Internet By Subject - Sciences

Developed by Connie Fly and Kathie Lewis, Librarians

Astronomy/Space Exploration | Atlases | Biology | Botany | Chemistry | Climatology/Meteorology | Dictionaries & Encyclopedias | Ecology/Environment/Pollution | Earth Science/Geography | Endangered & Invasive Species | Entomology | Forestry | Frontiers in Science | Geology | Genetics, Genetic Engineering Stem Cells & Biotechnology | Human Ecology | Marine Biology and Oceanography | Pesticides | Physics | Technology | Water Quality | Zoos

Scientific Search Engines

• BioBot - The National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII)  is a broad, collaborative program to provide increased access to data and information on the nation's biological resources. The NBII links diverse, high-quality biological databases, information products, and analytical tools maintained by NBII partners and other contributors in government agencies, academic institutions, non-government organizations, and private industry.

• CAIN - California Information Node of the NBII provides access to data and information about California's environment.

• Scirus - for scientific information only. Responding to the need for focused, comprehensive and reliable overviews of relevant scientific information, Elsevier Science has developed the powerful Internet search tool Scirus. Scirus distinguishes itself from existing search engines by concentrating on scientific content only and by searching both web and journal sources. It enables scientists, students and anyone searching for scientific information to chart and pinpoint data, locate university sites, and find reports and articles in a clutter-free, user-friendly and efficient manner.

• Science.Gov - Science.gov is a gateway to authoritative selected science information provided by U.S. Government agencies, including research and development results.  Over 1,000 annotated sites are included. Use the browsable index for a broad range of topics from Agriculture and Food to Science Education. Searchable by keyword. From the science.gov Alliance, a group of U.S. government science agencies.

• Simthsonian National Zoological Park - Use search engine to look for specific topics such as "captive breeding"

Gateways

• Baileys' Eco-Regions of the World - A significant ecological and conservation resource on the web. In this system of ecosystem mapping, the ecoregions of the United States are divided into three levels of complexity; domains, divisions, and provinces, each defining a finer and finer subdivision of the vegetation of the country.  For each region you will find a page describing its ecosystem type including information on land form, climate, vegetation, soils, and animals.
  • Ecological Subregion of California
• Energy Citations Database - Energy Citations contains bibliographic records for energy and energy-related scientific and technical information from the Department of Energy (DOE) and its predecessor agencies, the Energy Research & Development Administration (ERDA) and the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC). The Database provides access to DOE publicly available citations from 1948 through the present, with continued growth through regular updates. Energy Citations includes bibliographic records of literature in disciplines of interest to DOE such as chemistry, physics, materials, environmental science, geology, engineering, mathematics, climatology, oceanography, computer science and related disciplines. It includes citations to report literature, conference papers, journal articles, books, dissertations, and patents. 
• Genetically Modified Food - A major gateway into this subject.  Covers the food industry, ethics & religion, government & public policy, health & safety, farming & food security and plant molecular farming.
• National Biological Information Infrastructure - The National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) is a broad, collaborative program to provide increased access to data and information on the nation's biological resources.  Contains sections on (1) current biological issues ( invasive species, Frogweb: amphibian declines & deformities, bird conservation, biodiversity, pollinator declines, West Nile virus, biology in the news) (2) biological disciplines (botany, fisheries, systematics/scientific names, reptiles & amphibians, quick species search (3) geographical perspectives, (4) teaches resources, including activities in your state, (4) data & information resources, online references and FULL TEXT journal articles.
• Natural World of North America - Nearctica brings you the best of the natural world on the web combining links to other sites with original material. If it's about the plants, animals, or the physical environment of North America, you will find it here; conservation, environmental protection, education, home and yard pests, butterflies, birds, weather, dinosaurs, biking, coloring books for kids, and anything else related to the great outdoors. 

• SciTech Resources - technology resources on U.S. government sites. Browsable by agency and searchable by subject, agency, and resource type (including bibliographic databases, computer software, current research, laboratories, maps, photographs, research and development, publications, and satellite data). From the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Technical and Information Service (NTIS).

• UNEP World Conservation - The UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre provides information for policy and action to conserve the living world. Now an office of the UN based in Cambridge, UK, the Centre's work is an integral part of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya.

• Virtual Library: Biosciences - Links to Biodiversity and Ecology, Biotechnology, Botany, Cell and Developmental Biology, Environment, Genetics, Medicine, Microbiology and Virology, Model Organisms, Mycology (fungi), Neurobiology, Parasitology, Physiology and Biophysics, Vision Science and Zoology.

Astronomy/Space Exploration

• Cosmos on a Shoestring The site details the development of small spacecraft with the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Department of Defense. It also provides an overview of current small spacecraft missions.
• Current Space Missions  An up to the minute account of astronaut activities at the International Space Station
• Earthsky This is the web site of a daily, science radio program. It covers a variety of topics.
• Imagine the Universe- Serves up the basics (and not-so basics) about our universe in a clear and concise format.
• Lunar Phases Web Tutorial  demonstrates Lunar phases
• NASA   Links to the NASA Centers as well as other official links
• Solar System  Well arranged set of information about the solar system. Links to legends about the planets as well as scientific findings.
• Solar System  Tours of the solar system with spectacular scenes of galaxies and planets
• Solar System Simulator - This is a NASA/JPL/Caltech spyglass on the cosmos. Select from the options below to have the simulator create a color image of your favorite planet or satellite! The simulator lets you see a body from any vantage point at any time — so you can view Jupiter as seen by Galileo (the man) or Galileo (the satellite). The renderings of the planets are startlingly realistic, and it’s easy to set the simulator for the images you want.
• Space Science Division  studies of the origin and evolution of stars, planets, and life
• STARDUST  Project  This is the first US mission that is devoted to the return of extraterrestrial matter collected from outside the orbit of the Moon. From this site you can monitor the progress of STARDUST.
• Windows to the Universe - A richly colored, highly detailed encyclopedia of space, Windows on the
  Universe also brings you all the benefits of Internet interactivity. It’s a bountiful site, with areas on our planet, solar system, universe, the arts, and people in science.
• Yahoo! Science: Space  Lots of links to everything concerning outer space.

Atlases

• AAA Atlas of Population & Environment - The site provides "maps and graphics that quantify and illustrate many of the issues, and text that lays out the broader links between population dynamics and the environment and places them within their historical perspective." Topics include natural resources, land use, atmosphere, waste and chemicals, ecosystems, and biodiversity. Also includes cases studies on specific regions. Searchable. From the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

Biology - Animal and Plant

• Access Excellence's What's News in Biology
• All Species Foundation  The ALL Species Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to the complete inventory of all species of life on Earth within the next 25 years - a human generation.
• Astrobiology Astrobiology seeks to understand the origin of the building blocks of life, how these biogenic compounds combine to create life, how life affects - and is affected by the environment from which it arose, and finally, whether and how life expands beyond its planet of origin.
• Bad Bug Book - A handbook with information of food borne pathogenic microorganisms (bacterial, viruses and parasites) and natural toxins. It provides basic facts.
• Biodiversity: Measuring the Variety of Nature  - An Internet learning laboratory for modeling and thinking about biodiversity and conservation.
• Biological Control  A guide to natural enemies of crops in North America.
• Biology Project (This project's materials and tutorials are designed to be similar to the early chapters of a traditional general biology textbook. Great supplemental material for those taking biology. Some of the materials are in Spanish.)

• Biology Web Resources - This site is maintained by a retired Biology Instructor and provides links to great web sites on most topics covered in a basic biology class.  An excellent place to begin.

• Biotech - BioTech is a hybrid biology/chemistry educational resource and research tool intended to be a learning tool that will attract students and enrich the public's knowledge of biology issues in the world today.  Biotech - BioTech is a hybrid biology/chemistry educational resource and research tool intended to be a learning tool that will attract students and enrich the public's knowledge of biology issues in the world today.
• Biotechnology - Global Issues from U.S. Dept of State
• California Vegetation  - The following website describes a classification of vegetation developed by the California Native Plant Society (CNPS). It is a digital version of the book A Manual of California Vegetation published through the Society.
• Captive Breeding & Reintroduction of Endangered Species:  A Resource Site
• Cell's Alive  - introduction to a number of topics- including cytototixins and antibody production.
• CSU BIOWEB - The purpose of this Internet site  is to consolidate existing WWW Biological Science teaching and research resources and to create and distribute original multimedia resources for the teaching of biology.
• CSUFresno Biology Department
• Discovering Chimps - Jane Goodall Institute's Center for Primate Studies
• DNA From the Beginning  - Provided by the Human Genome Project, this site is "the world's first online, animated genetics primer."
• Electronic Zoo
• E-Quarium: Monterey Bay Aquarium Online This site contains a wealth of introductory information of fish, coral reefs, intertidal areas, open ocean environments, marine mammals, and conservation issues.
• Invasive Plants: Changing the Landscape of America
• National Biological Information Infrastructure - The National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) is a broad, collaborative program to provide increased access to data and information on the nation's biological resources.  Contains sections on (1) current biological issues (invasive species, Frogweb: amphibian declines & deformities, bird conservation, biodiversity, pollinator declines, West Nile virus, biology in the news) (2) biological disciplines (botany, fisheries, systematics/scientific names, reptiles & amphibians, quick species search (3) geographical perspectives, (4) teaches resources, including activities in your state, (4) data & information resources, online references and FULL TEXT journal articles.
• San Joaquin Valley Bioregion -  A wealth of local information
• The Virtual Embryo (developmental biology)
• Virtual Frog Dissection Kit
• Zoology  - This site is maintained by BIOSIS and has a wide range of information.

• American Chemical Society
• Chemical Industry Archives - explores the history of the chemical revolution of the past 50 years and how companies have long sought to withhold information from the public and their employees about the safety of many substances. The program draws on a large collection of previously 37,000 secret industry documents.
• CHEMystery (A virtual chemistry textbook)
• Molecular Models (This site features models of over 1,100 molecules.)
• NIST (Gateway to the data collection of the National Institute of Standards and Technology)
• Paul's Chemistry Lab (interactive periodic table, scientific calculator, tutorials and more)
• A Visual Interpretation of the Table of Elements (Blending the work of artists and chemists, the site features computer-generated interpretive images, descriptions and histories  for each of the 109 elements.)
• WebElements (Reviewed as one of the best periodic tables on the web.)

• The Endangered Species Act of 1973 - Complete text.
• Animal Info - Rare, Threatened and Endangered Mammals - This highly organized site is searchable and contains brief information, including pictures, biology, habitat, and status of endangered mammals worldwide. Selections include World’s Rarest Mammals with population statistics; an Individual Species Index listing both common and scientific names; a Species Group Index; a directory of Animal Links, Organizations, and Publications; and Country Index. All material sources are cited for each mammal. Authoritative information for those with no need for depth.
• 2000 IUCN Red List of Endangered Species -  lists the more than 11,000 species of the earth's plants and animals that face a high risk of extinction in the near future. 
• Endangered Species List - University of Michigan provides lists of endangered and extinct species, arranged by U.S. and International areas and by state including the state of California.  Provides: status details regarding information on recovery plans, special rules and critical habitat for specific designations; conservation plans; and life history of individual species. . This is an excellent site with a lot of information.
• Endangered Species Program of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
• Endangered Species Recovery Program - A cooperative research program on biodiversity conservation in the Central California administered by California State University, Stanislaus Foundation.
• NatureServe -  a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals, and ecological communities of the United States and Canada. NatureServe provides in-depth information on
  rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too.
•  NOAA Fisheries (National Marine Fisheries Service) Office of Protected Resources - Provides information on protected marine resources programs and protected marine species.
• Pacific Salmon -  The National Marine Fisheries Service, Northwest Region is responsible for marine and anadromous fishes under the Endangered Species Act. This site shows the ESU location maps, endangerment status and all Federal Register Notices relating to each of the endangered species of Pacific salmon.

• Invasive Species: The Nation's Invasive Species Information System - This Web site serves as one of the official reference gateways to information, programs, organizations, and services about invasive species.
• NBII Invasive Species Information Node - This site is a data management portal for invasive plants, animals, and pathogens in the U.S. Provides identification, sightings, data, maps, models, control, and restoration on individual species. Includes California section.
• Invasive and Exotic Insects, Diseases, and Weeds: Information and Images - The overall objective of Invasive.org is to provide an accessible and easily used archive of high quality images related to forest health and silviculture, with particular emphasis on educational applications.
• NatureServe Explorer: An Online Encyclopedia of Life. -
• NEMESIS: National Exotic Marine and Estuarine Species Information System - The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) has developed and maintains a national database (NEMESIS) of marine and estuarine invasions of the continental U.S. and Alaska. This relational database compiles detailed information on approximately 500 different non-native species of plants, fish, invertebrates, protists and algae that have invaded our coastal waters. The database identifies which species have been reported, their current population status (i.e., whether established or not), as well as when, where, and how they invaded; it also summarizes key information on the biology, ecology, and known impacts of each invader.
• SGNIS: Sea Grant Nonindigenous Species - The Sea Grant Nonindigenous Species Site (SGNIS) is a national information center that contains a comprehensive collection of research publications and education materials produced by Sea Grant programs and other research institutions across the country on zebra mussels and other aquatic nuisance species.
• Nonindigenous Aquatic Species - Located at the Center for Aquatic Resource Studies, this site has been established as a central repository for accurate and spatially referenced biogeographic accounts of nonindigenous aquatic species.

• Best of the Bugs University of Florida - "The sites listed here are judged to be in the top 5% of insect- or nematode-related WWW sites by a committee of professional entomologists and nematologists." This site lists about 10 high-quality Web sites.
• Entomology -from UC Riverside.   Detailed information provided on various insects including Africanized honey bee, spiders, glassy-winged sharpshooter and a section on frequently asked questions about insects.

• Ancient Bristlecone Pine - This site provides background information on the discovery of these ancient trees, the geographic setting of the westernmost trees in the US, growth (and other) characteristics of Bristlecone Pines, dendrochronology (the dating of past climate events using tree ring growth), and a select bibliography on Bristlecone Pines, among other topics. 
• Bureau of Land Management - California
• CAFE:  California Association for Fire Ecology - The California Association for Fire Ecology (CAFE) is an organization of professionals dedicated to improving the knowledge and use of fire in land management. 
• California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection - Covers forest fire protection, safety and conservation
• Civilian Conservation Corps and Forest Service History
• Congressional Research Service Reports - Research reports developed for Congress on such topics as forest ecosystem health, timber harvesting and forest fires, national forest system roadless areas intiatives, etc.
• Forest Conservation Portal - This site  "works to end deforestation, preserve old-growth forests and their biodiveristy, conserve and sustainably manage other forests (including rainforests), maintain climatic systems and commence the age of ecological restoration. This web site is for educational and non-commercial use only.
• Forestry Images - recognizing a need for quality photographs of forest insects and disease organisms to use in information technology applications, several people decided to provide an accessible and easily used archive of high quality images related to forest health and silviculture, with particular emphasis on educational applications.  Images are copyrighted by The University of Georgia, and either by the photographer or the agency/organization that provided the image.
• Forestry Terminology/Dictionaries 
• Global Forest Watch - Global Forest Watch's overall objective is to infuse transparency and accountability into the decision making processes that determine how forests are managed and for whom.  Analysis of forest cover maps and land use practices for several countries is provided in summary form, along with links to full reports that can be downloaded.
• National Forests Website - Provided by the USDA Forest Service, this site is a handy portal to the official Websites of the 155 National Forest Lands and 20 National Grasslands across the country. Visitors may browse the listing via an interactive map, by name, state, or region. There is also a Forest Phone Directory.
• Pesticide Fact sheets -These fact sheets are a series issued by the U.S. Forest Service for their workers and the general public. Each fact sheet provides information on forest and land management uses, environmental and human health effects, and safety precautions for various pesticides and their formulations.
• Rainforest Web - This site is a gateway to information on rainforests, covering their importance, conservation, protection, deforestation & destruction.
• Society of American Foresters - The Society of American Foresters (SAF) is the national scientific and educational organization representing the forestry profession in the United States.
• Treeguide - 
• Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute - The Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute (UFEI) was developed  to address the increasing need for improved management of the urban forests in California. Part of its web site is  SelecTree   an interactive program designed to match specific tree species to particular sites based on compatible characteristics. SelecTree presently searches a database of 1,485 trees and provides 46 selection criteria to choose from.
• USDA Forest Service
• The World-Wide Web Virtual Library:  Forestry - Provides several good links

• Bioinformatics at the National Institutes of Health - Provides research information and a working definition on this emerging technology.
• Nanotechnology - Links through Google Directory on Nanotechnology
• Netsurfer Robotics - This new monthly e-zine from Netsurfer, available on-site or via subscription, covers most anything related to robotics. Each issue highlights a wealth of online resources grouped by topic or story.

• Atlas of America's Polluted Waters (U.S. EPA, Office of Water) -  Maps showing the waters within each state that do not meet state water quality standards.
• California Department of Water Resources 
• California Rivers Assessment - Search for watershed information by County, Basin,  Assembly or Congressional District.  Includes number of dams, river miles, number of special status animal and plant species and much more.
• EPA's National Water Programs - Includes ground & drinking water, science & technology, waste water management, and wetlands, oceans & watersheds.
• Leave No Trace - The mission of the Leave No Trace (LNT) program is to promote and inspire responsible outdoor recreation through education, research, and partnerships such as the guidelines for proper disposal of human waste and waste water in the wilds.
• National Association of Counties Environmental Programs - Environmental protection is a growing responsibility for many counties across the country. Identifying proven, cost effective solutions that are transferable is a major component of the NACo Environmental Program. The current projects focus on water, waste, pollution prevention, indoor air and smart growth. These projects provide county officials examples of best practices, information and technical assistance.
• NRDC: Testing the Waters 2002 - A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches - This  report offers readers an appraisal of the nation's lake and ocean recreational beach sites with state-by-state listings of water quality reports and links to many other environmentally dedicated resources.
• Rangeland Watershed Program Fact Sheets 
• Safe Drinking Water - provides answers to many questions surrounding drinking water.
• Safe Drinking Water EPA EnviroFacts Warehouse  - Drinking Water information is stored in EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). SDWIS contains information about public water systems and their violations of EPA's regulations for safe drinking water. These statutes and accompanying regulations establish maximum contaminant levels (MCLs), treatment techniques, and monitoring and reporting requirements to ensure that water provided to customers is safe for human consumption. The Safe Drinking Water Query Form will allow you to locate your drinking water supplier and view its violations and enforcement history for the last ten years. 
• U.S. Geological Survey, National Water Quality Assessment Program National assessment of pesticides in the streams, rivers, and ground water of the United States: Pesticide National Synthesis Project. To search for information locally type in such key words indicating the region such as:  "San Joaquin Valley", Tulare, Fresno or the name of the river or canal such as Friant, Kern, etc.
• U.S. Water News Online -This is the electronic version of America's premier water news publication. U.S. Water News Online keeps its readers abreast of the latest news concerning water and water issues. Coverage includes water supply, water quality, policy and legislation, litigation and water rights, conservation, climate, international water news, and more. 
• Water Education Foundation - California issues.
• Water Quality Information Center - Electronic access to information about water and agriculture
• The World's Water - This site is dedicated to providing up-to-date water information, data, and web connections to organizations, institutions, and individuals working on a wide range of global freshwater problems and solutions.

For Questions and Comments, please mail to: connief@cos.edu or kathiel@cos.edu