Most databases provide a description of articles and other resources to help you find what you need by searching through the indexed literature within their website. Included as part of the item record is the “Get it at UC” button. Clicking this button will direct you to a copy of the full text of the article.
If we do not own a journal or book, you can submit an interlibrary loan (ILL) request to have the book or article (e)mailed to you for free from another UC library. Learn more about how to request books or articles.
In deciding which database(s) to use, it is helpful to note:
NOTE: Your database comparison table distributed in the class (and also to be available from your Canvas class site) helps with locating the above criteria for four of the key databases for finding animal-related literature: BIOSIS Previews, Zoological Record, CAB Abstracts & ASFA.
Search BIOSIS Previews for basic biology of an insect including: anatomy and physiology, behavior, ecology, genetics, molecular biology, nutrition and feeding, reproduction, and taxonomy and systematics. BIOSIS Previews is also excellent for searching insect models for studying genetics, development, and more such as Drosophila.
Search CAB Abstracts for insects that are beneficial to agriculture (pollinators, natural predators) or insect pests in agriculture.
Use Zoological Record for rarer species which mostly have scientific literature from field work/studies and for conservation and taxonomy/systematics information.
Search ASFA for insect stages that are used in evaluation of stream quality (environmental indicators) and other aquatic insects.
Search PsycINFO for well-studied insect behaviors particularly social insects.
A peer-reviewed source is an article that has been reviewed by several other experts in the field before being published in order to ensure its quality. This 2 minute video describes the peer review process.
Many databases allow you to specify that you want to search only in “peer-reviewed” or “refereed” sources.
Search online for your journal’s title. Sections like “about this journal” or “editorial policies” generally mention whether the journal is peer-reviewed/refereed.
Use the Ulrich’s Periodicals Directory to find key information about a journal, including whether it has a peer-review process.