The relationship between Ecology and Evolution is both intimate and fundamental, yet the field of Evolutionary Ecology is not a strong or obvious focus of research activity. Habitats and climate have been changing at various temporal and spatial scales since the origin of life. Although this variation can have a profound effect on both ecological and evolutionary processes, the interplay between ecology and evolution remains comparatively neglected. Most researchers in evolution are more concerned with the pattern of evolution (phylogeny) and its genetic and developmental correlates than with the ecological causes of evolution. Similarly, ecologists often ignore the evolutionary implications of population and community processes, at least partially because it is difficult enough working out ecological processes when one assumes (implicitly) that all individuals are identical over short time scales. These cartoons of of ecology and evolution reflect a fundamental gap in both subject matter and approach. I would like Evolutionary Ecology to fill this gap explicitly, providing the premier journal for research on both the evolutionary influences on ecological processes and on the ecological influences on ecological processes.

On taking over the Editor-in-Chief position of Evolutionary Ecology I would like to make the goals of the journal more explicit: Papers considered for publication should be primarily concerned with either Ecological Influences on Evolutionary Processes, Or Evolutionary Influences on Ecological Processes, or both, if possible. Neither of these topics gets enough attention, and papers on both are widely scattered among many very different journals. Consequently, Evolutionary Ecology can fill a nearly empty niche by emphasizing these topics, and by publishing the best papers in the subject.

I enthusiastically invite papers on any aspect of the ecological causes of evolution and evolutionary effects on ecology. This includes papers which would fall into the more traditional fields of evolution, ecology, evolutionary ecology, behavioural ecology, sensory ecology, physiological ecology and paleontology, but which have broad implications for both ecology and evolution, and which would yield significant new insights into both. I welcome paleontological papers to Evolutionary Ecology because there has not been enough communication between neontologists and paleontologists, and I will appoint at least one paleontologist to the editorial board. The papers can be empirical, field/lab experimental, conceptual, theoretical, or any combination of these approaches, and can be on any kinds of organisms, extant or extinct. The major criterion for consideration by Evolutionary Ecology should be whether the paper yields significant new insights into ecological influences on evolutionary processes, or evolutionary influences on ecological processes, or both.

In addition to regular papers, the journal will also feature mini-reviews, and may publish relevant symposia as supplements from time to time. If you want to contribute a mini-review, please send the proposal directly to me for approval and suggestions. Reviews should cover and integrate new discoveries and point out areas and ideas which are in need of significant further research. If I and the board approves the review topic and intent of the review, we will ask for a formal submission, which will be reviewed as a regular paper. If you have organized a symposium and gathered a series of excellent and interesting papers which fulfill the new goals of Evolutionary Ecology, then submit a proposal for a symposium supplement to me for consideration by the editorial board. Be aware that, even after approval for a symposium supplement, all papers will be reviewed as regular submissions and there is a significant chance that some papers will be rejected. This should be communicated directly to the authors of all papers if your symposium is approved. To avoid dilution of regular papers, I would plan on no more than one symposium supplement per year, as in The American Naturalist.

I am also increasing the size of the editorial board and introducing some policy changes which should reduce the time delay between submission and publication.

With these changes, the editorial board and I hope to make Evolutionary Ecology the best place to publish papers in the subject.