Wildlife Online Disclaimer
Content Updated:
23rd August 2012
Quality of Site Content
I have done my very best to ensure that this site provides good,
accurate information on its subjects. During my research I
have drawn on material from the scientific literature (including
peer-reviewed journals and scientific book publications) and well
respected books from the respective field. In some cases, I
have drawn on Internet sources, but where this is the case, the
information is referenced as such (and additional caution should be
applied when assuming accuracy) or has been
referenced to the appropriate literature; where possible use of Internet
sites has been restricted to scientific institution and animal welfare
websites. Information is also presented based on my own
personal observations and the observations of others; where such
information is included, it is clearly noted as such.
Ultimately, Wildlife Online is my creation and I am responsible for its
upkeep and content – any problems with, or questions about, the site
and/or its content should be directed to me. Should you have
a grievance with the way I have presented or interpreted any of your
research/observations, please contact me in writing explaining your
complaint; if you require information removing from the site this will
be done within 24 hours, subject to my availability and access to the
server.
Presentation of Material and Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the appropriation of ideas, writings, etc. from another
work or author as your own. In other words, plagiarism is
claiming or implying that you’re the author/creator of something that
you are not, or incorporating material from someone else’s work in your
own without the appropriate credit. In 1997 a study was
published in the Psychological Record that gave the results of a survey
of undergraduates; according to the paper 36% admitted to plagiarizing
material at some point. Despite this, such false attribution
is a very serious academic offence.
In my opinion, plagiarism -- by its most rigorous definition, at
least -- is actually a rather difficult problem to avoid when writing a
non-scientific website. In the scientific literature, it is
fairly easy to guard against; basically every statement you make that
isn’t derived from your own research/experience should be cited
appropriately. So, for example, something like the statement
on my homepage would be written as: An increase in brain cavity from the
roughly 500 cubic centimetres of Australopithecus (the oldest known
hominids) to the modern Homo sapiens’ brain volume of 1,400 cc in only
about three million years (Dawkins, 1991) has helped us manipulate the
global environment in a way unlike any other species before us.
I would then have a bibliography, in which I would pick-up the citation
above as: Dawkins, R. (1991). The Blind Watchmaker. Penguin
Books, London. This would let anyone reading the piece know
that my claim of Australopithecus’ brain size was not discovered during
the course of my research; rather that it was quoted from someone else’s
data. Well, actually, I would usually try and cite from the
primary literature (i.e. the first paper to document the brain size),
rather than a science novel, but you get the picture! My
intention was not, however, to write a scientific literature review of the species
featured here. Rather, my plan was to incorporate data from
a number of reliable sources (from the scientific and popular
literature) into an approachable and accessible resource. As
such, I did not want citations in the text or a bibliography.
So, I have done my very best to cover the primary bases of courtesy and
make note of the more general details of the science when I use it.
So, I mention that the information is taken from a scientific paper
(generally stating the journal name, date and at least one of the
authors). Where I have relied heavily on quotes or
references from particular books, I have given the name of the authors,
title of the book and clearly indicated that it is a quote – typically
putting direct quotes between quotation marks and in italicised font.
I also give a full list of the books I have used on my Recommended
Reading list and I am happy to provide specific citations for
information upon request.
I hope that my attempts to make the work of others distinct from my
own observations are sufficient to placate the researchers whose work I
reference. Nonetheless, I would like to make it
abundantly clear that unless otherwise stated, the information contained
on this website does not stem from any of my own research.
Where such material is my own, I have made this clear. If
anyone feels that their work has been misrepresented or inappropriately
cited/referenced, please contact me and I will strive to resolve the
situation as quickly as I can (to show my commitment to this – I hope to
have such instances corrected/removed within 24 hours of your initial
e-mail). If I receive a substantial number of complaints
about the style, I will consider revising my citation procedure.
Use of Graphic Material
I accept that I have not seen every photo of a fox, badger, squirrel,
hedgehog, etc that has ever been taken and, as such, I cannot be 100%
sure that someone isn’t passing off someone else’s photo as their own.
I am confident, however, that all the photos and artwork featured on this
site either appear with the artist’s express permission or are
circulated on the Internet under a GNU
Licence. In no instance, have I ‘lifted’ photos or
drawings from the Internet or from books and I would be most
appreciative if you would refrain from doing the same. The photos
have been provided by people who love their local wildlife and want to
share their experience with others – their photographs help make WLOL
that much more entertaining and this site would be lost without them.
The photographers/artists retain copyright of their images and are free
to request the image be removed at any time. Each photo or
drawing has line credit to the contributor and his or her name is listed
on the Many
Thanks page, where a link to their website -- or a website of their
choosing -- can be found.
If you see a photo you have taken or a picture you have drawn on here
for which you have not provided permission, I would appreciate it if you
could inform me ASAP and I will either remove or reattribute it
(depending on your wishes). I can assure contributors that
any subsequent use of their photos (for example incorporating them in a
screensaver or publishing them in other associated WLOL media, such as
leaflets or other websites) will only be done with their express written
permission. Please see the Photos
Needed page for full terms and conditions of submission.
Anyone wishing to use a photo from my site must
obtain permission directly from the photographer/artist.
Where said contributor has a website, there will more often than not be
a contact e-mail on it for you to reach them. Where no such
website exists, requests can be directed through me.
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