35 years and 160,000 articles: A bibliometric exploration of the evolution of ecology

We utilize the bibliometric tool of co-word analysis to identify trends in the methods and subjects of ecology during the period 1970-2005. Few previous co-word analyses have attempted to analyze fields as large as ecology. We utilize a method of isolating concepts and methods in large datasets that undergo the most significant upward and downward trends. Our analysis identifies policy-relevant trends in the field of ecology, a discipline that helps to identify and frame many contemporary policy problems. The results provide a new foundation for exploring the relations among public policies, technological change, and the evolution of science priorities.