Skip to content

Wildlife Reference Resources

  • Literature Guides
  • Dictionaries and Encyclopedias
  • Directories: People, Organizations, Places, Organisms
  • Scientific Reviews
  • Bibliographies
  • Treatises and Other Comprehensive Works
  • Species Accounts/Life History Information
  • Taxonomic Works: Keys, Checklists, Field Guides
  • Handbooks and Manuals
  • Laws and Regulations
  • Geospatial Resources: Atlases, Maps, GIS, Imagery, Telemetry
  • Images & Sounds
  • Environmental Reviews, Assessments, and Plans
  • Software
  • Statistical and Data Compilations

    • Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia

    Reference materials serve a variety of purposes and can sometimes be used effectively in searching the scientific literature. Reference materials can be used to:

    Following are reference materials of interest to the wildlife scientist and manager. They are organized by category of reference material rather than subject. Resources marked with a are key resources or databases.

    Literature Guides


    In a sense this publication is a literature guide. Listed below are more formal ones which discuss the organization of research literature in wildlife and list reference materials. Although there is no separate guide to wildlife literature, the following sections within larger works are useful.


    • "Amphibians and Reptiles"; "Birds"; "Mammals"; and "Vertebrates" IN Guide to Reference and Information Sources in the Zoological Sciences (Schmidt) 2003 (ref QL 45.2 S35 2003) Each chapter includes sections on indexes and bibliographies; core journals; dictionaries and encyclopedias; checklists, taxonomics works and field guides; handbooks; key works by systematics and geography. Includes both print and Internet resources.
    • Birds: A Guide to the Literature (Miller) 1986 (ref QL 673 M55)
    • "Literature Review" IN Cooperider. 1986. Inventory and Monitoring of Wildlife Habitat (Docs I 53.2: In8/3)
    • "Wildlife and Wildlife Management" IN Blanchard. 1981. Guide to Sources for Agricultural and Biological Research (ref S 493 G85)
    • "Wildlife Management Literature" IN Schemnitz. 1980. Wildlife Management Techniques Manual (SK 353 W59)

    Dictionaries and Encyclopedias


    These resources provide definitions of discipline- specific terminology and/or general introductions to topics and concepts in wildlife. Most encyclopedias include references to important references in the "primary" literature.

    Directories


    These are commonly alphabetical or subject listings of people, organizations, places, or animals. In addition to those listed below many of the Internet Directories/Portals/Gateways in wildife list additional Internet-based directories.

    • People
      • Directory of Water Expertise (University of California. Center for Water Resources) Lists more than 2,000 faculty and staff from the University of California and California State University systems, and experts from state and federal agencies who are involved with water-related/wildland-related research and resource management in California.
      • Wildlife Consultants in California (Fitzhugh) 1995 (ref SK 383 W55)
    • Education
    • Organizations
      • California Department of Fish & Game: Divisions, Branches, and Offices (California Department of Fish & Game)
      • Conservation Directory (National Wildlife Federation) annual (print copy available in ref S 920 C64) Lists federal, state, and some international agencies; national and regional organizations, commissions, and citizen's groups involved in natural resource use and management. Includes brief descriptions and key personnel.
      • Federal Regulatory Directory (Congressional Quarterly) Biennial (ref KF 5408 A15 F4) Comprehensive guide to federal regulatory agencies. Includes laws under which agencies derive their regulatory responsibilities.
      • Fish and Wildlife Management Offices: State, Territorial, and Tribal (US Fish and Wildlife Service)
      • North American Flyways Directory (Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center) 2002
      • Office Directory (US Fish & Wildlife Service) Lists USFWS national, regional, and field offices; national wildife refuges; and State Fish and Wildlife Management Offices.
      • U.S. Government Manual (U.S. National Archives & Records Service) Annual (print copy also available in ref JK 421 A3) Directory of agencies in the executive, judicial, and legislative branches of the federal government.
    • Places
      • AZA Membership Directory (American Zoo & Aquarium Association) Annual (ref QL 76 Z74)
      • American Bird Conservancy Guide to the 500 Most Important Bird Areas in the United States (American Bird Conservancy and Nature Conservancy) 2003 (Ref QL 682 A54 2003) Contains descriptions of 500 critically important bird areas. These area contains a significant population of an endangered or threatened species; a significant population of a Watch List species ; a significant population of a species with a limited range, ; or a significantly large concentration of breeding, migrating or wintering birds. Each entry includes ornithological highlights, ownership information, habitats and land use, common species, conservation issues and visitor information. Globally Important Bird Areas of the United States has an interactive map that shows all 500 bird areas by state with links to the guide entry and a web site for each site.
      • International Zoo Yearbook (Zoological Society of London) Annual (QL 76 I55) Includes a directory of zoos in addition to inclusion of scholarly articles.
      • Inventory of California Natural Areas (California Natural Areas Coordinating Council.) 1975-1986 (ref QH 76.5 C2 C35) 15 loose-leaf volumes that list by county more than 1,500 California natural areas ranging in size from less than one acre to over one million acres. For each natural area gives name of area, reference number, one-line description of the major features of the area, county, geographic coordinates, USGS topographic quads, PLSS coordinates, size, elevation range, ownership, maximum of two pages describing the area's natural history, past and present use and condition, and references. Includes alphabetical list of all natural areas and index of species included in natural area descriptions.
      • United Nations List of Protected Areas (International Conservation Union and World Conservation Monitoring Centre) Definitive list of the world's national parks and reserves.
      • University of California Natural Land and Water Reserves System (University of California)1976- (ref QH 76.5 C2 V63) Contains brochures for each of the reserve areas. Complemented by Information about Individual Reserves
      • Where the Birds Are: A Guide to All 50 States and Canada (Jones) 1990 (ref QL 682 J66 1990) Directory of birding locations which lists bird abundance by season.
      • World Directory of National Parks and Other Protected Areas (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) 1977 (ref SB 481 W62) First definitive directory of the world's national parks and protected areas. Annotations include information not found in later directories. The Nationally Designated Protected Areas Database includes records of protected areas covering less than 1,000 ha.
      • Zoos Worlwide Lists zoos, aquariums, animal sanctuaries and wildlife parks worldwide. Use an interactive map to select the geographic area of interest.
    • Organisms
      • CITES-listed Species Database (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora)
      • Extinct Vertebrates of the USA, US Territories and Canada since 1492 (Mallory)
      • IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) Provides taxonomic, conservation status and distribution information on taxa that have been globally evaluated using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. Includes links to associated databases with additional species accounts and descriptions Older print red data books detailed species accounts and analyses not found in the database
        • IUCN Mammal Red Data Book 1982 (ref QL 703 I86)
        • Red Data Book (International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) 1966-1980 (ref QH 75 A1 R43)
      • Longevity Records: Life Spans of Mammals, Birds, Amphibians, Reptiles, and Fish (Cary and Judge) 2000. Contains nearly 4,100 longevity records (reports of highest documented age) for 3,054 species/subspecies of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and fish.
      • Species in Parks Flora and Fauna Database (International Center for the Environment and National Park Service) Directory of species in US National parks; searchable by park or species name.
      • Threatened and Endangered Species System--TESS (US Fish and Wildlife Service) Database of official threatened and endangered species and candidate species in the United States. Browse by various categories or search by species. Each account gives status details, recovery plans and links to NatureServe species accounts.
      • Threatened Birds of the World (BirdLife Intenational) 2000 (Ref QL 676.7 T45 2000) Covers 1,186 globally and near threatened species. Each species includes a half page annotation with map and information on identification and taxonomy;IUCN red list category, range and population, ecolgy, threats, conservation activities, targets for priorty actions to improve the the species status, and references. BirdLife International provide the bird information for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Updated accounts are also found at BirdLife International Data Zone along with other associated information on Important Bird Areas (IBAs) and Endemic Bird Areas (EBAs).
      • California Department of Fish and Game. Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis Branch

    Scientific Reviews


    Scientific reviews or "state-of-the-art" papers critically survey a narrow topic in a discipline. Review papers identify and evaluate research which has appeared in the "primary" literature and include extensive bibliographies. Scientific reviews typically appear in annual publications entitled "Annual review of ..." or "Advances in ...", as well as in research journals, especially those which have "review" as part of the title. As part of a search strategy review papers are an excellent "research tool" to use since they pull together information on the existing state-of-knowledge on a specific topic.

    There are several ways to locate scientific reviews:

    1. Many annual review series have cumulative indexes.
    2. Individual review papers are commonly included in Wildlife Indexes. Create a search that includes the keyword "review" as part of your search strategy.
    3. The "Annual Review of ..." publication series has a cumulative index which searches all reviews published from 1984 to the present.
    Annual reviews of interest in wildlife include the following. Use the Journal and Newspaper Finder for determine location and format.

    Bibliographies


    Bibliographies are compiled lists of literature references which gather together known research on a specific topic. They are generally more useful for retrospective rather than current searching. There are many specialized bibliographies in wildlife. The Wildlife and Ecology Studies Worldwide index lists over 3,000 wildlife bibliographies. In the HSU Library Catalog a subject keyword search can be done using the keyword bibliography and a subject or taxonomic keyword. Listed below are selected bibliographies which major in scope or or emphasize California wildlife.

    • General
      • Bibliography on the Conservation of Biological Diversity: Biological, Ecological, Economic, and Policy Issues (Polasky) 1999 Contains approximately 4000 references on various aspects of biodiversity and conservation.
      • Biological Conservation Bibliography (Smithsonian Institution Museum of Natural History) Includes over 15,000 references on conservation biology from 1983 to the present. References have previously appeared in the Smithsonian Institution's Biological Conservation Newsletter. Search by author, title or keyword.
      • Effects of Recreation on Rocky Mountain Wildlife: Online Bibliography (Montana Chapter of the Wildlife Society)
      • Effects of Silvicultural Activities on Wildlife and Fish Populations in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest: An Annotated Bibliography from 1960-1999 (Maas-Hebner & Schrader) 2001 (Oregon State University, Forest Research Laboratory, Research Contribution #32) (SD 144 A13 R4 #32) 300 included references are indexed by author and subject.
      • Fire in North American Wetland Ecosystems and Fire-Wildlife Relations: An Annotated Bibliography (Kirby, Lewis and Sexon) 1988 (print copy available in Docs I 49.89/2: 88 (1)) (US Fish and Wildlife Service Biological Report 88 (1)) Searchable bibliography containing 300 references on fire in North American wetland ecosystems and a subject index of all fire-related literature that has appeared in Wildlife Review
      • Forest and Wildlife Management Planning: An Annotated Bibliography (Barlow and Grado) 2001 (Mississippi State University. Forest and Wildlife Research Center. FWRCR Research Report) Includes 177 references dating from 1960 to 2000 on forest management planning in general and more specifically on the effects of manipulating timber stock on wildlife habitat.
      • Managing for Enhancement of Riparian and Wetland Areas of the Western United States: An Annotated Bibliography (Koehler and Thomas) 2000 (Docs A 13.88: RMRS-54) (USFS General Technical Report RMRS-GTR-54) Includes approximately 2000 references on riparian and wetland management.
      • Nonconsumptive Outdoor Recreation: An Annotated Bibliography of Human-Wildlife Interactions (Boyle, Samson) 1983 (Docs I 49.15/3:252) (US Fish & Wildlife Service Special Scientific Report--Wildlife #252)
      • Riparian Communities and Related Topics: An Annotated Bibliography (Northern Prairie Science Center) 1996 Emphasis is on the Intermountain West of the United States.
      • Riparian Topics Bibliography (US Forest Service Interagency Watershed Analysis Center) 1996 Focus is on the Pacific Northwest.
      • U.S.-Canadian Range Management, 1935-1977; A Selected Bibliography on Range, Pastures, Wildlife, Livestock, and Ranches (Valentine) 1978 (ref SF 85.3 V34)
      • Wetland Restoration Bibliography (Northern Prairie Science Center and Midcontinent Ecological Science Center) 1996 - update of Wetland Creation and Restoration: Description and Summary of the Literature (Biological Report 90(3)) (Docs I 49.89/2:90(3))
      • Wetland Values Database (National Wetlands Research Center) Includes over 5,900 references from 1902 to the present pertaining to the functions and values of wetlands in the United States.
    • Amphibians and Reptiles
      • Bibliography of Pacific Northwest Herpetology (Campbell) 1982 (QL 654 B52)
      • Herplit Database (Bibliomania) Database contains approximately 50,000 citations dating from 1586 to the present. Search by author, title, or keyword.
    • Birds
      • Bibliography on Ornithological Bibliographies (Brassles & Bekierz) 1984 (ref QL 673 B73) Lists over 1,000 bibliographies on birds.
      • WWW Bibliographies and Searchable Databases (Ornithological Web Library) Lists over 125 web-based bird bibliographies. Grouped into subject, geographic, taxonomic, collection, and bird sightings categories.
      • Annotated Bibliography of Avian Interactions with Utility Structures (California Energy Commission) Annotated bibliography containing over 1,200 references on avian-utility structure interactions.
      • Avian Collision and Electrocution: An Annotated Bibliography (Hebert and Reese) 1995. Prepared for the California Energy Commission. Includes taxonomic, geographic, subject and author indexes.
      • Avian Literature Database (National Wind Technology Center) Includes references on the effects on birds of wind energy development and towers, power lines and other transmission wires. Compiled from two bibliographies produced in 1995 and 1996. The effects on birds include mortality factors such as collision and electrocution and impacts on nesting, foraging, roosting/loafing and other forms of bird disturbances.
      • Avian Mortality at Communication Towers: A Review of Recent Literature, Research, and Methodology (Kerlinger) 2000. Prepared for the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
      • Bibliography for Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) (Austin & Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center) Includes over 1,300 references.
      • Bibliography for Northern Pintails (Anas acuta) (Austin & Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center) Includes almost 2,000 references.
      • Bibliography of Birds (Strong) 1939-1959 (ref QL 1 F4 vol 25 parts 1-4) Older bibliography that lists ornithological literature up through 1926 when Biological Abstracts began.
      • Bird Kills at Towers and Other Human-made Structures: An Annotated Partial Bibliography (1960-1998) (Trapp) 1998. Prepared for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
      • Crane Bibliography: a subject index (International Crane Foundation) Includes over 4,000 references, arranged by species.
      • Duckdata: a Bibliographic Data Base of North American Waterfowl (Anatidae) and Their Wetland Habitats (U.S. Geological Survey) Comprehensive bibliography of published literature on the ecology, conservation, and management of North American waterfowl and their wetland habitats. Search by author or title keyword or keywords listed in the Duckdata Key Word Index.
      • Global Raptor Information Network (GRIN) Bibliography (Peregrine Fund) Contains 24,000 records on diurnal raptors with emphasis on literature from 2000 to the present and on the Neotropical Region
      • GooseRef Bibliography System (International Goose Research Group) - Contains 2,700 references on geese.
      • Human Disturbances to Waterfowl: An Annotated Bibliography (Dahlgren and Korschgen) 1992 print copy available in Docs I 49.66: 188) (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Resource Publication 188) Contains 211 annotated entries for articles that contain information about effects of human disturbances on waterfowl. Indices are provided for subject/keywords, geographic locations, species of waterfowl, and authors.
      • Ornithological World Literature (American Ornithological Union, British Ornithological Union and Birds Australia) includes over 58,000 citations and abstracts from worldwide scientific literature that pertain to the science of ornithology. Covers "grey" literature which is not abstracted by major commercial databases such as Zoological Record. Emphasis is on serial publications but also includes conference proceedings, reports, and doctoral dissertations. The database will eventually cover the literature back to 1950 and include 100,000 references. Search by keyword, author, journal or subject code.
        The database is a continuation of Recent Ornithological Literature which between 1976 and 1998 was published as a quarterly supplement to Auk (periodical QL 671 R43) and Ibis (periodical QL 671 I2). Classifies literature found in approximately 400 journals using the same subject codes above.
      • Raptor Information System (US Geological Survey) Includes 33,000 references on the biology and management of birds of prey.
      • Recent Publications on Waders (Koffijberg and the International Wader Study Group) Available online since 2001 with earlier issues appearing one or twice a year in the Wader Study Group Bulletin (per QL696 C4 B9). Lists currents publications dealing with waders grouped into five broad areas--breeding; behaviour, ecology and evolution; distribution and faunistics; and miscellaneous.
      • SORA: Searchable Ornithological Research Archive (University of New Mexico) Search or browse the contents of seven major ornithological journals or series--Auk (1884-1999), Condor (1899-2000), Journal of Field Ornithology (1930-1999), North American Bird Bander (1976-2000), Pacific Coast Avifauna (1900-1974), Studies in Avian Biology (1978-1999) and Wilson Bulletin (1889-1999). Fulltext is available for all articles.
    • Mammals
      • Black Bear Bibliography (Tracy) 1982 (QL 737 C27 B762)
      • Brown Bear Bibliography (Tracy) 1982 (QL 737 C27 B763)
      • Literature Reference Database (North American Bat Conservation Partnership) Bibliographic database of scholary journal articles, popular magazine articles, books, and dissertations relating to bats. Searchable by keyword.
      • Mammals of the World. Vol. III. A Classified Bibliography (Walker) 1964 (ref QL 703 W22 vol 3) Older bibliography that contains approximately 70,000 references spanning the years 1830 to 1960. The bibliography is arranged into three groupings--taxonomic, geographic, and general.
    • California -- see California Environment Information Sources--Wildlife
    • Oregon
      • An Annotated Bibliography of Oregon Bird Literature Published before 1935 (Jobanek) 1997 (QL 684 O6 J63 1997)
      • "Bibliography of Oregon Ornithology" IN Northwest Science (Scott) 1992. 46:122-139. Cover the years 1935-1970.
      • Bibliography of Oregon Ornithology: An Updating for the years 1971-1977 (Egger) 1980
      • Bibliography of Oregon Mammology (Carraway) 1982 (QL 719 O7 C37)

    Treatises and Other Comprehensive Works


    These scholarly works and databases contain extensive information or summarize the state of knowledge in broad topics in wildlife. They tend to be broader in scope than "scientific reviews" and are well documented with frequent references to important "primary" literature. For works that are focused on individual species see Species Accounts/Life History Information

    Species Accounts/Life History Information


    Species accounts typically include natural history and life history information on individual species. Topics frequently covered include description, taxonomy, distribution, life history, habitat, status, and management considerations.

    Taxonomic Works: Nomenclature, Keys, Checklists, Field Guides


    Guide to Taxonomic Literature of Vertebrates (Blackwelder) 1972 (ref QL 607 B53) is a general guide to taxonomic literature.

    • Nomenclature
      • Audubon to Xantus: The Lives of Those Commemorated in North American Bird Names (Mearns & Mearns) 1992 (QL 26 M38 1992)
      • Complete Guide to Scientific and Common Names of Reptiles and Amphibians of the World (Frank and Ramus) 1995 (Ref QL 645 F73 1995)
      • Dictionary of American Bird Names (Choate & Paynter) 1985 (ref QL 677 C5 1985)
      • Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names (Jobling) 1991 (ref QL 677 J55 1991)
      • Latin Names Explained: A Guide to the Scientific Classification of Reptiles, Birds, and Mammals (Gotch) 1996 (ref QL 351 G668 1996)
      • North American Bird Folknames and Names (Sayre) 1996 (ref QL 677 S28 1996)
      • Obsolete English Names of North American Birds and Their Modern Equivalents (Banks) 1988 (USFWS Resource Publication #174) (Docs I 149.66:174)
      • Source-book of Biological Names and Terms (Jaeger) 1955 (ref QH 83 J3)
      • Scientific and Common Names of the Reptiles and Amphibians of North America - Explained (Beltz) "Translations, Common Names, Original Descriptions, Biographies and Mythological References of those honored in the nomenclature of the Salamanders . Frogs and Toads . Turtles . Alligators and Crocodiles . Lizards . Snakes of America North of Mexico. "
      • Scientific and Standard Common Names of Amphians and Reptiles of North American North of Mexico, wth Comments Regarding Confidence in Our Understanding (Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles) 2001 (Ref QL 652 S63 2001)
    • Monographs and Keys
      • Classification of Mammals above the Species Level (McKenna & Bell) 1997 (ref QL 708 M38 1997) Updates The Principles of Classification and a Classification of Mammals (Simpson) 1945.
      • Distribution & Taxonomy of Birds of the World (Sibley & Monroe) 1990 (ref QL 678 S54 1990) Classification and arrangement of 9,672 bird species of the world based primarily on DNA phylogenetic relationships. A list of included species by family is available.
      • EMBL Reptile Database (Uetz & the European Molecular Biology Laboratory) Provides scientific names, synonyms, distribution, and literature references on 8,000 living reptile species.
      • Mammals of North America (Hall) 1981 (ref QL 715 H15) Major two volume monograph on mammal taxonomy listing 3607 species and subspecies
      • Salamanders of the United State and Canada (Petranka) 1998 (QL 668 C2 P36 1998) Includes accounts for 127 salamander species with an emphasis on identification, ecology, evolution, biodiversity, behavior, and natural history. Each entry includes photographs and a range map. Includes taxonomic keys to adult and larval salamanders
      • Synopsis and Classification of Living Organisms (Parker) 1982 (ref QH 83 S89)
      • Walker's Mammals of the World (Nowak) 1999 (ref QL 703 W222 1999) Major two volume monograph covering 1,192 genera and 4,809 species.
    • Checklists
      • A.O.U. Check-list of North American Birds (American Ornithologists' Union) 1983 (ref QL 677 A52 1983) Official source on the taxonomy of birds found in North and Middle America. Updated by supplements which appear in the journal Auk. For each species includes scientific name, common name, habitat, and distribution. The List of 2,037 Bird Species with Scientific and English Names Known from the A.O.U. Check-list Area lists all included species by family.
      • Amphibian Species of the World (American Museum of Natural History. Department of Herpetology) Lists over 5,500 amphibian species. Search by taxonomic name (current or synonyms) or geographic place name; or browse taxonomically. Short species accounts include scientific taxonomy, common name, and geographic distribution. A earlier print version with the same title and published in 1985 is available in ref QL 645 F76 1985.
      • Bird Checklists of the United States (Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center) Directory of 315 checklists on a state-by-state basis compiled from national wildlife refuges, national parks, and other state and private management areas.
      • Bird Checklists of the World (Avibase and Bird Links of the World) Contains bird checklists arranged by country with finer political or geographic subdivisions for some countries. Each geographic area includes up to five different lists which are derived from five standard checklists (Monroe and Sibley; Clements; Howard and Moore; AOU; and Commission Internationale Pour les Noms Français D'oiseaux) .
      • Birds of the World: A Checklist (Clements) 2000 (ref QL 673 C53 2000) Checklist includes 9,800 species and subspecies. For each species lists scientific names, best known English name, and brief description of geographical range. Updated annually by the Supplement to Birds of the World: A Checklist (American Birding Association)
      • Check-List of Birds of the World (Mayr, Greenway & Peters) 1935-1987 (QL 677 C47) Published in 16 volumes this was the second major taxonomic work on birds that attempted to list all species and subspecies. Superceded in large part by Sibley and Moore's taxonomic revisions.
      • Checklist of Amphibian Species and Identification Guide: an Online Guide for the Identification of Amphibians in North America north of Mexico (USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center) Browsable checklist of all amphibian species and subspecies currrently recognized in North America north of Mexico. Two versions of the checklist are available, one is sorted by family and then species name, the other by scientific name only. For selected species there is a link to additional identification information, including description, range map and photo. Also includes an annotated list of amphibian and reptile identification web sites.
      • Checklist of North American Mammals North of Mexico (Jones) 1986 (ref QL 715 J6 1986)
      • Checklist of Vertebrates of the United States, the U.S. Territories and Canada (Banks) 1987 (USFWS Resource Publication No. 166) (Docs I 49.66:166)
      • Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World (Howard & Moore) 1991 (ref QL 677 H75 1991)
      • Complete List of Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds and Mammals in California (Grenfell, Parisi and McGriff) 2003
      • Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (Wilson & Reeder) 1993 (print copy available in ref QL 708 M35 1993) Contains the names of the 4,629 currently recognized species of mammals, in a taxonomic hierarchy that includes Order, Family, Subfamily, and Genus
      • Species in Parks Flora and Fauna Database (International Center for the Environment and National Park Service) - Directory of species in US National parks; searchable by park or species name.
      • World Checklist of Birds (Monroe & Sibley) 1993 (ref QL 677 M695 1993) Based upon their Distribution and Taxonomy of Birds of the World.
      • World List of Mammalian Species (Corbet & Hill) 1991 (ref QL 708 C67 1991)
    • Field Guides
      • Bibliography of Field Guides of the United States and Canada (Livo and Colorado Herpetological Society) Lists regional, state and provincial herpetological field guides for the United States and Canada.
      • Field Guides (eNature.com) Identification guide to 5,500 plant and animal species in North America derived from 35 Audubon Society field guides. Each species entry includes a large thumbnail image, description, habitat, range and varying additional information depending upon the species, e.g., an audio file. Select from 13 major groups of organisms (e.g., mammals, amphibians, fishes, trees, etc.) Within each group browse by broad types of organisms in the group; search by scientific or common name; or conduct an advanced search by size, color, habitat, region, and other options unique to each each group.
      • International Field Guides (Schmidt) Includes annotations for over 5500 field guides covering plants, animals, rocks, minerals, astronomy and weather. Browse by broad taxonomic category or search by keyword.
      • Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds. Western Region (Udvary) 1994 (ref QL 681 U33 1994)
      • Birds of North American (Alsop) 2001(ref QL681 Z625 2001) Guide containing one page descriptions of 930 bird species. For each species includes annotated color photographs to highlight the key field marks of the adult male; photographs or artworks of other plumages if they differ significantly; an explanation of the typical flight pattern; information on typical vocalizations, feeding behavior, breeding, nesting, population, and conservation concerns; and a range map showing each bird's occurrence in North America during summer, winter, and on migration. Similar species are shown and distinguishing characteristics are noted. The work is arranged taxonmically. A subset of the main work Birds of North American: Western Region (Alsop) is available in QL 683 W4 B52 2001.
      • Checklist of Amphibian Species and Identification Guide: an Online Guide for the Identification of Amphibians in North America north of Mexico (USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center) Browsable checklist of all amphibian species and subspecies currrently recognized in North America north of Mexico. Two versions of the checklist are available, one is sorted by family and then species name, the other by scientific name only. For selected species there is a link to additional identification information, including description, range map and photo. Also includes an annotated list of amphibian and reptile identification web sites.
      • Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians: Eastern/Central North America (Connant and Collins) 1998 (QL 651 C65 1998) Part of the Peterson Field Guide series
      • Field Guide to Western Birds. Western Region (Peterson) 1990 (ref QL 683 W4 P4 1990) Part of the Peterson Field Guide series
      • Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians (Stebbins) 2003 (ref QL 651 S783 2003) Part of the Peterson Field Guide series. See also the Quick-find Indexes to Robert Stebbins' Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians.
      • Virtual Bird Field Guide (About.com Guide to Birding) For each bird includes range, habitat, physical characteristics, food, nesting habits, links to additional online information, photo, and vocalization. Birds can be searched by common name, scientific name, or by their family.

    Handbooks and Manuals


    Handbooks and manuals typically fall into two basic categories--1) works that contain data and descriptive information compiled from the "primary" literature and organized into tables or expository articles that can be used to answer many basic and factual questions; and 2) works that contain procedures for experimental analysis in the field or laboratory. Research and Management Techniques for Wildlife and Habitats (Bookhout) 1996 (SK 355 R47) is the major resource to techniques used in wildlife.

    • General
      • Analysis and Management of Animal Populations: modeling, estimation, and decision making (Williams, Nichols and Conroy) 2002 (QL 752 W526 2002)
      • Analysis in Behavioral Ecology: A Manual for Lab and Field (Brown) 1988 (QL 751 B727 1988)
      • Analysis of Wildlife Radio-Tracking Data (White & Garrott) 1990 (QL 60.4 W45 1990)
      • Bibliography of Manuals and Handbooks from Natural Resource Agencies (Burke) 1978 (Docs I 49.18:N21) Bibliography of manuals and handbooks published by natural resource agencies in the Western U.S.
      • Biological Monitoring of the Environment: a Manual of Methods (Salanki) 1994 (QH 541.15 M64 B565 1994)
      • Biology Data Book (Altman) 1972-1974 (ref QH 301 A39)
      • Capture-Recapture and Removal Methods for Sampling Closed Populations (White, Anderson, Burnham and Otis) 1982 (print copy available in QH 352 W478) Related software is available from Colorado State University.
      • Conserving Biodiversity on Military Lands: A Handbook for Natural Resources Managers (Leslie, Meffe, Hardesy, & Adams) 1996
      • CRC Handbook of Census Methods for Terrestrial Vertebrates (Davis) 1982 (QL 752 C7 1982)
      • Design and Analysis of Ecological Experiments (Scheiner & Gurevitch) 1993 (QH 541.15 S72 D47 1993)
      • Designing Field Studies for Biodiversity Conservation (Feinsinger) 2001 (QH 75 F45 2001) Practical guide to the use of scientific concepts and methods in conservation field studies.
      • Ecological Census Techniques: A Handbook (Sutherland) 1996 (QH 541.15 S95 E26 1996)
      • Ecological Diversity and its Measurement (Magurran) 1988 (QL 75 M32)
      • Environmental Biology (Altman) 1966 (ref QH 310 A395) Compilation of environmental data gathered from the primary literature
      • Estimating Wildlife Habitat Variables (FWS/OBS-81/47) (Hayes) 1981 (Docs I 49.89:81-47) Describes 35 techniques suitable for quantitatively measuring wildlife habitat variables.
      • Estimation of Density from Line Transect Sampling of Biological Populations (Burham, Anderson, and Laake) 1980 (QL 1 W54) (Wildlife Monographs #72)
      • Field Manual of Wildlife Diseases: General Field Procedures and Diseases of Birds (Friend and Franson) 1999 (USGS Biological Resources Division Informatin and Technology Report 1999-001) Supercedes Field Guide to Wildlife Diseases. Vol. 1. General Field Procedures & Diseases of Migratory Birds (Docs I49.66:167)
      • Forestry Handbook (Society of American Foresters) 1984 (ref SD 373 F58 1984)
      • Handbook for Conducing GAP Analysis (US Geological Survey Gap Analysis Program)
      • Handbook for Protection of Fish & Wildlife from Construction of Farm and Forest Roads (Hynson) 1982 (FWS/OBS-82/18) (Docs I 49.89:82/18)
      • Handbook of Biological Techniques (Wyoming Game & Fish Department) 1982 (QH 352 W95 1982)
      • Handbook of Ethological Methods (Lehner) 1996 (QL 751 L398 1996)
      • Handbook of Parametric & Nonparametric Statistical Procedures (Sheskin) 2000 (QA 276.25 S54 2000)
      • Introduction to Distance Sampling: estimating abundance of animal populations (Buckland) 2001 (QL 752 I59 2001)
      • Inventory and Monitoring of Wildlife Habitat (Cooperrider) 1986 (Docs I 53.2:IN 8/3) Major compilation of techniques compiled for the US Bureau of Land Management.
      • Live Animal Capture and Handling Guidelines for Wild Mammals, Birds, Amphibians & Reptiles (British Columbia: Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks: Resources Inventory Committee) 1998 (Standards for Components of British Columbia's Biodiversity No. 3)
      • Management of Wildlife and Fish Habitats in Forests of Western Oregon and Washington (US Forest Service) 1985 (Docs A 13.2 W64/17)
      • Manual of Stream Channelization Impacts on Fish and Wildlife (Simpson) 1982 (FWS/OBS-82/24) (Docs I 49.89:82/24)
      • Measuring Biological Diversity (Magurran) 2004 (QH 541.15 B56 M34 2004)
      • Measurements for Terrestrial Vegetation (Bonham) 1989 (QK 911 B57 1989)
      • Methodology for Establishing Biodiversity Plots (Dallmeier & Comiskey)
      • Methods for Evaluating Riparian Habitats with Application to Management (Platts) 1987 (Docs A 13.88:INT-221) (USFS General Technical Report INT-221)
      • Monitoring for Conservation and Ecology (Goldsmith) 1991 (QH 541.15 M64 M66 1991)
      • Monitoring the Vegetation Resources in Riparian Areas (Winward) 2000 (print copy available in Docs A 13.88:RMRS-GTR-47) (USFS General Technical Report RMRS-47) Provides information on three sampling methods used to inventory and monitor vegetation resources in riparian areas
      • Monitoring Plant and Animal Populations (Elzinga, Salzer, Willoughby and Gibbs) 2001 (QH 541.15 M64 M72 2001)
      • Monitoring Vertebrate Populations (Thompson, White & Gowan) (QL 607.6 T48 1998)
      • Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage (Hygnstrom, Timm and Larson) 1994 (Print copy available in SF 84.4 P74 1994) Comprehensive reference on the identification, control and management of 90 North American vertebrate species that cause economic damage to resources or become a nuisance at various times and places
      • Primer of Ecology (Gotelli) 1995 (QH 352 G67 1995)
      • Radio Tracking and Animal Populations (Millspaugh & Marzluff) 2001 (QL 60.4 R33 2001) Assesses the design and analytical techniques for wildlife radio tracking studies.
      • Research and Management Techniques for Wildlife and Habitats (Bookhout) 1996 (SK 355 R47 1996) Revised edition of Wildlife Management Techniques Manual.
      • Sampling Design and Statistical Methods for Environmentat Biologists (Green) 1979 (QH 541.15 S72 G73)
      • Statistical Ecology: A Primer on Methods and Computing (Ludwig & Reynolds) 1988 (QH 541.15 S72 L83 1988)
      • Statistical Inference from Capture Data on Closed Animal Populations (Otis, Burnham, White and Anderson) 1978) (print copy available in QL 1 W54) (Wildlife Monographs #62) Related software is available from Colorado State University.
      • Statistical Inference for Capture-Recapture Experiments (Pollock, Nichols, Brownie and Hines) 1990 (QL 1 W54) (Wildlife Monographs #107) Related software is available from Colorado State University.
      • Stream Corridor Restoration: Principles, Processes, and Practices (Federal Interagency Stream Corridor Restoration Working Group) (print copy also available in Docs A 57.6/2:EN 3/PT.653)
      • Techniques for Wildlife Habitat Management of Uplands (Payne and Bryant) 1994 (SK 355 P39 1994) Compilation of techniques for natural and cultural habitat improvements to enhance wildlife biodiversity on forestlands, rangelands and farmlands.
      • Techniques for Wildlife Habitat Management of Wetlands (Payne) 1992 (SK 355 P39 1992) Techniques manual on wildlife habitat improvement. Includes chapters on wetlands with and without water control, vegetation management and artificial nesting and loafing sites.
      • Techniques for Wildlife Investigations: Design & Analysis of Capture Data (Skalski & Robson) 1992 (QL 752 S52 1992)
      • Wildlife and Fisheries Habitat Improvement Handbook (Payne & Copes) 1988 (Docs A13.36/2:W64/6)
      • Wildlife Demography: Analysis of Sex, Age and Count Data (Skalski, Ryding and Millspaugh) 2005 (QL 752 S524 2005) Unifies, evaluates, updates and illustrates methods of estimating wildlife demographic parameters from sex ratios, age structures, and count data.
      • Wildlife-Habitat Relationships: Sampling Procedures for Pacific Northwest Vertebrates (USFS General Technical Report PNW 256) (Carey & Ruggiero) 1990 (Docs A 13.88:PNW-256)
      • Wildlife Hazard Management at Airports Manual (Federal Aviation Administration Office of Airport Safety and Standards) 2005
      • Wildlife Management Techniques Manual (Schemnitz) 1987 (SK 353 W59) Updated by Research and Management Techniques for Wildlife & Habitat.
      • Wildlife Radio Tagging: Equipment, Field Techniques and Data Analysis (Kenward) 1987 (QL 60.4 K46 1987)
      • Wildlife Radio-telemetry (British Columbia: Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks: Resources Inventory Committee) 1998 (Standards for Components of British Columbia's Biodiversity No. 5)
      • Wildlife Rehabilitation Database (Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Tufts University) Includes baseline respiratory and hematology information for selected species of amphibians, reptiles, domestic and wild birds, mammals and marine mammals.
      • Wildlife Restoration: Techniques for Habitat Analysis and Animal Monitoring (Morrison) 2002 (QH 541.15 R45 M67 2002)
      • Wildlife Resources Management Manual (US Army Corps of Engineers) (Docs D103 .24/2:EL...)
      • Wildlife Study Design (Morrison, Block, Strickland,and Kendall) 2001 (QH 541 W45 2001)
    • Amphibians and Reptiles
      • Annotated Bibliography of Amphibian and Reptile Field Study Methods (Ratermann & Brode) 1983 (California Department of Fish & Game, Inland Fisheries Administrative Report 83-3) (Cal Doc F660 A3 83-3)
      • Field Sampling Methods and Identification Guides (Westward Frog) Bibliography of sampling methods and identification guides
      • Inventory Methods for Plethodontid Salamanders (British Columbia: Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks: Resources Inventory Committee) 1999 (Standards for Components of British Columbia's Biodiversity No. 36)
      • Inventory Methods for Pond-breeding Amphibians and Painted Turtle (British Columbia: Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks: Resources Inventory Committee) 1998 (Standards for Components of British Columbia's Biodiversity No. 37)
      • Inventory Methods for Snakes (British Columbia: Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks: Resources Inventory Committee) 1998 (Standards for Components of British Columbia's Biodiversity No. 38)
      • Inventory Methods for Tailed Frog and Pacific Giant Salamander (British Columbia: Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks: Resources Inventory Committee) 2000 (Standards for Components of British Columbia's Biodiversity No. 39)
      • Measuring and Monitoring Biological Diversity. Standard Methods for Amphibians (Heyer) 1994 (QL 645.4 M43 1984)
      • Sampling Amphibians in Lentic Habitats: Methods and Approaches for the Pacific Northwest (Olson, Leonard & Bury) 1997 (QL 652 S26 1997)
      • Sampling Methods for Amphibians in Streams in the Pacific Northwest (Bury & Corn) 1991 (USFS General Technical Report PNW-275) (print copy available in Docs A 13.88:PNW-275)
      • Sampling Methods for Terrestrial Amphibians and Reptiles (USFS General Technical Report PNW-256) (Corn & Bury) 1990 (Docs A 13.88:PNW-256)
      • A Standardized Protocol for Surveying Aquatic Amphibians (Fellers & Freel) 1995 (QL 667 F44 195 and Docs I 29.109:NPS/WRUC/NRTR-95-01)
    • Birds
    • Mammals

    Laws and Regulations


    For general legal resources in the HSU Library see the General Legal Materials: Secondary Sources and Environmental/Natural Resources Law research guides.

    • International
    • Federal Laws and Regulations
      • For Federal statutory, case and administrative law in the HSU Library see General Legal Materials: Primary Sources.
      • Animals, Birds, Fish, and Wildlife (FedLaw) Includes the fulltext of key laws and regulations and links to related organizations.
      • AZA Manual of Federal Wildlife Regulations (American Zoo and Aquarium Association) 1994 (ref KF 5640 A913)
      • Compilation of Selected Acts Concerning Wildlife Conservation and Related Matters, with Amendments through the End of the 106th Congress (U.S. House of Representatives. Committee on Resources) 2001 (Committee Print 107-D) (microfiche copy available in Docs Y4 R31/3:107-D fiche)
      • Controlled Wildlife: a Three-Volume Guide to U.S. Wildlife Laws and Permit Procedures (Association of Systematics Association) 1983-1985 (ref KF 5640 E77)
      • Digest of Federal Resource Laws of Interest to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (US Fish & Wildlife Service) Includes digests of resource laws, administrative laws, treatises, interstate compacts, executive orders, and wetlands MOA.
      • Division of Congressional & Legislative Affairs (US Fish & Wildlife Service) Tracks current legislation of interest to the USFWS.
      • Endangered and Other Protected Species: Federal Law and Regulations (Littell) 1992 (ref KF 5640 L57 1992)
      • Endangered Species Act: History, Conservation, Biology & Public Policy (Czech & Krausman) 2001 (KF 5640 C99 2001)
      • Evolution of National Wildlife Law (Bean & Rowland) 1997 (ref KF 5640 B4 1997)
      • Federal Wildlife Laws Handbook with Related Laws (Musgrave) 1998 (ref KF 5640 F43 1998) The Table of Contents is available at Federal Wildlife and Related Laws Handbook (University of New Mexico Center for Wildlife Law) along with Chapter 4 "Statute Summaries."
      • "Game; Conservation and Preservation of Wildlife" in Corpus Juris Secundum (KF 54 C6) Article in authoritative encyclopedia restating US law as derived from statutory and case law.
      • Guide to the Federal and California Endangered Species Laws (Mueller) 1994 (ref KF 5640 M84 1994)
      • Marine Mammal Commission Compendium of Selected Treaties, International Agreements, and other Relevant Documents on Marine Resources, Wildlife, and the Environment (Wallace) 1994 (Docs Y 3 M33/3:2 771) Includes over 400 treaties and international agreements.
    • California Laws and Regulations
      • For California statutory, case and administration law in the HSU Library see General Legal Materials: Primary Sources.
      • California Fish & Game Code (California Department of Fish & Game) annual (Cal Doc L 400 F71c)
      • Fish & Game Laws & Regulations (California Department of Fish & Game)
      • Guide to the Federal and California Endangered Species Laws (Mueller) 1994 (ref KF 5640 M84 1994)
      • "Wildlife Conservation Law in California: From Bag Limits to Biodiversity" (Smith and Maffitt) pp 32-41 IN Life on the Edge: a Guide to California's Endangered Natural Resources: Wildlife (Thelander) 1994 (Ref QL 84.22 C2 L54 1994) Essay covering the development of wildlife law in California. Includes table of major events and legislation in federal and California wildlife law.
    • Other States

    Geospatial Resources: Atlases, Maps, GIS, Imagery, Telemetry


    See the HSU Library Geospatial Resources research guide for additional print and digital geospatial resources available in the HSU Library or on the Internet.

    Images and Sounds


    One can use a combination of general and specialized Internet search engines to find images on the web. See the HSU research guide Search Engines for Images, Multimedia, & Video for a list of specialized image search engines. However, search engines fail to index the content of the "invisible web", especially information contained within databases. The following resources are specialized indexes and databases devoted to wildlife images or sounds.

    • Directories