World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!
Sophie von der Heyden

Sophie von der Heyden

D-Index & Metrics

Ecology and Evolution

D-Index
34
Citations
3987
World Ranking
7679
National Ranking
90

Sophie von der Heyden 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 Sophie von der Heyden 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: 98 publications — 17th percentile

17% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

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

Sophie von der Heyden 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 Sophie von der Heyden 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: 34 D-Index — 11th percentile

11% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

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

Overview

Sophie von der Heyden is affiliated with Stellenbosch University in South Africa. Their research spans multiple areas within environmental science and molecular biology, with a particular emphasis on biodiversity studies using environmental DNA and genetic diversity in marine and coastal ecosystems.

The main fields of study encompass Environmental Science and Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology. Within these, their work extends into specific subfields including Ecology, Global and Planetary Change, Molecular Biology, Oceanography, and Genetics.

Key topics explored in their research include:

  • Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
  • Identification and Quantification in Food
  • Genetic diversity and population structure
  • Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
  • Marine and coastal plant biology
  • Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
  • Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies

Selected recent publications highlight the scope of their work:

  • Environmental DNA surveys of African biodiversity: State of knowledge, challenges, and opportunities, 2022, Environmental DNA
  • Molecular ecology meets systematic conservation planning, 2022, Trends in Ecology & Evolution
  • Distinct interspecific and intraspecific vulnerability of coastal species to global change, 2021, Global Change Biology
  • Multi-model seascape genomics identifies distinct environmental drivers of selection among sympatric marine species, 2020, BMC Evolutionary Biology
  • A comparison of genetic and genomic approaches to represent evolutionary potential in conservation planning, 2020, Biological Conservation

The researcher frequently publishes in venues such as Environmental DNA, African Journal of Marine Science, Global Change Biology, Diversity and Distributions, and Research Square.

Collaborations have been established with several co-authors, including:

  • Romina Henriques
  • Erica S. Nielsen
  • Andrew Ndhlovu
  • Maria Beger
  • Janine B. Adams

Best Publications

  • A review of marine phylogeography in southern Africa

    Peter R. Teske;Sophie von der Heyden;Christopher D. McQuaid;Nigel P. Barker

  • Global eukaryote phylogeny: Combined small- and large-subunit ribosomal DNA trees support monophyly of Rhizaria, Retaria and Excavata.

    David Moreira;Sophie von der Heyden;David Bass;Purificación López-García

  • Ribosomal RNA Phylogeny of Bodonid and Diplonemid Flagellates and the Evolution of Euglenozoa

    Sophie von der Heyden;Ema E Chao;Keith Vickerman;Thomas Cavalier-Smith

  • A synthesis of genetic connectivity in deep-sea fauna and implications for marine reserve design

    Amy R Baco;Ron J Etter;Pedro A Ribeiro;Sophie von der Heyden

  • Evolving coral reef conservation with genetic information

    Maria Beger;Kimberly A Selkoe;Eric A Treml;Paul H Barber

  • Phylogeography unplugged: comparative surveys in the genomic era

    Brian W Bowen;Kartik Shanker;Nina Yasuda;Maria Celia (Machel) D Malay

  • Polyubiquitin Insertions and the Phylogeny of Cercozoa and Rhizaria

    David Bass;David Moreira;Purificación López-García;Stephane Polet

  • Mitochondrial DNA is unsuitable to test for isolation by distance

    Peter R. Teske;Tirupathi Rao Golla;Jonathan Sandoval-Castillo;Arsalan Emami-Khoyi

  • The application of genetics to marine management and conservation: Examples from the Indo-Pacific

    Sophie von der Heyden;Maria Beger;Robert J. Toonen;Lynne van Herwerden

  • Molecular phylogeny, scale evolution and taxonomy of centrohelid heliozoa

    Thomas Cavalier-Smith;Sophie von der Heyden;Sophie von der Heyden

  • Mitochondrial DNA analyses of the Cape hakes reveal an expanding, panmictic population for Merluccius capensis and population structuring for mature fish in Merluccius paradoxus.

    Sophie von der Heyden;Marek R. Lipinski;Conrad A. Matthee

  • Culturing and environmental DNA sequencing uncover hidden kinetoplastid biodiversity and a major marine clade within ancestrally freshwater Neobodo designis

    Sophie von der Heyden;Thomas Cavalier-Smith

  • Significant population structure and asymmetric gene flow patterns amidst expanding populations of Clinus cottoides (Perciformes, Clinidae): application of molecular data to marine conservation planning in South Africa

    Sophie Von Der Heyden;Kim Prochazka;Rauri C. K. Bowie;Rauri C. K. Bowie

  • Genetic isolation by distance reveals restricted dispersal across a range of life histories: implications for biodiversity conservation planning across highly variable marine environments

    Daniel Wright;Jacqueline M. Bishop;Conrad A. Matthee;Sophie von der Heyden

  • Range expansions across ecoregions: interactions of climate change, physiology and genetic diversity.

    Marc Rius;Marc Rius;Marc Rius;Susana Clusella-Trullas;Christopher D. McQuaid;René A. Navarro

  • Evidence for panmixia despite barriers to gene flow in the southern African endemic, Caffrogobius caffer (Teleostei: Gobiidae).

    Marlene Neethling;Conrad A. Matthee;Rauri C. K. Bowie;Sophie Von der Heyden

  • Misleading the masses: detection of mislabelled and substituted frozen fish products in South Africa

    Sophie von der Heyden;Jaco Barendse;Anthony J. Seebregts;Conrad A. Matthee

  • Thermal selection as a driver of marine ecological speciation.

    Peter R Teske;Jonathan Sandoval-Castillo;Tirupathi Rao Golla;Arsalan Emami-Khoyi

  • Genetic diversity of goniomonads: an ancient divergence between marine and freshwater species

    Sophie von der Heyden;Ema Chao;Thomas Cavalier-Smith

  • Landscape Genomics: Understanding Relationships Between Environmental Heterogeneity and Genomic Characteristics of Populations

    Niko Balkenhol;Rachael Y. Dudaniec;Konstantin V. Krutovsky;Jeremy S. Johnson

  • Remarkably low mtDNA control region diversity in an abundant demersal fish

    Sophie von der Heyden;Marek R. Lipinski;Conrad A. Matthee

  • Why do we need to integrate population genetics into South African marine protected area planning?

    Unknown

Frequent Co-Authors

Conrad A. Matthee
Conrad A. Matthee Stellenbosch University
Maria Beger
Maria Beger University of Leeds
Peter R. Teske
Peter R. Teske University of Johannesburg
Robert J. Toonen
Robert J. Toonen University of Hawaii at Manoa
Thomas Cavalier-Smith
Thomas Cavalier-Smith University of Oxford
Rauri C. K. Bowie
Rauri C. K. Bowie University of California, Berkeley
Cang Hui
Cang Hui Stellenbosch University
Kimberly A. Selkoe
Kimberly A. Selkoe University of California, Santa Barbara
Luciano B. Beheregaray
Luciano B. Beheregaray Flinders University
Giacomo Bernardi
Giacomo Bernardi University of California, Santa Cruz

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