited to less than one page.

Materials and Methods

Describe the study location and any new procedures used, referencing previously published methods unless modifications are necessary.
Ensure sufficient detail to enable reproducibility.

Results

Present findings using figures, tables, or narrative form.
Combining Results and Discussion sections can be approved based on editorial discretion.

Discussion

Interpret the findings clearly and concisely, avoiding duplication of the Results section, and focus on implications and future directions.

Acknowledgments

Acknowledge funding sources, data repositories, and any individuals or organizations that provided assistance, ensuring all authors meet authorship criteria.

References

Follow the 7th edition of APA guidelines for reference formatting.
Use a reference management software such as Mendeley to ensure accuracy.

Figures and Tables

Number figures and tables sequentially, label them briefly and specifically, and cite them in the text accordingly.
Obtain permission for previously published material, and ensure images have clear scale markers and appropriate coloration considerations.
Figure legends should be centered, in Times New Roman 11 font.

Submission and Review Process

Prepare your manuscript in Word or OpenOffice, along with high-resolution figures (minimum 300 dpi).
Combine files into a PDF for submission, including any supplementary data, cover letter, and permissions if needed.
The peer review process involves initial editorial assessment, followed by external review by experts, to provide constructive and timely feedback.
Authors may suggest reviewers

 

Publication Fees and Access

SRLS operates under a completely free-of-charge model for submission, peer review, and publication.
The journal is open access, adopting the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license, allowing free distribution, reproduction, and adaptation of published articles, provided proper credit is given to the original authors and source.

Ethical Standards and Authorship

All listed authors must have contributed significantly to the conception, execution, or interpretation of the research.
Each contributor should approve the final version submitted for publication and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work’s accuracy and integrity.
Submitting a manuscript signifies collective agreement among authors that all have consented and approved the content.

Ethical Compliance

Research involving human subjects must adhere to ethical principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki, including obtaining approval from relevant ethics committees and securing informed consent from participants.
Research involving animals must be conducted following acceptable institutional and national guidelines, with documented ethical approval indicated in the manuscript.

Licensing and Copyright

Authors retain copyright of their work but license it under the CC-BY license, ensuring open access and unrestricted use of the published material with proper attribution.

Citation and Reference Style Examples

In-text Citations:
When citing sources within the text, refer to the author(s) and publication year. For example:

  • Single author:
    (Smith, 2009)
    According to Smith (2009),...

  • Two authors:
    (Smith & Khan, 2009)
    Smith and Khan (2009) demonstrated that...

  • Three or more authors:
    (Smith et al., 2009)
    Recent studies (Smith et al., 2009) suggest...

  • Multiple works by the same author in the same year:
    (Smith, 2009a)
    (Smith, 2009b)

Reference List Examples

Book:
Smith, J. D. (2009). Research ethics in New Zealand: A student guide. Rata Press.

Journal Article:
Smith, J. D., & Khan, V. (2009). Māori voices: Approaches to bilingual research. Journal of Academic Methodologies, 38(3), 17–28. https://doi.org/10.1037/1072-5245.15.2.117

Book Chapter:
Smith, J. D. (2009). Trends in discourse analysis. In G. Schwartz & U. N. Owen (Eds.), Readings in qualitative research design (pp. 15–59). Rata Press.

Web Page:
Smith, J. D. (2009). Kindergartens and childcare centres in New Zealand. Ministry of Education. http://www.example.com/thepage.htm

Report:
Smith, J. D. (2009). National employment predictions and recommendations (Report No. 122). Rata Press.

Additional Tips

  • Always include DOI numbers when available.
  • List references alphabetically by the surname of the first author.
  • Use a hanging indent for each reference (first line flush left, subsequent lines indented).