World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!
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Ecology and Evolution
South Africa
2026

D-Index & Metrics

Ecology and Evolution

D-Index
72
Citations
20724
World Ranking
1235
National Ranking
12

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2026 - Research.com Ecology and Evolution in South Africa Leader Award
  • 2022 - Fellow of the Royal Society of South Africa

Overview

What is he best known for?

The fields of study he is best known for:

  • Ecology
  • Biodiversity
  • Botany

John R. U. Wilson focuses on Ecology, Introduced species, Invasive species, Environmental resource management and Biodiversity. John R. U. Wilson has researched Ecology in several fields, including Excellence, Propagule pressure and Genetic diversity. The study incorporates disciplines such as Niche, Modes of reproduction and Habitat in addition to Introduced species.

He interconnects Seed dispersal, Pest control, Plant ecology, Acacia and Risk assessment in the investigation of issues within Invasive species. His research investigates the connection between Environmental resource management and topics such as Alien species that intersect with problems in General partnership. His Biodiversity study incorporates themes from Biological dispersal and Ecosystem services.

His most cited work include:

  • A proposed unified framework for biological invasions. (1158 citations)
  • Something in the way you move: dispersal pathways affect invasion success (603 citations)
  • Adaptive evolution in invasive species. (597 citations)

What are the main themes of his work throughout his whole career to date?

The scientist’s investigation covers issues in Ecology, Invasive species, Introduced species, Alien species and Biodiversity. His Ecology research incorporates elements of Biological dispersal and Propagule pressure. His Invasive species study combines topics from a wide range of disciplines, such as Plant ecology, Acacia, Woody plant and Risk assessment.

His work deals with themes such as Seed dispersal, Habitat, Environmental resource management, Genetic structure and Acacia pycnantha, which intersect with Introduced species. The Alien species study combines topics in areas such as Taxonomic rank and Biosecurity. His Biodiversity study integrates concerns from other disciplines, such as Environmental planning and Ecosystem services.

He most often published in these fields:

  • Ecology (58.29%)
  • Invasive species (36.18%)
  • Introduced species (29.15%)

What were the highlights of his more recent work (between 2018-2021)?

  • Ecology (58.29%)
  • Invasive species (36.18%)
  • Alien species (15.08%)

In recent papers he was focusing on the following fields of study:

His main research concerns Ecology, Invasive species, Alien species, Biodiversity and Environmental planning. His Ecology study frequently links to adjacent areas such as Propagule pressure. His Invasive species research is multidisciplinary, relying on both Range, Agroforestry, Native plant, Biotechnology and Biome.

In Alien species, John R. U. Wilson works on issues like Darwin Core, which are connected to Field, Workflow and Data science. His Biodiversity research is multidisciplinary, incorporating elements of Biosecurity, Livelihood, IUCN Red List, Species distribution and Civilization. In his study, Biological dispersal, Environmental change and Organism is inextricably linked to Sustainable development, which falls within the broad field of Environmental planning.

Between 2018 and 2021, his most popular works were:

  • Biological Invasions in South Africa: An Overview (23 citations)
  • The biogeography of South African terrestrial plant invasions. (21 citations)
  • Invasion syndromes: a systematic approach for predicting biological invasions and facilitating effective management (20 citations)

In his most recent research, the most cited papers focused on:

  • Ecology
  • Biodiversity
  • Botany

His primary areas of study are Ecology, Invasive species, Alien species, Introduced species and Habitat. His research in the fields of Ecosystem, Riparian zone and Native plant overlaps with other disciplines such as Phragmites and Miscanthus. His Invasive species research is multidisciplinary, incorporating perspectives in Biodiversity, Species richness, Species distribution, Biome and Terrestrial plant.

John R. U. Wilson has included themes like Risk analysis and Risk analysis in his Alien species study. His research integrates issues of Taxonomic rank, Seed dispersal and Mutualism in his study of Introduced species. His work carried out in the field of Habitat brings together such families of science as Temperate climate, Environmental impact assessment, Risk assessment and Biogeography.

Best Publications

  • A proposed unified framework for biological invasions.

    Tim M. Blackburn;Tim M. Blackburn;Petr Pyšek;Petr Pyšek;Sven Bacher;James T. Carlton

  • Adaptive evolution in invasive species.

    Peter J. Prentis;John R.U. Wilson;Eleanor E. Dormontt;David M. Richardson

  • A Unified Classification of Alien Species Based on the Magnitude of their Environmental Impacts

    Tim M. Blackburn;Franz Essl;Thomas Evans;Philip E. Hulme

  • Something in the way you move: dispersal pathways affect invasion success

    John R.U. Wilson;Eleanor E. Dormontt;Peter J. Prentis;Andrew J. Lowe

  • Residence time and potential range: Crucial considerations in modelling plant invasions

    John R. U. Wilson;David M. Richardson;Mathieu Rouget;Şerban Procheş

  • Interactions between environment, species traits, and human uses describe patterns of plant invasions

    Wilfried Thuiller;David M. Richardson;Mathieu Rouget;Şerban Procheş

  • Socio-economic impact classification of alien taxa (SEICAT)

    Sven Bacher;Sven Bacher;T.M.Tim M. Blackburn;T.M.Tim M. Blackburn;Franz Essl;Piero Genovesi

  • Human‐mediated introductions of Australian acacias – a global experiment in biogeography

    David M. Richardson;Jane Carruthers;Cang Hui;Fiona A. C. Impson;Fiona A. C. Impson

  • Non-native species in urban environments: patterns, processes, impacts and challenges

    Mirijam Gaertner;John R. U. Wilson;Marc W. Cadotte;J. Scott MacIvor

  • Crossing Frontiers in Tackling Pathways of Biological Invasions

    Franz Essl;Sven Bacher;Tim M. Blackburn;Olaf Booy

  • Addressing context dependence in ecology.

    Jane A. Catford;Jane A. Catford;John R.U. Wilson;Petr Pyšek;Philip E. Hulme

  • A vision for global monitoring of biological invasions

    Guillaume Latombe;Petr Pyšek;Jonathan M. Jeschke;Tim M. Blackburn

  • Framework and guidelines for implementing the proposed IUCN Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (EICAT)

    Charlotte L. Hawkins;Sven Bacher;Franz Essl;Philip E. Hulme

  • Determinants and patterns of population growth in water hyacinth

    John R. Wilson;Niels Holst;Mark Rees;Mark Rees

  • Invasion debt – quantifying future biological invasions

    Mathieu Rouget;Mark P. Robertson;John R. U. Wilson;Cang Hui;Cang Hui

  • Ornamental plants as invasive aliens: problems and solutions in Kruger National Park, South Africa.

    Llewellyn C. Foxcroft;Llewellyn C. Foxcroft;David M. Richardson;John R. U. Wilson

  • Genetic diversity in mesoamerican populations of mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla), assessed using RAPDs.

    A C M Gillies;C Navarro;A J Lowe;A C Newton

  • Risk assessment, eradication, and biological control: global efforts to limit Australian acacia invasions

    John R. U. Wilson;Claire Gairifo;Claire Gairifo;Michelle R. Gibson;Margarita Arianoutsou

  • Reproductive biology of Australian acacias: Important mediator of invasiveness?

    Michelle R. Gibson;David M. Richardson;Elizabete Marchante;Hélia Marchante;Hélia Marchante

  • Introduced and invasive cactus species: a global review

    Ana Novoa;Johannes J. Le Roux;Mark P. Robertson;John R.U. Wilson

Frequent Co-Authors

David M. Richardson
David M. Richardson Stellenbosch University
Petr Pyšek
Petr Pyšek Czech Academy of Sciences
Johannes J. Le Roux
Johannes J. Le Roux Macquarie University
Franz Essl
Franz Essl University of Vienna
Sabrina Kumschick
Sabrina Kumschick Stellenbosch University
Mark P. Robertson
Mark P. Robertson University of Pretoria
Llewellyn C. Foxcroft
Llewellyn C. Foxcroft South African National Parks
Mathieu Rouget
Mathieu Rouget Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement
Sven Bacher
Sven Bacher University of Fribourg
Philip E. Hulme
Philip E. Hulme Lincoln University

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