World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!
Melissa A. McKinney

Melissa A. McKinney

D-Index & Metrics

Environmental Sciences

D-Index
36
Citations
3982
World Ranking
9206
National Ranking
428

Melissa A. McKinney publication distribution in Environmental Sciences in 2026

The chart shows the distribution of publications by all Research.com ranked scientists in the field of Environmental Sciences in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Melissa A. McKinney sits on this spectrum.

41–50 publications: 21 scientists 51–60 publications: 62 scientists 61–70 publications: 133 scientists 71–80 publications: 257 scientists 81–90 publications: 361 scientists 91–100 publications: 440 scientists 101–110 publications: 492 scientists 111–120 publications: 541 scientists 121–130 publications: 617 scientists 131–140 publications: 544 scientists 141–150 publications: 541 scientists 151–160 publications: 539 scientists 161–170 publications: 444 scientists 171–180 publications: 444 scientists 181–190 publications: 400 scientists 191–200 publications: 377 scientists 201–210 publications: 318 scientists 211–220 publications: 283 scientists 221–230 publications: 263 scientists 231–240 publications: 220 scientists 241–250 publications: 217 scientists 251–260 publications: 180 scientists 261–270 publications: 181 scientists 271–280 publications: 155 scientists 281–290 publications: 130 scientists 291–300 publications: 127 scientists 301–310 publications: 130 scientists 311–320 publications: 85 scientists 321–330 publications: 106 scientists 331–340 publications: 80 scientists 341–350 publications: 83 scientists 351–360 publications: 75 scientists 361–370 publications: 69 scientists 371–380 publications: 52 scientists 381–390 publications: 54 scientists 391–400 publications: 56 scientists 401–410 publications: 44 scientists 411–420 publications: 40 scientists 421–430 publications: 36 scientists 431–440 publications: 25 scientists 441–450 publications: 25 scientists 451–460 publications: 32 scientists 461–470 publications: 29 scientists 471–480 publications: 21 scientists 481–490 publications: 26 scientists 491–500 publications: 25 scientists 501–510 publications: 17 scientists 511–520 publications: 18 scientists 521–530 publications: 15 scientists 531–540 publications: 22 scientists 541–550 publications: 12 scientists 551–560 publications: 15 scientists 561–570 publications: 11 scientists 571–580 publications: 19 scientists 581–590 publications: 9 scientists 591–600 publications: 9 scientists 601–610 publications: 7 scientists 611–620 publications: 11 scientists 621–630 publications: 5 scientists 631–640 publications: 5 scientists 641–650 publications: 6 scientists 651–660 publications: 3 scientists 661–670 publications: 3 scientists 671–680 publications: 4 scientists 681–686 publications: 3 scientists 687+ publications: 100 scientists
41 publications 687+

This scientist: 79 publications — 5th percentile

5% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 687 publications or more.

Melissa A. McKinney D-index placement in Environmental Sciences in 2026

The chart shows the D-index (discipline H-index) distribution of Environmental Sciences scientists ranked by Research.com in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Melissa A. McKinney sits on this spectrum.

30 D-Index: 12 scientists 31 D-Index: 26 scientists 32 D-Index: 51 scientists 33 D-Index: 88 scientists 34 D-Index: 123 scientists 35 D-Index: 163 scientists 36 D-Index: 206 scientists 37 D-Index: 267 scientists 38 D-Index: 265 scientists 39 D-Index: 275 scientists 40 D-Index: 321 scientists 41 D-Index: 343 scientists 42 D-Index: 305 scientists 43 D-Index: 336 scientists 44 D-Index: 330 scientists 45 D-Index: 348 scientists 46 D-Index: 291 scientists 47 D-Index: 275 scientists 48 D-Index: 272 scientists 49 D-Index: 273 scientists 50 D-Index: 263 scientists 51 D-Index: 232 scientists 52 D-Index: 266 scientists 53 D-Index: 217 scientists 54 D-Index: 199 scientists 55 D-Index: 177 scientists 56 D-Index: 202 scientists 57 D-Index: 204 scientists 58 D-Index: 166 scientists 59 D-Index: 177 scientists 60 D-Index: 166 scientists 61 D-Index: 152 scientists 62 D-Index: 143 scientists 63 D-Index: 150 scientists 64 D-Index: 124 scientists 65 D-Index: 119 scientists 66 D-Index: 120 scientists 67 D-Index: 118 scientists 68 D-Index: 82 scientists 69 D-Index: 98 scientists 70 D-Index: 94 scientists 71 D-Index: 105 scientists 72 D-Index: 74 scientists 73 D-Index: 84 scientists 74 D-Index: 70 scientists 75 D-Index: 67 scientists 76 D-Index: 78 scientists 77 D-Index: 60 scientists 78 D-Index: 59 scientists 79 D-Index: 52 scientists 80 D-Index: 47 scientists 81 D-Index: 38 scientists 82 D-Index: 48 scientists 83 D-Index: 42 scientists 84 D-Index: 42 scientists 85 D-Index: 43 scientists 86 D-Index: 29 scientists 87 D-Index: 37 scientists 88 D-Index: 29 scientists 89 D-Index: 30 scientists 90 D-Index: 34 scientists 91 D-Index: 20 scientists 92 D-Index: 22 scientists 93 D-Index: 17 scientists 94 D-Index: 19 scientists 95 D-Index: 24 scientists 96 D-Index: 21 scientists 97 D-Index: 20 scientists 98 D-Index: 24 scientists 99 D-Index: 17 scientists 100 D-Index: 17 scientists 101 D-Index: 21 scientists 102 D-Index: 25 scientists 103 D-Index: 18 scientists 104 D-Index: 26 scientists 105 D-Index: 19 scientists 106 D-Index: 15 scientists 107 D-Index: 10 scientists 108 D-Index: 13 scientists 109 D-Index: 15 scientists 110 D-Index: 12 scientists 111 D-Index: 8 scientists 112 D-Index: 7 scientists 113 D-Index: 9 scientists 114 D-Index: 6 scientists 115 D-Index: 12 scientists 116 D-Index: 7 scientists 117 D-Index: 8 scientists 118 D-Index: 3 scientists 119 D-Index: 5 scientists 120 D-Index: 7 scientists 121 D-Index: 2 scientists 122 D-Index: 4 scientists 123 D-Index: 8 scientists 124 D-Index: 7 scientists 125+ D-Index: 99 scientists
30 D-Index 125+

This scientist: 36 D-Index — 7th percentile

7% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 125 D-Index or more.

Overview

Melissa A. McKinney is affiliated with the University of Connecticut in the United States and specializes in Environmental Science with a particular focus on ecological and toxicological impacts. Their research spans several subfields, including Ecology, Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis, Atmospheric Science, Global and Planetary Change, and General Health Professions.

The scientist's work emphasizes several key topics, prominently featuring Marine animal studies overview, Mercury impact and mitigation studies, Isotope Analysis in Ecology, Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact, Indigenous Studies and Ecology, Arctic and Antarctic ice dynamics, and Cryospheric studies and observations.

McKinney has contributed to multiple publications with a focus on Arctic environmental changes and chemical contaminant dynamics within ecosystems. Recent notable papers include:

  • "The influence of global climate change on accumulation and toxicity of persistent organic pollutants and chemicals of emerging concern in Arctic food webs" (2022, Environmental Science Processes & Impacts)
  • "Climate change and mercury in the Arctic: Abiotic interactions" (2022, The Science of The Total Environment)
  • "Climate change and mercury in the Arctic: Biotic interactions" (2022, The Science of The Total Environment)
  • "Alkylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are the largest contributor to polycyclic aromatic compound concentrations in traditional foods of the Bigstone Cree Nation in Alberta, Canada" (2021, Environmental Pollution)
  • "Individual Prey Specialization Drives PCBs in Icelandic Killer Whales" (2021, Environmental Science & Technology)

Their research frequently appears in journals such as The Science of The Total Environment, Environmental Pollution, Marine Ecology Progress Series, SSRN Electronic Journal, and Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing.

Collaborative work is an important aspect of McKinney's career, having worked with co-authors including Runé Dietz, Christian Sonne, Aqqalu Rosing-Asvid, Steven H. Ferguson, and Robert J. Letcher, among others. These partnerships have contributed to multi-disciplinary approaches in environmental and ecological studies.

Best Publications

  • Current state of knowledge on biological effects from contaminants on arctic wildlife and fish

    Rune Dietz;Robert J. Letcher;Jean Pierre Desforges;Igor Eulaers

  • Bioaccumulation and biotransformation of brominated and chlorinated contaminants and their metabolites in ringed seals (Pusa hispida) and polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from East Greenland.

    Robert J. Letcher;Wouter A. Gebbink;Christian Sonne;Erik W. Born

  • Global change effects on the long‐term feeding ecology and contaminant exposures of East Greenland polar bears

    Melissa A. McKinney;Melissa A. McKinney;Sara J. Iverson;Aaron T. Fisk;Christian Sonne

  • Sea ice-associated diet change increases the levels of chlorinated and brominated contaminants in polar bears.

    Melissa A. McKinney;Elizabeth Peacock;Robert J. Letcher

  • Biotransformation of polybrominated diphenyl ethers and polychlorinated biphenyls in beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) and rat mammalian model using an in vitro hepatic microsomal assay.

    Melissa A. McKinney;Sylvain De Guise;Daniel Martineau;Pierre Béland

  • Flame retardants and legacy contaminants in polar bears from Alaska, Canada, East Greenland and Svalbard, 2005-2008.

    Melissa A. McKinney;Robert J. Letcher;Jon Aars;Erik W. Born

  • The influence of global climate change on accumulation and toxicity of persistent organic pollutants and chemicals of emerging concern in Arctic food webs.

    Unknown

  • Climate change and mercury in the Arctic: Abiotic interactions.

    Unknown

  • Rapid Environmental Change Drives Increased Land Use by an Arctic Marine Predator

    Todd C. Atwood;Elizabeth L. Peacock;Melissa A. McKinney;Kate Lillie

  • State of knowledge on current exposure, fate and potential health effects of contaminants in polar bears from the circumpolar Arctic

    Heli Routti;Todd C. Atwood;Thea Bechshoft;Andrei Boltunov

  • A review of ecological impacts of global climate change on persistent organic pollutant and mercury pathways and exposures in arctic marine ecosystems

    Melissa McKinney;Sara Pedro;Rune Dietz;Christian Sonne

  • Brominated Flame Retardants and Halogenated Phenolic Compounds in North American West Coast Bald Eaglet (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) Plasma

    Melissa A McKinney;Lillian S Cesh;John E Elliott;Tony D Williams

  • Organohalogen contaminants and metabolites in beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) liver from two Canadian populations

    Melissa A. McKinney;Sylvain De Guise;Daniel Martineau;Pierre Béland

  • Three decades (1983–2010) of contaminant trends in East Greenland polar bears (Ursus maritimus). Part 1: Legacy organochlorine contaminants

    Rune Dietz;Frank F. Rigét;Christian Sonne;Erik W. Born

  • Physiologically-based pharmacokinetic modelling of immune, reproductive and carcinogenic effects from contaminant exposure in polar bears (Ursus maritimus) across the Arctic

    Rune Dietz;Kim Gustavson;Christian Sonne;Jean-Pierre Desforges

  • Trophic Transfer of Contaminants in a Changing Arctic Marine Food Web: Cumberland Sound, Nunavut, Canada

    Melissa A. McKinney;Melissa A. McKinney;Bailey C. McMeans;Gregg T. Tomy;Bruno Rosenberg

  • The role of diet on long-term concentration and pattern trends of brominated and chlorinated contaminants in western Hudson Bay polar bears, 1991–2007

    Melissa A. McKinney;Ian Stirling;Nick J. Lunn;Elizabeth Peacock

  • Comparative hepatic microsomal biotransformation of selected PBDEs, including decabromodiphenyl ether, and decabromodiphenyl ethane flame retardants in Arctic marine-feeding mammals

    Melissa A. McKinney;Rune Dietz;Christian Sonne;Sylvain De Guise

  • Global versus local causes and health implications of high mercury concentrations in sharks from the east coast of South Africa.

    Melissa A. McKinney;Kylie Dean;Nigel E. Hussey;Geremy Cliff

  • Three decades (1983-2010) of contaminant trends in East Greenland polar bears (Ursus maritimus). Part 2: brominated flame retardants.

    Rune Dietz;Frank F. Rigét;Christian Sonne;Erik W. Born

  • Environmental and behavioral changes may influence the exposure of an Arctic apex predator to pathogens and contaminants

    Todd C. Atwood;Colleen Duncan;Kelly A. Patyk;Pauline Nol

  • Polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons and metabolites: Relation to circulating thyroid hormone and retinol in nestling bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

    Lillian S. Cesh;Kyle H. Elliott;Susan Quade;Melissa A. McKinney

Frequent Co-Authors

Christian Sonne
Christian Sonne Aarhus University
Robert J. Letcher
Robert J. Letcher Carleton University
Rune Dietz
Rune Dietz Aarhus University
Aaron T. Fisk
Aaron T. Fisk University of Windsor
Todd C. Atwood
Todd C. Atwood United States Geological Survey
Erik W. Born
Erik W. Born University of Alberta
Frank F. Rigét
Frank F. Rigét Aarhus University
Derek C. G. Muir
Derek C. G. Muir Environment and Climate Change Canada
Steven H. Ferguson
Steven H. Ferguson Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Bjørn Munro Jenssen
Bjørn Munro Jenssen Norwegian University of Science and Technology

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