World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!

D-Index & Metrics

Ecology and Evolution

D-Index
50
Citations
10953
World Ranking
3801
National Ranking
1333

Les Watling 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 Les Watling 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: 165 publications — 60th percentile

60% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

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

Les Watling 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 Les Watling 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: 50 D-Index — 56th percentile

56% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

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

Overview

Les Watling is affiliated with the University of Hawaii at Manoa in the United States and has made contributions to the fields of Environmental Science and Earth and Planetary Sciences, with a primary focus on topics related to marine ecosystems and oceanography.

Their work covers a diverse range of subfields, including:

  • Ecology
  • Global and Planetary Change
  • Oceanography
  • Nature and Landscape Conservation
  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

Watling's main research topics incorporate studies in:

  • Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
  • Marine and fisheries research
  • Marine Biology and Ecology Research
  • Ichthyology and Marine Biology
  • Marine and coastal plant biology
  • Cephalopods and Marine Biology
  • Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies

Their publication record includes several journal articles across notable venues. The frequent publication venues where Watling's work appears include:

  • Zootaxa
  • Deep Sea Research Part I Oceanographic Research Papers
  • Frontiers in Marine Science
  • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
  • Global Change Biology

Recent papers authored or co-authored by Watling include:

  • "Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems, Communities, and Indicator Species: Confusing Concepts for Conservation of Seamounts," 2021, Frontiers in Marine Science
  • "Rethinking sustainability of marine fisheries for a fast-changing planet," 2024, npj Ocean Sustainability
  • "Midwater ecosystems must be considered when evaluating environmental risks of deep-sea mining," 2020, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
  • "Climate-induced changes in the suitable habitat of cold-water corals and commercially important deep-sea fishes in the North Atlantic," 2020, Global Change Biology
  • "Characterization of deep-sea benthic invertebrate megafauna of the Galapagos Islands," 2020, Scientific Reports

Watling frequently collaborates with other researchers, most notably with:

  • Scott C. France
  • Matthew Gianni
  • Jeffrey C. Drazen
  • Malcolm R. Clark
  • Lisa A. Levin

Their research contributions largely focus on environmental and marine systems, highlighting ecological dynamics and conservation considerations for marine habitats over a broad geographic and thematic range.

Best Publications

  • Disturbance of the Seabed by Mobile Fishing Gear: A Comparison to Forest Clearcutting

    Les Watling;Elliott A. Norse

  • Feeding capabilities and limitation of herbivorous molluscs: A functional group approach

    R. S. Steneck;L. Watling

  • Efficacy of phospholipid analysis in determining microbial biomass in sediments.

    Robert H. Findlay;Gary M. King;Les Watling

  • A classification system for crustacean setae based on the homology concept

    Les Watling

  • Hydrothermal Vents and Methane Seeps: Rethinking the Sphere of Influence

    Lisa A. Levin;Amy R. Baco;David A. Bowden;Ana Colaco

  • A proposed biogeography of the deep ocean floor

    Les Watling;John Guinotte;Malcolm R. Clark;Craig R. Smith

  • Biotic and Human Vulnerability to Projected Changes in Ocean Biogeochemistry over the 21st Century

    Camilo Mora;Chih Lin Wei;Audrey Rollo;Teresa Amaro

  • Taxonomy based on science is necessary for global conservation

    Scott A. Thomson;Richard L. Pyle;Shane T Ahyong;Shane T Ahyong;Miguel A. Alonso-Zarazaga

  • Environmental impact of salmon net-pen culture on marine benthic communities in Maine: A case study

    Robert H. Findlay;Les Watling;Lawrence M. Mayer

  • From principles to practice: a spatial approach to systematic conservation planning in the deep sea

    L. M. Wedding;A. M. Friedlander;J. N. Kittinger;L. Watling

  • Biodiversity loss from deep-sea mining

    C. L. Van Dover;J. A. Ardron;E. Escobar;M. Gianni

  • Biology of deep-water octocorals.

    Les Watling;Les Watling;Eric Pante;Anne Simpson

  • Deep-Sea Mining With No Net Loss of Biodiversity—An Impossible Aim

    Holly J. Niner;Jeff A. Ardron;Jeff A. Ardron;Elva G. Escobar;Matthew Gianni

  • Opinion: Midwater ecosystems must be considered when evaluating environmental risks of deep-sea mining

    Jeffrey C. Drazen;Craig R. Smith;Kristina M. Gjerde;Steven H. D. Haddock

  • Climate‐induced changes in the suitable habitat of cold‐water corals and commercially important deep‐sea fishes in the North Atlantic

    Telmo Morato;José‐Manuel González‐Irusta;Carlos Dominguez‐Carrió;Chih‐Lin Wei

  • Functional morphology of feeding and grooming in crustacea

    Bruce E. Felgenhauer;Anne. B Thistle;L. Watling

  • Definition and detection of vulnerable marine ecosystems on the high seas: problems with the “move-on” rule

    Peter J. Auster;Kristina Gjerde;Eric Heupel;Les Watling

  • Prediction of Benthic Impact for Salmon Net-Pens Based on the Balance of Benthic Oxygen Supply and Demand

    R. H. Findlay;Les Watling

  • Relationships between effects of environmental temperature and seston on growth and mortality of Mytilus edulis in a temperate northern estuary.

    L. S. Incze;R. A. Lutz;L. Watling

  • Reproduction and development of marine peracaridans

    William S. Johnson;Margaret Stevens;Les Watling

Frequent Co-Authors

Peter J. Auster
Peter J. Auster University of Connecticut
Malcolm R. Clark
Malcolm R. Clark National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research
Jeffrey C. Drazen
Jeffrey C. Drazen University of Hawaii at Manoa
Kristina M. Gjerde
Kristina M. Gjerde Middlebury College
Craig R. Smith
Craig R. Smith University of Hawaii at Manoa
Lisa A. Levin
Lisa A. Levin University of California, San Diego
Gregor M. Cailliet
Gregor M. Cailliet Moss Landing Marine Laboratories
Timothy M. Shank
Timothy M. Shank Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Daniel O.B. Jones
Daniel O.B. Jones National Oceanography Centre
Lawrence M. Mayer
Lawrence M. Mayer University of Maine

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