Biological sciences resources and support

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Most biology resources are held in the Biological Sciences Library. Use the Library catalogue to find the classmark for an item.

Other related resources can be found in the following branches:

• psychology - in the Arts and Social Sciences Library
• palaeontology - in the Wills Library
• environmental science - in the Geography Library
• microbiology, neurobiology, genetics, biochemistry and parasitology - in the Medical Library
• veterinary science - in the Veterinary Science Library

New books

• New books are displayed on the New Book Display in the Biological Sciences Library for two weeks, during which time they may be reserved using the Library Catalogue but not borrowed.
• List of new books recently added to stock (Excel, 28KB)

Course based materials

A wide range of materials to support biology courses are available in the Biological Sciences Library (ask at the Desk):

• Recommended textbooks: in the Short Loan Collection (SLC) and, often, long loan copies in the Desk collection (details are on the catalogue).
• Reading lists: available for consultation at the Library Desk
• Most biology undergraduate course materials, including examination papers, workshop questions & answers, and some lecturer’s notes, are available on Blackboard or on the School's website at www.bio.bris.ac.uk/

Thesis collection

Biological Sciences PhD theses are available in the thesis collection in the Arts and Social Sciences Library.

Special collections

The Biological Sciences Library contains a special collection of rare books.

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• Quick search on the Library homepage
  search for books, journals, or articles and databases using our various search tools, plus Internet search using Google Scholar.
• The Subject resources section of these pages includes key biological sciences databases (via MetaLib) for searching for journal articles references, etc, quick reference tools, Internet links, and reviews and bibliographies.
• Our Library collections and eResources pages give full advice on finding all types of materials.
• The Inter-Library Loans (ILL) service can be used to obtain Items not held in print in the University's branch libraries or available online. See below for more details. Access to other university libraries and the British Library may be a useful alternative.

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The Inter-Library Loans (ILL) service can be used to obtain Items not held in print in the University's branch libraries or available online. There is a charge for this service, though it may be possible to obtain an Inter-library loan voucher to pay for this:

• Biological Sciences academic staff should be able to obtain an Inter-library loan voucher from CD6.
• Biological Sciences research postgraduates may be able to obtain an Inter-library loan voucher to pay for this from from your supervisor.
• Biological Sciences undergraduates and taught postgraduates may be able to obtain an Inter-library loan voucher to pay for this from your tutor. Please ask before you make the request.

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• Our Research support pages cover finding information, managing information, and exploiting your research, together with sources of further help and advice.
• Each academic department in the university has its own library representative, whose duties are detailed in these guidelines. The Library Representative for Biological Sciences is Prof. Mark Beaumont.
• The School's Information Services Committee meets twice a term and deals with library issues.
• Book purchase recommendations can be made using the 'Make a book suggestion' option at the top of this page or to the Subject Librarian for Biological Sciences.
• New journal / database subscription requests can be made to the Subject Librarian for Biological Sciences, though you will need to suggest how we might fund a new subscription.
• New academic staff are welcome to contact the Subject Librarian to arrange a session on how the Library can help you.

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• Biological sciences databases via MetaLib
  This link takes you to the list of biological sciences databases with cross-search option. Click on the Info icon to display the full details.

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Effective use of the Internet

• Virtual Training Suite -a set of free Internet tutorials to help you develop Internet research skills for your university course.

Subject gateways

• SciCentral - a gateway to science resources on the web, including the life sciences.
• Web Virtual Library Biosciences - lists biomedical subject resources, including genetics, microbiology, neurobiology, physiology and biophysics.

Organisations and institutions

• Society of Biology
• Natural history book service

Other useful resources

• eNature.com - this nature portal offers online searchable field guides to over 4,800 plant and animal species
• Ecto- and Endo-Parasites - a directory of academic links to ecto- and endo-parasite resources in medical and veterinary parasitology
• Entomology index of Internet resources - a directory and search engine of insect-related resources on the Internet
• Audubon online - conservation and ornithological information. Includes access to the Audubon magazine
• IUCN Red List of Threatened Species - from the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
• Plant pathology Internet guide book - a subject-oriented internet resource guide for plant pathology, applied entomology and all related fields
• Internet directory for botany - lists 3,700 botany-related Internet resources
• Microbiology / biotechnology network - includes the microbiology section of the web Virtual Library
• Information Systems for Biotechnology (ISB) - provides information resources to support the environmentally responsible use of agricultural biotechnology products
• Plant Image Gallery - about 7000 pictures of plants from various parts of the world
• Plant Diseases Announcements - covers a wide range of diseases and pests. Can be viewed chronologically or by subject area or alphabetical order
• Engage in Research - the interactive resource for bioscience students
• Ebird - Birding news and features
• ARKive - Images of life on earth

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Resources available in the Biological Sciences Library

• Chambers biology dictionary - at 02.1 CHA
• Oxford concise dictionary of botany - at 02.1 ALL
• A Student's dictionary of zoology - at 02.1 LEF
• The Plant book (Mabberley) - at 02.1 MAB
• A Dictionary of ecology, evolution and systematics - at 02.1 LIN
• The Oxford Companion to animal behaviour - at 71 OXF
• Grzimek's animal life encyclopedia - at a complete set in Biological Sciences Library at 70.1 GRZ
• The Cambridge encyclopedia of human evolution - at 22.3 JON
• The new encyclopedia of mammals - 99 MAC
• Encyclopedia of plant physiology - at 45 ENC
• The Cambridge encyclopaedia of ornithology - at e BRO
• Handbook of birds of the world - at b HAN

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Reading review articles can be a good way of familiarising yourself with a topic quickly. Review articles can be published in normal journals, or in review type journals like the following. In many databases you can search for review articles, eg by refining search results in Web of Science by Document type.

Annual reviews in Biological Sciences

• in the Biological Sciences Library at RRIB
• online annual reviews

Advances in Biological Sciences

• in the Biological Sciences Library at RRIB

Bibliography of biology

• in the Biological Sciences Library at 01

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• A number of general 'Self-learning resources' are available below, including video tutorials, downloadable library guides, and web resources.
• Find out about referencing in your written work and EndNote referencing software in 'Referencing help'.

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• A number of general 'Self-learning resources' are available below, including video tutorials, downloadable library guides, and web resources.
• Find out about referencing in your written work and EndNote referencing software in 'Referencing help'.

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• Video tutorials - topics include the Library Catalogue, understanding references on reading lists, using the MetaLib resource gateway, off-campus access to eResources, etc.
• Finding and using information pages - covering key aspects of information skills, including researching a topic, effective use of Google, evaluating your search results, avoiding plagiarism, etc. Also includes a Jargon-buster page.
• Library guides - downloadable guides to each branch library, our main search tools, special library services, etc.
• External resources for developing your information skills - including online tutorials and downloadable guides.
• Find out about referencing in your written work and EndNote referencing software in 'Referencing help'.

Referencing

• General referencing guidance - includes Why reference? What is included in a reference? Referencing styles, How to reference, Links to useful sites on referencing, and brief details of EndNote and EndNote Web referencing software (see the EndNote referencing software section below for more details).

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Referencing

• General referencing guidance
  includes Why reference? What is included in a reference? Referencing styles, How to reference, Links to useful sites on referencing, and brief details of EndNote and EndNote Web referencing software (see the EndNote referencing software section below for more details).

Journal title abbreviations

Literature references are often written with abbreviated terms. Probably the most troublesome are abbreviated journal titles which can make finding a journal difficult.

In biology the journal title abbreviations used by BIOSIS are often used. A list of these is given in "BIOSIS serial sources" which is kept at the Issue Desk in the Biological Sciences Library.

If you are unable to find the abbreviation you are looking for, please ask a member of the Library staff for assistance.

Unofficial abbreviations

Sometimes very short unofficial abbreviations are employed in biology reference books or journals. Here are some examples that you may encounter:

• JBC - Journal of Biological Chemistry
• NPR - Natural Product Reports

Please note: these should not be used in the references that you write, unless they are stipulated by the body or journal that you are submitting your work to.

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• Various guides to writing for biology are available at classmark 11.3 in the Biological Sciences
• Books on study skills in general are also available at classmark 11.3 in the Biological Science Library.
• General advice on writing and style guides
• Our Plagiarism: information and advice for students page explains what plagiarism is, how to avoid it, and the consequences of plagiarism.

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EndNote is the University of Bristol's recommended bibliographical management software, which can be used to collect, store, organise and manage references, and to output them as reference lists or bibliographies. A particularly useful function is 'Cite While You Write', enabling you to format Word documents, producing bibliographies and adding references within the text.

• EndNote Web help, advice and training sessions
  This is the recommended version for all undergraduate and taught postgraduate students - it is available free to UoB students and staff.
• EndNote Desktop support
  Academics, researchers and research postgraduates can use the desktop version, which may be installed on their UoB PC. See the 'Help and support' page of EndNote Desktop support for details of self help training materials.

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