AREES at 50: A Semicentennial Celebration

Abstract

I survey the 50-year history of the Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics, retitled Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics in 2003. An overview of reviews up through 2009 portrays much of the history of the series’ subject areas, revealing both lasting themes and great changes in emphasis, theory, evidence, and understanding. Much of the progress has resulted from conceptual innovation and from momentous advances in computation, data analysis, and molecular methodology, some of which have been reviewed in these volumes. Some of the most significant changes entail intercourse between formerly separate realms of study. If the remarkably long citation life of many reviews is any indication, contributions to this series have helped to shape research questions and conceptual development in ecology, evolution, and systematics and their applications to social concerns that range from antibiotic resistance to the ecological consequences of human actions.