GEY 105K - Introduction to Oceanography

Introduction | Reference Sources | Indexes & Databases | Internet Resources | Writing the Paper

For further research assistance, please contact Tim Lynch tlynch@usm.maine.edu; (780-5156), Research and Instructional Services Librarian; Liaison to the Department of Environmental Science. Gorham Campus Library, University of Southern Maine.

The key to all your library research is your USM Card. On that card is your Library Barcode beginning (2502. . .) This card will gain you access to remote databases, Interlibrary Loan, request items from other libraries in Maine and will allow you to check-out books from the University of Maine Library System.

To start us off, lets begin by learning how to search the catalog and databases at USM:

Keyword, Title, Author, and Subject

Currently search strategies are catagorized by four types of searches: Keyword; Title; Author; and Subject. Keyword searches use "key words" from areas of the book or document record, like the title and the abstract, and match the exact instructions of your search (See Basic Search below). Title searches are performed by entering the exact wording of the title minus initial articles like "A," "And" or "The." Author searches are performed by entering the last name of the author followed by a comma and the first letter or first name of the author, or the whole name (minus initial articles) of the entity responsible for the content of the work.

Subject searches are altogether different. A subject search (See Subject Headings Below) is an attempt to find a collection of works determined to be in the same subject area. The Library of Congress creates these Subject Headings and new works are either matched to an existing Subject Heading or new Subject Headings are created. The best way to use a Subject Heading is to find a book, using a Keyword search, (See above) that very closely fits your topic, then look to the bottom of the record for the Subject Headings that belong to that book. Using the blank Subject search on its own is possible, but will probably not give you the information you are looking for, unless you know exactly the right Subject Headings to use.

If you do not know the exact Subject Heading describing the topic you need, try doing a keyword search using other word(s) related to that topic and then click on the Subject Heading links found within the relevant records to find additional, useful resources.

The following is a listing of selected Subject Headings relating to GEY 105K Each Subject Heading is hotlinked directly to URSUS.

URSUS
In order to find books, journal titles, videos, government documents and other materials owned by the University of Maine system you will need to consult URSUS, the online catalog. Because journal article citations are not included in URSUS, you will need to use a discipline-specific index to find this information (see Resources by Subject).

Basic Search

Searching Using AND and OR: (This process can be used in most any database including URSUS and journal indexes and databases)

1. State your topic in one sentence. (Ex. I'm looking for information about coastal pollution in Maine)
2. Separate important terms. (Ex. coastal AND pollution AND Maine)
3. Did you find enough information? If not continue. . . .
4. Add IMPORTANT synonyms and related terms that you would find in the professional literature. (coastal or shore) AND (pollution OR water pollution) AND Maine
5. Truncate terms to get plural as well as singular form. Ex. (coast* or shore*) AND (pollut* OR water pollut*) and Maine*

[Using Main* would bring up the words maintenance, maintain, main point, Main street, etc.]

Advanced Search (Default)

AND and OR searching can also be accomplished by filling in the search boxes using the AND connector in the Advanced search mode. Make sure and place all the OR terms (ie synonyms) together in the same box with the word OR between them. Then also place the AND terms in the same box, connected with the word AND.

To obtain materials not located at USM, but within the University of Maine System, you will need to click on the black Request button on the URSUS screen and enter your name and barcode number (found under the barcode on your USM Card). Remember also to choose a location for the item to be delivered. Items requested in this manner require 3 to 5 days for delivery.

If the item is not available through the University of Maine System (URSUS) or Maine InfoNet you can request it via Interlibrary Loan (Illiad).
Books requested by interlibrary loan may take a week to 10 days to arrive. Articles requested by interlibrary loan usually arrive in under 3 days!

Off-Campus (remote) connection to databases: Use your name and library barcode number (2502. . . . ) available from your student ID to access Indexes and databases from home. Indexes and Databases that can be accessed remotely will have a small yellow "remote access" icon next to the Index or database. If you are having trouble, try using the state funded Marvel Databases. Enter personal information including ZIP Code.

Coastlinks: A Resource Guide to Maine's Coastal Organizations
GOR and POR Reference HT 393 .M2 C6277 2001

Encyclopedia of Environmental Analysis and Remediation [8 vols]
GOR Reference GE 10 .E49 1998

Encyclopedia of Environmental Issues [3 vols]
GOR Reference GE 10 .E52 2000

Encyclopedia of Global Environmental Change [5 vols]
GOR Reference GE 149 .E443 2002

Encyclopedia of Ocean Sciences [6 vols]
GOR Reference GC 9 .E57 2001

Encyclopedia of the Biosphere [11 vols]
GOR Reference GF 75 .B5613 1999
(Note especially volume 10 "Oceans and Seashores")

National Geographic Atlas of the World 8th edition
GOR and POR Atlas G 1021 .N38 2005
(Note especially pp. 98-103)

Academic Search Premier
Provides full text for nearly 4,000 scholarly publications of which 3,100 are peer reviewed. Academic areas of study include: social sciences, humanities, education, computer sciences, engineering, language and linguistics, arts & literature, medical sciences, and ethnic studies.

Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Abstracts
ndex to journal articles, conference papers, books, monographs, theses, technical reports, and non-conventional literature covering all aspects of marine, brackish, and freshwater environments. International in scope. Updated quarterly. Holdings from 1971.

GeoBase
Worldwide literature on geography, geology, and ecology. Holdings from 1980.

GeoRef
Produced by the American Geological Institute, GeoRef covers a number of areas of geology and related disciplines including: geochemistry, geophysics, hydrology, mineralogy, and paleontology. Indexes over 3,500 journals as well as books, reports, theses and dissertations, maps, and conference proceedings and corresponds to the following print indexes: Bibliography and Index of North American Geology, Bibliography of Theses in Geology, Geophysical Abstracts, Bibliography and Index of Geology Exclusive of North America, and the Bibliography and Index of Geology. Updated monthly. Holdings from 1785 for North America and 1933 for the rest of the world.

GreyLit Network
Provides searchable access to over 100,000 full-text technical documents which report the results of federally funded research and projects. Includes reports from the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Holdings vary by agency.

IngentaConnect
Index to the tables of contents of 17,000 English language periodicals. Covers all disciplines. Updated daily. NOTE: Full text access available ONLY with subscriptions to individual titles. Check your library for holdings. Holdings from 1988

Oceanic Abstracts
Index to journal articles, conference papers, books, and reports covering the marine and brackish-water environment. Topics covered include biological, chemical, and physical oceanography, ecology, geochemistry, geophysics, marine biology, and marine geology. Indexes over 500 journals. Updated monthly. Holdings from 1981.

Maine Newstand
Index to and full text coverage of four Maine newspapers. Database includes comprehensive coverage of the Bangor Daily News (12/3/92-present) and the Portland Press Herald (10/30/95-present). Selected business coverage of the Central Maine Morning Sentinel (8/12/93-8/27/97) and Maine Times (2/4/95-present). Updated regularly.

Science Citation Index, Expanded
Comprehensive multidisciplinary coverage of approximately 5,800 of the world's leading scientific and technical journals. Provides cited reference searching, with which users can navigate forward, backward, and through the literature, searching multi-disciplines to uncover information relative to their research. Holdings from 2000.

Wildlife and Ecology Studies Worldwide
Includes over 345,000 citations to the literature on mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians found in journals, conference proceedings, monographs, theses and dissertations, and government reports. Database includes Wildlife Review Abstracts, which was published through 1995 by the National Biological Service. Searching is by keyword, subject, and author as well as by taxonomic and geographic identifiers. Abstracts are available for publications added to the database since September 1996. 8,000 records added annually. Updated quarterly. Holdings from 1935.

In choosing Internet resources it is imperative to evaluate the authenticity of the source. Thinking Critically about Discipline-Based World Wide Web Resources (UCLA College Library) provides excellent evaluation criteria. The following selected resources have been chosen because of authenticity and comprehensiveness of coverage.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

RSMAS Library

Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Relevant Journals

The Global Atmosphere and Ocean System [electronic resource] 
Hydrology and earth system sciences [electronic resource] European Geophysical Society 
The journal of geology [electronic resource] 
Ocean science [electronic resource]
Ocean science discussions [electronic resource]
Oceanus [electronic resource]
Marine biology research [electronic resource]
Sea frontiers [electronic resource]   

The Annotated Bibliography

How to Prepare an Annotated Bibliography (Cornell University Library Reference Department)

The Writing Center (University of Wisconsin-Madison Writing Center)

Sample annotated bibliography

*Note first line of each work entry should be outdented.

The History of Coastal Development in Maine

Belknap, D. F., Smith, D. C., & Gehrels, W. R. (1997). Environmental Changes in the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve and Pemaquid Beach Salt Marshes, Maine, During the Past 300 Years: Implications for Restoration of New-England-Type Salt Marshes. Washington, DC : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

This article, the result of geologic and historical research, discusses the evidence and implications of salt marsh farming in Wells and Pemaquid during the 17th century. This appears to be some of the earliest evidence of using coastal locations in Maine for agriculture. The authors describe the long-lasting environmental effects on the areas studied. The study further supports the contention that the earliest development of the coast in Maine was as a working landscape. The development of coastal areas for recreation occurred much later.

Lencek, L. & Bosker, G. (1998). The Beach: The History of Paradise on Earth. New York: Penguin Books.

Lencek and Bosker give a thorough and engaging overview of the development of beaches as playgrounds and recreational real estate. They discuss a wide range of associated topics, from the geologic origins of beaches to the evolution of bathing suits. This work is useful in placing Maine’s beaches in an historical and global context. While the book discusses beaches on a global scale, there is a discussion of the early development of upper-class seaside retreats at Kennebunkport and Mount Desert, and other aspects of the chronology discussed can be easily applied to Maine. For example, during the mid 1800s, shorter work weeks, increased access by car, train, and boat, and greater disposable income led to the development of coastal resorts, including several in Maine.

Kelley, J. T. & Anderson, W. A. (2000, Fall). The Maine Shore and the Army Corps: A Tale of Two Harbors, Wells and Saco, Maine. Maine Policy Review, 2, 20 - 34.

This work, by Joe Kelley, a member of the Geology Department at the University of Maine and Walter Anderson, the former Maine State Geologist, discusses the effects of development in two specific areas of Maine’s coast. Like most beaches, those in Wells and Saco are dependent on rivers bringing a steady sediment supply. The Army Corps of Engineers has built jetties at the mouths of the rivers in both locations which prevent sand from reaching the beach. As a result, the beaches experience severe erosion. This article discusses the complicated history of beach development, jetty building and maintenance, harbor dredging, and potential solutions to the problems. While the specifics of each area are unique, jetties (and other coastal engineering features like seawalls) and the erosion they create are very common to sandy beaches in Maine and play an important role in the history of coastal development.

Style Manuals

In using resources it is imperative that they be used ethically and legally. The sources listed here provide assistance in following correct citation methods and in avoiding plagiarism. It may also be useful to make use of the EndNote Program available on all library and computer lab workstations.

Bedford Handbook 7th edition (Hacker)
GOR and LEW and POR Reference PE 1408 .H277 2006 or Companion Site

Concise Rules of APA Style
GOR Reference BF 76.7 .C66 2005

A Writer's Reference (Hacker)
GOR and LEW and POR Reference PE 1408 .H2778 2003 or Companion web site

Plagiarism

University of Southern Maine Academic Integrity Policy

How to Recognize Plagiarism (Indiana University School of Education)

Created by: Tim Lynch
Created on: 03.23.2006
Last Updated: 08.14.2007