World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!

D-Index & Metrics

Ecology and Evolution

D-Index
85
Citations
50459
World Ranking
614
National Ranking
215

James A. Estes publication distribution in Ecology and Evolution in 2026

The chart shows the distribution of publications by all Research.com ranked scientists in the field of Ecology and Evolution in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where James A. Estes sits on this spectrum.

37–41 publications: 2 scientists 42–46 publications: 9 scientists 47–51 publications: 10 scientists 52–56 publications: 31 scientists 57–61 publications: 56 scientists 62–66 publications: 91 scientists 67–71 publications: 92 scientists 72–76 publications: 127 scientists 77–81 publications: 173 scientists 82–86 publications: 236 scientists 87–91 publications: 227 scientists 92–96 publications: 240 scientists 97–101 publications: 333 scientists 102–106 publications: 280 scientists 107–111 publications: 300 scientists 112–116 publications: 285 scientists 117–121 publications: 305 scientists 122–126 publications: 287 scientists 127–131 publications: 278 scientists 132–136 publications: 289 scientists 137–141 publications: 273 scientists 142–146 publications: 262 scientists 147–151 publications: 246 scientists 152–156 publications: 235 scientists 157–161 publications: 205 scientists 162–166 publications: 199 scientists 167–171 publications: 174 scientists 172–176 publications: 164 scientists 177–181 publications: 173 scientists 182–186 publications: 189 scientists 187–191 publications: 170 scientists 192–196 publications: 139 scientists 197–201 publications: 128 scientists 202–206 publications: 117 scientists 207–211 publications: 115 scientists 212–216 publications: 107 scientists 217–221 publications: 124 scientists 222–226 publications: 81 scientists 227–231 publications: 82 scientists 232–236 publications: 85 scientists 237–241 publications: 75 scientists 242–246 publications: 66 scientists 247–251 publications: 81 scientists 252–256 publications: 69 scientists 257–261 publications: 70 scientists 262–266 publications: 55 scientists 267–271 publications: 64 scientists 272–276 publications: 49 scientists 277–281 publications: 48 scientists 282–286 publications: 44 scientists 287–291 publications: 45 scientists 292–296 publications: 36 scientists 297–301 publications: 39 scientists 302–306 publications: 38 scientists 307–311 publications: 30 scientists 312–316 publications: 34 scientists 317–321 publications: 25 scientists 322–326 publications: 22 scientists 327–331 publications: 28 scientists 332–336 publications: 30 scientists 337–341 publications: 22 scientists 342–346 publications: 30 scientists 347–351 publications: 26 scientists 352–356 publications: 22 scientists 357–361 publications: 29 scientists 362–366 publications: 21 scientists 367–371 publications: 12 scientists 372–376 publications: 18 scientists 377–381 publications: 17 scientists 382–386 publications: 13 scientists 387–391 publications: 21 scientists 392–396 publications: 13 scientists 397–401 publications: 10 scientists 402–406 publications: 15 scientists 407–411 publications: 8 scientists 412–416 publications: 9 scientists 417–421 publications: 8 scientists 422–426 publications: 4 scientists 427–431 publications: 10 scientists 432–436 publications: 10 scientists 437–441 publications: 5 scientists 442–446 publications: 4 scientists 447–451 publications: 10 scientists 452–456 publications: 2 scientists 457–461 publications: 4 scientists 462–466 publications: 7 scientists 467–471 publications: 7 scientists 472–476 publications: 6 scientists 477–481 publications: 6 scientists 482–486 publications: 3 scientists 487–491 publications: 3 scientists 492–496 publications: 4 scientists 497–501 publications: 4 scientists 502–506 publications: 8 scientists 507–511 publications: 5 scientists 512–516 publications: 4 scientists 517–521 publications: 5 scientists 522–526 publications: 4 scientists 527–530 publications: 5 scientists 531+ publications: 100 scientists
37 publications 531+

This scientist: 236 publications — 83rd percentile

83% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 531 publications or more.

James A. Estes D-index placement in Ecology and Evolution in 2026

The chart shows the D-index (discipline H-index) distribution of Ecology and Evolution scientists ranked by Research.com in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where James A. Estes sits on this spectrum.

30 D-Index: 95 scientists 31 D-Index: 123 scientists 32 D-Index: 191 scientists 33 D-Index: 245 scientists 34 D-Index: 252 scientists 35 D-Index: 244 scientists 36 D-Index: 249 scientists 37 D-Index: 244 scientists 38 D-Index: 254 scientists 39 D-Index: 254 scientists 40 D-Index: 280 scientists 41 D-Index: 274 scientists 42 D-Index: 266 scientists 43 D-Index: 233 scientists 44 D-Index: 248 scientists 45 D-Index: 208 scientists 46 D-Index: 201 scientists 47 D-Index: 213 scientists 48 D-Index: 207 scientists 49 D-Index: 172 scientists 50 D-Index: 209 scientists 51 D-Index: 199 scientists 52 D-Index: 153 scientists 53 D-Index: 169 scientists 54 D-Index: 163 scientists 55 D-Index: 148 scientists 56 D-Index: 120 scientists 57 D-Index: 146 scientists 58 D-Index: 137 scientists 59 D-Index: 140 scientists 60 D-Index: 104 scientists 61 D-Index: 119 scientists 62 D-Index: 118 scientists 63 D-Index: 99 scientists 64 D-Index: 77 scientists 65 D-Index: 100 scientists 66 D-Index: 86 scientists 67 D-Index: 83 scientists 68 D-Index: 75 scientists 69 D-Index: 94 scientists 70 D-Index: 57 scientists 71 D-Index: 68 scientists 72 D-Index: 59 scientists 73 D-Index: 63 scientists 74 D-Index: 66 scientists 75 D-Index: 60 scientists 76 D-Index: 42 scientists 77 D-Index: 49 scientists 78 D-Index: 39 scientists 79 D-Index: 37 scientists 80 D-Index: 43 scientists 81 D-Index: 41 scientists 82 D-Index: 45 scientists 83 D-Index: 34 scientists 84 D-Index: 40 scientists 85 D-Index: 35 scientists 86 D-Index: 55 scientists 87 D-Index: 24 scientists 88 D-Index: 24 scientists 89 D-Index: 30 scientists 90 D-Index: 23 scientists 91 D-Index: 25 scientists 92 D-Index: 27 scientists 93 D-Index: 27 scientists 94 D-Index: 13 scientists 95 D-Index: 23 scientists 96 D-Index: 12 scientists 97 D-Index: 14 scientists 98 D-Index: 19 scientists 99 D-Index: 16 scientists 100 D-Index: 14 scientists 101 D-Index: 5 scientists 102 D-Index: 21 scientists 103 D-Index: 16 scientists 104 D-Index: 10 scientists 105 D-Index: 7 scientists 106 D-Index: 7 scientists 107 D-Index: 7 scientists 108 D-Index: 6 scientists 109 D-Index: 9 scientists 110 D-Index: 11 scientists 111 D-Index: 12 scientists 112 D-Index: 9 scientists 113 D-Index: 7 scientists 114 D-Index: 3 scientists 115 D-Index: 8 scientists 116 D-Index: 5 scientists 117 D-Index: 11 scientists 118 D-Index: 4 scientists 119 D-Index: 2 scientists 120 D-Index: 5 scientists 121+ D-Index: 100 scientists
30 D-Index 121+

This scientist: 85 D-Index — 93rd percentile

93% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 121 D-Index or more.

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2014 - Member of the National Academy of Sciences

Overview

James A. Estes is affiliated with the University of California, Santa Cruz in the United States. Their primary field of study is Environmental Science, with a significant focus on Ecology, Oceanography, Global and Planetary Change, and Genetics. Their research spans various topics, notably Marine and coastal plant biology, Marine and fisheries research, Marine animal studies, Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies, Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Genetic diversity and population structure, and Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies.

Estes has contributed to several publications across prominent scientific venues. Frequent publication venues include:

  • Science
  • Ecological Monographs
  • Communications Biology
  • Science Advances
  • Ecology

Recent papers authored or co-authored by Estes include:

  • Keystone predators govern the pathway and pace of climate impacts in a subarctic marine ecosystem, 2020, Science
  • Humanity's diverse predatory niche and its ecological consequences, 2023, Communications Biology
  • Sea otter population collapse in southwest Alaska: assessing ecological covariates, consequences, and causal factors, 2021, Ecological Monographs
  • Physical disturbance by recovering sea otter populations increases eelgrass genetic diversity, 2021, Science
  • Genomic basis for skin phenotype and cold adaptation in the extinct Steller's sea cow, 2022, Science Advances

Frequent co-authors in Estes's work include:

  • M. Tim Tinker
  • Michael C. Kenner
  • Kristy J. Kroeker
  • Brenda Konar
  • Benjamin P. Weitzman

Estes was recognized as a Member of the National Academy of Sciences in 2014.

Best Publications

  • Historical overfishing and the recent collapse of coastal ecosystems.

    Jeremy B. C. Jackson;Jeremy B. C. Jackson;Michael Xavier Kirby;Wolfgang H. Berger;Karen A. Bjorndal

  • Trophic Downgrading of Planet Earth

    James A. Estes;John Terborgh;Justin S. Brashares;Mary E. Power

  • Status and ecological effects of the world's largest carnivores.

    William J. Ripple;James A. Estes;Robert L. Beschta;Christopher C. Wilmers

  • Kelp forest ecosystems: biodiversity, stability, resilience and future

    Robert S. Steneck;Michael H. Graham;Bruce J. Bourque;Debbie Corbett

  • Challenges in the Quest for Keystones

    Mary E. Power;David Tilman;James A. Estes;Bruce A. Menge

  • Killer Whale Predation on Sea Otters Linking Oceanic and Nearshore Ecosystems

    J. A. Estes;M. T. Tinker;T. M. Williams;D. F. Doak

  • Sea Otters: Their Role in Structuring Nearshore Communities

    James A. Estes;John F. Palmisano

  • Marine defaunation: Animal loss in the global ocean

    Douglas J. McCauley;Malin L. Pinsky;Stephen R. Palumbi;James A. Estes

  • Sea Otters and Kelp Forests in Alaska: Generality and Variation in a Community Ecological Paradigm

    James A. Estes;David O. Duggins

  • Magnification of secondary production by kelp detritus in coastal marine ecosystems

    D. O. Duggins;C. A. Simenstad;J. A. Estes

  • Genome 10K: A Proposal to Obtain Whole-Genome Sequence for 10 000 Vertebrate Species

    David Haussler;Stephen J. O'Brien;Oliver A. Ryder;F. Keith Barker

  • Global patterns of kelp forest change over the past half-century

    Kira A. Krumhansl;Daniel K. Okamoto;Andrew Rassweiler;Mark Novak

  • Sequential megafaunal collapse in the North Pacific Ocean: An ongoing legacy of industrial whaling?

    A. M. Springer;J. A. Estes;G. B. van Vliet;T. M. Williams

  • Introduced Predators Transform Subarctic Islands from Grassland to Tundra

    D. A. Croll;J. L. Maron;J. A. Estes;J. A. Estes;E. M. Danner

  • Individual variation in prey selection by sea otters: patterns, causes and implications

    J. A. Estes;M. L. Riedman;M. M. Staedler;M. T. Tinker

  • Ecological Effectiveness: Conservation Goals for Interactive Species

    Michael E. Soulé;James A. Estes;Joel Berger;Carlos Martinez Del Rio

  • COMPARING MARINE AND TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE DESIGN OF COASTAL MARINE RESERVES

    Mark H. Carr;Joseph E. Neigel;James A. Estes;Sandy Andelman

  • Aleuts, Sea Otters, and Alternate Stable-State Communities

    Charles A. Simenstad;James A. Estes;Karl W. Kenyon

  • Whales as marine ecosystem engineers.

    Joe Roman;James A Estes;Lyne Morissette;Craig Smith

  • Pleistocene rewilding: an optimistic agenda for twenty-first century conservation.

    C. Josh Donlan;Joel Berger;Carl E. Bock;Jane H. Bock

  • Food limitation leads to behavioral diversification and dietary specialization in sea otters

    M. Tim Tinker;Gena Bentall;James A. Estes

Frequent Co-Authors

Daniel F. Doak
Daniel F. Doak University of Colorado Boulder
M. Tim Tinker
M. Tim Tinker United States Geological Survey
Robert S. Steneck
Robert S. Steneck University of Maine
Terrie M. Williams
Terrie M. Williams University of California, Santa Cruz
Katherine Ralls
Katherine Ralls Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
Michael E. Soulé
Michael E. Soulé University of California, Santa Cruz
John Terborgh
John Terborgh Duke University
James L. Bodkin
James L. Bodkin United States Geological Survey
Mary E. Power
Mary E. Power University of California, Berkeley
Brenda Konar
Brenda Konar University of Alaska Fairbanks

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