Beyond equilibria: Historical approaches to ecology and evolution

The concept of equilibria pervades ecology and evolutionary biology (and, no doubt, biochemistry). But there are scientific benefits to “looking beyond the equilibria,” taking an explicitly historical approach to one’s study system. Doing so in a systematic way, taking account of different “flavours” of history, leads to asking questions that would not arise under an equilibrial view. I illustrate this approach using several concrete examples from my own and others’ research.