Citation Rankings
Highly Cited Researchers
South Africa Highly Cited Researchers CitationNatural Sciences / Biological Science in South Africa Rankings 2025
The Citation Rankings (Highly Cited Researchers) highlight the most cited and influential researchers across a vast range of scientific fields, covering 197 main and sub-disciplines, including the Art and Humanities Citation Rankings and Social Sciences and Humanities Citation Rankings. This service, offered exclusively by AD Scientific Index, aims to provide a balanced perspective by excluding data from CERN and other statistical sources that disproportionately favor certain researchers, particularly in the social sciences and humanities. This unique approach addresses the advantages researchers with multi-author publications and CERN involvement hold over others. Furthermore, citation rankings help uncover rule violations and unethical practices within the research community. For more detailed citation analyses, explore the Scientists Last 6 Years Citation Index, Universities Total Citations Rankings 2025, and Universities Last 6 Years Citations Rankings 2025.
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :1
carbon cycle
savannas
earth observation
biodiversity
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
185,599
74,331
0.400
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :2
invasion ecology
invasion biology
invasion science
conservation biology
biological invasions
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
99,670
43,373
0.435
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :3
Ecology
evolution
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
68,416
30,058
0.439
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :4
Ecology
conservation Biology
Earth system science
Climate change
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
49,225
21,983
0.447
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :5
Plant diversity and evolution
palaeovegetation science
conservation science
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
45,762
12,330
0.269
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :6
Biological science
phytomedicine
botany
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
25,806
13,222
0.512
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :7
Insect conservation
invertebrate conservation
conservation biology
landscape ecology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
25,348
11,380
0.449
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :8
Applied ecology
fire ecology
invasion ecology
ecosystem management
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
25,012
9,514
0.380
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :9
Medicinal Plants
Ethnobotany
Phytochemistry
Phytomedicine
Ethnopharmacology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
24,223
11,035
0.456
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :10
laser resonators
laser beam shaping
orbital angular momentum
structured light
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
20,817
15,575
0.748
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :11
Wildlife Ecology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
20,390
6,678
0.328
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :12
Taxonomy
Ethnobotany
Medicinal plants
Apiaceae
Umbelliferae
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
19,984
8,143
0.407
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :13
Estuarine ecology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
19,851
7,399
0.373
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :14
Biological invasions
biodiversity conservation
land use planning
socio-ecological systems
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
19,787
6,815
0.344
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :15
Ecology
Invasion Science
Biological Invasions
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
19,353
11,775
0.608
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :16
mole-rats
Reproduction
physiology...
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
18,505
8,377
0.453
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :17
Skeletal Muscle Physiology
Biology and Biotechnology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
18,447
11,645
0.631
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :18
conservation
ecology
zoology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
17,628
9,141
0.519
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :19
Cancer cellular biology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
17,342
8,499
0.490
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :20
Conservation biology
megaherbivore ecology
predator prey interactions
ecological history
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
16,411
7,424
0.452
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :21
Photobiology
Photochemistry
Photodynamic therapy
Wound healing
Stem cells
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
15,983
11,461
0.717
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :22
galaxy evolution
clusters of galaxies
cosmology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
15,726
9,128
0.580
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :23
Cell death
Apoptosis
Cancer
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
14,311
6,782
0.474
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :24
pollination
physiology
nectar-feeding birds
honey bees
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
13,471
6,162
0.457
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :25
Fire ecology
savanna ecology
forest ecology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
13,065
5,404
0.414
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
956
3
1
Ranking Based On Selection: 1
Robert J Scholes
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
185,599
74,331
0.400
carbon cycle
savannas
earth observation
biodiversity
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
3,133
8
1
Ranking Based On Selection: 2
David M. Richardson
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
99,670
43,373
0.435
invasion ecology
invasion biology
invasion science
conservation biology
biological invasions
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
6,037
18
9
Ranking Based On Selection: 3
William Bond
University of Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
68,416
30,058
0.439
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
10,261
29
3
Ranking Based On Selection: 4
Guy Midgley
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
49,225
21,983
0.447
Ecology
conservation Biology
Earth system science
Climate change
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
11,466
34
1
Ranking Based On Selection: 5
Richard M. Cowling
Nelson Mandela University
Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
45,762
12,330
0.269
Plant diversity and evolution
palaeovegetation science
conservation science
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
28,147
80
2
Ranking Based On Selection: 6
AJ Afolayan
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
25,806
13,222
0.512
Biological science
phytomedicine
botany
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
28,897
85
10
Ranking Based On Selection: 7
Michael J. Samways
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
25,348
11,380
0.449
Insect conservation
invertebrate conservation
conservation biology
landscape ecology
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
29,475
89
11
Ranking Based On Selection: 8
Brian W. Van Wilgen
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
25,012
9,514
0.380
Applied ecology
fire ecology
invasion ecology
ecosystem management
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
30,958
95
6
Ranking Based On Selection: 9
Jacobus Eloff
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
24,223
11,035
0.456
Medicinal Plants
Ethnobotany
Phytochemistry
Phytomedicine
Ethnopharmacology
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
38,346
117
17
Ranking Based On Selection: 10
Andrew Forbes
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
20,817
15,575
0.748
laser resonators
laser beam shaping
orbital angular momentum
structured light
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
39,498
121
19
Ranking Based On Selection: 11
Norman Owen-Smith
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
20,390
6,678
0.328
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
40,612
125
8
Ranking Based On Selection: 12
Ben-Erik Van Wyk
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
19,984
8,143
0.407
Taxonomy
Ethnobotany
Medicinal plants
Apiaceae
Umbelliferae
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
40,998
128
1
Ranking Based On Selection: 13
Whitfield, AK
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
19,851
7,399
0.373
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
41,168
129
11
Ranking Based On Selection: 14
Mathieu Rouget
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
19,787
6,815
0.344
Biological invasions
biodiversity conservation
land use planning
socio-ecological systems
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
42,407
131
22
Ranking Based On Selection: 15
John Wilson
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
19,353
11,775
0.608
Ecology
Invasion Science
Biological Invasions
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
45,025
144
10
Ranking Based On Selection: 16
Nigel C Bennett
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
18,505
8,377
0.453
mole-rats
Reproduction
physiology...
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
45,230
145
26
Ranking Based On Selection: 17
Kathryn Myburgh
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
18,447
11,645
0.631
Skeletal Muscle Physiology
Biology and Biotechnology
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
48,194
154
14
Ranking Based On Selection: 18
Slotow, RH
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
17,628
9,141
0.519
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
49,281
158
11
Ranking Based On Selection: 19
Annie Joubert
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
17,342
8,499
0.490
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
52,986
171
2
Ranking Based On Selection: 20
Graham Ih Kerley
Nelson Mandela University
Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
16,411
7,424
0.452
Conservation biology
megaherbivore ecology
predator prey interactions
ecological history
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
54,965
182
11
Ranking Based On Selection: 21
Heidi Abrahamse
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
15,983
11,461
0.717
Photobiology
Photochemistry
Photodynamic therapy
Wound healing
Stem cells
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
56,116
188
18
Ranking Based On Selection: 22
Matt Hilton
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
15,726
9,128
0.580
galaxy evolution
clusters of galaxies
cosmology
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
63,530
219
31
Ranking Based On Selection: 23
Marianne Cronje
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
14,311
6,782
0.474
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
68,754
234
18
Ranking Based On Selection: 24
Susan W. Nicolson
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
13,471
6,162
0.457
pollination
physiology
nectar-feeding birds
honey bees
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
71,516
240
24
Ranking Based On Selection: 25
Michael J Lawes
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
13,065
5,404
0.414
Fire ecology
savanna ecology
forest ecology