A scientist’s position in the ranking is determined by their D-index (Discipline H-index), a metric that focuses exclusively on publications and citation metrics relevant to the Ecology and Evolution discipline. This discipline-specific approach provides a refined measure of a researcher’s impact within their primary field of study, ensuring meaningful and relevant comparisons among peers.
Scope of Research and Inclusion Criteria
To create the ranking, a total of 279,971 scientist profiles were examined across all scientific disciplines utilizing a variety of bibliometric data sources. Within this comprehensive dataset, 1,183 scientists were specifically identified as active contributors in Ecology and Evolution.
To qualify for inclusion in the ranking, a scientist must possess a D-index of at least 30 and demonstrate that the majority of their tier publications are directly related to Ecology and Evolution. Furthermore, notable awards and achievements in this field are taken into consideration as supplementary indicators of scholarly excellence.
The threshold for the D-index is calibrated incrementally by 10 points depending on the estimated total number of researchers in each discipline, while ensuring representation of the top 1% of scholars. Additionally, a scientist’s D-index and general H-index must be within approximately 30% proximity, maintaining consistency between their overall scholarly influence and their discipline-specific impact.
Verification Practices and Additional Considerations
The Research.com team acknowledges that raw bibliometric data alone cannot fully capture the quality and impact of a scientist’s output. Therefore, all scientist profiles included in the ranking were manually verified and cross-checked against a wide range of trustworthy sources and publication records. This additional level of scrutiny enhances the credibility and reliability of the ranking.
While not a direct factor in determining a researcher’s rank, the count of papers published in prominent journals and conference proceedings is considered a valuable secondary signal of a scientist’s contributions to the field of Ecology and Evolution.
Ultimately, the position within the ranking is derived from the D-index calculated using information aggregated from OpenAlex and CrossRef, among the most authoritative and widely used bibliometric databases available to the research community.
For detailed information regarding the methodology employed in compiling this ranking, please visit our methodology page.
Research.com’s Mission and Vision
At Research.com, our mission is to motivate researchers, academic institutions, policymakers, and industry leaders worldwide to engage with the trajectories of leading experts in various scientific domains. We strive to provide a transparent and accessible platform that highlights who the top experts are in specific fields, countries, and institutions. Through diligent data curation and rigorous analysis, our rankings serve as a trusted resource to foster collaboration, recognition, and informed decision-making within the global scientific community.
