Citing Web Wisdom: Mastering The Art Of Referencing Online Ecology Databases

Citing a web database for ecology involves a few key considerations. Firstly, it's important to determine if the source you're citing is credible and permanently archived. According to the journal Ecology, The Literature Cited section of a paper may refer only to permanently archived material. This means that sources with a short lifespan, like certain web pages, may not be suitable for academic citations unless there is evidence of their permanency. When citing a database, you are typically citing a specific work within that database rather than the entire database itself. This work will have its own title, author, publication date, etc. The general format for an online database citation is: Author Surname, First Name. Title of the Article. Journal Title, Volume, Issue, Page Numbers. Name of the Online Database, URL or DOI.

When citing a database, it is usually not necessary to include the database information in the reference unless the database publishes original, proprietary content or the work is of limited circulation. This is because most readers will have access to the work through different methods or points of access. However, if the work can only be accessed from a specific database, include the database name in your reference.

In-text citations

When citing a web database for ecology, it is important to follow the specific guidelines and formats outlined by the field or academic journal. In-text citations are a crucial component of acknowledging your sources and providing readers with the information they need to locate your references. Here are some detailed instructions on how to create in-text citations for web databases in the field of ecology:

Author-Date Citations:

In ecology, the author-date citation style is commonly used. This means that your in-text citation will include the author's last name and the date of publication. Here are some examples based on the number of authors:

• One Author: For a source with a single author, include the author's last name and the publication year. For example, "(Smith, 2024)".
• Two Authors: If your source has two authors, mention both of their last names, followed by the publication year. For instance, "(Smith and Johnson, 2024)".
• Three or More Authors: When dealing with three or more authors, use "et al." after the first author's last name, followed by the publication year. For example, "(Smith et al., 2024)".

Page Numbers:

If you are directly quoting a source, it is important to include the page number in your in-text citation. Place the page number after the author's last name and date, separated by a comma. For example, "(Smith, 2024, p. 42)".

Multiple Sources in One Citation:

When citing multiple sources within the same parentheses, list them alphabetically and separate them with semicolons. For example: "(Smith, 2024; Johnson et al., 2023)".

Citing Specific Parts within a Source:

If you are referring to a specific figure, table, or equation within a source, include this information in your in-text citation. For example, "(Smith, 2024, Fig. 3)".

Ecological Journals:

When citing ecological journals, it is important to follow the guidelines provided by the specific journal. For example, according to the journal "Ecology" and the Ecological Association of America, "The Literature Cited section of a paper may refer only to permanently archived material." Therefore, ensure that you consult the author instructions provided by the journal before formatting your in-text citations.

Referencing permanent sources

When referencing permanent sources, it is important to ensure that the material you are citing is from a credible source and is permanently archived. According to the Ecological Association of America, "The Literature Cited section of a paper may refer only to permanently archived material... Internet sources typically have a short half-life and may not be included in Literature Cited sections unless there is reasonable evidence of permanency".

To determine the credibility of a source, consider the following:

• The author's expertise on the topic and their credentials.
• Whether the author or source can be easily contacted or located online, for example, through social media profiles.
• Whether other credible individuals or sources have referenced this source or author.

In addition, consider the purpose of the content. Is it to inform, entertain, or spread a particular agenda? Is there a commercial intent? The date of publication or update is also important. Does the publication date make sense in relation to the information presented?

When referencing a permanent source, it is generally not necessary to include the URL, unless it is required for accessing the specific source. Instead, focus on the author's last name, the date of publication, and the title of the source.

For example, in MLA format, the citation structure for a source from a database is as follows:

Last, First M. "Article Title." Publication Title, volume, number, issue (if provided), date published, page numbers (if applicable). Database Name, DOI or URL.

Trier, James. "'Cool' Engagements with YouTube: Part 2." Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, vol. 50, no. 7, April 2007, pp. 598-603. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.1598/JAAL.50.7.8.

In-text citations in MLA format would then include the author's last name and page number, for example, (Trier 601).

It is important to follow the specific guidelines of the citation style you are using, such as MLA, APA, or Chicago style, and to ensure that your references are accurate and permanently accessible.

Source credibility

When citing a web database for ecology, it is important to exercise caution. According to the author instructions for the journal Ecology, "Internet sources typically have a short half-life, so they may not be included in Literature Cited sections unless there is reasonable evidence of permanency".

Therefore, when assessing the credibility of a source, there are several factors to consider. Firstly, the author of the source is important. Ask yourself: is the author an expert in the field? Do they have relevant degrees or qualifications? Have they written other articles or books on the topic?

Secondly, consider the publisher. Is it a well-respected organisation? Are they selective about what they publish? Do they have strict standards?

Thirdly, evaluate the content of the source. Is it credible, factual, and correct? Does it include enough information? Are there any spelling errors?

Additionally, the date of publication is crucial. Ensure that the source is up-to-date and current, especially for topics that evolve continuously.

Finally, examine the purpose of the source. Is it to inform, entertain, or spread an agenda? Is there any commercial intent?

By asking these questions, you can assess the credibility of a web database for ecology and determine whether it is suitable for citation.

MLA citation structure

When citing a web database for ecology in MLA format, you are citing a work or source from the database, not the entire database itself. This is because databases are large collections of information that may contain full-text articles, abstracts, data, and citations.

MLA Online Database Citation Structure:

> Author's Last Name, First Name Middle Name or Initial. "Title of Source." Container 1, Number, Publication date, pages. Container 2, Location.

> Abel, Jaison R., and Richard Deitz. "Do the Benefits of College Still Outweigh the Costs?" Current Issues in Economics & Finance, vol. 20, no. 3, 2014, pp. 1-12. Academic Search Complete.

In this example, the authors are Jaison R. Abel and Richard Deitz. The title of the source is "Do the Benefits of College Still Outweigh the Costs?" The source is from volume 20, number 3 of the journal *Current Issues in Economics & Finance*, published in 2014, and the relevant pages are 1-12. The database that this source was found in is called "Academic Search Complete."

> Capozzi, Rocco. "Revisiting History: Conspiracies and Fabrication of Texts in 'Foucault's Pendulum' and 'The Prague Cemetery.'" Italica, vol. 90, no. 4, 2013, pp. 260-49. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/24368406.

In this case, the author is Rocco Capozzi. The title of the source is "Revisiting History: Conspiracies and Fabrication of Texts in 'Foucault's Pendulum' and 'The Prague Cemetery.'". The source is from volume 90, number 4 of the journal *Italica*, published in 2013, and the relevant pages are 260-269. The database that this source was found in is called "JSTOR," and the URL is www.jstor.org/stable/24368406.

When citing a source from a database in MLA format, it is important to include the following information:

• Author
• Title of the source
• Title of the journal or book
• Volume and issue number (if applicable)
• Publication date
• Page numbers (if applicable)
• Database name
• URL or DOI (preferably a DOI if available)

APA citation style

When citing a website database for ecology in APA style, there are a few key components to include. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to format your citation:

• Author: Begin with the last name of the author, followed by a comma and their initials. If there is no author listed, use the corporate author, for example, the name of the database or organization.
• Publication Year: After the author, include the year of publication in parentheses. If there is no publication date, use "n.d." (short for "no date").
• Title: The title of the database or webpage should follow, in sentence case. Italicize the title and only capitalize the first letter of the first word, along with any proper nouns.
• Publisher: Next, include the publisher or sponsor of the website or database. If no publisher is listed, use "n.p." (short for "no publisher").
• URL: Provide the full URL or web address of the database or webpage. If you are using a stable URL or permalink, you can include the phrase "Retrieved from" before the URL to indicate that it is a permanent link.

Smith, J., & Doe, J. (2023). Title of Database or Webpage. Publisher. https://example.com

In-text citations are also important in APA style. When referring to the source in the body of your text, include the author and date within parentheses. For example: (Smith & Doe, 2023). If there is no author, use the first few words of the title in place of the author, and put the title in sentence case. For example: (Title of Database, 2023).

It is also worth noting that the APA style has specific guidelines for when to use italics, quotation marks, and capitalization in references. Book and journal titles should be italicized, while article, chapter, and webpage titles should be enclosed in quotation marks. Only capitalize the first word of a title and any proper nouns when using sentence case.

Additionally, when creating your reference list, it is important to ensure that your citations are accurate and complete. Verify that each in-text citation corresponds to a full reference in your reference list, and double-check that all the information is correct and consistent.

Finally, when citing a website database for ecology, it is recommended to evaluate the credibility of your source. Consider the author's expertise, the publisher's reputation, the presence of bias, the publication date, and any reproduction or copyright information.

Frequently asked questions