World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!
Marcel G. A. van der Heijden

Marcel G. A. van der Heijden

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Ecology and Evolution
Switzerland
2026
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Plant Science and Agronomy
Switzerland
2026

D-Index & Metrics

Plant Science and Agronomy

D-Index
91
Citations
61904
World Ranking
255
National Ranking
10

Ecology and Evolution

D-Index
95
Citations
63082
World Ranking
342
National Ranking
10

Marcel G. A. van der Heijden publication distribution in Plant Science and Agronomy in 2026

The chart shows the distribution of publications by all Research.com ranked scientists in the field of Plant Science and Agronomy in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Marcel G. A. van der Heijden sits on this spectrum.

36–40 publications: 2 scientists 41–45 publications: 7 scientists 46–50 publications: 40 scientists 51–55 publications: 58 scientists 56–60 publications: 60 scientists 61–65 publications: 107 scientists 66–70 publications: 130 scientists 71–75 publications: 153 scientists 76–80 publications: 191 scientists 81–85 publications: 199 scientists 86–90 publications: 206 scientists 91–95 publications: 218 scientists 96–100 publications: 226 scientists 101–105 publications: 227 scientists 106–110 publications: 247 scientists 111–115 publications: 255 scientists 116–120 publications: 253 scientists 121–125 publications: 233 scientists 126–130 publications: 219 scientists 131–135 publications: 201 scientists 136–140 publications: 194 scientists 141–145 publications: 176 scientists 146–150 publications: 157 scientists 151–155 publications: 147 scientists 156–160 publications: 151 scientists 161–165 publications: 159 scientists 166–170 publications: 137 scientists 171–175 publications: 128 scientists 176–180 publications: 126 scientists 181–185 publications: 98 scientists 186–190 publications: 114 scientists 191–195 publications: 100 scientists 196–200 publications: 90 scientists 201–205 publications: 71 scientists 206–210 publications: 98 scientists 211–215 publications: 70 scientists 216–220 publications: 86 scientists 221–225 publications: 61 scientists 226–230 publications: 58 scientists 231–235 publications: 53 scientists 236–240 publications: 64 scientists 241–245 publications: 39 scientists 246–250 publications: 46 scientists 251–255 publications: 51 scientists 256–260 publications: 36 scientists 261–265 publications: 44 scientists 266–270 publications: 35 scientists 271–275 publications: 30 scientists 276–280 publications: 33 scientists 281–285 publications: 35 scientists 286–290 publications: 36 scientists 291–295 publications: 26 scientists 296–300 publications: 26 scientists 301–305 publications: 31 scientists 306–310 publications: 30 scientists 311–315 publications: 21 scientists 316–320 publications: 29 scientists 321–325 publications: 14 scientists 326–330 publications: 15 scientists 331–335 publications: 15 scientists 336–340 publications: 17 scientists 341–345 publications: 15 scientists 346–350 publications: 12 scientists 351–355 publications: 17 scientists 356–360 publications: 18 scientists 361–365 publications: 12 scientists 366–370 publications: 11 scientists 371–375 publications: 6 scientists 376–380 publications: 6 scientists 381–385 publications: 11 scientists 386–390 publications: 9 scientists 391–395 publications: 10 scientists 396–400 publications: 8 scientists 401–405 publications: 4 scientists 406–410 publications: 9 scientists 411–415 publications: 11 scientists 416–420 publications: 4 scientists 421–425 publications: 7 scientists 426–430 publications: 4 scientists 431–435 publications: 3 scientists 436–440 publications: 5 scientists 441–445 publications: 8 scientists 446–450 publications: 6 scientists 451–455 publications: 7 scientists 456–460 publications: 5 scientists 461–465 publications: 6 scientists 466 publications: 2 scientists 467+ publications: 99 scientists
36 publications 467+

This scientist: 298 publications — 92nd percentile

92% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 467 publications or more.

Marcel G. A. van der Heijden D-index placement in Plant Science and Agronomy in 2026

The chart shows the D-index (discipline H-index) distribution of Plant Science and Agronomy scientists ranked by Research.com in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Marcel G. A. van der Heijden sits on this spectrum.

30 D-Index: 200 scientists 31 D-Index: 236 scientists 32 D-Index: 253 scientists 33 D-Index: 283 scientists 34 D-Index: 288 scientists 35 D-Index: 240 scientists 36 D-Index: 246 scientists 37 D-Index: 243 scientists 38 D-Index: 247 scientists 39 D-Index: 229 scientists 40 D-Index: 232 scientists 41 D-Index: 230 scientists 42 D-Index: 228 scientists 43 D-Index: 219 scientists 44 D-Index: 193 scientists 45 D-Index: 164 scientists 46 D-Index: 158 scientists 47 D-Index: 143 scientists 48 D-Index: 131 scientists 49 D-Index: 127 scientists 50 D-Index: 122 scientists 51 D-Index: 122 scientists 52 D-Index: 110 scientists 53 D-Index: 102 scientists 54 D-Index: 98 scientists 55 D-Index: 79 scientists 56 D-Index: 85 scientists 57 D-Index: 88 scientists 58 D-Index: 91 scientists 59 D-Index: 62 scientists 60 D-Index: 61 scientists 61 D-Index: 59 scientists 62 D-Index: 54 scientists 63 D-Index: 61 scientists 64 D-Index: 59 scientists 65 D-Index: 58 scientists 66 D-Index: 41 scientists 67 D-Index: 49 scientists 68 D-Index: 39 scientists 69 D-Index: 32 scientists 70 D-Index: 40 scientists 71 D-Index: 47 scientists 72 D-Index: 38 scientists 73 D-Index: 28 scientists 74 D-Index: 29 scientists 75 D-Index: 28 scientists 76 D-Index: 22 scientists 77 D-Index: 21 scientists 78 D-Index: 25 scientists 79 D-Index: 26 scientists 80 D-Index: 19 scientists 81 D-Index: 16 scientists 82 D-Index: 12 scientists 83 D-Index: 16 scientists 84 D-Index: 14 scientists 85 D-Index: 11 scientists 86 D-Index: 17 scientists 87 D-Index: 13 scientists 88 D-Index: 10 scientists 89 D-Index: 12 scientists 90 D-Index: 18 scientists 91 D-Index: 16 scientists 92 D-Index: 16 scientists 93 D-Index: 17 scientists 94 D-Index: 12 scientists 95 D-Index: 8 scientists 96 D-Index: 9 scientists 97 D-Index: 9 scientists 98 D-Index: 11 scientists 99 D-Index: 12 scientists 100 D-Index: 5 scientists 101 D-Index: 8 scientists 102 D-Index: 4 scientists 103 D-Index: 11 scientists 104 D-Index: 5 scientists 105 D-Index: 9 scientists 106 D-Index: 7 scientists 107 D-Index: 4 scientists 108 D-Index: 8 scientists 109+ D-Index: 99 scientists
30 D-Index 109+

This scientist: 91 D-Index — 96th percentile

96% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 109 D-Index or more.

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2026 - Research.com Ecology and Evolution in Switzerland Leader Award
  • 2026 - Research.com Plant Science and Agronomy in Switzerland Leader Award
  • 2025 - Research.com Plant Science and Agronomy in Switzerland Leader Award
  • 2022 - Research.com Plant Science and Agronomy in Switzerland Leader Award

Overview

Marcel G. A. van der Heijden is affiliated with the University of Zurich in Switzerland. Their research primarily spans the fields of Agricultural and Biological Sciences and Environmental Science, with a focused contribution in subfields such as Plant Science, Soil Science, Ecology, Insect Science, and Pollution.

The main topics covered in their work include:

  • Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
  • Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
  • Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
  • Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
  • Plant Parasitism and Resistance
  • Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
  • Legume Nitrogen Fixing Symbiosis

Among their recent publications are the following papers:

  • "Agricultural diversification promotes multiple ecosystem services without compromising yield" (2020), published in Science Advances
  • "Soil microbiomes and one health" (2022), published in Nature Reviews Microbiology
  • "Erosion reduces soil microbial diversity, network complexity and multifunctionality" (2021), published in The ISME Journal
  • "Enumerating soil biodiversity" (2023), published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
  • "A closer look at the functions behind ecosystem multifunctionality: A review" (2020), published in Journal of Ecology

Frequent co-authors with whom they have collaborated include:

  • Samiran Banerjee
  • Chantal Herzog
  • Laurent Philippot
  • Florian Walder
  • Anna Edlinger

Their publications have appeared in a range of scientific venues, notably:

  • New Phytologist
  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
  • Nature Communications
  • Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment
  • Microbiome

In addition to articles, they have contributed to book publications, including works published by KU Leuven. One recently documented title is "The state of soils in Europe: Fully evidenced, spatially organised assessment of the pressures driving soil degradation" (2024).

Best Publications

  • The unseen majority: Soil microbes as drivers of plant diversity and productivity in terrestrial ecosystems

    Marcel G. A. Van Der Heijden;Richard D. Bardgett;Nico M. Van Straalen

  • A handbook of protocols for standardised and easy measurement of plant functional traits worldwide

    J. H. C. Cornelissen;S. Lavorel;E. Garnier;S. Diaz

  • New handbook for standardised measurement of plant functional traits worldwide

    N. Pérez-Harguindeguy;S. Díaz;E. Garnier;S. Lavorel

  • Mycorrhizal fungal diversity determines plant biodiversity, ecosystem variability and productivity

    Marcel G. A. van der Heijden;John N. Klironomos;Margot Ursic;Peter Moutoglis

  • Keystone taxa as drivers of microbiome structure and functioning

    Samiran Banerjee;Klaus Schlaeppi;Marcel G. A. van der Heijden;Marcel G. A. van der Heijden

  • Soil biodiversity and soil community composition determine ecosystem multifunctionality

    Cameron Wagg;S. Franz Bender;Franco Widmer;Marcel G. A. van der Heijden;Marcel G. A. van der Heijden

  • Mycorrhizal ecology and evolution: the past, the present, and the future

    Marcel G A van der Heijden;Marcel G A van der Heijden;Francis M. Martin;Marc André Selosse;Ian R. Sanders

  • Fungal-bacterial diversity and microbiome complexity predict ecosystem functioning

    Cameron Wagg;Cameron Wagg;Klaus Schlaeppi;Samiran Banerjee;Eiko E. Kuramae

  • Root exudate metabolites drive plant-soil feedbacks on growth and defense by shaping the rhizosphere microbiota

    Lingfei Hu;Christelle A. M. Robert;Selma Cadot;Xi Zhang

  • An Underground Revolution: Biodiversity and Soil Ecological Engineering for Agricultural Sustainability

    S. Franz Bender;Cameron Wagg;Marcel G.A. van der Heijden;Marcel G.A. van der Heijden

  • Where less may be more: How the rare biosphere pulls ecosystems strings

    Alexandre Jousset;Christina Bienhold;Antonis Chatzinotas;Laure Gallien

  • Agricultural intensification reduces microbial network complexity and the abundance of keystone taxa in roots

    Samiran Banerjee;Florian Walder;Lucie Büchi;Marcel Meyer

  • DIFFERENT ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGAL SPECIES ARE POTENTIAL DETERMINANTS OF PLANT COMMUNITY STRUCTURE

    Marcel G. A. van der Heijden;Thomas Boller;Andres Wiemken;Ian R. Sanders

  • Agricultural diversification promotes multiple ecosystem services without compromising yield

    Giovanni Tamburini;Giovanni Tamburini;Riccardo Bommarco;Thomas Cherico Wanger;Thomas Cherico Wanger;Claire Kremen;Claire Kremen

  • Socialism in soil? The importance of mycorrhizal fungal networks for facilitation in natural ecosystems

    Marcel G. A. Van Der Heijden;Thomas R. Horton

  • Cropping practices manipulate abundance patterns of root and soil microbiome members paving the way to smart farming.

    Kyle Hartman;Marcel G.A. van der Heijden;Marcel G.A. van der Heijden;Raphaël A. Wittwer;Samiran Banerjee

  • Erosion reduces soil microbial diversity, network complexity and multifunctionality.

    Liping Qiu;Liping Qiu;Liping Qiu;Qian Zhang;Qian Zhang;Hansong Zhu;Hansong Zhu;Peter B. Reich;Peter B. Reich

  • Climate change effects on beneficial plant–microorganism interactions

    Stéphane Compant;Marcel G.A. Van Der Heijden;Angela Sessitsch

  • Adapt or disperse: understanding species persistence in a changing world

    Matty P. Berg;E. Toby Kiers;Gerard Driessen;Marcel Van Der Heijden

  • Soil type and land use intensity determine the composition of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities

    Fritz Oehl;Endre Laczko;Arno Bogenrieder;Karl Stahr

  • The mycorrhizal contribution to plant productivity, plant nutrition and soil structure in experimental grassland

    Marcel G. A. Van Der Heijden;Ruth Streitwolf‐Engel;Ralph Riedl;Sabine Siegrist

  • Networking in the Plant Microbiome.

    Marcel G. A. van der Heijden;Marcel G. A. van der Heijden;Martin Hartmann

  • Positive effects of organic farming on below-ground mutualists: large-scale comparison of mycorrhizal fungal communities in agricultural soils

    Erik Verbruggen;Wilfred F. M. Röling;Hannes A. Gamper;George A. Kowalchuk

  • Belowground biodiversity effects of plant symbionts support aboveground productivity

    Cameron Wagg;Jan Jansa;Bernhard Schmid;Marcel G. A. van der Heijden

  • Different arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi alter coexistence and resource distribution between co-occurring plant

    Marcel G. A. Van Der Heijden;Marcel G. A. Van Der Heijden;Andres Wiemken;Ian R. Sanders

  • A global meta-analysis of yield stability in organic and conservation agriculture

    Samuel Knapp;Marcel G. A. van der Heijden

  • Nonlegumes, Legumes, and Root Nodules Harbor Different Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Communities

    Tanja R. Scheublin;Karyn P. Ridgway;J. Peter W. Young;Marcel G. A. van der Heijden

  • Mycorrhizal fungal identity and diversity relaxes plant–plant competition

    Cameron Wagg;Jan Jansa;Marina Stadler;Bernhard Schmid

  • Cropping practices manipulate abundance patterns of root and soil microbiome members paving the way to smart farming (vol 6, 14, 2018)

    Kyle Hartman;Marcel G.A. van der Heijden;Raphaël A. Wittwer;Samiran Banerjee

Frequent Co-Authors

Cameron Wagg
Cameron Wagg Environment and Climate Change Canada
Johan Six
Johan Six ETH Zurich
Erik Verbruggen
Erik Verbruggen University of Antwerp
E. Toby Kiers
E. Toby Kiers Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Paul Mäder
Paul Mäder Forschungsinstitut für Biologischen Landbau
Thomas Keller
Thomas Keller Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
George A. Kowalchuk
George A. Kowalchuk Utrecht University
Jan Jansa
Jan Jansa Czech Academy of Sciences
Andreas Gattinger
Andreas Gattinger University of Giessen

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