Finding Scientific Information

To understand how urbanization impacts bird diversity, it’s crucial to ground my observations and hypotheses in robust scientific literature.

• Source of Information

1. Title: “Urban Ecology: Patterns, Processes, and Applications”
2. Authors: Jari Niemelä et al.
3. Source: Oxford University Press, available online and in libraries.
4. Link: https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199563562.001.0001

This book provides a comprehensive overview of urban ecology, integrating research findings across multiple disciplines to offer a broad understanding of the ecological and social factors influencing urban environments.

• Classification of the Source

Based on the “How to Evaluate Sources of Scientific Information Tutorial,” I classify this source as Primary Scientific Literature. This classification is supported by several key attributes:

1. Peer-Reviewed: The content is contributed by numerous experts in the field and compiled by respected ecologists, ensuring a high standard of research and peer review.
2. Original Research and Synthesis: The book contains both original research findings and synthesis of existing studies, providing both new data and contextual analysis of broader ecological trends.

• Documentation to Support Classification

1. Editorial Review: The editing process involved rigorous peer review, typical of publications by academic presses like Oxford University Press.
2. References and Citations: Each chapter includes extensive references to original research studies, demonstrating a strong foundation in empirical data. Almost every chapter also includes in-text citations and a bibliography at the end of the chapter.
3. Expert Contributions: The authors are leading researchers in urban ecology, further substantiating the credibility and scientific rigour of the information presented.