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Nicholas J. Butterfield

Nicholas J. Butterfield

D-Index & Metrics

Discipline name D-Index World Ranking Current World Ranking National Ranking Current National Ranking Publications Citations
Earth Science 53 2857 2608 320 296 103 10575

Nicholas J. Butterfield publications per year

The chart shows the history of publications by Nicholas J. Butterfield between 1979 and 2025, highlighting the no. of papers published in each year and offering an overview of the publication velocity of this scholar. Nicholas J. Butterfield published across 47 years, from 1979 to 2025, averaging 2.4 papers a year. Output peaked at 8 publications in 2012. 6 of the 113 publications appeared in the last two years.

No. of publications
2 4 6 8
Bar chart. Horizontal axis: year, 1979 to 2025. Vertical axis: number of publications, 0 to 8. Peak 8 publications in 2012. 1979: 1 publication 1980: 0 publications 1981: 0 publications 1982: 0 publications 1983: 0 publications 1984: 0 publications 1985: 0 publications 1986: 0 publications 1987: 0 publications 1988: 1 publication 1989: 1 publication 1990: 3 publications 1991: 1 publication 1992: 2 publications 1993: 1 publication 1994: 4 publications 1995: 2 publications 1996: 2 publications 1997: 2 publications 1998: 6 publications 1999: 0 publications 2000: 4 publications 2001: 4 publications 2002: 1 publication 2003: 2 publications 2004: 2 publications 2005: 5 publications 2006: 2 publications 2007: 4 publications 2008: 3 publications 2009: 6 publications 2010: 1 publication 2011: 5 publications 2012: 8 publications 2013: 4 publications 2014: 2 publications 2015: 8 publications 2016: 3 publications 2017: 3 publications 2018: 5 publications 2019: 4 publications 2020: 3 publications 2021: 0 publications 2022: 1 publication 2023: 1 publication 2024: 1 publication 2025: 5 publications
1979 2025

113 publications in total across all disciplines

View publications per year as a table
Nicholas J. Butterfield: publications per year, 1979 to 2025
Year Publications
1979 1
1980 0
1981 0
1982 0
1983 0
1984 0
1985 0
1986 0
1987 0
1988 1
1989 1
1990 3
1991 1
1992 2
1993 1
1994 4
1995 2
1996 2
1997 2
1998 6
1999 0
2000 4
2001 4
2002 1
2003 2
2004 2
2005 5
2006 2
2007 4
2008 3
2009 6
2010 1
2011 5
2012 8
2013 4
2014 2
2015 8
2016 3
2017 3
2018 5
2019 4
2020 3
2021 0
2022 1
2023 1
2024 1
2025 5
Total 113
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Nicholas J. Butterfield publication distribution in Earth Science in 2026

The chart shows the distribution of publications by all Research.com ranked scientists in the field of Earth Science in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Nicholas J. Butterfield sits on this spectrum.

No. of scientists
100 200 300 400 500
Bar chart with 58 bars. Horizontal axis: publications, 38–47 to 603+. Vertical axis: number of scientists, 0 to 557. Most scientists, 557, have 128–137 publications. The last bar groups every scientist with 603 publications or more. The highlighted bar, 98–107 publications, is where this scientist sits. 38–47 publications: 5 scientists 48–57 publications: 33 scientists 58–67 publications: 94 scientists 68–77 publications: 161 scientists 78–87 publications: 278 scientists 88–97 publications: 376 scientists 98–107 publications: 404 scientists 108–117 publications: 484 scientists 118–127 publications: 540 scientists 128–137 publications: 557 scientists 138–147 publications: 491 scientists 148–157 publications: 495 scientists 158–167 publications: 458 scientists 168–177 publications: 490 scientists 178–187 publications: 414 scientists 188–197 publications: 401 scientists 198–207 publications: 333 scientists 208–217 publications: 292 scientists 218–227 publications: 290 scientists 228–237 publications: 262 scientists 238–247 publications: 243 scientists 248–257 publications: 208 scientists 258–267 publications: 185 scientists 268–277 publications: 147 scientists 278–287 publications: 128 scientists 288–297 publications: 119 scientists 298–307 publications: 120 scientists 308–317 publications: 107 scientists 318–327 publications: 93 scientists 328–337 publications: 87 scientists 338–347 publications: 64 scientists 348–357 publications: 87 scientists 358–367 publications: 60 scientists 368–377 publications: 60 scientists 378–387 publications: 34 scientists 388–397 publications: 50 scientists 398–407 publications: 44 scientists 408–417 publications: 31 scientists 418–427 publications: 39 scientists 428–437 publications: 27 scientists 438–447 publications: 36 scientists 448–457 publications: 27 scientists 458–467 publications: 29 scientists 468–477 publications: 30 scientists 478–487 publications: 19 scientists 488–497 publications: 15 scientists 498–507 publications: 18 scientists 508–517 publications: 19 scientists 518–527 publications: 16 scientists 528–537 publications: 10 scientists 538–547 publications: 11 scientists 548–557 publications: 14 scientists 558–567 publications: 11 scientists 568–577 publications: 7 scientists 578–587 publications: 14 scientists 588–597 publications: 5 scientists 598–602 publications: 4 scientists 603+ publications: 100 scientists
38–47 publications 603+

This scientist: 103 publications — 13th percentile

13% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 603 publications or more.

View publications distribution as a table
Number of Earth Science scientists by publication count, Research.com 2026 ranking edition. Based on 9,176 ranked scientists.
Publications Scientists This scientist
38–47 5
48–57 33
58–67 94
68–77 161
78–87 278
88–97 376
98–107 404 103
108–117 484
118–127 540
128–137 557
138–147 491
148–157 495
158–167 458
168–177 490
178–187 414
188–197 401
198–207 333
208–217 292
218–227 290
228–237 262
238–247 243
248–257 208
258–267 185
268–277 147
278–287 128
288–297 119
298–307 120
308–317 107
318–327 93
328–337 87
338–347 64
348–357 87
358–367 60
368–377 60
378–387 34
388–397 50
398–407 44
408–417 31
418–427 39
428–437 27
438–447 36
448–457 27
458–467 29
468–477 30
478–487 19
488–497 15
498–507 18
508–517 19
518–527 16
528–537 10
538–547 11
548–557 14
558–567 11
568–577 7
578–587 14
588–597 5
598–602 4
603+ 100
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Nicholas J. Butterfield D-index placement in Earth Science in 2026

The chart shows the D-index (discipline H-index) distribution of Earth Science scientists ranked by Research.com in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Nicholas J. Butterfield sits on this spectrum.

No. of scientists
100 200 300
Bar chart with 77 bars. Horizontal axis: D-Index, 30 to 106+. Vertical axis: number of scientists, 0 to 389. Most scientists, 389, have 36 D-Index. The last bar groups every scientist with 106 D-Index or more. The highlighted bar, 53 D-Index, is where this scientist sits. 30 D-Index: 144 scientists 31 D-Index: 215 scientists 32 D-Index: 278 scientists 33 D-Index: 379 scientists 34 D-Index: 366 scientists 35 D-Index: 372 scientists 36 D-Index: 389 scientists 37 D-Index: 366 scientists 38 D-Index: 344 scientists 39 D-Index: 349 scientists 40 D-Index: 296 scientists 41 D-Index: 289 scientists 42 D-Index: 277 scientists 43 D-Index: 279 scientists 44 D-Index: 248 scientists 45 D-Index: 257 scientists 46 D-Index: 212 scientists 47 D-Index: 202 scientists 48 D-Index: 207 scientists 49 D-Index: 204 scientists 50 D-Index: 183 scientists 51 D-Index: 178 scientists 52 D-Index: 182 scientists 53 D-Index: 178 scientists 54 D-Index: 163 scientists 55 D-Index: 117 scientists 56 D-Index: 163 scientists 57 D-Index: 120 scientists 58 D-Index: 113 scientists 59 D-Index: 136 scientists 60 D-Index: 135 scientists 61 D-Index: 96 scientists 62 D-Index: 103 scientists 63 D-Index: 83 scientists 64 D-Index: 103 scientists 65 D-Index: 83 scientists 66 D-Index: 89 scientists 67 D-Index: 92 scientists 68 D-Index: 89 scientists 69 D-Index: 78 scientists 70 D-Index: 75 scientists 71 D-Index: 53 scientists 72 D-Index: 62 scientists 73 D-Index: 54 scientists 74 D-Index: 35 scientists 75 D-Index: 52 scientists 76 D-Index: 50 scientists 77 D-Index: 32 scientists 78 D-Index: 37 scientists 79 D-Index: 20 scientists 80 D-Index: 33 scientists 81 D-Index: 36 scientists 82 D-Index: 34 scientists 83 D-Index: 34 scientists 84 D-Index: 24 scientists 85 D-Index: 19 scientists 86 D-Index: 18 scientists 87 D-Index: 26 scientists 88 D-Index: 30 scientists 89 D-Index: 17 scientists 90 D-Index: 21 scientists 91 D-Index: 19 scientists 92 D-Index: 15 scientists 93 D-Index: 14 scientists 94 D-Index: 20 scientists 95 D-Index: 9 scientists 96 D-Index: 10 scientists 97 D-Index: 15 scientists 98 D-Index: 13 scientists 99 D-Index: 3 scientists 100 D-Index: 13 scientists 101 D-Index: 3 scientists 102 D-Index: 9 scientists 103 D-Index: 4 scientists 104 D-Index: 6 scientists 105 D-Index: 6 scientists 106+ D-Index: 98 scientists
30 D-Index 106+

This scientist: 53 D-Index — 70th percentile

70% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 106 D-Index or more.

View D-Index distribution as a table
Number of Earth Science scientists by D-index, Research.com 2026 ranking edition. Based on 9,176 ranked scientists.
D-Index Scientists This scientist
30 144
31 215
32 278
33 379
34 366
35 372
36 389
37 366
38 344
39 349
40 296
41 289
42 277
43 279
44 248
45 257
46 212
47 202
48 207
49 204
50 183
51 178
52 182
53 178 53
54 163
55 117
56 163
57 120
58 113
59 136
60 135
61 96
62 103
63 83
64 103
65 83
66 89
67 92
68 89
69 78
70 75
71 53
72 62
73 54
74 35
75 52
76 50
77 32
78 37
79 20
80 33
81 36
82 34
83 34
84 24
85 19
86 18
87 26
88 30
89 17
90 21
91 19
92 15
93 14
94 20
95 9
96 10
97 15
98 13
99 3
100 13
101 3
102 9
103 4
104 6
105 6
106+ 98
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Overview

Nicholas J. Butterfield is affiliated with the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. Their research primarily focuses on Earth and Planetary Sciences, with a significant concentration on paleontology. Their work extends into subfields such as paleontology, oceanography, atmospheric science, ecology, and biomaterials.

Their main research topics include:

  • Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
  • Marine Biology and Ecology Research
  • Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology
  • Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
  • Marine Invertebrate Physiology and Ecology
  • Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
  • Marine Ecology and Invasive Species

Butterfield has published in several scientific journals, with frequent contributions to the following venues:

  • Palaeontology
  • Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences
  • Geological Magazine
  • Papers in Palaeontology
  • Physical Review B

Their recent papers include:

  • Constructional and functional anatomy of Ediacaran rangeomorphs, 2020, Geological Magazine
  • Cochleatina: an enigmatic Ediacaran-Cambrian survivor among small carbonaceous fossils (SCFs), 2020, Palaeontology
  • A new species of early Cambrian arthropod reconstructed from exceptionally preserved mandibles and associated small carbonaceous fossils (SCFs), 2022, Papers in Palaeontology
  • A peritidal Burgess-Shale-type fauna from the middle Cambrian of western Canada, 2025, Palaeontology
  • A microscopic Burgess Shale: small carbonaceous fossils from a deeper water biota and the distribution of Cambrian non-mineralized faunas, 2025, Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences

Their research collaborations frequently involve:

  • Giovanni Mussini
  • Thomas H. P. Harvey
  • Yorick P. Veenma
  • Ben J. Slater
  • Andrey Bekker

Best Publications

  • Bangiomorpha pubescens n. gen., n. sp.: implications for the evolution of sex, multicellularity, and the Mesoproterozoic/Neoproterozoic radiation of eukaryotes

    Nicholas J. Butterfield

  • Paleobiology of the Neoproterozoic Svanbergfjellet Formation, Spitsbergen

    Nicholas J. Butterfield;Andrew H. Knoll;Keene Swett

  • The Geology of Svalbard

    W. B. Harland;L. M. Anderson;D. Manasrah;N. J. Butterfield

  • Co-evolution of eukaryotes and ocean oxygenation in the Neoproterozoic era

    Timothy M. Lenton;Richard A. Boyle;Simon W. Poulton;Graham A. Shields-Zhou

  • Exceptional Fossil Preservation and the Cambrian Explosion

    Nicholas J. Butterfield

  • Origin of the Eumetazoa: Testing ecological predictions of molecular clocks against the Proterozoic fossil record

    Kevin J. Peterson;Nicholas J. Butterfield

  • Organic preservation of non-mineralizing organisms and the taphonomy of the Burgess Shale

    Nicholas J. Butterfield

  • Strontium isotopic variations of Neoproterozoic seawater: implications for crustal evolution.

    Yemane Asmerom;Stein B Jacobsen;Andrew H Knoll;Nicholas J Butterfield

  • Secular distribution of Burgess-Shale-type preservation

    Nicholas J. Butterfield

  • Oxygen, animals and oceanic ventilation: an alternative view.

    N. J. Butterfield

  • MACROEVOLUTION AND MACROECOLOGY THROUGH DEEP TIME

    Nicholas J. Butterfield

  • Plankton ecology and the Proterozoic-Phanerozoic transition

    Nicholas J. Butterfield

  • Leanchoilia guts and the interpretation of three-dimensional structures in Burgess Shale-type fossils

    Nicholas J. Butterfield

  • A bangiophyte red alga from the Proterozoic of arctic Canada

    Nicholas J. Butterfield;Andrew H. Knoll;Keene Swett

  • Early evolution of the Eukaryota

    Nicholas J. Butterfield

  • Animals and the invention of the Phanerozoic Earth system

    Nicholas J. Butterfield

  • Fossil diagenesis in the Burgess Shale

    Nicholas J. Butterfield;Uwe Balthasar;Lucy A. Wilson

  • A vaucheriacean alga from the middle Neoproterozoic of Spitsbergen: implications for the evolution of Proterozoic eukaryotes and the Cambrian explosion

    Nicholas J. Butterfield

  • A reassessment of the enigmatic Burgess Shale fossil Wiwaxia corrugata (Matthew) and its relationship to the polychaete Canadia spinosa Walcott

    Nicholas J. Butterfield

  • Modes of pre-Ediacaran multicellularity

    Nicholas J. Butterfield

  • Burgess Shale-type fossils from a Lower Cambrian shallow-shelf sequence in northwestern Canada

    Nicholas J. Butterfield

  • Diverse organic-walled fossils, including “possible dinoflagellates,” from the early Neoproterozoic of arctic Canada

    Nicholas J. Butterfield;Robert H. Rainbird

Frequent Co-Authors

Andrew H. Knoll
Andrew H. Knoll Harvard University
Simon W. Poulton
Simon W. Poulton University of Leeds
Jochen J. Brocks
Jochen J. Brocks Australian National University
Robert H. Rainbird
Robert H. Rainbird Geological Survey of Canada
Søren Holdt Jensen
Søren Holdt Jensen University of Extremadura
Hwan Su Yoon
Hwan Su Yoon Sungkyunkwan University
Michael J. Sanderson
Michael J. Sanderson University of Arizona
Mark L. Skidmore
Mark L. Skidmore Montana State University
Timothy M. Lenton
Timothy M. Lenton University of Exeter
Debashish Bhattacharya
Debashish Bhattacharya Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

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