Evolutionary Biology (PDF)

The ninth volume of Evolutionary Biology represents a turning point in the history of this series. The death of Theodosius Dobzhansky was a blow to the whole field of evolutionary biology in general, and to his friends and colleagues, including the other two Editors. He played a central role in the selection of areas that were "ripe" for review papers, and his circle of friends, colleagues, and students was so wide that he could always find exactly the most appropriate author and then convince him that he should prepare the paper. Evolutionary Biology was founded in 1966 and the first volume published in 1967. Ten years-and several vicissitudes-later, it seems advisable to restate the original concept of this serial publication. The Preface of Volume 1 says, simply, We have conceived this serial as a forum in which critical reviews and com­ mentaries, as well as original papers and even controversial views, can be brought together to cover a broad range of interest with provocative discussion. Evolutionary Biology will provide research workers and students with an excep­ tional opportunity to read expert presentations of developments in areas of their field in which they are not specialists, and as specialists they will see how others assess these developments. An important feature is that contributions are not necessarily limited in length, subject, and other restrictions that usually prevail in basic research journals.