Fisheries Biology Research Guide

American Fisheries Society (AFS) publications use the author–date system for references, with brief parenthetical citations in the text and full references in an alphabetical list at the end.

Examples:

 . . . similar findings (Gorman and Karr 1978). 

Mills (1989) states that. . . . 

When there is more than one citation for a particular statement, list them (1) chronologically, beginning with the oldest (with “in press” and “unpublished” sources at the end), and then (2) alphabetically within years (with citations containing “and” and “et al.” in alphabetical order): 

(Roberts 1985; Johnson 1987; Berger, in press) 

(Eldridge 1989; Smith 1992; Smith and Thomas 1992)

If there are two authors, the last names of both of them should be included in the text citation; if there are more than two, include the last name of the first author followed by “et al.”

For exceptions and additional information, please, consult the style guide trough the links provided to the right.

References should be listed alphabetically by the authors' last names.

If there is more than one reference with the same authors, those references should be listed chronologically. 

Smith, R. C. 1992. Spawning patterns in. . . . 

Smith, R. C., J. B. Oldham, and W. F. Stone. 1998. Determinants of. . . . 

Smith, R. C., and H. Thompson. 1995. Observations on. . . . 

Smith, R. C., and H. Thompson. 1997. Additional observations on. . . .

For detailed rules consult the style guide through the links provided to the right.