Hi Claire
From a quick peruse of the major works over the last century it appears
there is no consistency or implicit convention, whereas it is more
likely that authors try and squeeze in as many spicules as possible into
a figure/ plate, at all angles, undoubtedly to save printing costs. This
was an important consideration for the SP too.
With digital publishing this might not be so important now, but I agree
with Klaus, from aesthetics if nothing else, "points down" consistently
wherever possible.
Regards, John H
-----Original Message-----
From: Sponge biology and chemistry list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Ruetzler, Klaus
Sent: Sunday, 10 June 2007 3:45 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: conventions for sponge spicule figures
Hi Claire,
I did not see any distributed answers to your question.
I don't think there is a "convention" I see that both Systema and our
Thesaurus of Sponge Morphology were inconsistent although they favored
the point-down orientation.
Thinking about it, my feeling is that since we are used to reading pages
from top to bottom, it makes sense to place the variables (pointed,
rounded, knobbed, forked, polyactine etc. ends), on top so that they are
immediately obvious in a comparison.
"Points normally upwards in sponges" is not a good argument because
sponges, their fibers, and spicule orientation can grow or be directed
in any direction, 360 degrees.
I vote for "points down," consistently.
Best wishes,
Klaus.
________________________________
From: Sponge biology and chemistry list on behalf of Claire Goodwin
Sent: Fri 6/8/2007 5:19 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: conventions for sponge spicule figures
Is there a "right way up" for monactinal spicules such as
acanthostyles and styles in figures? Should the point be facing up or
down? We have just had a query from a referee regarding this. We
tend to orientate our acanthostyles with the heads down and the points
upwards as they normally are in the sponges, historically (e.g
Lundbeck) this also seems to have been the case. Following the
comment we have notice in Systema Porifera the reverse is normally the
case and spicules are point down (but not always!). Does anyone know
if there is a convention regarding this.
Best wishes,
Claire
--
----------------------------------------------------------
Dr. Claire Goodwin
Marine Biologist
Department of Zoology,
National Museums Northern Ireland,
153 Bangor Road,
Cultra,
Holywood,
County Down,
Northern Ireland,
BT18 0EU
lab phone: 028 90395007
mobile: 07786356099
fax: 028 90428728
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