scholarly journals Trends and Transitions in 150 Years of The American Naturalist

2020 ◽  
Vol 196 (6) ◽  
pp. 663-678
Author(s):  
Vassiliki Betty Smocovitis ◽  
Daniel I. Bolnick ◽  
Christopher M. Moore ◽  
Patricia L. Morse
Keyword(s):  
American Naturalist

The hydroid research of American naturalist Samuel F. Clarke, 1851–1928

1997 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
DALE R. CALDER ◽  
LESTER D. STEPHENS
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Biology ◽  
Taxonomic Status ◽  
Doctoral Dissertation ◽  
Nominal Species ◽  
Marine Biological Laboratory ◽  
Spotted Salamander ◽  
Johns Hopkins University ◽  
American Naturalist ◽  
American Schools ◽  
American Society

Samuel Fessenden Clarke was the leading specialist on hydroids (phylum Cnidaria) in North America over the last quarter of the nineteenth century. During that period he published taxonomic papers on hydroids from both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the continent, from the Gulf of Mexico, and from the eastern Pacific off Central and South America. He also authored a section on hydrozoan biology for “The Riverside Natural History” series. Most of his papers on hydroids were published while he was in his twenties. Clarke described as new 61 nominal species, three nominal genera, and one nominal family, as well as two “varieties” of hydroids. A list of these, and their current taxonomic status, appears in the present work. Clarke consistently provided sound descriptions and locality data for all supposed new species, and drew accurate illustrations of most of them. His research on Hydrozoa, beyond alphataxonomy, was directed towards faunal distributions and the use of hydroid assemblages as biogeographic indicators. In addition to investigations on hydroids, Clarke carried out research on the developmental biology of amphibians and reptiles. His doctoral dissertation at Johns Hopkins University was based on the embryology of the “Spotted Salamander” (=Yellow-spotted Salamander), and he published a major paper on the habits and embryology of the American Alligator. Most of Clarke's career was devoted to academic duties at Williams College, Massachusetts, where he was recognized as a dedicated and inspiring teacher. He served the American Society of Naturalists in various capacities, including a term as its president, was an influential trustee of the Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, and promoted the study of science in American schools.

Classics revisited: “Mammals on mountaintops: nonequilibrium insular biology” (The American Naturalist, 105: 467–478, 1971), by James H. Brown

2020 ◽  
pp. 030913332096066
Author(s):  
Elizabeth R Pansing
Keyword(s):  
Great Basin ◽  
Small Mammal ◽  
Community Assembly ◽  
Island Biogeography ◽  
Species Traits ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Distributional Patterns ◽  
Theory Of Island Biogeography ◽  
American Naturalist ◽  
Small Mammal Species

James H. Brown’s “Mammals on mountaintops: nonequilibrium insular biogeography,” published in 1971 in The American Naturalist, documented distributional patterns of small mammal species in the mountaintop islands of the Great Basin, USA. Distributional patterns suggested that this island-like system was not in equilibrium and represented some of the first evidence contradicting the seminal Theory of Island Biogeography. Brown’s findings suggested that ecological and historical mechanisms were integral to community assembly and maintenance in island-like systems, broadening the focus of research related to biogeographical patterns in islands. The work further highlighted the importance of species traits on distributional patterns. Here, I review the paper and its contributions.

scholarly journals “Her Joyous Enthusiasm for Her Life-Work …”: Early Women Authors in The American Naturalist

2018 ◽  
Vol 192 (6) ◽  
pp. 655-663 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith L. Bronstein ◽  
Daniel I. Bolnick
Keyword(s):  
Women Authors ◽  
American Naturalist ◽  
Life Work
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