Scrawled Shortcuts through the Research Maze
Plants
Browse the 580 section in the Reference area for encyclopedias and dictionaries about plant life.
USDA Plants Database
Is Plantago lanceolata invasive? What species of Viola grow in the US ? Search this USDA site by common or scientific name for characteristics, uses, classification, and images.
http://plants.usda.gov/
PlantFacts Factsheet Database
Need a recipe for acorn pancakes? Search university and government websites using keywords, and common or scientific names of plants. http://plantfacts.osu.edu/web/
Animals
Graze the encyclopedias and dictionaries in the Reference 590s.
Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia
Is the common tree shrew monogamous? Accounts of species include physical characteristics, behavior, distribution, reproductive biology, diet, and significance to humans. Volume 17 indexes the set.
Reference 590.3 G895tE 2003
The Birds of North America
Better than MySpace for birds! Check out the local red-tailed hawk in issue 52: behavior, sounds, mating, appearance, and energetics. Index in Volume 18.
Reference 598 B618b
Animal Diversity Web
Ever wonder why the Sciurus carolinensis chase each other? This University of Michigan site includes characteristics, reproduction, diet, economic importance, behavior and more.
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/