The Department of Biology recommends using the Harvard style, also known as the author-date system. The author-date system is described in detail in The Chicago Manual of Style, chapter 16. The Chicago Manual is available at the research help desk at REF Z 253 .U69 2010 or online.
As an alternative, consider Writing Papers in the Biological Sciences. This book is intended mainly for undergraduate students taking biology courses. Written by Victoria E. McMillan of Colgate University, a biologist who also teaches composition, it deals largely with writing research papers and review papers. In addition to containing chapters specifically on these topics, the book addresses subjects such as using tables and figures, documenting sources of information, and writing correctly and efficiently. It ends with suggestions on taking notes in class, answering essay questions, and giving oral presentations. You can find this book in the reference collection on the main floor at call number REF QH 304 .M36 2012. Or use this Guide to Undergraduate Writing in the Biological Sciences online.
For more information about citation styles see Citation Guides.
To see example in-text citations and references for some of the most commonly cited source types, check out this cheat sheet: