How Do I... 

Class Handouts ~ Bio205/Dr. Wicknick

Searching Techniques

 

Citations	Types of Databases	Basic & Advanced	Limit or Expand
Boolean Operators	Subject Headings	Tricks	Journal Searching

 

>  Citations 

Academic Search Premier

An experimental comparison of leaf decomposition rates in a wide range of temperate plant species... By: Cornelissen, J.H.C.; Jolliffe, Peter A.. Journal of Ecology, 1996, Vol. 84 Issue 4, p573, 10p, 7 charts, 6 graphs; (AN 9704021460)

 

Parts of a Citation

Title:	An experimental comparison of leaf decomposition rates in a wide range of temperate plant species and types.
Authors:	Cornelissen, J.H.C.; Jolliffe, Peter A.
Source:	Journal of Ecology; 1996, Vol. 84 Issue 4, p573, 10p, 7 charts, 6 graphs
Document Type:	Article
Subject Terms:	*BIODEGRADATION *LEAVES
Abstract:	Studies leaf decomposition rates in a wide range of temperate plant species and types. Similar patterns showed by litter dry weight loss among species;
ISSN:	0022-0477
Accession Number	9704021460
Persistent link to this record:	http://search.epnet.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&an=9704021460
Database:	Academic Search Premier
View Links:	Check library catalog for holdings

In Advanced Search select fields to develop a more precise search:

Default	Title, Subject Headings, Author, Abstract
TX	All Text
AU	Author
TI	Title
SU	Subject Terms
AB	Abstract or Author-Supplied Abstract
PE	People
PS	Reviews & Products
CO	Company Entity
DN	DUNS Number
TK	Ticker Symbol
SO	Journal Name
IS	ISSN
IB	ISBN
AN	Accession Number

 

 

>   Types of Databases 

 

 

Index:  Search result is only a citation.

 

Example

 

Author(s):	McConnell, J. R.  Author, Reprint Author ; Barton, M. K.  Author, Reprint Author Address: Department of Plant Biology, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA Country: USA E-mail: barton@andrew2.stanford.edu
Title:	Leaf development takes shape.
Source:	Science (Washington D C) 299, no. 5611 (28 February, 2003): 1328-1329 Cover Date: 28 February, 2003

 

 

Index and Abstract:  Search result includes a citation and an abstract.

 

Example

 

Title:	Birds defend trees from herbivores in a Neotropical forest canopy.
Authors:	Van Bael, Sunshine A. Brawn, Jeffrey D. Robinson, Scott K.
Source:	Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America; 7/8/2003, Vol. 100 Issue 14, p8304, 4p, 2 charts, 5 graphs
Document Type:	Article
Subject Terms:	*ANIMAL-plant relationships *BIRDS *FORESTS & forestry *HERBIVORES
Abstract:	Most forest birds include arthropods in their diet, sometimes specializing on arthropods that consume plant foliage. Experimental tests of whether bird predation on arthropods can reduce plant damage, however, are few and restricted to relatively low-diversity systems. Here, we describe an experimental test in a diverse tropical forest of whether birds indirectly defend foliage from arthropod herbivores. We also compare how the indirect effects of bird predation vary with different levels of foliage productivity in the canopy vs. the understory. For three Neotropical tree species, we observed that birds decreased local arthropod densities on canopy branches and reduced consequent damage to leaves. In contrast, we observed no evidence of bird-arthropod limitation on conspecific saplings in the less productive understory of the same forest. Our results support theory that predicts trophic cascades where productivity is high and suggest that birds play an important role in Neotropical communities by means of their indirect defense of some canopy tree species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

 

 

Full-Text:  Search result includes a citation, abstract, and the text of the article.

 

Example

 

Title:	DEVELOPMENT OF FOOD PREFERENCES.
Authors:	Birch, Leann L.
Source:	Annual Review of Nutrition; 1999, Vol. 19 Issue 1, p41, 22p
Document Type:	Article
Subject Terms:	*CHILDREN -- Nutrition *FOOD preferences Psychological aspects
Abstract:	Addresses the factors that shape the development of humans' food preferences during the first years of life. Genetic predispositions influencing the development of food preferences; Effects of parents' child-feeding practices on children's food preferences; Learned food preferences and aversions based on postingestive consequences.
ISSN:	0199-9885
Accession Number:	5371310
Persistent link to this record:	http://search.epnet.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&an=5371310
Database:	Academic Search Premier
View Links:	Check library catalog for holdings

 

How to get to the full-text:

 

HTML Full Text  |  PDF Full Text  |  Check library catalog for holdings 

 

 

>   Basic & Advanced

Basic Search:  One search box. 

Find:

 

Advanced Search:  Several search boxes, field codes, and Boolean Operators.
Field codes are used to develop a more precise search.  Boolean operators (and, or, not) are used to connect search terms. 

Find:	in   Default Fields TX All_Text AU Author TI Title SU Subject AB Abstract_or_Author_Supplied_Abstract GE Geographic_Terms KW Author_Supplied_Keywords IS ISSN_(No_Dashes) SO Journal_Name AN Accession_Number
and or not	in   Default Fields TX All_Text AU Author TI Title SU Subject AB Abstract_or_Author_Supplied_Abstract GE Geographic_Terms KW Author_Supplied_Keywords IS ISSN_(No_Dashes) SO Journal_Name AN Accession_Number
and or not	in   Default Fields TX All_Text AU Author TI Title SU Subject AB Abstract_or_Author_Supplied_Abstract GE Geographic_Terms KW Author_Supplied_Keywords IS ISSN_(No_Dashes) SO Journal_Name AN Accession_Number

 

 

>   Limit or Expand

Limit your results: Used to narrow the search results.  
        Full text
        References Available
        Scholarly (Peer Reviewed) Journals
        Published Date
        Publication
        Publication Type
            Periodical
            Newspaper
            Book
        Document Type
            All
            Abstract
            Article
            Bibliography...
        Number of Pages
        Cover Story
        Articles with Images
           All
           PDF
           Text with Graphics

Expand your search to:  Used to expand the search results when there are too few citations.
        Also search for related words
        Also search within the full text of the articles
        Automatically "And" search terms
        Full text

Narrow search results by type of material  
          Academic Journals    Magazines    Newspapers    Books/Monographs  

 

 

>  Boolean Operators:  Used to combine search terms.

AND:  Narrows your search results.  Retrieves records containing both terms.

                                                      
                                               AND         

 

OR:  Expands your search results.  Retrieves records containing either term.

 

                                            
                                                  OR        

 

NOT:  Narrows your search results.  Excludes records from a search.

 

                                           
                                             NOT                

 

 

>  Subject Headings:  Used to retrieve more precise results.

Subject headings are indexed terms.  Look for subject headings in a citation, thesaurus, or index:

Indexes: Verify an Index term

Try Watson, James D.

Subject Terms:  Verify a Subject term

Look for Broader Terms, Narrower Terms, Related Terms, Used For

Try predation

 

 

>   Tricks

Truncation and Wildcards:  Used in place of unknown characters, multiple spellings or various endings.

Truncation:  The asterick (*) is used to represent any ending of a search term.
Example:
comput* will find computer or computing, etc .

Wildcard:  The question mark (?) is used in place of an unknown character or multiple characters.
Example:
wom?n will find the search terms women or woman.

 

 

>  Journal Searching...

...In the Catalog

Select Journal Title Alphabetical in BASIC search and type in the journal title.

General Keyword Title Alphabetical Title Keyword Journal Title Alphabetical Journal Title Keyword Author Alphabetical Author Keyword Subject Alphabetical Subject Keyword Series Alphabetical Series Keyword ISBN ISSN Notes Place of Publication Publisher Internet Access Library of Congress Call Numbers   

Select the title from the alphabetical listing.

Ecology [electronic resource].

The catalog record includes the paper copies (bound and unbound), microfiche, and microfilm holdings as well as the hyperlinked electronic resources (databases).