Citation Rankings
Highly Cited Researchers
Natural Sciences / Biological Science Highly Cited Researchers Citation Rankings (Sort by last 6 years Citation Index) 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.
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 1
Medicinal Plants
Ethnobotany
Phytochemistry
Phytomedicine
Ethnopharmacology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
24,223
11,035
0.456
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 2
Cancer cellular biology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
17,342
8,499
0.490
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 3
mole-rats
Reproduction
physiology...
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
18,505
8,377
0.453
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 4
pollination
physiology
nectar-feeding birds
honey bees
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
13,471
6,162
0.457
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 5
Evolutionary Physiology
Ornithology
Stable Isotopes
Climate Change
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
8,329
5,114
0.614
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 6
Large Mammal Ecology
Marine Mammals
Wildlife Management
Field methods
Long-term monitoring
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
5,048
3,808
0.754
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 7
Wildlife Diseases
Wildlife Conservation
One Health
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
7,676
3,519
0.458
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 8
Conservation Ecology
African elephants
Forest restoration
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
9,239
2,994
0.324
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 9
Wildlife / Behavioural Endocrinology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
4,011
2,519
0.628
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 10
Biogeography
Ecology
Ethnobotany
Plant Taxonomy
Plant Anatomy
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
7,670
2,477
0.323
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 11
biology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
5,138
2,469
0.481
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 12
Evolutionary biology
phylogtenetics
mammalogy
ecology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
7,270
2,220
0.305
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 13
life science
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3,446
1,945
0.564
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 14
ecology
macroecology
Africa
species distributions
diversity patterns
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,492
1,909
0.766
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 15
Honeybees
pollination
pollen
nectar
bee diseases
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3,064
1,849
0.603
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 16
Dung beetles
biogeography
ecology
taxonomy
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
4,393
1,773
0.404
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 17
social behaviour
chemical ecology
social insects
honeybee
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
6,277
1,682
0.268
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 18
Applied cell biology
bio active molecules
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,502
1,563
0.625
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 19
Conservation ecology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3,109
1,547
0.498
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 20
Flies of Economic Significance
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,529
1,498
0.592
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 21
Biological Invasions
aquatic ecology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,610
1,373
0.853
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 22
Evolutionary ecology
host-parasite interactions
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,042
1,298
0.636
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 23
Behavioral Ecology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
4,182
1,243
0.297
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 24
Behavioural Ecology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,885
1,198
0.636
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 25
Ecology
Conservation evidence
artificial light at night
ornithology
biogeography
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,661
1,078
0.649
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
31,480
130
5
Ranking Based On Selection: 1
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
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
46,132
188
11
Ranking Based On Selection: 2
Annie Joubert
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
17,342
8,499
0.490
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
47,076
193
13
Ranking Based On Selection: 3
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...
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
71,944
288
20
Ranking Based On Selection: 4
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
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
91,503
369
35
Ranking Based On Selection: 5
Andrew Mckechnie
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
8,329
5,114
0.614
Evolutionary Physiology
Ornithology
Stable Isotopes
Climate Change
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
131,111
563
45
Ranking Based On Selection: 6
Nico De Bruyn|PJ Nico de Bruyn
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
5,048
3,808
0.754
Large Mammal Ecology
Marine Mammals
Wildlife Management
Field methods
Long-term monitoring
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
143,899
625
53
Ranking Based On Selection: 7
Armanda Ds Bastos
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
7,676
3,519
0.458
Wildlife Diseases
Wildlife Conservation
One Health
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
172,818
748
66
Ranking Based On Selection: 8
Rudi Van Aarde
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
9,239
2,994
0.324
Conservation Ecology
African elephants
Forest restoration
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
208,493
916
75
Ranking Based On Selection: 9
Andre Ganswindt
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
4,011
2,519
0.628
Wildlife / Behavioural Endocrinology
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
212,082
939
78
Ranking Based On Selection: 10
Abraham E. Van Wyk
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
7,670
2,477
0.323
Biogeography
Ecology
Ethnobotany
Plant Taxonomy
Plant Anatomy
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
212,850
942
79
Ranking Based On Selection: 11
Oleg Reva
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
5,138
2,469
0.481
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
237,378
1,052
91
Ranking Based On Selection: 12
Christian Chimimba
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
7,270
2,220
0.305
Evolutionary biology
phylogtenetics
mammalogy
ecology
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
271,058
1,214
101
Ranking Based On Selection: 13
Elna M Buys
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3,446
1,945
0.564
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
276,098
1,243
102
Ranking Based On Selection: 14
Michelle Greve
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,492
1,909
0.766
ecology
macroecology
Africa
species distributions
diversity patterns
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
284,569
1,289
107
Ranking Based On Selection: 15
Hannelie Human
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3,064
1,849
0.603
Honeybees
pollination
pollen
nectar
bee diseases
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
295,980
1,347
112
Ranking Based On Selection: 16
Adrian LV Davis
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
4,393
1,773
0.404
Dung beetles
biogeography
ecology
taxonomy
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
310,588
1,425
123
Ranking Based On Selection: 17
Robin Crewe
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
6,277
1,682
0.268
social behaviour
chemical ecology
social insects
honeybee
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
332,181
1,533
136
Ranking Based On Selection: 18
Megan Bester
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,502
1,563
0.625
Applied cell biology
bio active molecules
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
335,207
1,547
138
Ranking Based On Selection: 19
Mark Keith
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3,109
1,547
0.498
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
344,939
1,602
148
Ranking Based On Selection: 20
Chris Weldon
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,529
1,498
0.592
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
372,186
1,766
162
Ranking Based On Selection: 21
Tsungai Alfred Zengeya
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,610
1,373
0.853
Biological Invasions
aquatic ecology
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
389,919
1,861
167
Ranking Based On Selection: 22
Muriel Dietrich
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,042
1,298
0.636
Evolutionary ecology
host-parasite interactions
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
403,889
1,924
173
Ranking Based On Selection: 23
David Gaynor
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
4,182
1,243
0.297
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
416,160
1,987
178
Ranking Based On Selection: 24
Adrian M Shrader
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,885
1,198
0.636
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
451,750
2,163
202
Ranking Based On Selection: 25
Bernard Wt Coetzee
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,661
1,078
0.649
Ecology
Conservation evidence
artificial light at night
ornithology
biogeography