Writing a scientific paper in the format of the journal Ecology BOT 332 University of Alberta

Writing a scientific paper in Writing a scientific paper in the format of the journal the format of the journal

EcologyEcologyBOT 332 University of AlbertaBOT 332 University of Alberta

DATA COLLECTION

EXPERIMENTCritical test of null hypothesis

OBSERVATIONSPatterns in space or time

HYPOTHESISPredictions based on model

MODELSExplanations or theories

INTERPRETATION

After Underwood (1997)

RESULTS

METHODS

INTRODUCTION

DISCUSSION

DATA COLLECTION





INTERPRETATION


RESULTS

METHODS

INTRODUCTION

DISCUSSION

DATA COLLECTION





INTERPRETATION


RESULTS

METHODS

INTRODUCTION

DISCUSSION

INTRODUCTION




INTRODUCTIONOBSERVATIONS

Patterns in space or time



Reason for doing the researchReason for doing the research Research questions/hypotheses/predictionsResearch questions/hypotheses/predictions Citations for other major studies on same topicCitations for other major studies on same topic

General to specific: e.g.General to specific: e.g.

Plants compete. Some of the effects are…Plants compete. Some of the effects are…Vorhees and Myers (2001) found…Vorhees and Myers (2001) found…

However, it is not clear why…; There is However, it is not clear why…; There is little evidence showing…;little evidence showing…;or or A question A question still remains... [I am doing this study still remains... [I am doing this study because…]because…]

Density has been shown to…Density has been shown to…Response X is also a function of relative Response X is also a function of relative

abundanceabundance

To test the effect of density and relative To test the effect of density and relative abundance we grew oats and beans …abundance we grew oats and beans …

These species are useful because…These species are useful because…It was hypothesized that…It was hypothesized that…and/or and/or It was predicted that…BECAUSE…It was predicted that…BECAUSE…

INTRODUCTION

Describe what was done…Describe what was done… e.g. “The seeds where sown…”e.g. “The seeds where sown…”

Give as much detail as necessary for someone Give as much detail as necessary for someone else to repeat itelse to repeat it

Not a list of instructionsNot a list of instructions Name the statistical analyses you used to test Name the statistical analyses you used to test

effects of treatmentseffects of treatments Cite the program you usedCite the program you used

METHODS

A summary of the important data you collectedA summary of the important data you collected Provides evidence supporting/not supporting your Provides evidence supporting/not supporting your

hypothesishypothesis Should include little/no interpretationShould include little/no interpretation Includes tables that summarise, but do NOT Includes tables that summarise, but do NOT

duplicate textduplicate text Includes figures where these make things clearerIncludes figures where these make things clearer

Point out main features in textPoint out main features in text

RESULTS

Figures and Tables must have a Figures and Tables must have a number and titlenumber and title

RESULTS

All figures and tables must be referred to in the textAll figures and tables must be referred to in the text Figures and tables should be numbered in the order Figures and tables should be numbered in the order

they are cited in the textthey are cited in the text

RESULTS

The important statistical details should be The important statistical details should be given in the text…given in the text…

‘‘The overall mortality of transplanted gobies The overall mortality of transplanted gobies (mean = 1.04 ± 0.004) was slightly greater than (mean = 1.04 ± 0.004) was slightly greater than that of residents (1.03 ± 0.001), and this difference that of residents (1.03 ± 0.001), and this difference was significant (paired was significant (paired tt test, df = 17, test, df = 17, tt = 2.31, = 2.31, PP = = 0.041). ‘0.041). ‘

RESULTS

The important statistical details should be The important statistical details should be given in the text…given in the text…

‘‘The rate of banana consumption differed The rate of banana consumption differed significantly between monkeys, fish and members significantly between monkeys, fish and members of the sewing circle (ANOVA, df = 2,36, F = 1.42, of the sewing circle (ANOVA, df = 2,36, F = 1.42, PP = 0.023). ‘ = 0.023). ‘

RESULTS

MUST ADDRESS THE QUESTION(S) THE MUST ADDRESS THE QUESTION(S) THE PAPER IS ABOUTPAPER IS ABOUT make reference to your hypothesis/predictions – make reference to your hypothesis/predictions –

where these supported?where these supported? ……AND whether your findings are ecologically AND whether your findings are ecologically

realisticrealistic Should include references that support and/or Should include references that support and/or

challenge your results and ideaschallenge your results and ideas Should talk up the good, as well as the badShould talk up the good, as well as the bad

DISCUSSION

Evaluation of experimental methods used Evaluation of experimental methods used Ways to find out more about the Ways to find out more about the specificspecific

questions askedquestions asked End with a concluding paragraph that sums up:End with a concluding paragraph that sums up:

what you didwhat you did what you foundwhat you found your main conclusionsyour main conclusions

EXPAND ON WHAT WAS IN THE EXPAND ON WHAT WAS IN THE RESULTS – DON’T JUST REPEAT!RESULTS – DON’T JUST REPEAT!

DISCUSSION

Before you put pen to paper:Before you put pen to paper: Make a list of what you put in the results on scrap Make a list of what you put in the results on scrap

paperpaper Think about what these results tell you about your Think about what these results tell you about your

hypothesishypothesis Plan a way to discuss them in a logical orderPlan a way to discuss them in a logical order Consult your TAsConsult your TAs

DISCUSSION

RUNNING HEADRUNNING HEAD

Journal title, volume(issue), page numbers, publisherJournal title, volume(issue), page numbers, publisher

Don’t worry about it!

TITLETITLE Captures the topic of the paper and possibly its Captures the topic of the paper and possibly its

findingsfindings Not more than 13 wordsNot more than 13 words Be specificBe specific

LIST OF AUTHORSLIST OF AUTHORS

LIST OF AUTHORSLIST OF AUTHORS

Give student #, NOT your nameGive student #, NOT your name Put your department and University address Put your department and University address

underneathunderneath

ABSTRACTABSTRACT

ABSTRACTABSTRACT

A brief summary of the paperA brief summary of the paper The research questionThe research question What you didWhat you did Most important resultsMost important results Major conclusionsMajor conclusions

Don’t give citationsDon’t give citations Not greater than 200 wordsNot greater than 200 words Be concise!Be concise!

KEYWORDSKEYWORDS Words that a search engine could pick upWords that a search engine could pick up

e.g. interspecific competition, intraspecific competition e.g. interspecific competition, intraspecific competition

LITERATURE CITEDLITERATURE CITED

Includes ALL the references cited in the textIncludes ALL the references cited in the text Spelling and dates must correspondSpelling and dates must correspond List references in alphabetical order by first List references in alphabetical order by first

authorauthor Format varies from journal to journalFormat varies from journal to journal

LITERATURE CITED – the LITERATURE CITED – the EcologyEcology way way

Frego, K.A. and T.J. Carleton. 1995. Microsite tolerance of four bryophytes in Frego, K.A. and T.J. Carleton. 1995. Microsite tolerance of four bryophytes in

a mature black spruce stand: reciprocal transplants. The Bryologist 98: a mature black spruce stand: reciprocal transplants. The Bryologist 98:

452-458. 452-458.

Only FIRST author’s surname comes first!

Name. Date. Title. Journal title. Volume #: page numbers

INDENT after first line!(hanging indent)

SPELLING!!

No issue number!

LITERATURE CITED – the LITERATURE CITED – the EcologyEcology way way

Name. Date. Title. Publisher. City and country publisher is based in

Books are not generally considered to be primary references!

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Formal ‘Thank-you’sFormal ‘Thank-you’s

DISCUSSIONwith concluding paragraph

RESULTSwith figures and tables

ABSTRACT and KEYWORDS

METHODS

INTRODUCTION

LITERATURE CITED


And…

• LIST OF AUTHORS

• ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We will provide the dataWe will provide the data You must interpret graphical output and You must interpret graphical output and

statisticsstatistics Read Steve’s handout for details on the topic Read Steve’s handout for details on the topic

of the paperof the paper Read the lab manual – pages 19-24 for general Read the lab manual – pages 19-24 for general

information on manuscript formatinformation on manuscript format Worth 13% of overall gradeWorth 13% of overall grade

The assignment – Write a paper for The assignment – Write a paper for submission to submission to EcologyEcology

10-12 Pages of text (not including figures, 10-12 Pages of text (not including figures, tables and Literature Cited)tables and Literature Cited)

Give 5 references from the primary literature Give 5 references from the primary literature (journals)(journals)

12-point font12-point font EVERYTHING DOUBLE SPACED!EVERYTHING DOUBLE SPACED! 1-inch margins1-inch margins One side of paper onlyOne side of paper only


Each Figure/Table on its own sheet and numbered but WITHOUT titles

Figure/Table numbers and titles listed on a separate sheet


FORMATTING SPECIFICSFORMATTING SPECIFICS In-text citationsIn-text citations

1 author1 author



2 authors2 authors



>2 authors>2 authors



Avoid direct quotes – PARAPHRASE!Avoid direct quotes – PARAPHRASE!

GENERAL POINTSGENERAL POINTS

Past tense/active voicePast tense/active voice

GENERAL POINTSGENERAL POINTS

Assume the reader is ignorant and stupid - be Assume the reader is ignorant and stupid - be specific and explicitspecific and explicit

Assume the reader has a short memory – Assume the reader has a short memory – repeat details if appropriate…repeat details if appropriate…

……but avoid repeating something if you are not but avoid repeating something if you are not expanding on what you said beforeexpanding on what you said before

Data are plural!Data are plural!

Documents

Writing a scientific paper in the format of the journal Ecology BOT 332 University of Alberta