Topics and Trends in Most Cited Fish Ecology and Management Studies Papers

Ranked by citations 18 months after publication

Class of 2026 (Papers Published in 2024)

What topics and trends defined most-cited Fish Ecology and Management Studies research in the Class of 2026?

The latest research in Fish Ecology and Management underscores a strong pivot towards ecosystem-wide conservation strategies. Prominent themes like biogeographic regions, dam impacts, and environmental DNA reflect modern, comprehensive approaches to monitoring ecosystem health. Noticeable surges in biomonitoring contrast with declines in traditional, localized aquaculture assessments.

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Updated July 15, 2026

At a glance

Field
Fish Ecology and Management Studies
Cohort label
Class of 2026 (2024 publications)
Papers analyzed
8209
Papers ranked
20
Top topics in ranked papers
Biogeographic regions, dam impacts, environmental DNA, biomonitoring
Publication window
Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024
Eligibility
Research articles; reviews excluded
Citation window
18 months post-publication
18m citation range
26–68
Data source
OpenAlex · Retrieved July 2026
License
CC BY 4.0

Rankings

20 papers ranked by 18-month citation count

#1 of 8,209
6818m citations

The Global Dam Watch database of river barrier and reservoir information for large-scale applications

Bernhard Lehner et al.Scientific Data202410.1038/s41597-024-03752-9

Bernhard LehnerMcGill University, Canada

Global Dam Watch databaseRiver barriersreservoirsimpoundmentshydropower damsfish migrationdata harmonizationquality control processesdigital river networkco-registrationbarrier locationsreservoir polygonscumulative storage capacityartificial terrestrial surface water areaglobal datasetslarge-scale analysesenvironmental trade-offssocial trade-offs
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#2 of 8,209
6518m citations

Ecological erosion and expanding extinction risk of sharks and rays

Nicholas K Dulvy, Nathan Pacoureau et al.Science202410.1126/science.adn1477

Nicholas K. Dulvy, Nathan PacoureauSimon Fraser University, Canada

Red List Indexextinction risksharks and raysOverfishingocean biodiversityEcosystem functioningecomorphotypesfunctional diversitynearshore habitatspelagic habitatsincidental catchpopulation connectivitytop-down predator controlfisheries subsidiesgovernance indicatorsCoastal communities50-year temporal analysissustainable fishing levelsretention prohibitionspecies trade restriction
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#3 of 8,209
5118m citations

Stock assessment models overstate sustainability of the world’s fisheries

Graham J Edgar et al.Science202410.1126/science.adl6282

Graham J. EdgarUniversity of Tasmania, Australia

stock assessment modelsstock biomass estimationFisheries managementhindcast estimatesretrospective biasoverfished stocksstock collapsemaximum historical biomassassessment uncertaintysystematic overestimationfisheries valuationtemperature effects on stock assessmentprecautionary managementbiomass trendsassessment revision10% biomass threshold
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#4 of 8,209
5018m citations

Uniformity and deformation: A benchmark for multi-fish real-time tracking in the farming

Jinze Huang et al.Expert Systems with Applications202410.1016/j.eswa.2024.125653

Dong AnBeijing Engineering and Technology Research Centre for Internet of Things in Agriculture, China

multi-fish trackingreal-time trackingFish aquacultureAquaculture monitoringdeformation handlinguniformity analysisbenchmark datasetcomputer vision for aquacultureobject tracking algorithmsfish behavior analysis
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#5 of 8,209
4618m citations

Biological invasions are a population‐level rather than a species‐level phenomenon

Phillip J Haubrock et al.Global Change Biology202410.1111/gcb.17312

Phillip J. HaubrockSenckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Germany

biological invasionspopulation-level processesintraspecific variationnatural selectionlocal adaptationFreshwater macroinvertebratesspreading speedabundance dynamicsBiogeographic regionsspecies-level risk screeningdeny listsinvasiveness variabilityimpact assessmentAdaptive managementregion-specific approachestime series databaseEuropean freshwater ecosystemsinvasion stages
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#6 of 8,209
4418m citations

Utilizing Deep Learning and the Internet of Things to Monitor the Health of Aquatic Ecosystems to Conserve Biodiversity

Bobir Odilov et al.Natural and Engineering Sciences202410.28978/nesciences.1491795

Bobir OdilovTashkent State University of Oriental Studies, UZ

water quality monitoringfreshwater biodiversityInternet of Things (IoT)deep learningGeneralized Regression-based Neural Networks (G-RNN)multi-variational polynomial regressionReal-time monitoringN-O3-N (nitrate nitrogen)BO-D5 (biological oxygen demand)P-O4 (phosphate)N-H3-N (ammonia nitrogen)aquatic ecosystem healthWater quality parametersurbanized riverpollutant detectionchemical and biological measurementsIoT-based water quality monitoringanomaly detection in water parametersfield water testing validation
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#7 of 8,209
4118m citations

Floodplain lakes: Linking hydrology to ecology and conservation

Fan Xue et al.Earth-Science Reviews202410.1016/j.earscirev.2024.104967

Qi ZhangHohai University, China

floodplain lakeshydrology-ecology linkageHydrological connectivityflood pulsewetland conservationaquatic-terrestrial interfaceSpatial heterogeneityBiodiversity patternswater level fluctuationnutrient cyclingfish recruitmentriparian vegetationflow regimeecological integrityriver-floodplain systems
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#8 of 8,209
3718m citations

Fishes of the upper rio Paraná basin: diversity, biogeography and conservation

Fernando César Paiva Dagosta et al.Neotropical Ichthyology202410.1590/1982-0224-2023-0066

Fernando César Paiva DagostaUniversidade Federal da Grande Dourados, Brazil

upper rio Paraná basinNeotropical fish assemblagesbiogeographical patternsLoricariidaeCharacidaeendemic species distributionDam impactsinvasive fish speciesnative species identificationBiogeographic regionsBiodiversity patternsperipheral endemismendangered fish taxanon-native species establishmentprotected area effectivenessHabitat degradationhistorical biogeographyBasin connectivitythreatened species conservation
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#9 of 8,209
3618m citations

Fishing for oil and meat drives irreversible defaunation of deepwater sharks and rays

Brittany Finucci et al.Science202410.1126/science.ade9121

Brittany FinucciNational Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), New Zealand

deepwater sharksdeepwater raysOverfishingliver-oil tradePopulation declinelong generation lengthslow recovery potentialsdepth limitsspatial limitscatch regulationsBycatch reductioninternational trade regulationdefaunationthreatened megafauna
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#10 of 8,209
3418m citations

Passive eDNA sampling facilitates biodiversity monitoring and rare species detection

Xiaoyu Chen et al.Environment International202410.1016/j.envint.2024.108706

Meng YaoPeking University, China

Environmental DNApassive eDNA sampler (PEDS)glass fiber filterWater filtrationeDNA metabarcodingquantitative PCR (qPCR)Fish diversityYangtze finless porpoiseYangtze RiverYellow SeaSpecies richnessFish communitycommunity partitionsrare species detectiondetection probabilitycritically endangered aquatic mammalbiomonitoringlow abundance speciesephemeral speciescontinuous eDNA collection
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#11 of 8,209
3418m citations

An Integrated Smart Pond Water Quality Monitoring and Fish Farming Recommendation Aquabot System

Md Moniruzzaman Hemal et al.Sensors202410.3390/s24113682

NurjahanBangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Digital University, Bangladesh

AquaBotIoT-based water quality monitoringmobile robotpH monitoringtemperature sensingturbidity sensingfish species recommendationEnsemble modelingrandom forestsupport vector machinedecision treeK-nearest neighborLogistic regressionbaggingboostingstackingfeature scalingdataset balancingpond water datasetweb and mobile interface
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#13 of 8,209
3218m citations

Phylogenomics of Characidae, a hyper-diverse Neotropical freshwater fish lineage, with a phylogenetic classification including four families (Teleostei: Characiformes)

Bruno Francelino de Melo et al.Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society202410.1093/zoolinnean/zlae101

Bruno Francelino de MeloAmerican Museum of Natural History, United States

CharacidaeNeotropical tetrasCharaciformesUltraconserved elementsphylogenomicsSpintherobolidaeStevardiidaeAcestrorhamphidaeGlandulocaudinaeStevardiinaeTetragonopterinaeHyphessobryconinaeintergeneric relationshipstaxonomic revalidationMyxiopsPsalidodonBayesian phylogenetic analysisfreshwater fish systematicssubfamily classification
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#14 of 8,209
3218m citations

Salmon Aquaculture in Chile: Production Growth and Socioeconomic Impacts

Adams Ceballos‐Concha et al.Reviews in Aquaculture202410.1111/raq.12993

Frank AscheUniversity of Florida, United States

Chilean salmon industryaquaculture production growthemployment generationsalary levelsMigrationpoverty reductionincome distributionfemale labor participationeducation levelsenvironmental crisesenvironmental sustainabilitygray literature data sourcessocioeconomic indicatorsinward migrationoutward migration reversalindustry long-term viability
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#15 of 8,209
3118m citations

Emergence of lake conditions that exceed natural temperature variability

Lei Huang et al.Nature Geoscience202410.1038/s41561-024-01491-5

R. Iestyn WoolwayInstitute for Basic Science, South Korea

lake surface temperatureno-analogue conditionsNatural temperature variabilitySSP3-7.0Earth system model ensemblethermal thresholdsnorthern lakeslow-latitude lakessubsurface water temperaturethermally sensitive aquatic speciesfreshwater habitat rearrangementspre-industrial warming thresholdswater column thermal structurelatitudinal gradient in climate emergence
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#16 of 8,209
3018m citations

Land use and river-lake connectivity: Biodiversity determinants of lake ecosystems

Huiyu Xie et al.Environmental Science and Ecotechnology202410.1016/j.ese.2024.100434

Xiaowei JinChinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, China

lake ecosystemsFreshwater macroinvertebratesbiodiversity lossRiver-lake connectivityland useLake DongtingLake TaihuYangtze-connected floodplainstaxonomic diversityfunctional diversitywater qualityland buffer zonesSpatial heterogeneityNutrient loadingMulti-stressor interactionsbioindicator dataecosystem resiliencespatial scale correlationanthropogenic pressures
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#17 of 8,209
2818m citations

Underestimated nutrient from aquaculture ponds to Lake Eutrophication: A case study on Taihu Lake Basin

Jiaqi Chen et al.Journal of Hydrology202410.1016/j.jhydrol.2024.130749

Jiaqi Chen, Jiansheng ChenHohai University, China

aquaculture pondsLake EutrophicationTaihu Lake BasinNutrient loadingaquaculture nutrient dischargepond effluentnitrogen exportphosphorus exportNon-point source pollutionaquaculture-lake connectivitynutrient mass balanceeutrophication driverspond water exchangebasin-scale nutrient flux
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#18 of 8,209
2818m citations

River ecological status is shaped by agricultural land use intensity across Europe

Christian Schürings et al.Water Research202410.1016/j.watres.2024.121136

Christian SchüringsUniversity of Duisburg-Essen, Germany

river ecological statusAgricultural intensityAreas of Farming-induced Freshwater Pressures (AFFP)Non-point source pollutionwater abstractionhydromorphological alterationnutrient enrichmentpesticidesriparian zonesub-catchment unitshigh intensity croplandextensive grasslandfallow farmlandlivestock farmingmosaic farmingMediterranean regionTemperate regionNorthern and Highland regionsCommon Agricultural Policy
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#19 of 8,209
2818m citations

Past and recent anthropogenic pressures drive rapid changes in riverine fish communities

Alain Danet et al.Nature Ecology & Evolution202410.1038/s41559-023-02271-x

Alain DanetIllinois State University, United States

Fish communityCommunity turnoveranthropogenic pressuresNon-native species introductionsbiotic homogenizationSpecies richnesstotal abundancedominant species shiftsPalaearctic realmNearctic realmAustralasia realmCommunity time seriesspatio-temporal heterogeneityfreshwater biodiversitytemporal compensation
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Dominant research themes and year-over-year shifts in Fish Ecology and Management Studies

What Topics Define the Class of 2026?

The Class of 2026 in Fish Ecology and Management Studies is dominated by a diverse set of research areas that reflect a dual focus on conservation biology and the anthropogenic impacts on aquatic ecosystems. Topics such as biogeographic regions, functional diversity, and freshwater macroinvertebrates highlight the field's ongoing dedication to understanding intricate biodiversity patterns and ecosystem functions. Simultaneously, pressing issues like overfishing and dam impacts underscore the critical need to address human-induced stressors on aquatic life. The prominence of modern techniques is notably evident, with environmental DNA (eDNA) and advanced biomonitoring playing an increasingly vital role in observing and managing these fragile ecosystems. Together, these topics illustrate a discipline that is successfully leveraging novel monitoring tools to tackle urgent ecological challenges and refine broad-scale management strategies.

Leading research themes
Leading research themes

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

Between the Class of 2025 and 2026, research focus shifted significantly toward advanced ecological assessment and extensive conservation planning. The most striking increases were observed in biomonitoring and freshwater macroinvertebrates, both showing substantial growth as researchers prioritize robust and scalable indicators of ecosystem health. Similarly, studies addressing biogeographic regions and dam impacts saw notable upward trends, reflecting an increased global emphasis on understanding large-scale habitat connectivity and the far-reaching consequences of infrastructure. Conversely, topics such as aquaculture monitoring and community turnover experienced relative declines. This pattern suggests a broader transition within the field: moving away from localized, commercially-focused monitoring toward holistic, biodiversity-centric ecological tracking using innovative approaches. The data clearly indicates that the discipline is rapidly evolving to meet complex, ecosystem-wide challenges head-on.

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 Fish Ecology and Management Studies Papers, Class of 2026. https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/fish-ecology-and-management-studies/2026. Accessed 2026-07-15.

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