Scope

This Research Guide presents resources for research on plants and animals threatened with extinction and attempts at their preservation.

Overview

Encyclopedia Americana
College Library Reference Collection: AE 5 E333
Refer to "Extinct and Endangered Species," volume 10, pages 798-802

Encyclopaedia Britannica Online 1992 (updated daily)
Britannica Online is a searchable collection of authoritative references, including Britannica's latest encyclopedia articles. Basic instructions for Encyclopædia Britannica Online

Endangered Animals: a Reference Guide to Conflicting Issues
College Library Reference Collection: QL 82 E55 2000

Environmental Encyclopedia
College Library Reference Collection: GE 10 E38 2003
Refer to "Endangered species," or "Endangered Species Act" in index, volume 2., page 1604

McGraw Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology
College Library Reference Collection: Q121 M3 1997
Refer to "Endangered Species" and "Extinction (Biology)"

Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center 1990 - to date (updated daily)
Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center (OVRC) includes the acclaimed social issues series published by Greenhaven Press, as well as core reference content from other Gale and Macmillan Reference USA sources and provides viewpoint articles, topic overviews, statistics, primary documents, links to websites, and full-text magazine and newspaper articles.

World Book Encyclopedia
College Library Reference Collection: AE 5 W55
Refer to "Endangered Species," volume 6, pages 269-271

Finding Journal and News Articles

Below are links to databases that cover this subject area. The truncation symbol for all of them is an asterisk (*) unless otherwise noted.

Sample searches for databases:

endangered species
California condor
elephant* and ivory
extinct species
wildlife conservation
extinct animals
poaching
elephants and poaching
mountain gorillas
endangered species act
wildlife conservation
rare animals
U.S. fish and wildlife service
wildlife sanctuaries
endangered species legislation

Recommended Databases:

Academic Search 1984 - to date (updated daily)
This library database indexes approximately 3,100 popular magazines and academic journals and provides the full-text articles from approximately 1,000 journals. Basic instructions for Academic Search

Agricola 1970 - to date (updated quarterly)
Indexes 2,500 scholarly and trade journals along with government publications and conference proceedings in animal sciences, agricultural engineering, botany, entomology, plant science, soil science, veterinary management and water management. Basic instructions for Agricola

CAB Abstracts 1972 - to date (updated annually)
The CAB Abstracts database indexes 10,000 English and foreign-language journals, books, technical reports, theses, symposium, patents, conference proceedings, and annual reports each year. The subject matter includes agriculture, animal breeding and disease, biotechnology, dairy science, entomology, forestry and horticulture. Basic instructions for CAB Abstracts

CQ Researcher November 1991 - to date (updated weekly)
Contains weekly reports from Congressional Quarterly that cover the most current and controversial issues. Basic instructions for CQ Researcher

ProQuest Research Library 1988 - to date (updated daily)
Indexes over 2,000 general-interest and academic journals. Nearly 1,000 periodicals are full-text. Dates vary, but many full-text journals go back to 1988. Basic instructions for ProQuest Research Library

Wildlife & Ecology Studies Worldwide 1935 - to date (updated quarterly)
Wildlife and Ecology Studies Worldwide indexes and abstracts literature on wild mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. The subject matter covers animal behavior, conservation, disease, genetics, habitats, management techniques, parasites, pesticides, propagation, and toxicology. Abstracts are included from September 1996 onward. Basic instructions for Wildlife Worldwide

More Databases:

Biological Abstracts 1980 - to date (updated quarterly)
The Biological Abstracts/RRM database contains citations to more than 2 million international life science meetings, symposia, and workshop papers; review articles; books; book chapters; and patents. Abstracts are available only for book citations. Basic instructions for Biological Abstracts

General Science Full Text 1984 - to date (updated monthly)
Indexes 150 popular and scholarly periodicals, as well as the Science section of the New York Times. Subjects include biology, chemistry, earth sciences, environment, nutrition, genetics, medicine and health. Basic instructions for General Science Full Text

Readers' Guide Full Text and Retrospective 1890 - to date (updated monthly)
Indexes 240 popular magazines in a wide range of subject areas. Full-text coverage of 131 titles begins with 1994. Basic instructions for Readers' Guide Full Text

Lexis/Nexis Academic Universe Dates Vary (updated daily)
Contains the full-text articles from U.S. and international newspapers (including the New York Times, June 1980 - to date), as well as some news and business magazines and trade journals. The truncation symbol is an exclamation point (!). Basic instructions for Lexis/Nexis Academic Universe

Public Affairs Information Service (PAIS) 1972 - to date (updated quarterly)
Indexes journal articles, books, government documents, statistical compilations, committee reports, directories, serials, reports of public, intergovernmental and private organizations, and most other forms of printed literature from all over the world. The full-text of the articles is not available in the database. Basic instructions for PAIS

Finding Books

MadCat
Books on endangered species can be found in MadCat, the UW-Madison library catalog.

Sample keyword searches:

"endangered species"
"rare animal?"
"rare plant?"
"wildlife conservation"
"wildlife management"
bird? and protection
http and "endangered species" (to find electronic resources)

Internet Sites

Animal Info
http://www.animalinfo.org
This Web site functions as a searchable database of endangered species, sponsored by Science NetLinks and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Browse the world's rarest mammals, the indvidual species index, links to other animal sites and organizations, or browse by country.

Bonobo Initiative
http://www.bonobo.org
This Web site is devoted to saving the bonobo from extinction. "Humankinds closest relatives are teetering on the brink of extinction. Trapped in a war zone in the central Congo, bonobos are being hunted for meat and profit. Bonobos are the rarest of all great ape species and no one knows how many survive..." Use the navigation links at the top of the page to find out more introductory information about bonobos.

Endangered Species
http://eelink.net/EndSpp
Award winning site from EE-Link and the North American Association for Environmental Education. Here you will find introductory information, a list of endangered species, extinct species, species facts, pictures, and other data, current news, taking action information, organizations, laws and policies, and an education and kids section.

The Endangered Species Program
http://endangered.fws.gov
Information and links from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The site provides a list of current endangered species in the United States, species information, species in the spotlight, laws and policies relating to endangered species, publications, and local contacts.

EuroTurtle
http://www.euroturtle.org
This Web site is sponsered by MEDASSET, (Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles) a not-for-profit group working for the conservation of sea turtles and their habitats throughout the Mediterranean Sea. The site has the following types of information: a general introduction to the biology of sea turtles, case studies, news and projects, publications, and other MEDASSET activities.

Everglades National Park - Endangered Species
http://www.nps.gov/ever/eco/danger.htm
This page contains information on endangered or threatened species in South Florida's Everglades National Park.

FrogWeb: Amphibian Declines & Deformities
http://www.frogweb.gov
The National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) sponsors this site, developed and maintained by the
Center for Biological Informatics of the U.S. Geological Survey. FrogWeb contains the latest news and information on the international decline and deformities of amphibians.

Last Refuge
http://www.lastrefuge.co.uk/data/LRP_main.html
"Last Refuge Ltd. is a small Company dedicated to the support of endangered environments and species in our changing world, through films, images and research." This site has a huge library of photographs (over 100,000) and film footage.

National Geographic - Wild World Maps
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld
Wild World is a collaboration between National Geographic, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and Ford Motor Company to send these ecoregion maps to every school in the United States. This Web site features these same maps, only with more interactive features. Select "Global 200: priority areas for conservation" to view some of the Earth's most endangered areas.

Savethemanatee.org
http://www.savethemanatee.org
"Save the Manatee Club was established in 1981 by former Florida Governor Bob Graham and singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffett. SMC was started so the public could participate in conservation efforts to save endangered manatees from extinction."

UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre
http://www.unep-wcmc.org
"The UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre was established in 2000 as the world biodiversity information and assessment centre of the United Nations Environment Programme." On this site you will find a database of species and habitat information, information on climate change, protected areas, international agreements, interactive conservation maps, and latest news and publications.

Statistics

Statistical Universe 1973 - to date (updated monthly)
Contains the full text of more than 800 U.S. government statistical publications. Lexis-Nexis Statistical Universe is available to UW-Madison registered users.

Organizations

Center for Biological Diversity
http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/swcbd/
This site links to research, petitions, action alerts, and relevant news items to further the goal of "protecting endangered species and wild places through science, policy, education, and environmental law."

Earthtrust: Wildlife Conservation Worldwide
http://www.earthtrust.org/
Based in Hawaii, Earthtrust is an International nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to the preservation of wildlife and the natural environment. Some of Earthtrust's programs are: "DriftNetwork: Keeping the Seas Free of Driftnets," "Endangered Wildlife Initiatives," and Project Delphis: Dolphin Cognition Research."

International Crane Foundation
http://www.savingcranes.org
The world's center for the study and preservation of cranes is located in Baraboo, Wisconsin.

National Audubon Society
http://www.audubon.org
Audobon's mission is to preserve and restore natural ecosystems. The society is named for John James Audubon (1785 - 1851), famed ornithologist, explorer and wildlife artist.

The National Wildlife Federation
http://www.nwf.org
Located in Virginia, "The National Wildlife Federation is the nation's largest member-supported conservation group, uniting individuals, organizations, businesses and government to protect wildlife, wild places, and the environment."

The Nature Conservancy
http://www.tnc.org
The Conservancy's mission is to preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive.

Rainforest Action Network
http://www.ran.org
Rainforest Action Network works to protect the Earth's rainforests and support the rights of their inhabitants through education, grassroots organizing, and nonviolent direct action.

WildLife Interest Group
http://www.internationalwildlifelaw.org/index.shtml
This group is part of the American Society of International Law. Their mission is to contribute to the objective of conserving endangered wildlife species by helping to strengthen international wildlife treaty regimes, regional accords and national legislation that implements international treaty regimes.