# Records reveal the vast historical extent of European oyster reef ecosystems

*PRI Rank #10 · Topics and Trends in Most Cited Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies Papers, Class of 2026*

*Canonical URL: https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/coral-and-marine-ecosystems-studies/2026/rank-10*

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Rank | #10 |
| 18m citations | 44 |
| Journal | Nature Sustainability |
| Year | 2024 |
| DOI | 10.1038/s41893-024-01441-4 |
| Corresponding authors | Ruth H. Thurstan, Philine S. E. zu Ermgassen |
| Institution | University of Exeter, United Kingdom |

**Ranking page:** [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)

**Paper link:** [10.1038/s41893-024-01441-4](https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-024-01441-4)

## Topics

Ostrea edulis · Ostrea edulis · biogenic reef ecosystems · oyster reef · historical baseline · shifting baseline syndrome · Marine ecosystem degradation · three-dimensional habitat structure · seafloor flattening · macrofauna biodiversity · habitat extent mapping · historical records synthesis · biogeographic range · Ecosystem restoration · Habitat loss · reef-associated species · European marine waters · foundation species · Anthropogenic impacts · conservation baseline

## 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 2026-10-29.

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
```