1Define organism and environment
State the taxonomic level, strain only when appropriate, host or matrix, oxygen context, and whether the figure shows a single cell, colony, community, or population. Avoid mixing scales without a clear transition.
- Use validated nomenclature and italicization during final editing
- Separate organism morphology from staining appearance
- Label host, medium, surface, and environmental compartments
- Distinguish abundance, activity, and inferred function

