2026 Kit M. Kovacs: Ecology and Evolution Researcher – H-Index, Publications & Awards

Discipline name	D-Index	World Ranking	Current World Ranking	National Ranking	Current National Ranking	Publications	Citations
Ecology and Evolution	84	669	636	12	12	393	27990

Overview

Kit M. Kovacs is affiliated with the Norwegian Polar Institute in Norway, contributing extensively to environmental and earth sciences with a focus on marine and polar research. Their work spans multiple disciplines, including ecology, atmospheric science, and oceanography, with a significant emphasis on marine animal studies and cryospheric observations.

Their research portfolio covers a broad range of topics, prominently featuring:

Marine animal studies overview
Arctic and Antarctic ice dynamics
Marine and fisheries research
Arctic and Russian policy studies
Isotope analysis in ecology
Marine and coastal plant biology
Cryospheric studies and observations

Main fields of study include environmental science and earth and planetary sciences, while subfields encompass ecology, atmospheric science, global and planetary change, oceanography, and health, toxicology, and mutagenesis.

Kit M. Kovacs has contributed to several recent publications, including:

"Tracking of marine predators to protect Southern Ocean ecosystems" (2020), published in Nature
"Determinants of genetic variation across eco-evolutionary scales in pinnipeds" (2020), published in Nature Ecology & Evolution
"Animal Borne Ocean Sensors - AniBOS - An Essential Component of the Global Ocean Observing System" (2021), published in Frontiers in Marine Science
"Concentrations and endocrine disruptive potential of phthalates in marine mammals from the Norwegian Arctic" (2021), published in Environment International
"Group structure and kinship in beluga whale societies" (2020), published in Scientific Reports

The scientist has a network of frequent co-authors, including:

Christian Lydersen
Mads Peter Heide-Jørgensen
Andrew Lowther
Steven H. Ferguson

Their work has appeared predominantly in journals such as Scientific Reports, Polar Research, Polar Biology, Molecular Ecology, and Ecology and Evolution. The volume of publications reflects a consistent contribution to these venues over time.

Best Publications

The status of the world's land and marine mammals: diversity, threat, and knowledge

Jan Schipper;Jan Schipper;Janice S. Chanson;Janice S. Chanson;Federica Chiozza;Neil A. Cox;Neil A. Cox

1888
Citations
The Impact of Conservation on the Status of the World’s Vertebrates

Michael Hoffmann;Craig Hilton-Taylor;Ariadne Angulo;Monika Böhm

1851
Citations
The broad footprint of climate change from genes to biomes to people

Brett R. Scheffers;Luc De Meester;Tom C. L. Bridge;Tom C. L. Bridge;Ary A. Hoffmann

1328
Citations
Assessing species' vulnerability to climate change

Michela Pacifici;Michela Pacifici;Wendy B. Foden;Wendy B. Foden;Piero Visconti;Piero Visconti;James E. M. Watson;James E. M. Watson;James E. M. Watson

1261
Citations
Arctic sea ice in transformation: A review of recent observed changes and impacts on biology and human activity

Walter N. Meier;Greta K. Hovelsrud;Bob E.H. van Oort;Jeffrey R. Key

718
Citations
The marine ecosystem of Kongsfjorden, Svalbard

Haakon Hop;Tom Pearson;Else Nøst Hegseth;Kit M. Kovacs

705
Citations
Impacts of changing sea-ice conditions on Arctic marine mammals

Kit M. Kovacs;Christian Lydersen;James E. Overland;Sue E. Moore

481
Citations
Arctic marine mammal population status, sea ice habitat loss, and conservation recommendations for the 21st century.

Kristin L. Laidre;Harry Stern;Kit M. Kovacs;Lloyd Lowry

455
Citations
Allometry of diving capacity in air-breathing vertebrates

Jason F. Schreer;Kit M. Kovacs

378
Citations
A simple new algorithm to filter marine mammal Argos locations

Carla Freitas;Christian Lydersen;Michael A. Fedak;Kit M. Kovacs

366
Citations
State of the Climate in 2014

Arlene P. Aaron-Morrison;Steven A. Ackerman;Nicolaus G. Adams;Robert F. Adler

332
Citations
The importance of tidewater glaciers for marine mammals and seabirds in Svalbard, Norway

Christian Lydersen;Philipp Assmy;Stig Falk-Petersen;Jack Kohler

324
Citations
Climate change and the ecology and evolution of Arctic vertebrates

Olivier Gilg;Olivier Gilg;Kit M. Kovacs;Jon Aars;Jérôme Fort

290
Citations
Climate change impacts on wildlife in a High Arctic archipelago - Svalbard, Norway

Sébastien Descamps;Jon Aars;Eva Fuglei;Kit M. Kovacs

282
Citations
Global threats to pinnipeds

Kit M. Kovacs;Alex Aguilar;David Aurioles;Vladimir Burkanov

280
Citations
Metabolic rates of seals and whales

D. M. Lavigne;S. Innes;G. A. J. Worthy;K. M. Kovacs

279
Citations
Tracking of marine predators to protect Southern Ocean ecosystems

Mark A. Hindell;Ryan R. Reisinger;Ryan R. Reisinger;Yan Ropert-Coudert;Luis A. Hückstädt

275
Citations
Marine mammals and the community structure of the Estuary and Gulf of St Lawrence, Canada: evidence from stable isotope analysis

Véronique Lesage;Mike O. Hammill;Kit M. Kovacs

254
Citations
FEEDING RATES OF SEALS AND WHALES

S. Innes;D. M. Lavigne;W. M. Earle;K. M. Kovacs

247
Citations
Congener-specific accumulation and food chain transfer of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in two arctic food chains.

Hans Wolkers;Bert Van Bavel;Andrew E. Derocher;Øystein Wiig

235
Citations
State of the Climate in 2016

Arlene P. Aaron-Morrison;Steven A. Ackerman;Nicolaus G. Adams;Robert F. Adler

161
Citations

Frequent Co-Authors

Christian Lydersen Norwegian Polar Institute

Mike O. Hammill Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Øystein Wiig University of Oslo

Rolf A. Ims University of Tromsø - The Arctic University of Norway

Jon Aars Norwegian Polar Institute

Mads Peter Heide-Jørgensen University of Copenhagen

Michael A. Fedak University of St Andrews

Marthán N Bester University of Pretoria

Andrew E. Derocher University of Alberta

External Links

Personal website of Kit M. Kovacs

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