# African savanna raptors show evidence of widespread population collapse and a growing dependence on protected areas

*PRI Rank #14 · Topics and Trends in Most Cited Avian ecology and behavior Papers, Class of 2026*

*Canonical URL: https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/avian-ecology-and-behavior/2026/rank-14*

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Rank | #14 |
| 18m citations | 20 |
| Journal | Nature Ecology & Evolution |
| Year | 2024 |
| DOI | 10.1038/s41559-023-02236-0 |
| Corresponding authors | Phil Shaw, Darcy Ogada |
| Institution | University of St Andrews, United Kingdom |

**Ranking page:** [Topics and Trends in Most Cited Avian ecology and behavior Papers, Class of 2026](https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/avian-ecology-and-behavior/2026)

**Paper link:** [10.1038/s41559-023-02236-0](https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-023-02236-0)

## Topics

African savanna raptors · population collapse · protected areas · habitat conversion to farmland · biodiversity loss · tropical raptors · apex predators and scavengers · cascading effects · prey-base depletion · human population expansion · multiregional trends · 42 African raptor species · IUCN extinction risk criteria · body size-decline relationship · West Africa raptor declines · protected area effectiveness · conservation area expansion · 30% land protection target · UN Convention on Biological Diversity COP15 · protected area management

## Cite this ranking

```
Pepkio Research Index (PRI). Topics and Trends in Most Cited Avian ecology and behavior Papers, Class of 2026. https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/avian-ecology-and-behavior/2026. Accessed 2026-07-21.

Zheng Su, Tinsley Li, Thematic Shifts in Early-High-Impact Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics Research: A Bibliometric and Semantic Analysis. bioRxiv 2026.07.04.736459; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.04.736459
```