SBMNH: Library

Search the California Channel Islands Bibliography

Developed in cooperation with:

Channel Islands National Park

Santa Cruz Island Reserve, Natural Reserve System, University of California Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary

Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Library & Archives

California Channel Islands

The Channel Islands, located just off the coast of Central and Southern California, consist of varied topography, rich biota, and a moderate climate. These factors come together as a fascinating set of natural laboratories that offer a unique glimpse of the continental borderlands much as they might have appeared for centuries. It is no wonder that they have long been a favorite destination for scientists, evolutionary biologists, paleontologists, and anthropologists. In an effort to capture the research of these many individuals the five agencies and institutions (left) began compiling bibliographical references and collections to aid in their research and understanding of these diverse Islands.

The National Park Service, recognizing the need for their employees to have extensive scientific information regarding the islands now in their care, contracted the services of Marilyn Ostergren to compile an extensive annotated bibliography. It was through her diligence that the individual bibliographic efforts of these five entities began to emerge as one. California's Channel Islands: Online Bibliographic Reference Guide is an out-growth of this project.

The references gathered in this work are largely biological in nature, though a few of the cultural references have been added. The bibliography is a work in progress and is in no way complete. It is our hope that the references that you do find here will aid you in your quest for information regarding California's Channel Islands. Enjoy!