Introduction: Fifty years of Paleobiology

Patzkowsky M, Kießling W (2025)

Publication Type: Journal article, Review article

Publication year: 2025

Journal

Paleobiology Paleontological Society

Book Volume: 51

Pages Range: 1-7

Journal Issue: 1

DOI: 10.1017/pab.2025.4

Abstract

Paleobiology was founded 50 years ago to provide an outlet for biological paleontology, with an emphasis on investigating evolutionary patterns and processes that could apply generally across the history of life. While the intellectual and financial prospects for Paleobiology were uncertain in the beginning (Sepkoski 2012; Valentine 2009), this 50^th anniversary issue testifies to its overwhelming success. Fifty years of anything well done deserves a celebration. These moments are a time for reflection and a time for imagining future directions. With this introduction, we outline briefly the start of the journal and two landmark anniversary issues, the 10^th and the 25^th. No special issue can adequately survey all research themes in a field as intellectually rich as paleobiology. However, these anniversary issues offer a snapshot of research directions, and they can trace the shift and expansion of established fields and mark the emergence of new ones. We end by outlining the contributions to the 50^th anniversary issue that summarize current themes and future directions for the field.

Authors with CRIS profile

Wolfgang Kießling Lehrstuhl für Paläoumwelt

Involved external institutions

Pennsylvania State University (Penn State)

United States (USA) (US)

How to cite

APA:

Patzkowsky, M., & Kießling, W. (2025). Introduction: Fifty years of Paleobiology. Paleobiology, 51(1), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1017/pab.2025.4

MLA:

Patzkowsky, Mark, and Wolfgang Kießling. "Introduction: Fifty years of Paleobiology." Paleobiology 51.1 (2025): 1-7.

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