Biology

Reference Sources | Reviews of the Literature | Indexes and Databases
Locating Full Text of Journal Articles | Selected Internet Sites
Guide to Library Research in Science | Need Help?

This page describes a few of the many print and electronic resources that will be useful for research in biology. See also the Subject Guide pages for Chemistry, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Environmental Science for related resources.

Reference Sources

Dictionaries | Encyclopedias | Handbooks

The following is a list of a few of the many reference sources available in the Timken Science Library that will be useful for locating information in biology. For a more extensive database of science reference sources available at the College, and more detailed descriptions, see Selected Bibliography of Science Reference Sources.

Dictionaries

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms Science Reference Q123 .M15 2003 Also ONLINE: This dictionary is intended for the scientific and engineering specialist as well as for the nonspecialist needing a comprehensive yet accessible resource for scientific terminology. Terms are identified by field of use. sciences such as chemistry, physics and medicine.
A Dictionary of Genetics Science Reference QH427 .K55 2002 Also ONLINE: This dictionary includes 6,580 definitions of terms encountered in the genetics literature, as well as 395 illustrative diagrams and tables.
A Dictionary of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics Science Reference QH540.4 .L56 1998: Provides brief definitions within the broad area of biodiversity studies, including the disciplines of botany, zoology, bacteriology, mineralogy, and paleontology, focusing on concepts, strategies, and methodologies.
The Cambridge Illustrated Glossary of Botanical Terms Science Reference QK10 .H53 2000: An illustrated glossary of more than 2,400 terms used to describe vascular plants.
The Plant-Book: A Portable Dictionary of the Vascular Plants Science Reference QK11 .M29 1997: A dictionary covering the vascular plants — their botany and relationships, their uses and common names. This dictionary attempts to “present all currently accepted generic and family names of flowering plants (including gymnosperms) and ferns and other Pteridophyta, as well as a wide range of English names encountered in literature.” Entries include family/generic names, number of genera/species, distribution, and details of botanical, horticultural, agricultural, medicinal or economic importance.
Units, Symbols and Terminology for Plant Physiology Science Reference QK710.5 .U55 1996: This book provides information on units of measurement, terminology, and symbols used in the plant sciences. It also includes guidelines for the presentation of data.
A Dictionary of Zoology Science Reference QL9 .C66 2003 Also ONLINE: This zoological dictionary covers evolutionary concepts, animal behavior, Earth history, cytology, physiology, zoogeography, taxonomic principles and genetics. Taxa covered include invertebrates (especially arthropods), fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds and mammals.
A Dictionary of Entomology Science Reference QL462.3 .G67 2001: Entries in this dictionary include terms from Torre-Bueno's Glossary of Entomology and other terms encountered in the primary entomological literature. Terms are arranged alphabetically, and entries include definitions, part of speech, alternate spellings and etymology. Entries are also included for important entomologists, common and scientific names of insects and names of insect families.
Animal Behavior Desk Reference: A Dictionary of Animal Behavior, Ecology and Evolution Science Reference QL750.3 .B37 2001: This dictionary provides definitions for conceptual terms used in animal behavior. Relationships among terms are summarized in tables. Many terms are organized in hierarchical clusters.
Cambridge Dictionary of Human Biology and Evolution Science Reference QP34.5 .M24 2005 Also ONLINE: This dictionary defines terms used in human biology and evolution drawn from such diverse fields as anthropology, anatomy, evolutionary biology, genetics, geology, physiology and zoology. Ten appendices include a taxonomy of extinct primates, the terrestrial chronology of the Pleistocene “ice age” in the northern hemisphere and an event timeline of human biology and evolution.
Dictionary of Microbiology and Molecular Biology Science Reference QR9 .S56 2001: Provides clear and timely definitions for the terminology of modern microbiology and molecular biology, while integrating the overall biological context of the field. Makes extensive use of cross-references, and includes references to recent papers, reviews and monographs in microbiology and related fields.
Dictionary of Environmental Microbiology Science Reference QR100 .S74 2003: This dictionary defines terms used in all aspects of environmental microbiology, including the molecular nature, structure and function of the organisms, applied microbiology, and sampling, processing and assay methods.

Encyclopedias

AccessScience@McGraw-Hill: The Online Encyclopedia

This is the electronic access version of the 10^th edition of McGraw-Hill’s Encyclopedia of Science and Technology WOO Science Reference Q121 .M3 2002 v.1-20, a highly technical encyclopedia in the sciences. The Web site provides fully searchable content from more than 8,500 articles in the latest edition of the encyclopedia as well as definitions from McGraw Hill’s Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, biographies of more than 2,000 scientists, bibliographies containing more than 28,000 literature citations and a well-developed subject directory of Web links.

Encyclopedia of the Biosphere: Humans in the World’s Ecosystems Science Reference QH343.4 .B5613 2000 v.1-11

This 11-volume encyclopedia provides comprehensive coverage of the earth’s major biomes, with emphasis on how these ecosystems have been impacted by human activity.

Encyclopedia of Evolution Science Reference QH360.2 .E54 2002 v.1-2 also ONLINE

This encyclopedia presents overview articles on broad topics as well as technical and topical articles which pursue a topic in greater depth. Although most of the articles are arranged alphabetically, the Topical Outline links articles from different parts of the encyclopedia together in conceptual categories.

Encyclopedia of Genetics Science Reference QH427 .E53 2002 v.1-4

This four-volume encyclopedia covers the field of genetics in alphabetically arranged entries which vary in length from brief definitions to signed, multi-page essays. A complete index and extensive use of cross references facilitate access.

Encyclopedia of Biodiversity Science Reference QH541.15 .B56 E53 2001 v.1-5

This five-volume, alphabetically arranged encyclopedia provides a “comprehensive study of the topic of diversity in the natural world.” Each article includes title and author; an outline of the general content of the article; a glossary; an introductory paragraph which defines the topic; the body of the article; cross references to other articles in the encyclopedia; and a bibliography of relevant print and web resources. Volume 5 includes a subject index and glossary.

North American Trees Science Reference QK110 .P74 2002

Chapter one of this manual provides keys to identifying trees. The main body of the text contains descriptions, natural history and illustrations of the trees found in North America, excluding Central America, Mexico, tropical regions, the Arctic Archipelago and Greenland

Flowering Plant Families of the World Science Reference QK495 .A1F58 2007

Following the introduction, which provides a review of recent developments in the classification of flowering plants, the main section of this book includes description of the 506 families and their major subdivisions. The work includes distribution maps and other illustrations, bibliographic references, and other illustrations, bibliographic references, and a comprehensive index featuring both common and scientific names.

Grzimek’s Animal Life Encyclopedia Science Reference QL7 .G7813 2003 v.1-17

Each of the first 16 volumes of the second edition of this classic encyclopedia covers a distinct group of animals. Chapters are organized taxonomically. Family chapters include a thumbnail introduction, the main essay, species accounts, and lists of resources. Also included are a list of further readings, list of relevant organizations, a glossary, species list and a detailed subject index. Volume 17 contains the cumulative subject index.

Animal: The Definitive Visual Guide to the World’s Wildlife Science Reference QL45.2 .A56 2001

This book is divided into three main sections: the Introduction, a section on Habitats, and the main section containing descriptions and illustrations of more than 2000 animal species.

Encyclopedia of Insects Science Reference QL462.3 .E485 2003

Each article in this encyclopedia falls within twelve general subject areas, including anatomy; physiology; behavior; evolution; reproduction; development and metamorphosis; major groups and notable forms; interaction with other organisms; interactions with humans; habitats; ecology; and history and methodology.

Evolution of the Insects Science Reference QL468.7 .G75 2005

This volume covers the evolutionary history of insects, including their living diversity, relationships and 400 million years of fossils. Introductory chapters discuss living species, diversity, methods of reconstructing evolutionary relationships, insect morphology, modes of insect fossilization and fossil deposits. The introductory chapters are followed by major sections about the relationships and evolution of each order of insects.

The Birds of North America: Life Histories for the 21^st Century Science Reference QL681 .B57 1992

This set provides individual, self-contained profiles of the bird species native to North America. Each profile includes a color picture of the species, maps illustrating breeding, wintering, and year round distribution; annual cycles; and other information about the species, including distinguishing characteristics, systematics, migration, habitat, food habits, sounds, behavior, breeding, etc. Each profile ends with a bibliography of key references. BNAOnline also includes multimedia--photo, audio and video galleries.

Encyclopedia of Animal Behavior Science Reference QL750.3 .E53 2004 v.1-3

This encyclopedia is a comprehensive collection of original essays on animal behavior drawn from multiple disciplines, including biology, psychology, anthropology and sociology.

Encyclopedia of Human Biology Science Reference QP11 .E53 1997 v.1-9

This easy-to-use reference which presents a complete overview of the current state of knowledge of human biology. A glossary of unfamiliar terms and a bibliography are included with each article.

Encyclopedia of Reproduction Science Reference QP251 .E48125 1998 v.1-4

This four-volume encyclopedia serves as a comprehensive source of information on all aspects of reproduction in the animal kingdom. Each of the 542 entries is self-contained and consists of a glossary of terms, a summary introduction, cross-references to related articles and a reading list, in addition to the text of the articles.

Hormones, Brain and Behavior Science Reference QP356.45 .H433 2002 v.1-5

This five-volume work reviews hormone-brain-behavior relations from a molecular genetic approach as well as neuroanatomomical, eletrophysiological, zoological, neurochemical, developmental and behavioral studies.

Encyclopedia of Microbiology Science Reference QR9 .E53 1992 v.1-4

This encyclopedia covers the study of microorganisms including the basic science and roles of these organisms in agriculture and technology, and public health and medicine.

Encyclopedia of Soil Science Science Reference S592 .S53 2008

This encyclopedia provides an entry point to the study of solid earth that is necessary to the sustainability of the biosphere. Articles are arranged alphabetically. A table of contents and comprehensive index facilitate use. This is a volume of the Encyclopedia of Earth Science Series

The Botanical Garden Science Reference SB450.97 .P45 2002 v.1-2

The two volumes in this set provide a source of information and photographs of more than 1000 genera of temperate plants. The first volume covers tress and shrubs, and the second volume covers perennials and annuals. The plants are arranged in evolutionary order and each entry includes:

Name (genus, species and common names, date of discovery and range)
Description
Key recognition features
Ecology and geography
Comments on cultivation needs and notes about unusual hybrids or developments in the genus.

Handbooks

CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics Science Reserves QD65 .H3 2008-09: Provides the latest and most accurate ready-reference information for the chemical and physical sciences. Includes basic constants, units and conversion factors, data on the physical constants of organic and inorganic compounds, fluid properties, properties of solids and much more. A general index facilitates access to required data.
Handbook of Biodiversity Methods: Survey, Evaluation and Monitoring Science Reference QH541.15 .B56 H35 2005: The purpose of this handbook is to enable the collection and evaluation of biodiversity data according to standard procedures. Part I focuses on planning, including setting objectives. selecting appropriate methods and designing the monitoring program, sampling strategy and data analysis. Parts II and III are devoted to habitats and species survey, evaluation and monitoring.
Current Protocols in Cell Biology Science Reference QH583.2 .C87 1998 v.1-3: A continuously evolving loose-leaf handbook of laboratory protocols for cell biology. Updated quarterly.
Culture of Animal Cells: A Manual of Basic Technique Science Reference QH585.2 .F74 2000: Provides the basic techniques of cell and tissue culture in step-by-step protocols.
Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada Science Reference QK117 .G49 1991: This manual is intended to facilitate the identification of vascular plants growing wild in the northeastern United States and adjacent Canada.
Illustrated Companion to Gleason and Cronquist’s Manual: Illustrations of the Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada Science Reference QK117 .H65 1998: This illustrated companion to the second edition of Gleason and Cronquist’s manual provides line drawings to accompany the written descriptions of plant species, facilitating plant identification.
Handbook of Laboratory Animal Science. Volume 1. Essential Principles and Practices Science Reference QL55 .H36 2003 v.1: Each of the 22 chapters in this handbook focuses on an important subdiscipline of laboratory animal science, including Animal Research Ethics, Phenotypic Characterization of Genetically Engineered Mice, Health Status and Health Monitoring, and Experimental Design and Statistical Analysis.
Insects: Their Natural History and Diversity: With a Photographic Guide to Insects of Eastern North America Science Reference QL493 .M34 2006: This reference provides an introduction to the natural history and diversity of insects found in northeastern North America — east of the Mississippi River and north of Georgia. Excellent color photographs provide a visual overview of the diversity of species. A detailed picture key is provided to facilitate identification to the correct family.
Introduction to the Aquatic Insects of North America Science Reference QL473 .I57 2008: This standard guide to the aquatic and semi-aquatic insects of North America includes keys to immature and adults of each order. It includes color photographs of most aquatic insect families, ecological tables for each order, a glossary, and a detailed index. In addition, the supplementary CD contains an interactive key to insect orders.
Handbook of Ethological Methods Science Reference QL751 .L398 1996: A compilation of procedures, techniques, and tools for a practical approach to the study of animal behavior. Chapters cover research questions, data collection and analysis, and interpretation of results.
Handbook of Vitamins Science Reference QP771 .H35 2007: This handbook provides contemporary perspectives that focus on chemical, physiological, and nutritional relationships and highlights newly identified functions for all recognized vitamins.
The Handbook of Water and Wastewater Microbiology Science Reference QR48 .H35 2003: This handbook provides an introduction to water and wastewater microbiology. It is divided into four parts covering basic microbiology, water and excretia-related diseases, microbiology of wastewater treatment and drinking water microbiology.
Handbook of Microbiological Media Science Reference QR66.3 .A85 1997: This handbook provides the formulations, methods of preparation, and uses for several thousand different media in a consistent format.
Current Protocols Essential Laboratory Techniques Science Reference RB36 .C87 2008: This manual describes fundamental procedures used in a modern life science laboratory. It provides a basic level of understanding by explaining in depth the principles that underline key protocols found in other Current Protocols titles.
The UFAW Handbook on the Care and Management of Laboratory Animals Science Reference SF406 .U55 1999 v.1-2: Provides authoritative information and advice on the care of laboratory animals. Volume 1 covers terrestial vertebrates, and volume 2 covers amphibious and aquatic vertebrates and advanced invertebrates.

Reviews of the Literature

Reviews of the literature survey the important primary literature sources and other works on a particular topic, usually over a given time span. They provide the bibliographic information needed to find the original works, and summarize the most important points about advances in that period.

Advances in Ecological Research Science QH540 .A23 v.1-: This series reviews the literature of ecological research. Each volume has a different editor and focuses on a particular subject area.
International Review of Cytology: A Survey of the Cell/ International Review of Cell and Molecular Biology Science Periodicals QH573 .I5 v.1-: This series presents current advances and comprehensive reviews in cell biology.
Advances in Insect Physiology Science QL495 .A23 v.1-: Each volume in this series contains articles that review the recent research in some aspect of insect physiology.
Current Topics in Developmental Biology Science Periodicals QL951 .C8 v.1-: This series provides comprehensive reviews of research on developmental mechanisms. Most volumes in the series focus on a particular subject and are searchable in CONSORT by subject or volume title as well as series title.
Handbook of Physiology Science Reference QP6 .H25 1977: This comprehensive treatise presents research results and bibliographic references. Each of the eleven sections may contain several volumes and parts. Frequent updates.
Recent Progress in Hormone Research Science QP187 .R32 v.13-14, 17-: The purpose of this series is the "publication of critical evaluations and work-in-progress by leading investigations" in the field of hormone research.

Annual Review series

Distinguished researchers and editors critically review and synthesize the most significant research literature in subdisciplines of the biological, medical, physical, and social sciences. Some Annual Review titles are now displaying Reviews in Advance up to seven months in advance of the print volume. Reviews in Advance are full-length reviews published online immediately after full editing and revision. Some of the titles appearing annually in the biological sciences are listed below.

Annual Review of Biophysics (2008 - ): Former titles:
Annual Review of Biophysics and Bioengineering (1972-1984)
Annual Review of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry (1985-1991)
Annual Review of Biophysics and Biomolecular Structure (1992-2007)
Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics (2003 - ): Former Title:
Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics (1970-2002)
Annual Review of Entomology (1956 - )
Annual Review of Genetics (1967- )
Annual Review of Genomics and Human Genetics (2000- )
Annual Review of Microbiology (1947 - )
Annual Review of Physiology (1939 - )
Annual Review of Phytopathology (1963 - )
Annual Review of Plant Biology (2002 - ): Former titles:
Annual Review of Plant Physiology (1950-1987)
Annual Review of Plant Physiology and Plant Molecular Biology (1988-2001)

Indexes and Databases

Print and electronic indexes and abstracts provide access to the enormous quantity of science information published in widely-dispersed primary scientific literature found in journal articles. The libraries’ Databases by Title page provides access to all databases available to the college community. Online help is available within each search system and database. In addition to General Databases, there are many databases that focus entirely on the sciences. Selected Databases for Research in Science provides descriptions of the science-related databases. Indexes and databases that are especially useful for locating information in biology include:

AGRICOLA [EBSCOhost] (1970 to present): This database includes references to more than 2.9 million records covering all aspects of agriculture, forestry, and animal science. Updated monthly.
BIOSIS Previews [OSearch] (1980 to present): This database provides abstracts and bibliographic references to worldwide biological and medical literature. In addition to references to journal items focusing on vital biological and medical research findings, pharmacological studies, and discoveries of new organisms, the database also indexes reports, reviews and meetings.
Borror Laboratory of Bioacoustics: This database provides access to a collection of animal sounds being archived by the Borror Laboratory of Bioacoustics at The Ohio State University. For more information, see the Borror Laboratory’s Web page.
Environment Complete [EBSCOhost] (Coverage varies): This database provides indexing for journals in the fields of environmental science, as well as full text for 400 journals, including many of the most used journals in the discipline. It also provides full text for selected monographs and for the conference papers of the North American Association of Environmental Education.
Faculty of 1000 Biology [Biology Reports Ltd]: Faculty of 1000 Biology is an online research service that comprehensively and systematically highlights and reviews the most interesting papers published in the biological sciences, based on the recommendations of a faculty of well over 2300 selected leading researchers.
MEDLINE [EBSCOhost] (1950 - present): This database contains citations and author abstracts from more than 4500 biomedical journals articles are indexed using MeSH subject headings
PubMed and related sequence databases [NCBI Entrez] (1950 to present): PubMed provides access to the bibliographic information in the MEDLINE database using the Entrez search and retrieval system. It also provides links to the NCBI sequence, structure, and reference databases.
Science Citation Index Expanded [ISI] (1980 to present): This multidisciplinary database covering the journal literature of science provides basic subject and author searching as well as cited reference searching, which permits searching the database for articles that cite a known author or work.
SciFinder [Chemical Abstracts Service] (1907 to present): SciFinder is a database search interface that provides access to chemical, biomedical, engineering, materials science, and agricultural science information and patents indexed in the Chemical Abstracts Service suite of databases, and in MEDLINE, produced by the National Library of Medicine. The new Web version of SciFinder requires each individual user to register. See Introduction to the Web Version of SciFinder for more information about registering and accessing SciFinder, and links to Help documentation.
OhioLINK Electronic Journals Center: The Search function of OhioLINK EJC permits users to search the current OhioLINK database of electronic journals, including titles from Academic Press, American Chemical Society, American Physical Society, Elsevier Science, Institute of Physics, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Royal Society of Chemistry, Springer-Verlag, Wiley and other publishers. (NOTE: Using the OhioLINK EJC search function only retrieves articles from journals available electronically through the EJC. While this may provide a good starting place, a comprehensive search usually requires use of one or more discipline-specific databases.)
JSTOR: JSTOR creates and maintains a digital archive of scholarly journals spanning many disciplines. The biological sciences are well-represented in JSTOR, including journals in ecology, botany, biodiversity, conservation, paleontology, cell biology and zoology. Because JSTOR is an archival collection, there is a gap between the current issues and the back issues that are available. See JSTOR: The Moving Wall for more information. (NOTE: Using the JSTOR search function only retrieves articles from journals available through JSTOR. While this may provide a good starting place, a comprehensive search usually requires the use of one or more discipline-specific databases.)

Locating Full Text of Journal Articles

Once you have retrieved citations to relevant articles from print indexes and abstracts, electronic research databases, bibliographies and other sources, you will need to determine whether they are available at the College of Wooster. Many articles are available by linking from within an electronic database, but other articles may be available in print, microform or online that are not accessible by direct link from a database.

To determine whether the college has access to a particular journal title in any format, search by title from the Wooster e-Journals and Journals page. You may also browse a complete list of journal titles by subject category from the same page.

For a more detailed description of how to determine whether a journal article is available at Wooster, see Lesson 9: Finding Full Text of Journal Articles in the Guide to Library Research in Science.

Selected Internet Sites

The following is a list of a few of the many gateways to biological resources on the World Wide Web.

Google Scholar: The Google Scholar search engine locates scholarly literature from a wide variety of academic publishers, professional societies, preprint repositories and universities, as well as scholarly articles available across the web. Results are ranked by relevance, taking into account the full text of each article as well as the article’s author, the publication in which the article appeared and how often it has been cited in scholarly literature. Search results may include citations of older works and seminal articles that appear only in books or other offline publications.
Science.gov: This search engine searches more than 36 databases and 1850 selected web sites with 200 million pages of U.S. government science information
Virtual Library: BioSciences: Provides access to many other Web sites in the biological sciences in categories including botany, developmental biology, ecology and biodiversity, forest genetics and tree breeding, genetics, microbiology, mycology, neurobiology, parasitology, and physiology and biophysics.
National Biological Information Infrastructure: This collaborative effort among federal, state, international, non-government, academic and private industry partners provides access to biological databases, information resources, directories, news of current biological issues and teacher resources.
Internet Directory for Botany: An index to botanical information compiled by scientists from the United States, Finland and Canada. It includes an alphabetical list of sites as well as subject categories and keyword searching.
Integrated Taxonomic Information System: This site provides access to a database of information on species names and their hierarchical classification. The entry for each scientific name includes the authority (author and date), taxonomic rank, associated synonyms and common names, a unique taxonomic serial number, data source information (publications, experts, etc.) and data quality indicators.
Native Plant Information Network: The Native Plant Information Network (NPIN) is the Web Portal of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at the University of Texas at Austin. It includes a series of databases with features that are especially useful for those interested in the cultivation and preservation of native plants.
PLANTS National Database: Produced by the Natural Resources Conservation Division of the United States Department of Agriculture, this database “provides standardized information about the vascular plants, mosses, liverworts, hornworts and lichens of the U.S. and its territories.”
Iowa State Entomology Index of Internet Resources: This site maintains and organizes a database of useful Internet resources in the field of entomology. Entries can be viewed by category (content type, biological taxonomy and entomological subdiscipline), or searched by keyword.
Butterflies and Moths of North America: This site provides a searchable database of butterflies and moths in the U.S. and Mexico. It includes distribution maps, photographs, species accounts and species checklists
AmphibiaWeb: This site provides access to information relating to amphibian biology and conservation. The site includes information about more than 6,000 amphibian species, including species accounts, distribution maps, literature references, sound files and photographs.
NatureServe: This site serves as a gateway to biodiversity data for species and ecosystems in the Western Hemisphere.
Tree of Life Web Project: The goal of the Tree of Life Web Project is to contain a page with pictures, text and other information for every species and group of organism, living and extinct. Connections between pages follow phylogenetic branching patterns between groups of organisms
Global Invasive Species Initiative: Sponsored by The Nature Conservancy’s Wildland Invasive Species Program and hosted at the University of California Davis, this site provides access to many resources related to the damage caused to native biodiversity by the introduction of harmful invasive species.
The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online: This site contains more than 50,000 searchable text pages and 40,000 images of Darwin’s publications and handwritten manuscripts. It also includes an extensive bibliography, manuscript catalogue and ancillary texts. Both the fully formatted electronic text and images of the original documents are provided and can be viewed side-by-side.

Guide to Library Research in Science

In an increasingly complex information environment, it is important that individuals develop the ability to determine when and what kind of information is needed, and to locate, evaluate, and use it effectively. Science Librarian Donna Jacobs has prepared a Guide to Library Research in Science, which consists of several integrated lessons, to help you with each stage of your library research.

Need Help?

Jessica Clemons

Science Librarian
330/263-2280