World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!
Ernest F. Benfield

Ernest F. Benfield

D-Index & Metrics

Environmental Sciences

D-Index
46
Citations
9752
World Ranking
5998
National Ranking
2172

Ernest F. Benfield publication distribution in Environmental Sciences in 2026

The chart shows the distribution of publications by all Research.com ranked scientists in the field of Environmental Sciences in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Ernest F. Benfield sits on this spectrum.

41–50 publications: 21 scientists 51–60 publications: 62 scientists 61–70 publications: 133 scientists 71–80 publications: 257 scientists 81–90 publications: 361 scientists 91–100 publications: 440 scientists 101–110 publications: 492 scientists 111–120 publications: 541 scientists 121–130 publications: 617 scientists 131–140 publications: 544 scientists 141–150 publications: 541 scientists 151–160 publications: 539 scientists 161–170 publications: 444 scientists 171–180 publications: 444 scientists 181–190 publications: 400 scientists 191–200 publications: 377 scientists 201–210 publications: 318 scientists 211–220 publications: 283 scientists 221–230 publications: 263 scientists 231–240 publications: 220 scientists 241–250 publications: 217 scientists 251–260 publications: 180 scientists 261–270 publications: 181 scientists 271–280 publications: 155 scientists 281–290 publications: 130 scientists 291–300 publications: 127 scientists 301–310 publications: 130 scientists 311–320 publications: 85 scientists 321–330 publications: 106 scientists 331–340 publications: 80 scientists 341–350 publications: 83 scientists 351–360 publications: 75 scientists 361–370 publications: 69 scientists 371–380 publications: 52 scientists 381–390 publications: 54 scientists 391–400 publications: 56 scientists 401–410 publications: 44 scientists 411–420 publications: 40 scientists 421–430 publications: 36 scientists 431–440 publications: 25 scientists 441–450 publications: 25 scientists 451–460 publications: 32 scientists 461–470 publications: 29 scientists 471–480 publications: 21 scientists 481–490 publications: 26 scientists 491–500 publications: 25 scientists 501–510 publications: 17 scientists 511–520 publications: 18 scientists 521–530 publications: 15 scientists 531–540 publications: 22 scientists 541–550 publications: 12 scientists 551–560 publications: 15 scientists 561–570 publications: 11 scientists 571–580 publications: 19 scientists 581–590 publications: 9 scientists 591–600 publications: 9 scientists 601–610 publications: 7 scientists 611–620 publications: 11 scientists 621–630 publications: 5 scientists 631–640 publications: 5 scientists 641–650 publications: 6 scientists 651–660 publications: 3 scientists 661–670 publications: 3 scientists 671–680 publications: 4 scientists 681–686 publications: 3 scientists 687+ publications: 100 scientists
41 publications 687+

This scientist: 81 publications — 5th percentile

5% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 687 publications or more.

Ernest F. Benfield D-index placement in Environmental Sciences in 2026

The chart shows the D-index (discipline H-index) distribution of Environmental Sciences scientists ranked by Research.com in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Ernest F. Benfield sits on this spectrum.

30 D-Index: 12 scientists 31 D-Index: 26 scientists 32 D-Index: 51 scientists 33 D-Index: 88 scientists 34 D-Index: 123 scientists 35 D-Index: 163 scientists 36 D-Index: 206 scientists 37 D-Index: 267 scientists 38 D-Index: 265 scientists 39 D-Index: 275 scientists 40 D-Index: 321 scientists 41 D-Index: 343 scientists 42 D-Index: 305 scientists 43 D-Index: 336 scientists 44 D-Index: 330 scientists 45 D-Index: 348 scientists 46 D-Index: 291 scientists 47 D-Index: 275 scientists 48 D-Index: 272 scientists 49 D-Index: 273 scientists 50 D-Index: 263 scientists 51 D-Index: 232 scientists 52 D-Index: 266 scientists 53 D-Index: 217 scientists 54 D-Index: 199 scientists 55 D-Index: 177 scientists 56 D-Index: 202 scientists 57 D-Index: 204 scientists 58 D-Index: 166 scientists 59 D-Index: 177 scientists 60 D-Index: 166 scientists 61 D-Index: 152 scientists 62 D-Index: 143 scientists 63 D-Index: 150 scientists 64 D-Index: 124 scientists 65 D-Index: 119 scientists 66 D-Index: 120 scientists 67 D-Index: 118 scientists 68 D-Index: 82 scientists 69 D-Index: 98 scientists 70 D-Index: 94 scientists 71 D-Index: 105 scientists 72 D-Index: 74 scientists 73 D-Index: 84 scientists 74 D-Index: 70 scientists 75 D-Index: 67 scientists 76 D-Index: 78 scientists 77 D-Index: 60 scientists 78 D-Index: 59 scientists 79 D-Index: 52 scientists 80 D-Index: 47 scientists 81 D-Index: 38 scientists 82 D-Index: 48 scientists 83 D-Index: 42 scientists 84 D-Index: 42 scientists 85 D-Index: 43 scientists 86 D-Index: 29 scientists 87 D-Index: 37 scientists 88 D-Index: 29 scientists 89 D-Index: 30 scientists 90 D-Index: 34 scientists 91 D-Index: 20 scientists 92 D-Index: 22 scientists 93 D-Index: 17 scientists 94 D-Index: 19 scientists 95 D-Index: 24 scientists 96 D-Index: 21 scientists 97 D-Index: 20 scientists 98 D-Index: 24 scientists 99 D-Index: 17 scientists 100 D-Index: 17 scientists 101 D-Index: 21 scientists 102 D-Index: 25 scientists 103 D-Index: 18 scientists 104 D-Index: 26 scientists 105 D-Index: 19 scientists 106 D-Index: 15 scientists 107 D-Index: 10 scientists 108 D-Index: 13 scientists 109 D-Index: 15 scientists 110 D-Index: 12 scientists 111 D-Index: 8 scientists 112 D-Index: 7 scientists 113 D-Index: 9 scientists 114 D-Index: 6 scientists 115 D-Index: 12 scientists 116 D-Index: 7 scientists 117 D-Index: 8 scientists 118 D-Index: 3 scientists 119 D-Index: 5 scientists 120 D-Index: 7 scientists 121 D-Index: 2 scientists 122 D-Index: 4 scientists 123 D-Index: 8 scientists 124 D-Index: 7 scientists 125+ D-Index: 99 scientists
30 D-Index 125+

This scientist: 46 D-Index — 39th percentile

39% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 125 D-Index or more.

Overview

Ernest F. Benfield is a researcher affiliated with Virginia Tech in the United States. Their work primarily spans the fields of Environmental Science and Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, with a focus on the subfields of Ecology and Genetics.

Their research topics include:

  • Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
  • Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
  • Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies

In recent years, Ernest F. Benfield has contributed to the understanding of parasite communities in freshwater ecosystems. A notable publication from 2020 titled "Spatial scale and structure of complex life cycle trematode parasite communities in streams" appeared in the journal PLoS ONE. This paper has attracted citations reflecting ongoing interest in the spatial ecology of parasitic life cycles within stream environments.

Frequent coauthors in their scholarly work include:

  • Sally A. Zemmer
  • Jillian T. Detwiler
  • Eric R. Sokol
  • Jeronimo G. Da Silva Neto
  • Jennie A. Wyderko

Their publications have primarily been disseminated through the venue PLoS ONE, where they have at least one documented article.

Ernest F. Benfield's multidisciplinary approach integrates ecological principles with genetic methods to investigate evolutionary patterns and biodiversity using environmental DNA techniques. This synthesis supports a better understanding of host-parasite dynamics and genetic variation within natural populations.

Best Publications

  • VASCULAR PLANT BREAKDOWN IN FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS

    J. R. Webster;E. F. Benfield

  • Stream Biodiversity: The Ghost of Land Use Past

    J. S. Harding;E. F. Benfield;P. V. Bolstad;G. S. Helfman

  • Relationships between land use, spatial scale and stream macroinvertebrate communities

    R. A. Sponseller;E. F. Benfield;H. M. Valett

  • What happens to allochthonous material that falls into streams? A synthesis of new and published information from Coweeta

    J. R. Webster;E. F. Benfield;T. P. Ehrman;M. A. Schaeffer

  • Comparison of Litterfall Input to Streams

    E. F. Benfield

  • Food web structure and the role of epilithic biofilms in cave streams

    K. S. Simon;Ernest F. Benfield;S. A. Macko

  • Effects of forest disturbance on particulate organic matter budgets of small streams

    J. R. Webster;S. W. Golladay;E. F. Benfield;D. J. D'Angelo

  • Leaf breakdown in stream ecosystems

    E F Benfield

  • Influences of land use on leaf breakdown in Southern Appalachian headwater streams: a multiple-scale analysis

    R. A. Sponseller;E. F. Benfield

  • The land-cover cascade: Relationships coupling land and water

    C. L. Burcher;H. M. Valett;Ernest F. Benfield

  • Are leaf breakdown rates a useful measure of stream integrity along an agricultural landuse gradient

    E. M. Hagen;J. R. Webster;E. F. Benfield

  • Leaf pack processing in a pastureland stream

    E. F. Benfield;D. S. Jones;M. F. Patterson

  • Catchment disturbance and stream response: an overview of stream research at Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory

    J. R. Webster;S. W. Golladay;E. F. Benfield;J. L. Meyer

  • Cellulose Digestion and Assimilation by Three Leaf-shredding Aquatic Insects

    R. L. Sinsabaugh;A. E. Linkins;Ernest F. Benfield

  • Shredder abundance and leaf breakdown in an Appalachian Mountain stream

    E. F. Benfield;J. R. Webster

  • MULTISCALE INFLUENCES ON PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL STREAM CONDITIONS ACROSS BLUE RIDGE LANDSCAPES

    Mark C. Scott;Mark C. Scott;Mark C. Scott;Gene S. Helfman;Gene S. Helfman;Gene S. Helfman;Matthew E. McTammany;Matthew E. McTammany;Matthew E. McTammany;E. Fred Benfield;E. Fred Benfield;E. Fred Benfield

  • Recovery of stream ecosystem metabolism from historical agriculture

    M. E. McTammany;E. F. Benfield;J. R. Webster

  • Longitudinal patterns of metabolism in a southern Appalachian river

    M. E. McTammany;J. R. Webster;E. F. Benfield;M. A. Neatrour

  • Effects of a forest disturbance on shredder production in southern Appalachian headwater streams

    Ben M. Stout;E.F. Benfield;J.R. Webster

  • CHAPTER 30 – Decomposition of Leaf Material

    Unknown

  • Factors affecting food utilization by a leaf shredding aquatic insect: leaf species and conditioning time

    S. W. Golladay;J. R. Webster;E. F. Benfield

Frequent Co-Authors

Jackson R. Webster
Jackson R. Webster Virginia Tech
Stephen W. Golladay
Stephen W. Golladay University of Georgia
Jennifer L. Tank
Jennifer L. Tank University of Notre Dame
Lisa K. Belden
Lisa K. Belden Virginia Tech
Judy L. Meyer
Judy L. Meyer University of Georgia
John Cairns
John Cairns Virginia Tech
Robert L. Sinsabaugh
Robert L. Sinsabaugh University of New Mexico
Jennifer D. Knoepp
Jennifer D. Knoepp US Forest Service
Wayne T. Swank
Wayne T. Swank US Forest Service
H. Maurice Valett
H. Maurice Valett University of Montana

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