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Thomas A. Kursar

D-Index & Metrics

Ecology and Evolution

D-Index
59
Citations
12728
World Ranking
2429
National Ranking
858

Thomas A. Kursar 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 Thomas A. Kursar 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: 107 publications — 23rd percentile

23% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

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

Thomas A. Kursar 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 Thomas A. Kursar 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: 59 D-Index — 72nd percentile

72% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

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

Overview

Thomas A. Kursar was affiliated with the University of Utah in the United States and contributed to research primarily within Agricultural and Biological Sciences and Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology. Their work spanned related subfields including Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Molecular Biology, Food Science, Nature and Landscape Conservation, and Genetics.

The primary topics explored in their research included:

  • Plant and animal studies
  • Plant biochemistry and biosynthesis
  • Essential Oils and Antimicrobial Activity
  • Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
  • Plant Diversity and Evolution
  • Plant and Fungal Species Descriptions
  • Genetic diversity and population structure

Their recent publications reflect a focus on plant secondary metabolites, tropical tree evolution, and ecological community dynamics. Notable papers included:

  • Diversity and divergence: evolution of secondary metabolism in the tropical tree genus Inga, 2022, New Phytologist
  • The role of plant secondary metabolites in shaping regional and local plant community assembly, 2021, Journal of Ecology
  • Continuous colonization of the Atlantic coastal rain forests of South America from Amazônia, 2025, Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences
  • Diversity and Divergence: Evolution of defense chemistry in the tropical tree genus Inga, 2021, bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)

Frequent coauthors in their work included María-José Endara, James A. Nicholls, Phyllis D. Coley, Dale L. Forrister, and Kyle G. Dexter, each collaborating on multiple publications.

Kursar's research was published in several venues, notably:

  • New Phytologist
  • Journal of Ecology
  • Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences
  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)

Best Publications

  • Drought sensitivity shapes species distribution patterns in tropical forests.

    Bettina M. J. Engelbrecht;Liza S. Comita;Richard S. Condit;Thomas A. Kursar;Thomas A. Kursar

  • Are tropical fungal endophytes hyperdiverse

    A.E. Arnold;Z. Maynard;G.S. Gilbert;P.D. Coley

  • The global distribution of diet breadth in insect herbivores

    Matthew L. Forister;Vojtech Novotny;Vojtech Novotny;Anna K. Panorska;Leontine Baje

  • Host specificity of Lepidoptera in tropical and temperate forests

    L. A. Dyer;M. S. Singer;J. T. Lill;J. O. Stireman

  • Convergence in Defense Syndromes of Young Leaves in Tropical Rainforests

    Thomas A. Kursar;Thomas A. Kursar;Phyllis D. Coley;Phyllis D. Coley

  • The evolution of antiherbivore defenses and their contribution to species coexistence in the tropical tree genus Inga

    Thomas A. Kursar;Thomas A. Kursar;Kyle G. Dexter;John Lokvam;R. Toby Pennington

  • Comparative drought-resistance of seedlings of 28 species of co-occurring tropical woody plants.

    Bettina M. J. Engelbrecht;Bettina M. J. Engelbrecht;Thomas A. Kursar;Thomas A. Kursar

  • Causes and Consequences of Monodominance in Tropical Lowland Forests

    Sylvia D. Torti;Phyllis D. Coley;Thomas A. Kursar

  • Tolerance to low leaf water status of tropical tree seedlings is related to drought performance and distribution.

    Thomas A. Kursar;Thomas A. Kursar;Bettina M. J. Engelbrecht;Bettina M. J. Engelbrecht;Amy Burke;Melvin T. Tyree;Melvin T. Tyree;Melvin T. Tyree

  • The effects of plant quality on caterpillar growth and defense against natural enemies

    Phyllis D. Coley;Phyllis D. Coley;M. L. Bateman;Thomas A. Kursar

  • Drought effects on seedling survival in a tropical moist forest

    Bettina M. J. Engelbrecht;Thomas A. Kursar;Thomas A. Kursar;Melvin T. Tyree

  • Does leaf shedding protect stems from cavitation during seasonal droughts? A test of the hydraulic fuse hypothesis

    Brett T. Wolfe;Brett T. Wolfe;John S. Sperry;Thomas A. Kursar;Thomas A. Kursar

  • A novel DNA-based microfluorimetric method to evaluate antimalarial drug activity.

    Yolanda Corbett;Liuris Herrera;Jose Gonzalez;Luis Cubilla

  • Light-Harvesting System of the Red Alga Gracilaria tikvahiae: I. Biochemical Analyses of Pigment Mutations.

    Thomas A. Kursar;John van der Meer;Randall S. Alberte

  • Desiccation tolerance of five tropical seedlings in panama. Relationship to a field assessment of drought performance.

    Melvin T. Tyree;Bettina M.J. Engelbrecht;Gustavo Vargas;Thomas A. Kursar

  • Delayed greening in tropical leaves: an antiherbivore defense?

    Thomas A. Kursar;Phyllis D. Coley

  • Photosynthetic Unit Organization in a Red Alga: Relationships between Light-Harvesting Pigments and Reaction Centers

    Thomas A. Kursar;Randall S. Alberte

  • The effects of weather on fungal abundance and richness among 25 communities in the Intermountain West

    Sharon M Talley;Phyllis D Coley;Thomas A Kursar

  • Bioactivity of fungal endophytes as a function of endophyte taxonomy and the taxonomy and distribution of their host plants.

    Sarah J. Higginbotham;A. Elizabeth Arnold;Alicia Ibañez;Carmenza Spadafora

  • Short dry spells in the wet season increase mortality of tropical pioneer seedlings

    Bettina M. J. Engelbrecht;Bettina M. J. Engelbrecht;James W. Dalling;James W. Dalling;Timothy R. H. Pearson;Robert L. Wolf

  • Coevolutionary arms race versus host defense chase in a tropical herbivore-plant system

    María José Endara;Phyllis D. Coley;Gabrielle Ghabash;James A. Nicholls

  • Novel Phycoerythrins in Marine Synechococcus spp. : Characterization and Evolutionary and Ecological Implications

    Randall S. Alberte;A. Michelle Wood;Thomas A. Kursar;Robert R. L. Guillard

Frequent Co-Authors

Phyllis D. Coley
Phyllis D. Coley University of Utah
Bettina M. J. Engelbrecht
Bettina M. J. Engelbrecht University of Bayreuth
Melvin T. Tyree
Melvin T. Tyree Zhejiang Normal University
Kyle G. Dexter
Kyle G. Dexter University of Edinburgh
William H. Gerwick
William H. Gerwick University of California, San Diego
R. Toby Pennington
R. Toby Pennington University of Exeter
A. Elizabeth Arnold
A. Elizabeth Arnold University of Arizona
Randall S. Alberte
Randall S. Alberte University of Chicago
Graham N. Stone
Graham N. Stone University of Edinburgh
Klaus Winter
Klaus Winter Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

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Best Scientists Citing Thomas A. Kursar

James W. Dalling

James W. Dalling

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Publications: 52

Lee A. Dyer

Lee A. Dyer

University of Nevada Reno

Publications: 51

S. Joseph Wright

S. Joseph Wright

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

Publications: 48

A. Elizabeth Arnold

A. Elizabeth Arnold

University of Arizona

Publications: 46

Benjamin L. Turner

Benjamin L. Turner

Gyeongsang National University

Publications: 41

Stephen P. Hubbell

Stephen P. Hubbell

University of California, Los Angeles

Publications: 40

Christopher Baraloto

Christopher Baraloto

Florida International University

Publications: 39

Lourens Poorter

Lourens Poorter

Wageningen University & Research

Publications: 36

Bettina M. J. Engelbrecht

Bettina M. J. Engelbrecht

University of Bayreuth

Publications: 34

Richard Condit

Richard Condit

Independent Scientist / Consultant, US

Publications: 34

Liza S. Comita

Liza S. Comita

Yale University

Publications: 32

Patrick Meir

Patrick Meir

University of Edinburgh

Publications: 30

Stuart J. Davies

Stuart J. Davies

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

Publications: 30

Hervé Cochard

Hervé Cochard

INRAE : Institut national de recherche pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement

Publications: 30

Kyle G. Dexter

Kyle G. Dexter

University of Edinburgh

Publications: 29

Brendan Choat

Brendan Choat

Western Sydney University

Publications: 29

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