Citation Rankings
Highly Cited Researchers
South Africa Highly Cited Researchers CitationNatural Sciences / Biological Science in South Africa Rankings 2025
Citation Rankings (Highly Cited Researchers) and the list of the most cited and influential researchers cover a wide range of scientific fields, spanning 197 main and sub-disciplines, as well as the Art and Humanities Citation Rankings and Social Sciences and Humanities Citation Rankings, offering a unique service. Additionally, the list without CERN, Statistical Data, etc., provided exclusively by “AD Scientific Index”, is part of our effort to balance the situation created by CERN and researchers with statistical data, who have an advantage over others, especially those in the social and humanities fields. There should be new regulations for multi-author and CERN papers. Citation lists also reveal many rule violations and unethical practices. See also for more specific citation analyses: 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
178,840
70,942
0.397
* 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
97,481
41,350
0.424
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :3
Ecology
evolution
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
66,948
28,702
0.429
* 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
48,012
20,852
0.434
* 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
45,136
11,800
0.261
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :6
Biological science
phytomedicine
botany
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
25,180
12,660
0.503
* 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
24,660
10,754
0.436
* 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
24,607
9,155
0.372
* 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
23,762
10,613
0.447
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :10
Wildlife Ecology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
20,083
6,395
0.318
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :11
laser resonators
laser beam shaping
orbital angular momentum
structured light
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
19,825
14,594
0.736
* 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
19,553
7,762
0.397
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :13
Biological invasions
biodiversity conservation
land use planning
socio-ecological systems
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
19,486
6,543
0.336
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :14
Estuarine ecology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
19,443
7,041
0.362
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :15
Ecology
Invasion Science
Biological Invasions
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
18,847
11,249
0.597
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :16
mole-rats
Reproduction
physiology...
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
18,009
7,949
0.441
* 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
17,914
11,156
0.623
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :18
conservation
ecology
zoology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
17,104
8,644
0.505
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :19
Cancer cellular biology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
16,964
8,142
0.480
* 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
16,061
7,093
0.442
* 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
15,239
10,755
0.706
* 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
15,039
8,478
0.564
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :23
Cell death
Apoptosis
Cancer
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
14,048
6,551
0.466
* 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
13,126
5,837
0.445
* 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
12,809
5,173
0.404
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
971
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
178,840
70,942
0.397
carbon cycle
savannas
earth observation
biodiversity
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
3,123
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
97,481
41,350
0.424
invasion ecology
invasion biology
invasion science
conservation biology
biological invasions
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
6,021
17
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
66,948
28,702
0.429
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
10,287
28
3
Ranking Based On Selection: 4
Guy Midgley
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
48,012
20,852
0.434
Ecology
conservation Biology
Earth system science
Climate change
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
11,314
32
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
45,136
11,800
0.261
Plant diversity and evolution
palaeovegetation science
conservation science
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
28,270
79
2
Ranking Based On Selection: 6
AJ Afolayan
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
25,180
12,660
0.503
Biological science
phytomedicine
botany
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
29,164
86
10
Ranking Based On Selection: 7
Michael J. Samways
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
24,660
10,754
0.436
Insect conservation
invertebrate conservation
conservation biology
landscape ecology
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
29,253
87
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
24,607
9,155
0.372
Applied ecology
fire ecology
invasion ecology
ecosystem management
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
30,815
96
6
Ranking Based On Selection: 9
Jacobus Eloff
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
23,762
10,613
0.447
Medicinal Plants
Ethnobotany
Phytochemistry
Phytomedicine
Ethnopharmacology
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
39,096
118
17
Ranking Based On Selection: 10
Norman Owen-Smith
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
20,083
6,395
0.318
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
39,797
122
19
Ranking Based On Selection: 11
Andrew Forbes
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
19,825
14,594
0.736
laser resonators
laser beam shaping
orbital angular momentum
structured light
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
40,574
124
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
19,553
7,762
0.397
Taxonomy
Ethnobotany
Medicinal plants
Apiaceae
Umbelliferae
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
40,779
126
11
Ranking Based On Selection: 13
Mathieu Rouget
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
19,486
6,543
0.336
Biological invasions
biodiversity conservation
land use planning
socio-ecological systems
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
40,914
127
1
Ranking Based On Selection: 14
Whitfield, AK
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
19,443
7,041
0.362
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
42,650
132
24
Ranking Based On Selection: 15
John Wilson
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
18,847
11,249
0.597
Ecology
Invasion Science
Biological Invasions
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
45,336
142
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
18,009
7,949
0.441
mole-rats
Reproduction
physiology...
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
45,682
143
26
Ranking Based On Selection: 17
Kathryn Myburgh
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
17,914
11,156
0.623
Skeletal Muscle Physiology
Biology and Biotechnology
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
48,677
157
15
Ranking Based On Selection: 18
Slotow, RH
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
17,104
8,644
0.505
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
49,217
159
11
Ranking Based On Selection: 19
Annie Joubert
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
16,964
8,142
0.480
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
52,949
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
16,061
7,093
0.442
Conservation biology
megaherbivore ecology
predator prey interactions
ecological history
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
56,761
185
11
Ranking Based On Selection: 21
Heidi Abrahamse
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
15,239
10,755
0.706
Photobiology
Photochemistry
Photodynamic therapy
Wound healing
Stem cells
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
57,768
191
18
Ranking Based On Selection: 22
Matt Hilton
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
15,039
8,478
0.564
galaxy evolution
clusters of galaxies
cosmology
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
63,135
214
30
Ranking Based On Selection: 23
Marianne Cronje
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
14,048
6,551
0.466
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
68,983
235
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
13,126
5,837
0.445
pollination
physiology
nectar-feeding birds
honey bees
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
71,147
240
24
Ranking Based On Selection: 25
Michael J Lawes
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
12,809
5,173
0.404
Fire ecology
savanna ecology
forest ecology