Template with Instructions & Featured Creatures Guidelines

This template combines Featured Creatures specific guidelines with the instructions for structuring and formatting a document for publication on EDIS/Ask IFAS. It uses built-in styles for formatting the specific fonts used for the body, headings, captions, etc.

The purpose of these styles is to map to the HTML and PDF formatting of the finished document.

If you do not need the instructions, you can delete all the contents and start writing.

NOTE: Open the Styles Pane in the main menu ribbon under the Home tab to work with styles. Click the small arrow in the corner to keep it open as a sidebar.

See the Templates section in Ask IFAS Resources: Documentation and Training Materials for a demonstration template with instructions and instructions for using styles in Microsoft Word.

General Featured Creatures instructions:

This outline offers the standard order for information.

Single-digit numbers that are not measurements should be written out.

Include standard American measurements (inches for length, °F for temperature, etc.) in parentheses after any metric measurements you give.

Avoid using double spaces after a period.

A short abstract can be included for use on the Ask IFAS website. (Abstract style)

Common Name Genus species Author (Class: Order: Family)

Author List containing Contributor Names

Translator list containing Contributor Names on its own line

Include the following purpose and audience statement:

The Featured Creatures collection provides in-depth profiles of insects, nematodes, arachnids and other organisms relevant to Florida. These profiles are intended for the use of interested laypersons with some knowledge of biology as well as academic audiences.

Introduction

This can be as short or as long as you need it; FC has both. Do not add material to this section that should be in other sections (Distribution, Hosts, etc.) unless you very briefly cover it here and then expand on it in the other sections. For example, it is fine to mention that an arthropod is a major pest of “named host” here and then go into detail in Hosts.

Synonymy

Not a required section! Add this section if applicable. Cite authority if available, such as (ITIS 2012) - the Integrated Taxonomic Information System.

Distribution

Please ensure country names are current, i.e., Belize, not British Honduras;

avoid the use of numerous listings of county or state records;

maps should be included when available.

While a University of Florida publication, use a map that shows the highest level of distribution as this makes it more useful for people from other states or countries.

Description

If sufficient information is available (even if just two or three sentences on each stage) break out into the different life stages; i.e., adult, egg, larva (nymph), (prepupa), pupa, etc. As in:

Adult:

Eggs:

Larva (nymph):

Pupa:

(note the colons) The eggs of the.....

Ensure that case is similar. For example, please do not have “Eggs:” and then state “The egg...” If you wish to say “The egg...” then have “Egg:” singular. Whichever you chose, make the other life stage headings agree in case.

Life Cycle and/or Biology

These may be split into two sections if there is enough information, once again break out into the different life stages if you can.

Hosts or Host Plants

Certainly, list the most important hosts, but also include less important hosts.

Use a separate paragraph for any minor hosts.

Economic Importance

Cover all areas, not just the one you are interested in. For example, if you are studying ornamentals, and the organism is also a pest in vegetables, you need to mention (in depth if necessary) that area also. Include specific details, if possible, describing losses (of crops, ornamental sales, etc.) in terms of dollars is more relatable for the reader.

Damage

If a pest, cover all commodity areas; areas in which the organism is a minor pest can be just briefly mentioned. This is a broad category, and may be broken into more specific headings if necessary (Crop Damage, Structural Damage, etc.).

Management

If enough information is available, break out into biological, cultural, mechanical, chemical subheadings. As in:

Biological control:

Cultural control:

Mechanical control:

Chemical control:

(note the colons)

Based on your host-damage information, the FC editor suggests you add links to the UF/IFAS Insect/Nematode/Citrus Management Guides unless you have a better resource.

Do not list any specific chemicals or insecticides in this section.

This is also a good area to mention precautions for any insecticide handling or application. It may also be prudent to mention the adverse effects of any products (like if they damage other beneficial insects, or contaminate nearby water, etc.).

Selected References

Use Reference style from the styles pane.

Alphabetize.

Online references should follow the format given in the Columbia Guide to Online Style (COS) (unlimited access from UF network or VPN).

Journal names should be spelled out completely.

Authors should be listed as: “Roosevelt FD.” or “Roosevelt FD, Lincoln A, Eisenhower DD.” Not as: “Roosevelt, F.D.” or “Roosevelt, F,D, A. Lincoln and D.D. Eisenhower.”

Authors with the “III” or “Jr” after their name should be listed as: Roosevelt Jr FD.

Basic Format

Author’s Last Name, Initial(s). (Date of document). Title of document. Title of complete work [if applicable]. (Edition or revision [if applicable]). Protocol and address or Name of database and Database publisher (Access path or directories or document or ﬁle number) (Date of access).

For references to EDIS articles, cite the EDIS journal version, for example:

Adeleye VO, Seal D, Garima G, Dale A. (2023). “Weevil Parasitoid, Pteromalid Wasp, Parasitoid Wasp Catolaccus Hunteri Crawford (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae): EENY-795/IN1399, 3/2023”. EDIS 2023 (2). Gainesville, FL. https://doi.org/10.32473/edis-in1399-2023.

Citing the IFAS Assessment

Any UF/IFAS Extension publication or newsletter that refers to specific nonnative plants (e.g., invasiveness, ecology, distribution, management, use, and value) is required to include the recommendations of the UF/IFAS Assessment.

For general citation of the UF/IFAS Assessment, please cite the main page of the website with the following information (your formatting may vary):

University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. (2018). “Assessment of Non-native Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas” (https://assessment.ifas.ufl.edu, date accessed) Gainesville, FL, 32611-4000, USA.

For conclusions and results of the UF/IFAS Assessment (species pages):

University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. (2018). “Assessment of Non-native Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas, Dioscorea polystachya” (https://assessment.ifas.ufl.edu/assessments/dioscorea-polystachya/, date accessed) Gainesville, FL, 32611-4000, USA.

To reference the history, process, and tools of the UF/IFAS Assessment, please cite the EDIS document

Lieurance D, and Flory SL. (2020). “The UF/IFAS Assessment of Nonnative Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas: History, Purpose, and Use: (SS-AGR-371/AG376, Rev. 06/2020)”. EDIS 2020 (3). Gainesville, FL. https://doi.org/10.32473/edis.ag376.2020.

Additional Resources/ For Further Reading

May be formatted as references or a bullet list with titles and links.

For EDIS publications as resources, cite the Ask IFAS version.

EDIS Template Instructions

Headings

Use heading styles hierarchically. Since the title will always be a Heading 1 the top tier of section headings will be styled Heading 2. Sub-sections can be organized with Heading 3. Those sub-sections can themselves be divided with Heading 4, and so on.

Do not skip heading ranks. For example make sure that a Heading 2 is not followed directly by a Heading 4. It is ok to skip ranks when closing subsections; for instance, a Heading 2 beginning a new section can follow a Heading 4 as it closes the previous section.

Body Text

Use the Normal style for the body of the publication (this is the default).

Character styles available:

Strong –use instead of formatting with bold or Ctrl+B

Emphasis – use instead of formatting with italics or Ctrl+I.

Scientific-Name (optional) – can be used to distinguish scientific names from other italicized text. (we may develop functionality using this later)

Citation – for inline citations, such as (Smith, 2024)

The default style guide for EDIS articles is the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS). An alternate style may be used when appropriate for a publication's target audience. The same style must be used consistently throughout the publication.

Lists

Use the paragraph list formatting from the Home Ribbon instead of the list styles in the style panel. It is much simpler all around.

A numbered list:

First list item

Second list item

A bulleted list:

First list item

Second list item

Figures and Equations

For ease of importing, insert a 1 column, four-row table, styled using Display-Table style.

Figure [#]. [figure-label style]
Caption: [figure-caption style]
Credit: [figure-credits style]

Right-click on the image and select “View Alt Text…” to add or edit the alt text.

Images must be inserted in-line. Do not put them in text boxes, anchor them, or format them in any way.

Equations

In-line equations

Use Microsoft’s Equation editor (Alt+=)

Equations as figures

Use Microsoft’s Equation editor (Alt+=)

Place the equation in a table assigned the Display Table Style. Style the Equation Number in Figure Label style

Equation [#]. [figure-label style]

Alt text is not required for Equations produced in this way, because it preserves the mathematical coding.

Text Box

Text Box

Faux text frames and sidebar boxes from Bevi Chagnon https://accessinghigherground.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/EX1b-Role-Mapping.pdf

Tables

Tables should only be used to represent data in a matrix.

Avoid empty data cells and merged cells outside the header rows. It might be necessary to rethink the table layout to ensure accessibility.

If your table cannot be made accessible due to complex layout, you can provide a link to an alternative, accessible format on the EDIS journal abstract page.

Use the following table styles:

Table-preface: introductory text associated with the table.

Table-caption: for the whole caption paragraph.

table-label: for “Table #.” at the start of the caption.

Table-Header: for the header rows and/or columns of the table.

Table-Data: for the data cells.

table-footnote-reference1, a, †, ‡, *: for footnote references within the table.

table-footnote: for the table’s footnote

table-source: Source/credit information for the table.

Example 1: Modified original layout

It is permissible to merge cells in the header column to group rows of recommendations by species and then location.

Table 1. Current UF/IFAS recommendations for annual nitrogen fertilization rates based on species and location in state.

Species	Locationa	Nitrogen Recommendations (lbs 1000 ft yr)b,c
Bahiagrass	North	1–3
Central	1–3
South	1–4
Bermudagrass	North	3–5
Central	4–6
South	5–7
Centipedegrass	North	0.4–2
Central	0.4–3
South	0.4–3
St. Augustinegrass	North	2–4
Central	2–5
South	4–6
Zoysiagrass	North	2–3
Central	2–4
South	2.5–4.5
a North Florida is considered to be north of Ocala, Central Florida from Ocala to State Road 60, and South Florida the remainder of the state south of State Road 60. b Homeowner preferences for lawn quality and maintenance level vary; therefore, we recommend a range of fertility rates for each grass and location. Additionally, effects within a localized region (i.e., microenvironmental influences such as shade, drought, soil conditions, and irrigation) necessitate that a range of fertility rates be used. c These recommendations assume that grass clippings are recycled.

Source: Adapted from Table 1 in Trenholm, Laurie E. 2013. “Urban Turf Fertilizer Rule for Home Lawn Fertilization: ENH1089/EP353, 3/2013”. EDIS 2013 (4). Gainesville, FL. https://doi.org/10.32473/edis-ep353-2013.

Example 2: Columns for regions

A more compact table can be created by dividing the recommendation column into three, one for each region.

Table 1. Current UF/IFAS recommendations for annual nitrogen fertilization rates based on species and location in the state.

Species	Nitrogen Recommendations (lbs 1000 ft yr)b,c
Northa	Centrala	Southa
Bahiagrass	1–3	1–3	1–4
Bermudagrass	3–5	4–6	5–7
Centipedegrass	0.4–2	0.4–3	0.4–3
St. Augustinegrass	2–4	2–5	4–6
Zoysiagrass	2–3	2–4	2.5–4.5
a North Florida is considered to be north of Ocala, Central Florida from Ocala to State Road 60, and South Florida the remainder of the state south of State Road 60. b Homeowner preferences for lawn quality and maintenance level vary; therefore, we recommend a range of fertility rates for each grass and location. Additionally, effects within a localized region (i.e., microenvironmental influences such as shade, drought, soil conditions, and irrigation) necessitate that a range of fertility rates be used. c These recommendations assume that grass clippings are recycled.

Source: Adapted from Table 1 in Trenholm, Laurie E. 2013. “Urban Turf Fertilizer Rule for Home Lawn Fertilization: ENH1089/EP353, 3/2013”. EDIS 2013 (4). Gainesville, FL. https://doi.org/10.32473/edis-ep353-2013.