#**SCOPE** _The Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia_ publishes on-line, open-access, peer-reviewed articles dealing with research in all aspects of the natural and physical sciences of relevance to the western part of the Australian continent. Articles become available online shortly after the proofs are accepted. Manuscripts should be submitted via the button above. Correspondence should be via: [journal@RSWA.org.au](journal@RSWA.org.au) Types of published articles accepted * **Research papers** presenting original findings and interpretations (normally no more than 10,000 words). [Example](https://www.rswa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/RSWA-105-p57-73-Johnstone-et-al.pdf) * **Taxonomic monographs** describing faunas or floras (extant or fossil) from the Western Australian region. Authors must contact the Editor with a publication proposal before submitting the monograph. * **Papers based on unpublished supplementary files** to major articles published elsewhere. These require the permission of the publisher of the original article. For purposes of reviewing and acceptance, each paper will be treated as a new "research paper". [Example](https://www.rswa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Haig_etal_2024.pdf) * **Review articles** that review a substantial amount of literature related to a topic of relevance to the western part of the Australian continent (normally about 10,000 words). [Example]( https://www.rswa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/BRADLEY-ET-AL-FINAL-.pdf) * **Research notes** that, for example, present a new observation or a preliminary aspect of a broader project (limit of 2,000 words and no more than three illustrations). [Example](https://www.rswa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/RSWA-104-p1-3-Grose-and-Panegyres.pdf) * **Discussions/comments** in relation to an article published in the Journal during the last six months (limit of 1000 words). [Example](https://www.rswa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/RSWA-103-p119-124-Smith-et-al.pdf) * **Compilation of Symposium/Meeting abstracts** for events sponsored by RSWA. The compilation should be in the form of a review with each "abstract" presented as text under an appropriate JRSWA subheading. Each abstract text should not exceed 1000 words and may be accompanied by up to two figures or tables. The organiser of the symposium/meeting should be responsible for compiling the review. Authors are encouraged to have their manuscript reviewed within their organisation or by someone familiar with the subject prior to submission. In addition, it can be helpful to send your manuscript to the editors via [journal@rswa.org.au]( journal@rswa.org.au) for a preliminary evaluation or to request further information before uploading via Scholastica. When submitting via this platform, please supply a list of potential reviewers, excluding any from your own organisation. Submission of a paper is taken to mean that the results have not been published, or are not being considered for publication, elsewhere. Authors are solely responsible for the accuracy of all information in their papers, and for any opinions therein. Articles published from volume 107 on the Scholastica Platform are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CCBY-4.0). View this license’s legal deed at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 and legal code at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode for more information. #**MANUSCRIPT FORMAT** Migration of the Journal to the Scholastica Publishing Platform has necessitated some changes in format from that used in earlier volumes of the journal. The format commencing with volume 107 is described below and given in a manuscript template following the description. * Manuscripts in Word (Times New Roman, 12 point), double-spaced, with line numbers on left-hand side. * Include: Title; authors with separately listed ORCID numbers if available and addresses/affiliations; Abstract (< 300 words), Keywords (about 6), Text (Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusions), References, Captions for figures, tables and appendices. * Submit each figure, table and appendix as a separate file (see below for design advice). Note: On the submission page, upload two versions of the manuscript (one including just text and references; and the other with figures and tables inserted in their preferred positions within the text, with captions included in adjacent text boxes; and with appendices included at the end of the manuscript file). Also upload the separate figures, tables, and appendices. If files exceed 60 mb and cannot be uploaded, please contact the [Journal]( journal@RSWA.org.au). ##**Heading hierarchy in text** Up to four levels of headings may be used and should be left justified in text: **FIRST-ORDER HEADING** **Second-order heading** _Third-order heading_ Fourth-order heading ##**Reference format** Scholastica publishing platform uses [APA-style citations]( https://apastyle.apa.org/instructional-aids/reference-guide.pdf) for the reference list. Also, see manuscript template below. ##**Scientific terminology and research material repository** * The metric system must be used. * Follow the latest version of the [International Chronostratigraphic Chart](https://www.stratigraphy.org) for terminology related to the geological time scale. * Follow the most recent lithostratigraphic nomenclature in the [Australian Stratigraphic Units Database](https://asud.ga.gov.au). * For zoological nomenclature follow the [International Code of Zoological Nomenclature](https://www.iczn.org/the-code/the-code-online/) * For botanical nomenclature follow the [International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants](https://www.iapt-taxon.org/nomen/main.php) * All necessary permits relevant for the collection and study of research materials must have been obtained and cited in acknowledgements or elsewhere in the paper. * All research materials must be placed in a recognized scientific repository and collection numbers/vouchers must be included in the text or tables. ##**Illustrations** Illustrations are to be included as Figures and numbered sequentially as they appear in the text. Where appropriate, each illustration should have a metric bar scale. Submit each Figure as a separate file. Illustrations should be formatted as follows: * column width — 81 mm * half-page — 115 mm * page — 170 mm * use sans serif lettering (Helvetica or Arial), preferably 9 pt or 8 pt, not over 12 pt. * composite figures should have parts numbered a, b, c etc. in a consistent position in the figure (e.g. top LH corner). * all images should be flattened (to a single layer); colour images at 300 dpi; black and white images and line drawings at 600 dpi. * maps should have latitude/longitude co-ordinates and a bar scale in km. Note: One version of the manuscript is required with figures inserted in their preferred positions within the text (with, for each figure, a text caption added in a text box). ##**Tables** * Each Table should be submitted separately and formatted in Word, Times New Roman, 10 pt to 8 pt font. * Borders around each cell of the table should not be used. * A single line should be placed below headings at top of table, and at the bottom of the table. Note: One version of the manuscript is required with tables inserted in their preferred positions within the text (with, for each table, a text caption added at top of table). ##**Appendices** Each Appendix should be submitted separately and formatted in the journal format for text, illustrations and/or tables. Note: One version of the manuscript is required with appendices placed at the end of the manuscript file. #**ARTICLE TEMPLATE** **Title** AUTHOR¹, AUTHOR^2,3, AUTHOR³ ……….. _¹ Full address,_ _² Full address,_ _³ Full address._ ORCID IDs: Author, 0000-0000-XXXX-XXXX; Author, 0000-0000-XXXX-XXXX;; Author, 0000-0000-XXXX-XXXX; etc. – create an [ORCID identity](https://orcid.org/register) **Keywords: One, Two, Three, Four, Five** (single words or short phrases) **Abstract** One paragraph, no more than 300 words. **INTRODUCTION** **Second-order heading** _Third-order heading_ **MATERIAL AND METHODS** **Second-order heading** _Third-order heading_ **RESULTS** **Second-order heading** _Third-order heading_ **DISCUSSION (INTERPRETATION)** **Second-order heading** _Third-order heading_ **CONCLUSIONS** **Second-order heading** _Third-order heading_ **ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS** **REFERENCES** Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of the article. _Name of the Periodical_, _volume_, #–#. https://doi.org/xxxx-if known Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Copyright Year). _Title of the book_ (xth ed.). Publisher. DOI or URL (if known) Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Copyright Year). Title of book chapter. In A. A. Editor & B. B. Editor (Eds.), _Title of the book_ (xth ed., pp. #–#). Publisher. DOI or URL (if known) _Note_: * Reference list should only include published literature cited in text. * Grey literature (unpublished but available through Government, University, or Industry websites or libraries) if used should be placed in an Appendix Table (see below) and denoted in the text of the manuscript by an asterisk. * The order of references in the list should follow the APA style, but in the text the citations should be listed in chronological order. APA style lists can be generated in the latest versions of Ms Word, or by free online generators. **APPENDIX** The Editors will decide whether appendices should remain with the text in the html and pdf versions of the paper or be included in an online repository attached to the Scholastica Platform. Grey literature template: **Appendix Table**. List of "grey" literature cited in text (i.e., unpublished reports available through government agencies either on-line or through their libraries). Use headers **Authors**, **Title**, **Source** for the three column table.

Rock Pools (Gnammas) in the Gibson Desert of Western Australia: Unique Formation and Reasons for Their Limited Biological Diversity