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

D-Index & Metrics

Ecology and Evolution

D-Index
75
Citations
24046
World Ranking
1051
National Ranking
9

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2026 - Research.com Ecology and Evolution in South Africa Leader Award
  • 2025 - Research.com Ecology and Evolution in South Africa Leader Award
  • 2022 - Research.com Ecology and Evolution in South Africa Leader Award
  • Fellow of the Royal Society of South Africa
  • Fellow of the Royal Society of South Africa

Overview

Michael J. Samways is affiliated with Stellenbosch University in South Africa. Their research spans multiple areas within environmental and biological sciences, focusing on biodiversity, conservation, and insect ecology.

The scientist has contributed extensively to the field of Environmental Science, with 182 publications, and Agricultural and Biological Sciences, comprising 73 publications. Their work often intersects several subfields, including:

  • Nature and Landscape Conservation
  • Ecology
  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Ecological Modeling
  • Insect Science

Main research topics covered in their publications include:

  • Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
  • Species Distribution and Climate Change
  • Plant and animal studies
  • Freshwater macroinvertebrate diversity and ecology
  • Fish Ecology and Management Studies
  • Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
  • Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies

Among recent papers authored or co-authored by Michael J. Samways are:

  • "Scientists' warning to humanity on insect extinctions" (2020), Biological Conservation
  • "Scientists' warning on climate change and insects" (2022), Ecological Monographs
  • "Solutions for humanity on how to conserve insects" (2020), Biological Conservation
  • "International scientists formulate a roadmap for insect conservation and recovery" (2020), Nature Ecology & Evolution
  • "A global agenda for advancing freshwater biodiversity research" (2021), Ecology Letters

Frequent co-authors working alongside Michael J. Samways include:

  • James S. Pryke
  • René Gaigher
  • Charl Deacon
  • J. van Schalkwyk
  • John P. Simaika

Common publication venues for their research encompass:

  • Biodiversity and Conservation
  • Biological Conservation
  • Scientific Reports
  • Landscape Ecology
  • Journal of Applied Ecology

Michael J. Samways has authored books published by recognized publishing houses, including:

  • Biological Invasions and Global Insect Decline (Elsevier BV, 2023)
  • Conservation of Dragonflies (CABI eBooks, 2024)

The scientist has been recognized as a Fellow of the Royal Society of South Africa.

Best Publications

  • The Impact of Conservation on the Status of the World’s Vertebrates

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

  • Scientists' warning to humanity on insect extinctions

    Pedro Cardoso;Philip S. Barton;Klaus Birkhofer;Filipe Chichorro

  • Insect conservation biology

    Michael J. Samways

  • Scientists' warning on climate change and insects

    Unknown

  • Terrestrial invertebrates as bioindicators: an overview of available taxonomic groups

    Justin Gerlach;Michael Samways;James Pryke

  • Quantifying the Contribution of Organisms to the Provision of Ecosystem Services

    Gary W. Luck;Richard Harrington;Paula A. Harrison;Claire Kremen

  • Insect Diversity Conservation

    Michael J. Samways

  • The search for common anthropogenic impacts on biodiversity: a global network

    Jari Niemelä;Johan Kotze;Allan Ashworth;Pietro Brandmayr

  • Dragonfly (Odonata) distribution patterns in urban and forest landscapes, and recommendations for riparian management

    Michael J. Samways;Nicholas S. Steytler

  • Solutions for humanity on how to conserve insects

    Michael J Samways;Philip S. Barton;Klaus Birkhofer;Filipe Chichorro

  • Dragonflies (Odonata) as Indicators of Biotope Quality in the Kruger National Park, South Africa

    Tanza E. Clark;Michael J. Samways

  • Global warming, elevational ranges and the vulnerability of tropical biota

    William F. Laurance;William F. Laurance;D. Carolina Useche;Luke P. Shoo;Sebastian K. Herzog

  • Insect Conservation: A Handbook of Approaches and Methods

    Michael J. Samways;Melodie A. McGeoch;T. R. New

  • International scientists formulate a roadmap for insect conservation and recovery

    Jeffrey A. Harvey;Robin Heinen;Inge Armbrecht;Yves Basset

  • Mitigating the precipitous decline of terrestrial European insects: Requirements for a new strategy

    Jan Christian Habel;Jan Christian Habel;Michael J. Samways;Thomas Schmitt

  • Inventorying and monitoring biodiversity.

    Nigel E. Stork;Michael J. Samways;Harriet A.C. Eeley

  • Ecosystem services and biodiversity conservation: concepts and a glossary

    Richard Harrington;Christian Anton;Terence P. Dawson;Francesco de Bello

  • Insect Conservation: A Synthetic Management Approach

    Michael J. Samways

  • Insects in biodiversity conservation: some perspectives and directives

    Michael J. Samways

  • Ground-living invertebrate assemblages in native, planted and invasive vegetation in South Africa

    Michael J. Samways;P.M. Caldwell;Rae Osborn

  • Biophilia as a universal ethic for conserving biodiversity.

    John P. Simaika;Michael J. Samways

Frequent Co-Authors

James S. Pryke
James S. Pryke Stellenbosch University
Josef Settele
Josef Settele Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research
Frank Suhling
Frank Suhling Technische Universität Braunschweig
Pedro Cardoso
Pedro Cardoso University of Lisbon
Tim R. New
Tim R. New La Trobe University
Axel Hochkirch
Axel Hochkirch Trier University of Applied Sciences
Nigel E. Stork
Nigel E. Stork Griffith University
Stefano Mammola
Stefano Mammola National Research Council (CNR)
Claire Kremen
Claire Kremen University of British Columbia
Philip S. Barton
Philip S. Barton Deakin University

If you think any of the details on this page are incorrect, let us know.

Report an issue

We appreciate your kind effort to assist us to improve this page, it would be helpful providing us with as much detail as possible in the text box below:

Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

Exploring Ecology and Evolution opens doors to a variety of interdisciplinary fields. Many students consider expanding their expertise through related graduate programs. For those drawn to the historical context of environmental change, the best online history masters programs can provide valuable research and analytical skills.

Another promising field is library and information science, which supports conservation, data management, and research. Earning a library science degree online can prepare graduates to curate, archive, and disseminate scientific information—vital work in the digital age.

Communication is also key in scientific and environmental advocacy. Students interested in helping others through science may consider asha accredited online slp programs to become speech-language pathologists, a career that draws on scientific and interpersonal expertise.

If you have a background in ecology or related sciences and wish to transition into clinical fields, specialized speech language pathology bridge programs online offer a direct pathway for non-SLP majors.

Each of these career pathways illustrates the versatility and adaptability of an education in Ecology and Evolution, paving the way for impactful and diverse professional opportunities.

Best Scientists Citing Michael J. Samways

Trending Scientists

Recently Published Articles