Re: Help! Reference recommendations

[Bruce Fleury <bfleury@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu>]

On Thu, 26 Jan 1995 mav2@aber.ac.uk wrote:

> Would anybody out there be kind enough to suggest some book / paper titles
> and authors on the following topics:
> 
>            i)  Dinosaur ecology
> 
>           ii)  Dinosaur footprints
> 
> All suggestions gratefully received. 
> 
> Martin Veart,
> University of Wales, Aberystwyth,
> U.K.
> 
I frequently see requests for good basic references in this
listserv. I would like to suggest "Dinosaurs: A Guide to
Research" (Garland Press, 1992), which I wrote specifically
to help those like yourself who are looking for a basic
reference on dinosaur ecology etc. This annotated bibliography
includes over 1,100 references, emphasizing scholarly
works (though also including a chapter on "basic" books)
that are all readily available in medium to large college
libraries. The work focuses on dinosaur ecology, evolution, 
and extinction, and also includes sections on modern animals
most frequewntly used as analogs for dinosaur ecology,
behavior, etc. It also includes a chapter on dinosaurs and
birds. The American Library Association included the book in
its annual list of outstanding academic reference books. I
am NOT (flamelords pay heed) suggesting you buy it. It is
located in over 350 college and university libraries
world-wide, and should be readily available to all (Frankly,
even I can't afford to buy a copy!). The book is aimed
precisely at those wishing to quickly track down readily
available literature on a score of dinosaur-related topics.
It is ideal for undergraduates, rabid amateur paleo-buffs,
and professors trying to start up a general course 
in dinosaur biology. As a former science reference librarian, I
designed the work for maximum yield with minimal pain for the
user, using a one-dimensional "hypertext" approach that
cross-links references to basic topics within the text. I
skimped a little on the taxonomic references, which are amply
covered in "The Dinosauria", and approached it from the
viewpoint of a terrestrial ecologist (I'm an ornithologist).
A large chunk of my life and my life-long love for dinosaurs
went into this book, and I would be delighted to see it more widely 
used. I also welcome feedback for the (eventual) second edition. 
TRY IT, YOU'LL LIKE IT !!
>
Bruce E. Fleury
Tulane University
Dept of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology
New Orleans, LA. 70118
bfleury@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu