Instructions to authors — Natural Resource Report, Natural Resource Technical Report, and Natural Resource Data Series: version 3.0

National Park Service

This report describes manuscript preparation and submittal procedures and style/formatting guidelines for manuscripts submitted to the National Park Service Natural Resource Report series (NRR), Natural Resource Technical Report series (NRTR), and Natural Resource Data Series (NRDS). It is a revision of an earlier report: Instructions to Authors — Natural Resource Report and Natural Resource Technical Report: Version 2.4 (NPS 2006). The addition of the newer NRDS report series warranted a change in the report title. Other differences between this document and previous revisions include procedural changes due to the integration of NatureBib into the Natural Resource Information Portal (NRInfo) document storage and retrieval system, additional information for using MS Word format styles, and general edits to clarify and better reflect current policies.The publishing standards presented in this report are a continuation of the Natural Resource Publications Management Handbook (NPS 1991), the Editorial Style Guide for Park Science and Natural Resource Year in Review (NPS 2004), and are updated and modified in compliance with the NPS Graphic Identity Program (http://www.graphics.nps.gov/). These standards are designed to meet the NPS graphic identity standards mandated in Director's Order #52A.Format and layout requirements for NRTR, NRR, and NRDS reports are most stringent for the outside front and back covers of a report. When comparing the covers of any two reports from the same series, readers should visually discern that the reports were published in the same report series.Most of the responsibility for using the correct format/style and incorporating comments from peer reviewers is assumed by the person submitting the report, as the NPS does not have editors for the series. The person submitting the report for publication (author, editor, or person managing the publication of the report) bears any costs for printing and distribution of the reports. The majority of reports are distributed via the Internet.All reports published in the NRTR, NRR, and NRDS report series must undergo a peer review process, overseen by a NPS-approved Peer Review Manager. Regional I&M Program Managers, or their delegate, usually serve as the NPS Peer Review Manager for reports generated by the I&M program. For other reports, please contact the Regional Natural Resource Chief, or NRPC Division Chief to find out who acts as the Peer Review Manager for that office. Manuscripts in these series must adhere to a set of minimum standards and are peer-reviewed to ensure that information is scientifically credible, technically accurate, appropriately written for the intended audience, and designed and published in a professional manner. The manuscript and production standards described in this report apply to all contributors to these series, including contractors and cooperators, and the same procedures and standards are required for reports that will be distributed primarily in electronic format as well as those distributed by printed copies. If an NPS region publishes a regional series the region is encouraged to adopt these standards in full; however, each region may develop more specific guidance tailored to its unique organizational structure. Periodically-updated instructions, examples, and templates for preparing, submitting, and publishing reports in these series are available on the Natural Resource Publications Management website (NRPM website) (http://www.nature.nps.gov/publications/NRPM).