Original Research Article
The Original Research Article should contain original research findings with detailed methodologies, results, and discussion with interpretations of the results contributing new knowledge or advancement of existing knowledge in the field. The material should not have been previously published elsewhere, except in a very preliminary form and should not exceed 20 pages of double-spaced text including tables and figures.
Short Communication
Short Communications should contain a concise and significant new finding that may not be as extensive as the Original Research Article and should not exceed four pages of double-spaced text including tables and figures. The structure is the same as that of the Original Research Article.
Invited Review Article
Review articles on specific themes of contemporary importance to the scope of the Journal will be published only upon invitation by the Editor.
Submitted manuscripts will undergo an initial quality check by the Editors to ensure compliance with the Journal's requirements and standards. All submissions will be screened for plagiarism and evaluated for alignment with the aims, scope, and formatting requirements of the Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India (JMBAI). The Editorial Board reserves the right to return or reject manuscripts deemed unsuitable at this stage without sending them out for external review.
The Editors will assign independent expert reviewers for each submission through a double-blind review process, ensuring that both authors and reviewers remain anonymous to ensure unbiased evaluation. The reviewers will assess the manuscript’s originality, technical content, factual accuracy, logical coherence in data analysis, and proper citation of references. Based on the reviewers' reports, the Editors will make a decision to accept, revise or reject the manuscript. This decision will be communicated to the authors. Manuscripts requiring revision will be returned to the authors with the reviewers' comments. Authors must submit the revised manuscript along with a point-by-point response or rebuttal to the reviewers' comments in a separate file, within 10 days. If necessary, the revised manuscript and the author's responses will be sent back to the same reviewers for further evaluation and it may involve a second or third round of revisions. Upon receiving the final revision, the authors will be notified of the manuscript's acceptance. Acceptance or rejection of a manuscript is at the sole discretion of the Editors and is final.
The JMBAI is dedicated to advancing the understanding of marine science and its applications by publishing high-quality, peer-reviewed research. Our editorial policy emphasises rigorous, reproducible, impactful scientific contributions that enhance global knowledge of marine ecosystems. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of research integrity, promoting transparency, and fostering an inclusive and diverse research community. Please note that editorial decisions are final. Communication regarding submissions should be conducted exclusively through our online submission and communication systems.
It is mandatory on the part of the corresponding author to furnish the following certificate, as a Covering Letter/ Letter to the Editor, at the time of submission of the manuscript. The signed letter should contain the names of all the authors and the signature of the lead/ corresponding author. The general outline of the letter shall be as follows.
‘I/ We certify that the work reported in the paper entitled “……..” submitted for publication in JMBAI is original and has not been submitted for publication elsewhere. I/ We further certify that proper citations to previously published works have been given and no statements/ data/ table/ figure have been quoted verbatim from other publications without giving due acknowledgement, citation or permission of the original author(s). The consent of all the authors of this paper has been obtained for submitting the paper to the JMBAI and we have also obtained the necessary internal organizational approval for publishing the manuscript.
The copyright of all accepted and published articles will remain with the Marine Biological Association of India, Kochi. Submission of an article to JMBAI implies that the work described has not been published previously (except in the form of abstract or as part of a lecture or academic thesis), that it is not under consideration for publication elsewhere, and that its publication is approved by all authors and the responsible authorities of institutions where the work was carried out, and that, if accepted, it will not be published elsewhere in the same form, in English or any other language without the written consent of the Publisher.
The corresponding author should be a bona fide member of the Marine Biological Association of India. Membership can be obtained by registering through the https://mbai.org.in/became-a-member portal. Then Manuscripts are to be submitted online through the submission portal of the JMBAI (https://mbai.org.in/journal/submit-your-paper) by following the step-by-step submission process. However, those who are unable to submit papers online, in select rare cases, may send them via e-mail to the Editor (mail@mbai.org.in or marinembai2017@gmail.com).
The official language of the JMBAI is English and the manuscripts should be written in good English language. Authors who are unsure of English usage should get their manuscript checked and corrected by someone proficient in the language. Manuscripts, in which the English is difficult to read and understand may be returned to the author for revision or even rejected.
Compliance statements are required if the work involves chemicals, procedures or equipment that have any hazards inherent in their use, or if it involves the use of animal or human subjects causing sufferings. Such studies should adhere to the appropriate ethical guidelines obtained from their home institution or government. A statement indicating that the protocol and procedures employed in the study were ethically reviewed and approved, as well as the name of the body giving the approval, must be stated separately in the Covering letter/ Letter to the Editor and also appended with the manuscript.
1. Manuscripts should be prepared in MS Word, with page numbers (centre) and continuous line numbering, in double spacing throughout, i.e. for abstracts, text, footnotes and references. No page reference should be made in the text, but, if necessary, one may refer to sections. Avoid excessive usage of italics and bold letters to emphasize parts of the text.
2. Manuscripts in general should be organized in the following order/ sequence.
1. Title: The title should be clear, descriptive and concise, and should not be more than three typed lines.
2. Name(s) of author(s): As first name followed by initials
3. Complete postal address (es) of affiliations of all the authors
Telephone number (with country code), e-mail and ORCID iD of the corresponding author
Present address (es) of author(s) if applicable
4. Abstract
5. Keywords
6. Introduction
7. Material and methods
8. Results
9. Discussion (or Results and Discussion as clubbed)
10. Acknowledgements
12. Author contributions
13. Data availability
14. Conflict of interests
15. Ethical Statement
16. Funding
17. References
18. Tables
19. Figure captions
20. Figures (with Fig. No. and legend given below the figure)
3. While preparing the manuscript, titles and subtitles should not be run within the text. They should be typed on a separate line, without indentation. Use boldface, lower-case letter type for titles; use non-bold, italic letter type for sub-titles.
4. Species names and other Latin terms should be typed in italics.
5. SI units should be used.
6. It is important that the manuscript file be saved in MS Word, 12 point (Times New Roman) font. The text should be in single-column format. Keep the layout of the text as simple as possible. Most formatting codes will be removed and replaced on processing the article. Do not embed "graphically designed" equations or tables, but prepare these using the word processor's facility. When preparing tables, if you are using a table grid, use only one grid for each table and not a grid for each row. If no grid is used, use tabs, not spaces, to align columns. Do not import the figures into the text file but, instead, indicate their approximate locations directly in the electronic text. See also the section on the Preparation of electronic illustrations.
7. Define abbreviations that are not standard in the subject field of the manuscript, at their first occurrence in the article followed by using the abbreviations in all its subsequent occurrences. Ensure consistency of abbreviations throughout the article.
The abstract should be clear, descriptive and not longer than 300 words; should give readers a clear overview of the study, allowing them to quickly understand its purpose, approach, key findings, importance and potential future applications. It should provide a very brief introduction to the problem and a statement about the methods used in the study. This should generally be followed by a brief summary of results, including numerical data (means and standard errors, for example). The abstract should end with an indication of the significance of the results. An abstract is often presented separately from the article while indexing/ abstracting, so it must be able to stand alone by itself.
Immediately after the abstract, provide a maximum of six keywords, avoiding general and plural terms and multiple concepts (avoid, for example, "and", "of"). Be sparing with abbreviations: only abbreviations firmly established in the field are to be given. The keywords will be used for indexing purposes.
The introduction should provide a background context of the work and highlight the current state of knowledge in the field, identifying knowledge gaps or unresolved issues that the study addresses. It should clearly state the research objectives or questions and explain the significance of the study, outlining its potential impact. A brief mention of the methodology can be included to give an overview of the approach. Finally, the introduction should define the scope and limitations of the research, setting the stage for the rest of the paper, besides capturing the reader’s attention.
The Materials and Methods section should provide a detailed description of how the study was conducted (including necessary citations) to ensure reproducibility by other workers. It should include dates, the study design, listing of all materials, organisms, or data sources used, along with any equipment, chemicals, or reagents. It should outline the experimental or analytical procedures followed, including sample preparation, data collection, and statistical analyses. If relevant, the study area is to be described, and variables such as independent, dependent, and control factors are identified. Any ethical approvals, particularly in studies involving humans or animals, are to be indicated here to ensure compliance with research standards.
The Results section should contain the key findings of the study clearly and objectively without interpretation. Data are summarized using tables, figures, graphs and or photographs to enhance clarity as needed. The section should highlight the most important findings that address the research questions, reporting the outcomes of statistical analyses, including significance levels and confidence intervals. Observed trends, patterns, or relationships are described, and any unexpected or negative results are also noted if relevant. This section focuses solely on presenting the findings, leaving their interpretation for the Discussion section.
The Discussion section should focus on the findings of the study in relation to the research objectives, explaining their significance and meaning. It should compare the results with previous studies, highlighting similarities, differences, or new insights that contribute to the existing body of knowledge providing relevant and recent citations. The broader implications of the findings are to be discussed, addressing their impact on the field, theory, or practice. Any limitations of the study that could have influenced the results are to be incorporated, and suggestions for future research are provided to address unresolved questions or new directions based on the findings.
(Authors may combine Results and Discussion if so desired)
The Acknowledgements section should recognise individuals, institutions, projects and funding sources that supported the research but are not listed as authors. It includes gratitude for financial support, such as grants or fellowships, acknowledges the contributions of colleagues, advisors, or collaborators who provided significant assistance, and mentions any institutions or organizations that offered resources, facilities, or other forms of support. Additionally, it may include thanks to ethical or administrative bodies that approved the research.
All submitted manuscripts must include an author contribution statement, detailing the specific roles of each author in the research process. The JMBAI follows the CRediT (Contributor Roles Taxonomy) system https://credit.niso.org to define contributions. Please indicate the contributions of each author to the following categories.
Each author's name should be listed in short form based on the same order of names as given in the list of authors (for example: If the conceptualization is by the author ‘Vettath Raghavan Suresh’, indicate it as Conceptualization: VRS). If more than one author is involved in any of the categories, kindly use commas to separate the author abbreviations. Indicate this for all the categories given above. All authors must agree on the author's contributions before submission.
Authors are to indicate the availability of data about the manuscript in any of the cases below as applicable.
To ensure transparency and to avoid potential bias in judgements, the JMBAI require authors to declare any competing financial and/ or non-financial interests relating to the work described in the manuscript. Please opt for any one of the following options.
(Describe the matter ……………… ……… ………… …………… …………… ……….. …………… ………… ………… …………. )
The authors must include the ethical statement as the following as applicable.
This research was supported by ………………………………………………………… under grant number(s) ………………………………………
The References section should provide a complete list of all sources cited in the paper, ensuring that the readers can locate and verify the referenced work. It should include full citations for books, journal articles, reports, websites and other materials, following the specific citation style as given in the concerned section below. The references should be organized alphabetically by the last name of the first author and, within that, in chronological order. Digital sources, DOIs or URLs should be included where available.
1. All publications cited in the text should be presented in the list of references following the text of the manuscript. The manuscript should be carefully checked to ensure that the spelling of the author's names and dates are the same in the text as in the reference list.
2. In the text, please refer to the author's name (without initial) and year of publication.
3. If a reference in the text to a publication written by more than two authors should be indicated by the name of the first author followed by "et al.". This indication, however, should never be used in the list of references. The reference section should contain the names of all authors.
4. References cited together in the text should be arranged chronologically. The list of references should be arranged alphabetically by authors' names, and chronologically per author. If an author's name in the list is also mentioned with co-authors the following order should be used: publications of the single author, arranged according to publication dates - publications of the same author with one co-author - publications of the author with more than one co-author. Publications by the same author(s) in the same year should be listed as 1994a, 1994b, etc.
5. Use the following system for arranging your references:
a. For periodicals
Alagaraja, K. 1962. Observations on the length-weight relationship of pearl oyster. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. India, 4: 198- 205. (followed by DOI if any)
b. For proceedings of symposia, special issues, etc.
Damodaran, N., J. Toll, M. Pendleton, C. Mulligan, D. Deforest, M. Kluck, M.S. Brancato and J. Felmy. 1999. Cost analysis of TBT self-polishing copolymer paints and tin-free alternatives for use on deep-sea vessels. In: A. Champ, T.J. Fox and A. J. Mearns (Eds.), Proceedings of the International Symposium on the Treatment of Regulated Discharges from Shipyards and Drydocks, Vol. 4, Marine Technology Society, Washington D. C. 20036. pp153 -168.
c. For books
Vivekanandan, E. 2005. Stock Assessment of Tropical Marine Fishes. Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, 115 p.
d. For multi-article books
Callow, M. 1999. The status and future of biocides in marine biofouling prevention. In: M. Fingerman, R. Nagabhushanam and M. Thompson (Eds.) Recent Advances in Marine Biotechnology, Vol. 3, New Hampshire. Science Publishers, Inc. pp. 109- 126.
6. Titles of periodicals mentioned in the list of references should be abbreviated following ISO 4 standard. The ISSN word abbreviations, for example, can be found at http://www.issn.org/Istwa.html.
7. In the case of publications in any language other than English, the original title is to be retained. However, the titles of publications in non-Latin alphabets should be transliterated, and a notation such as "(in Russian)" or "(in Greek, with English abstract)" should be added.
8. Papers accepted for publication but not yet published should be referred to as "in press".
9. References concerning unpublished data and "personal communications" should not be cited in the reference list but may be mentioned in the text.
10. References concerning websites should be given as follows.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 2024, May 5. Marine ecosystems and biodiversity. NOAA. https://www.noaa.gov/marine-ecosystems
1. Authors should take note of the limitations set by the size and layout of the journal. Large tables should be avoided. Reversing columns and rows will often reduce the dimensions of a table.
2. If data are to be presented, an attempt should be made to divide them over two or more tables.
3. Tables should be numbered according to their sequence in the text. The text should include references to all tables.
4. Each table should be typewritten on a separate page of the manuscript. Tables should never be embedded in the text.
5. Each table should have a brief and self-explanatory title placed above the table with numbering.
6. Column headings should be brief, but sufficiently explanatory. Standard abbreviations of units of measurement should be added between parentheses.
7. Vertical lines should not be used to separate columns. Leave some extra space between the columns instead.
8. Any explanation essential to the understanding of the table should be given as a footnote at the bottom of the table.
The lettering and symbols, as well as other details, should have proportionate dimensions, so as not to become illegible or unclear after possible reduction; in general, the figures should be designed for a reduction factor of two to three. The degree of reduction will be determined by the Publisher. Illustrations will not be enlarged. Consider the page format of the journal when designing the illustrations. Drawings can be in colour or grey scale.
The photographs should be of high resolution. Crop off non-essential areas of the photographs. Do not mount photographs unless they form part of a composite figure (plate). Where necessary, insert a scale bar in the illustration (not below it), as opposed to giving a magnification factor in the caption. Id in a plate, the individual images should be suitable numbers either 1, 2, 3, …. or a, b, c, …… and these numbers to be explained in the legend.
Please make sure that photographs and or artwork files are in EPS, TIFF or JPEG formats. Make sure to use uniform lettering and sizing of original artwork. Save text in illustrations as "graphics" or enclose the font. Number the illustrations according to their sequence in the text. Use a logical naming convention for artwork files. Provide all illustrations uploaded as separate files. Provide captions to illustrations separately. Produce images near the desired size of the printed version. Regardless of the application used, when electronic artwork is finalised, please "save as" or convert the images to one of the following formats (note the resolution requirements for line drawings, halftones, and line/halftone combinations given below):
EPS: Vector drawings. Embed the font or save the text as "graphics".
TIFF: Colour or greyscale photographs (halftones): always use a minimum of 300 dpi.
TIFF: Bitmapped line drawings: use a minimum of 1000 dpi.
TIFF: Combinations bitmapped line/half-tone (colour or greyscale): a minimum of 500 dpi is required.
Present simple formulae in the line of normal text where possible. In principle, variables are to be presented in italics. Use the solidus (/) instead of a horizontal line, e.g., X/Y. Powers of e are often more conveniently denoted by exp. Number consecutively any equations that have to be displayed separately from the text (if referred to explicitly in the text). Give the meaning of all symbols immediately after the equation in which they are first used. Preparation of electronic illustrations
Ensure that each illustration has a caption. Supply captions separately, not attached to the figure. A caption should comprise a brief title (not on the figure itself) and a description of the illustration. Keep text in the illustrations themselves to a minimum but explain all symbols and abbreviations used.
1. Authors and editors are, by general agreement, obliged to accept the rules governing biological nomenclature, as laid down in the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature, the International Code of Nomenclature of Bacteria, and the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.
2. All biota (invertebrates, fish, birds, mammals, etc.) should be identified by their scientific names when the English term is first used.
3. All biocides and other organic compounds must be identified by their Geneva names when first used in the text. Active ingredients of all formulations should be likewise identified.
4. For chemical nomenclature, the conventions of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry and the official recommendations of the IUPAC IUB Combined Commission on Biochemical Nomenclature should be followed.
We strongly encourage authors to consult a paper recently published by JMBAI for formatting guidance by visiting https://www.mbai.org.in/jmbai
Proofs
The proof of the manuscript in PDF format will be sent by e-mail to the corresponding author, which has to be sent back to the Editor within a week after indicating corrections. If you do not wish to use the PDF annotation function, you may list the corrections separately and return them to the Editor. Please use this proof only for checking the typesetting, editing, completeness and correctness of the text, tables and figures. Significant changes to the article will not be accepted at this stage. Therefore, it is important to ensure that all of your corrections are sent back to us in one communication. Please check carefully before replying, as the inclusion of any subsequent corrections cannot be guaranteed. Proofreading is solely the responsibility of the authors. Note that we may proceed with the publication of your article if no response is received within the stipulated time.
Reprints
The corresponding author, at no cost, will be provided with a PDF file of the article via e-mail. The articles can also be freely downloaded from https://www.mbai.org.in/jmbai
Journal of Marine Biological Association of India has no Article Processing Charges.
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