A scientist’s position in the ranking is determined by their D-index (Discipline H-index), a refined metric that incorporates only papers and citation counts relevant to the discipline under examination. This ensures that the evaluation reflects the researcher’s impact specifically within Ecology and Evolution rather than their overall career output.
Scope of Research and Inclusion Criteria
To formulate this ranking, a total of 279,971 scientist profiles were reviewed across all disciplines. Within the specific field of Ecology and Evolution, 1,249 scientists were identified through a comprehensive analysis of bibliometric data sources.
Eligibility for inclusion in the ranking required a minimum D-index of 30, with the majority of a scientist’s tier publications clearly situated within Ecology and Evolution. Additionally, awards and notable achievements in this discipline were considered to contribute to the rigor of qualification.
The threshold for the D-index is calibrated in increments of 10 based on the estimated total number of scholars per discipline, ensuring that approximately the top 1% of leading experts are encompassed in the listing. Furthermore, to guarantee relevance within the domain, a proximity threshold was established such that a scientist’s general H-index and their D-index do not differ by more than 30%.
Verification and Validation Practices
The ranking team acknowledges that raw bibliometric data alone cannot serve as an absolute measure of a scholar’s research output. Consequently, every scientist profile included in the ranking underwent manual verification. This process involved cross-correlating records against publications listed in a broad spectrum of trustworthy academic sources to ensure accuracy and consistency.
Although not a factor that directly influences ranking position, the volume of papers published in prominent journals and conference proceedings is recognized as a valuable secondary indicator of a researcher’s contributions to the field of Ecology and Evolution.
Positions in the ranking are ultimately established using the D-index derived from information gathered through OpenAlex and CrossRef, which are among the most prominent and widely acknowledged bibliometric databases available to the global research community.
For additional details on the methodologies underpinning this ranking, please visit our methodology page.
Research.com’s Mission and Vision
At Research.com, our mission is to inspire researchers, industry leaders, policymakers, and academic representatives worldwide to scrutinize the trajectories of top experts within their fields. We aim to provide the scientific community with a transparent and reliable means of identifying leading researchers across diverse areas of study, geographic regions, and institutional affiliations.
This ranking reflects a commitment to meticulous data collection, rigorous analysis, and comprehensive validation, all intended to foster informed decision-making and facilitate collaboration within the global ecosystem of scientific research.
