Topics and Trends in Most Cited Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies Papers

Ranked by citations 18 months after publication

Class of 2026 (Papers Published in 2024)

What topics and trends defined most-cited Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies research in the Class of 2026?

The Class of 2026 in Coral and Marine Ecosystems highlights an urgent shift from documenting decline to driving active recovery. Driven by escalating climate pressures, research heavily features the Great Barrier Reef, focusing intensely on coral bleaching events while concurrently surging in post-disturbance coral recovery and reef restoration strategies.

See details ↓

Updated September 14, 2026

At a glance

Field
Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
Cohort label
Class of 2026 (2024 publications)
Papers analyzed
4,652
Papers ranked
20
Top topics in ranked papers
Coral bleaching, Marine heatwaves, Great Barrier Reef
Publication window
Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024
Eligibility
Research articles; reviews excluded
Citation window
18 months post-publication
18m citation range
35–69
Data source
OpenAlex · Retrieved September 2026
License
CC BY 4.0

Rankings

20 papers ranked by 18-month citation count

#1 of 4,652
6918m citations

Highest ocean heat in four centuries places Great Barrier Reef in danger

Benjamin J Henley et al.Nature202410.1038/s41586-024-07672-x

Benjamin J. HenleyUniversity of Wollongong, Australia

Great Barrier ReefCoral bleachingSea surface temperatureCoral Sea400-year temperature reconstructionJanuary–March heat extremespre-industrial baselineanthropogenic climate change attributionclimate model analysishuman influence on climatepost-1900 warming trendnear-annual bleaching thresholdecosystem servicesEcosystem functionoutstanding universal value
Badge
#2 of 4,652
6218m citations

Global impacts of marine heatwaves on coastal foundation species

Kathryn E Smith et al.Nature Communications202410.1038/s41467-024-49307-9

Kathryn E. SmithMarine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, United Kingdom

Marine heatwavesfoundation speciesmacroalgaeseagrasscoralsmarine ecoregionswarm-range edgesCumulative heat stressspecies range limitsHeat stressCoastal ecosystemsClimate resilienceecosystem servicesCoastal waterstemporal decline patternsabsolute temperaturebiodiversity impacts
Badge
#3 of 4,652
5318m citations

Ocean protection quality is lagging behind quantity: Applying a scientific framework to assess real marine protected area progress against the 30 by 30 target

Elizabeth P. Pike et al.Conservation Letters202410.1111/conl.13020

Elizabeth P. PikeMarine Conservation Institute Seattle Washington USA, United States

30x30 biodiversity targetMarine Protected AreasMPA Guide frameworkMPA quality assessmentMPA implementation gapsfully protected MPAshighly protected MPAshigh-impact activities in MPAsMPA coverage metricsbiodiversity loss reversalMarine ecosystemsecoregion distribution analysisremote and overseas territoriesAnthropogenic impactsMPA regulations and managementglobal MPA networkconservation outcomeslargest 100 MPAs by area
Badge
#4 of 4,652
5218m citations

Baseline matters: Challenges and implications of different marine heatwave baselines

Kathryn E. Smith et al.Progress In Oceanography202410.1016/j.pocean.2024.103404

Kathryn E. SmithUnknown, Unknown

Marine heatwavestemperature baselinebaseline definition approachesMarine heatwave metricsoceanic climate backgroundextreme event definitionmarine organism adaptive potentialecosystem risk assessmentOcean warmingbaseline choice implicationsMHW detection methodsclimate extreme communicationmanagement strategy recommendationsstakeholder engagementtemporal baseline variabilityecological interpretationfuture risk projectionadaptive capacity
Badge
#5 of 4,652
5118m citations

Cumulative risk of future bleaching for the world’s coral reefs

Camille Mellin et al.Science Advances202410.1126/sciadv.adn9660

Camille MellinUniversity of Adelaide, Australia

Coral bleachingOcean warmingHeat stressClimate change impacts on coral reefsBleaching risk projectionsclimate refugialow-latitude coral regionsSeasonal bleaching onsetyear-round bleachingclimate change mitigationCoral reef conservationSea-surface temperature projectionsbleaching severityannual bleaching durationspatial patterns of bleachingtemporal patterns of bleachingclimate refugia identification
Badge
#6 of 4,652
5118m citations

It's time to broaden what we consider a ‘blue carbon ecosystem’

Kelly James et al.Global Change Biology202410.1111/gcb.17261

Nicholas A. KamenosNatureScot, United Kingdom

Blue carbon ecosystemsphotoautotrophic marine ecosystemsorganic carbon burialseagrassMangrovessalt marshesmud flatsfjordscoralline algal bedsrhodolith bedsCoral reefsnature-based solutionsallochthonous organic carbonparticle trapping capacitycalcificationcarbon remineralizationdepositional environmentsBlue carbon accountingmeta-analysiscontext-dependent carbon sinks
Badge
#7 of 4,652
4618m citations

Probiotics reshape the coral microbiome in situ without detectable off-target effects in the surrounding environment

Nathalia Delgadillo-Ordoñez et al.Communications Biology202410.1038/s42003-024-06135-3

Raquel S. PeixotoKing Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia

Coral probioticsPocillopora verrucosain situ inoculationcoral microbiome restructuringRed SeaHalomonasPseudoalteromonasBacillusRuegeriaLimosilactobacillusVibrioCoral pathogensseawater microbiomesediment microbiomeoff-target effectsmicrobiome stabilityrepeated inoculationCoral reef resilience
Badge
#9 of 4,652
4518m citations

Selective breeding enhances coral heat tolerance to marine heatwaves

Adriana Humanes, Liam Lachs et al.Nature Communications202410.1038/s41467-024-52895-1

Adriana HumanesNewcastle University, United Kingdom

selective breedingThermal toleranceMarine heatwavesCoral bleachingnarrow-sense heritabilityheritability estimationshort-stress toleranceProlonged thermal stressgenetic correlationparent colony selectionoffspring thermal performancesimulated heatwave experimentphenotypic variabilitygenetic basis of heat toleranceassisted evolutionClimate change adaptationEcological resilience
Badge
#10 of 4,652
4418m citations

Records reveal the vast historical extent of European oyster reef ecosystems

Ruth H. Thurstan et al.Nature Sustainability202410.1038/s41893-024-01441-4

Ruth H. Thurstan, Philine S. E. zu ErmgassenUniversity of Exeter, United Kingdom

Ostrea edulisbiogenic reef ecosystemsoyster reefhistorical baselineshifting baseline syndromeMarine ecosystem degradationthree-dimensional habitat structureseafloor flatteningmacrofauna biodiversityhabitat extent mappinghistorical records synthesisbiogeographic rangeEcosystem restorationHabitat lossreef-associated speciesEuropean marine watersfoundation speciesAnthropogenic impactsconservation baseline
Badge
#11 of 4,652
4318m citations

Marine heatwaves disrupt ecosystem structure and function via altered food webs and energy flux

Dylan G E Gomes et al.Nature Communications202410.1038/s41467-024-46263-2

Dylan GomesOregon State University, United States

Marine heatwavesfood web structureenergy fluxEcopathEcotranNortheast Pacific Oceangelatinous taxapyrosomestrophic relationshipsfunctional groupstime series abundance datadiet databaseecosystem modelingcascading effectsnorthward range expansionecosystem structure and functionprey demand dynamicsthreatened speciesharvested species
Badge
#12 of 4,652
3918m citations

Over 80% of the European Union’s marine protected area only marginally regulates human activities

Juliette Aminian-Biquet et al.One Earth202410.1016/j.oneear.2024.07.010

Juliette Aminian-BiquetINRAE, France

European UnionMarine Protected Areashuman activities regulationMPA effectivenessconservation policyfishing restrictionsextractive activitiesmarine spatial planningprotection gapBiodiversity conservationocean governanceregulatory frameworksEuropean marine watersMPA designationenforcement mechanisms
Badge
#13 of 4,652
3818m citations

Increasing disturbance frequency undermines coral reef recovery

Michael J. Emslie et al.Ecological Monographs202410.1002/ecm.1619

Michael J. EmslieAustralian Institute of Marine Science, Australia

Great Barrier ReefCoral coverdisturbance frequencyMarine heatwavestropical cyclonesCoral bleachingCoral recoverydisturbance regime shiftclimate-driven disturbancerecovery time windowsHeat stresshistorical baselineCoral mortality36-year datasetecosystem-wide changes
Badge
#14 of 4,652
3818m citations

Coral restoration can drive rapid reef carbonate budget recovery

Ines D Lange et al.Current Biology202410.1016/j.cub.2024.02.009

Ines D. LangeUniversity of Exeter, United Kingdom

Coral reef restorationcarbonate budgetscalcium carbonate productionreef erosionCoral recoverystructural complexityhexagonal metal framescoral transplantationbranching coralsrubble field consolidationreef framework productionvertical accretionEcosystem recoveryCoral growthnatural coral recruitmentthermal stress resilience
Badge
#15 of 4,652
3718m citations

Climate change is an important predictor of extinction risk on macroevolutionary timescales

Cooper M Malanoski et al.Science202410.1126/science.adj5763

Cooper Malanoski, Erin E. SaupeOxford University, United Kingdom

marine invertebratesmacroevolutionary timescalesextinction risk assessmentanthropogenic climate changephysiological traitsintrinsic traitsextrinsic climate changemagnitude of climate changeextinction resistance485 million yearsPhanerozoicextinction patternstrait-based extinction modelsclimate-driven extinctionpaleontological dataBiodiversity loss
Badge
#16 of 4,652
3618m citations

New global area estimates for coral reefs from high-resolution mapping

Mitchell Lyons et al.Cell Reports Sustainability202410.1016/j.crsus.2024.100015

Mitchell LyonsUniversity of Queensland, Australia

Coral habitat quantificationhigh-resolution mappinggeomorphic zone mappingbenthic substrate mapping5 m pixel resolutionSentinel-2 satellitesPlanet Dove CubeSat constellation1.5 million training samplesAllen Coral AtlasGoogle Earth Engineglobal coral reef distributionShallow coral reefscoral reef classification100 trillion pixels
Badge
#17 of 4,652
3618m citations

Integrating cryptic diversity into coral evolution, symbiosis and conservation

Carsten G B Grupstra et al.Nature Ecology & Evolution202410.1038/s41559-023-02319-y

Carsten G. B. Grupstra, Sarah W. DaviesBoston University, United States

cryptic diversitycoral evolutionCoral-algal symbiosisCoral reef conservationphylogenomicsSymbiodiniaceaespecies delimitationCoral bleachingCoral reef resiliencetaxonomic revisiongenomic divergenceSymbiont specificityconservation management unitsreproductive isolationmorphological convergenceClimate change adaptationSymbiont shufflingphylogeography
Badge
#18 of 4,652
3618m citations

Global status and emerging contribution of other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) towards the ‘30x30’ biodiversity Target 3

Harry D. Jonas et al.Frontiers in Conservation Science202410.3389/fcosc.2024.1447434

Harry D. JonasWorld Wildlife Fund, United States

other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs)Global Biodiversity Framework Target 330x30 biodiversity targetWorld Database on OECMsprotected areasIndigenous peoples and local communities governancecollaborative governanceKey Biodiversity Areasequitable governanceterrestrial realm conservationmarine conservationinland water conservationgovernance sub-typeslong-term conservation effectivenessOECM frameworkgovernance by governmentsconservation scaling
Badge
#19 of 4,652
3518m citations

Allee effects limit coral fertilization success

Peter J Mumby et al.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences202410.1073/pnas.2418314121

Peter J. MumbyThe University of Queensland, Australia

Allee effectscoral fertilization successAcropora hyacinthusclimate changespawning synchronyspatial population structurereproductive failuremass spawning eventsnearest neighbor distancecolony densitygravid colonycoral population thinningfertilization distance thresholdwind effects on fertilizationcoral reproductionreproductive potentialCoral reef restorationPopulation connectivityspawning intensity
Badge
#20 of 4,652
3518m citations

Impacts of the blue crab invasion on Manila clam aquaculture in Po Delta coastal lagoons (Northern Adriatic Sea, Italy)

Stefania Chiesa et al.Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science202410.1016/j.ecss.2024.109037

Stefania ChiesaItalian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Italy

blue crab invasionManila clamaquaculturePo DeltaLagoon ecosystemsNorthern Adriatic Seainvasive species impactclam farmingpredator-prey dynamicsbivalve aquacultureFisheries impacts
Badge

Dominant research themes and year-over-year shifts in Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies

What Topics Define the Class of 2026?

The Class of 2026 in coral and marine ecosystems research is defined by a strong focus on immediate climate threats and proactive mitigation strategies. The dominant topics, notably "Coral bleaching" and "Marine heatwaves", highlight the ongoing impact of rising ocean temperatures on delicate reef structures. Geographically, research heavily centers on the "Great Barrier Reef", which continues to be a primary site for assessing large-scale ecosystem changes and stress responses. Beyond documenting the decline, there is a clear shift toward actionable solutions, evidenced by the prominence of "Coral recovery" and "Coral reef restoration". These themes indicate a growing effort to develop resilience and active restoration techniques. Additionally, the focus on "Marine Protected Areas" underscores the importance of policy and conservation management in safeguarding these vulnerable marine environments. Overall, the leading publications from 2024 reflect an urgent transition from purely observational ecology to applied conservation and recovery science in the face of escalating climate pressures.

Leading research themes
Leading research themes

How Did Topics Shift from the Class of 2025 to the Class of 2026?

Comparing the most cited papers from the Class of 2025 (2023 publications) to the Class of 2026 (2024 publications), there is a distinct evolution in research priorities within marine ecosystem studies. The most dramatic shift is the surge of research focused specifically on the "Great Barrier Reef", which emerged prominently in 2024. This suggests a renewed concentration on massive, localized bleaching events or large-scale intervention trials in this critical region. Similarly, "Coral recovery" saw a significant increase, pointing to an expanding body of work dedicated to post-disturbance regeneration and resilience rather than merely documenting mortality. "Coral reef restoration" and "Marine Protected Areas" also experienced upward trends, reinforcing the field's move towards practical, management-oriented solutions. Conversely, general studies on "Marine heatwaves" saw a slight decline in relative frequency, perhaps indicating that while the phenomenon remains a core issue, recent high-impact research is pivoting more towards specific impacts like "Coral bleaching" (which continued to rise) and subsequent recovery efforts. This transition highlights a maturing field that is increasingly focused on actionable conservation frameworks.

How topics shifted year over year
How topics shifted year over year
Methodology

PRI identifies high-impact research using a transparent, topic-agnostic framework applied consistently across scientific domains. Bibliographic records are drawn from OpenAlex, including publication dates, citation relationships, and document types.

This ranking covers the Class of 2026 cohort: journal articles published in 2024. Reviews and other non-article document types are excluded to ensure comparability.

Research impact is quantified with an 18-month post-publication citation window—the number of citing works published within 18 months of each paper's publication date. This metric captures early impact while controlling for publication age.

An LLM-based relevance classifier then reviews each candidate's title and abstract to confirm substantive alignment with the target domain. Only papers classified as relevant appear in the final ranking.

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

Full methodologyGitHubbioRxiv preprint

Cite this ranking

Pepkio Research Index (PRI). Topics and Trends in Most Cited Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies Papers, Class of 2026. https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/coral-and-marine-ecosystems-studies/2026. Accessed 2026-10-24.

Methodology
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