Each university's position in the ranking is determined by the aggregated D-indexes (Discipline H-indexes) of all its affiliated scholars whose main research domain is Ecology and Evolution. The D-index reflects solely the publications and citation data specific to the discipline of Ecology and Evolution, ensuring a focused and discipline-appropriate assessment of scholarly impact.
Scope of Research and Scholar Analysis
For this edition, a total of 279,971 scientist profiles were identified and examined using a range of bibliometric data sources, of which 28,170 scientists specializing in Ecology and Evolution were subject to in-depth analysis. A strict qualifying D-index threshold of 30 was established for each scientist, with the additional criterion that the majority of their significant publications must be within the field of Ecology and Evolution.
Recognition of scientists’ advances is further refined: their awards and achievements in Ecology and Evolution, while not the primary weighting, are considered as supplementary attributes. The D-index threshold for recognizing top researchers is set in increments of 10, tailored to fit the magnitude of the discipline and ensuring the top 1% of scholars are included. To maintain discipline fidelity, there is a proximity requirement stipulating a maximum of 30% divergence between a scholar’s general H-index and their D-index. All these measures reinforce the integrity and relevance of the ranking.
Additional Verification and Quality Assurance
The research team at Research.com acknowledges that raw bibliometric data, while crucial, must not be the sole metric for academic assessment. To guarantee the reliability and accuracy of the ranking, every scientist profile underwent manual verification and thorough cross-correlation with publications listed in a diverse range of authoritative sources.
While the number of publications in leading journals and conference proceedings does not directly affect a researcher’s position within the Research.com ranking, it is highlighted as a meaningful secondary indicator of a scientist's true contribution to the field.
Institutional rankings were assigned based on each researcher’s H-index, as obtained from OpenAlex and CrossRef—widely recognized and trusted bibliometric databases within the academic community. To understand more about the full methodology behind our analysis, please visit our methodology page.
Purpose and Mission of the Research.com Ranking
The foundational purpose of this ranking is to inspire and inform scientists, business leaders, and policymakers worldwide by highlighting where the top experts in Ecology and Evolution are positioned. Our mission is to provide the broader research community with transparent, reliable, and actionable data, enabling the identification of leading scholars across disciplines, regions, and institutions.
Through this ranking, Research.com contributes a vital resource to guide conversations and decisions about research trajectories, institutional partnerships, and innovation policy, giving visibility to seminal scientific contributions and their authors.
Summary of Key Results
- Top 3 institutions in Taiwan by leading scholars in Ecology and Evolution:
- National Taiwan University (3 scientists)
- National Taiwan Ocean University (2 scientists)
- National Dong Hwa University (1 scientist)
- Globally, the most prominent institutions represented among the field's top scholars include:
- University of Minnesota
- University of Exeter
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
- University of Alaska Fairbanks
- Stanford University
- University of Göttingen
- University of Queensland
- University of Paris-Saclay
- Peking University
- Stockholm University
- Top Individual Scholars Worldwide:
- Professor Peter B. Reich (University of Minnesota) – D-index 207
- Kevin J. Gaston (University of Exeter) – D-index 188
- David Tilman (University of Minnesota) – D-index 182
- Performance Metrics:
- The average total D-index for the top 5% of universities: 2286 (compared to an average of 372 across all 877 institutions)
- The average number of published articles in Ecology and Evolution by top 5%: 6974 (vs. 1206 across all universities)
- The average citation count for top 1% universities: 1,279,971 (vs. 279,971 for all 877 universities)
Our rigorous and transparent assessment highlights leading institutions and individuals, reflecting Research.com’s commitment to accuracy, meritocracy, and service to the international research community.
