Trends in the Journal of Animal Ecology: 1932-92

1. Thirteen volumes of the Journal of Animal Ecology, starting in 1932 and ending in 1992, were analysed for trends in their contents. 2. `Country of origin' was divided into four categories: UK, Europe, N. America and Other. There has been a significant decline in the number of UK papers and a corresponding increase in European and American papers. 3. `Biomes' were divided into three categories: Terrestrial, Freshwater and Marine. The journal has been dominated by terrestrial papers, with no significant change in proportions between 1932 and 1992. 4. `Species used' were divided into five categories: Mammal, Bird, Other vertebrate, Insect and Other invertebrate. Bird and insect papers have always been most frequent, with none of the species categories changing significantly between 1932 and 1992. 5. `Statistical analysis' was divided into three categories: None, Simple and Complex. Papers with no statistical analysis have declined to zero over this period, with a corresponding increase in the other two categories. 6. `Type of study' was divided into four categories: Theoretical, Laboratory, Field (exp.) and Field (obs.). The journal has always been dominated by field observation papers, although they have declined significantly from 1932. There has been a significant rise in theoretical and field experimental papers. 7. `Level of study' was divided into three categories: Individual, Population and Community. During the life of the journal, community papers have declined while individual studies have increased. 8. `Number of species in population studies' was divided into three categories: One, Two and Greater than two. Single species studies have declined while the other two categories have increased. 9. `Proposed main cause of population dynamics' was divided into four categories: Herbivory, Predation, Competition and Abiotic. During the first 20 years abiotic explanations predominated but declined to zero by 1992. Competition, as an explanation, has increased in frequency. Herbivory, as an explanation, has always been remarkably infrequent (4%).