Topics and Trends in Most Cited Marine Biology and Ecology Research Papers

Ranked by citations 18 months after publication

Class of 2026 (Papers Published in 2024)

What topics and trends defined most-cited Marine Biology and Ecology Research research in the Class of 2026?

Marine biology and ecology research in the Class of 2026 is heavily anchored by ocean carbon sequestration and phytoplankton biomass dynamics. Rapidly emerging priorities show significant growth in particulate organic carbon and marine comparative genomics, while focus on marine heatwaves and broad phytoplankton community composition has experienced relative decline across top-ranked literature.

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Updated July 23, 2026

At a glance

Field
Marine Biology and Ecology Research
Cohort label
Class of 2026 (2024 publications)
Papers analyzed
4,453
Papers ranked
20
Top topics in ranked papers
Carbon sequestration, phytoplankton biomass, particulate organic carbon, eutrophication
Publication window
Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024
Eligibility
Research articles; reviews excluded
Citation window
18 months post-publication
18m citation range
23–183
Data source
OpenAlex · Retrieved Jul 2026
License
CC BY 4.0

Rankings

20 papers ranked by 18-month citation count

#1 of 4,453
18318m citations

Harmful algal blooms in inland waters

Lian Feng et al.Nature Reviews Earth & Environment202410.1038/s43017-024-00578-2

Lian FengSouthern University of Science and Technology, China

Harmful algal bloomsinland waterscyanobacteriafreshwater ecosystemseutrophicationmicrocystinbloom formationnutrient loadingphosphorusnitrogenwater qualitytoxin productionbloom dynamicsclimate warminglake management
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#2 of 4,453
8118m citations

<scp>Bio‐ORACLE</scp> v3.0. Pushing marine data layers to the <scp>CMIP6</scp> Earth System Models of climate change research

Jorge Assis et al.Global Ecology and Biogeography202410.1111/geb.13813

Jorge AssisUniversidade do Algarve, Portugal

Bio-ORACLE v3.0CMIP6Shared Socioeconomic PathwaysEarth System Modelsspecies distribution modelingmarine biodiversity projectionsChlorophyll adiffuse attenuation coefficientdissolved irondissolved oxygenpHphotosynthetic active radiationmixed layer depthsea-ice covermulti-model ensemblebenthic habitat layerstopographic position indexterrain ruggedness index0.05° resolution data layers21st century climate projections
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#3 of 4,453
6418m citations

Carbon export from seaweed forests to deep ocean sinks

Karen Filbee‐Dexter et al.Nature Geoscience202410.1038/s41561-024-01449-7

Karen Filbee‐DexterInstitute of Marine Research, Norway

seaweed forestsCarbon exportDeep-ocean reservoirsParticulate organic carboncontinental shelfCarbon sequestrationcoastal ocean carbon sinkseaweed productiondecomposition modelingshelf–open ocean water exchangesequestration timescales200 m depth thresholdmarine carbon budgetscoastal vegetated ecosystemsdissolved and refractory carbon pathwaysshelf burialBiogeochemical modelingseaweed forest extent modelingParis Agreement targetsclimate change mitigation
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#4 of 4,453
5918m citations

Evidence of dark oxygen production at the abyssal seafloor

Andrew K Sweetman et al.Nature Geoscience202410.1038/s41561-024-01480-8

Andrew K. SweetmanThe Scottish Association for Marine Science, United Kingdom

dark oxygen productionabyssal seafloorpolymetallic nodulesbenthic chamber experimentsin situ observationsseawater electrolysisnodule surface voltage potentialdeep-sea oxygen dynamicsex situ incubationsPacific Ocean abyssal plain
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#5 of 4,453
4318m citations

Chemical signaling in biofilm-mediated biofouling

Xiaobo Liu et al.Nature Chemical Biology202410.1038/s41589-024-01740-z

Xiaobo LiuNanjing University of Science and Technology, China

biofilmbiofoulingchemical signalingquorum sensingextracellular polymeric substancesmicrobial communicationbiofilm formationsignaling moleculessurface colonizationmicrobial adhesion
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#7 of 4,453
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 invertebratesextinction riskmacroevolutionary timescales485 million yearsintrinsic traitsextrinsic climate changephysiological traitsmagnitude of climate changeextinction resistanceclimate-mediated extinction mechanismsPhanerozoictrait-based extinction modelspaleoclimateBiodiversity lossclimate velocity
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#8 of 4,453
3518m citations

The annual update GLODAPv2.2023: the global interior ocean biogeochemical data product

Siv K. Lauvset et al.Earth system science data202410.5194/essd-16-2047-2024

Siv K. Lauvset, Nico Lange, Toste Tanhua, Henry C. Bittig, Are Olsen, Alex Kozyr, Marta Álvarez, Kumiko Azetsu‐Scott, Peter J. Brown, Brendan R. Carter, Letícia Cotrim da Cunha, Mario Hoppema, Matthew Humphreys, Masao Ishii, Emil Jeansson, Akihiko Murata, Jens Daniel Müller, Fı́z F. Pérez, Carsten Schirnick, Reiner Steinfeldt, Toru Suzuki, Adam Ulfsbo, A. Velo, Ryan J. Woosley, Robert M. KeyNORCE Norwegian Research Centre, Norway

GLODAPGLODAPv2.2023biogeochemical bottle dataCarbonate chemistrycrossover analysisdissolved inorganic carbonTotal alkalinityCFC-11CFC-12CFC-113CCl4SF6halogenated transient tracersbias adjustmentsecondary quality controlWOCE exchange formatempirical algorithmsfugacity of carbon dioxideisotopic tracers
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#9 of 4,453
3418m citations

The marine biodiversity impact of the Late Miocene Mediterranean salinity crisis

Konstantina Agiadi et al.Science202410.1126/science.adp3703

Konstantina AgiadiUniversity of Vienna, Austria

salt giantsMessinian Salinity CrisisMediterranean SeaAtlantic gateway restrictionendemic species survivalfossil record compilationeastward-decreasing richness gradientmarine basin restrictionLate Miocenebiodiversity assessmentextinction dynamicsPost-disturbance recolonizationmarine paleobiodiversity
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#10 of 4,453
3218m citations

Sea level controls on Ediacaran-Cambrian animal radiations

Fred T Bowyer et al.Science Advances202410.1126/sciadv.ado6462

Fred Bowyer, Rachel Wood, Mariana YilalesUniversity of Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Ediacaran-Cambrian transitionmetazoan radiationsmarine sedimentary rock volumegenus richnessδ13C carbδ238U carbtransgressive-regressive cyclesAvalon assemblageWhite Sea assemblageCambrian assemblagedeep-marine siliciclastic rocksshallow marine oxygenationsea level transgressionssampling intensityglobal age frameworkmorphogroups
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#11 of 4,453
3118m citations

Projected loss of brown macroalgae and seagrasses with global environmental change

Federica Manca et al.Nature Communications202410.1038/s41467-024-48273-6

Federica Manca, Giovanni StronaUniversity of Helsinki, Finland

brown macroalgaeSeagrassecosystem-structuring macrophytesspecies distribution modelingclimate change projectionsBiodiversity lossrange erosionhabitat suitabilitylocal diversity declinepolar region expansionend-of-century predictionsmarine functional groupsglobal habitat shiftshigh spatial resolution modeling207 species analysis
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#12 of 4,453
2818m citations

Seagrass genomes reveal ancient polyploidy and adaptations to the marine environment

Xiao Ma, Steffen Vanneste, Jiyang Chang et al.Nature Plants202410.1038/s41477-023-01608-5

Jozefien Van de Velde, Thorsten B. H. Reusch, Gabriele Procaccini, Jørn Olsen, Yves Van de PeerGhent University, Belgium

seagrass genomesancient polyploidymarine environment adaptationsWhole-genome duplicationterrestrial-to-marine transitioncomparative genomicsgene family expansionosmoregulation genessalt tolerance mechanismscell wall modificationlight sensing adaptationsunderwater pollinationmarine plant evolutionPhylogenomicsgenome sequencing
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#13 of 4,453
2718m citations

Disentangling drivers of mudflat intertidal DOM chemodiversity using ecological models

Kai Ma et al.Nature Communications202410.1038/s41467-024-50841-9

Qichao TuShandong University, China

Dissolved organic matterDOM chemodiversitymudflat intertidal zonesmolecular formulaelog-normal distributionTaylor's Lawdistance-decay relationshipsLatitudinal diversity gradientslabile molecular formulaerecalcitrant molecular formulaenegative cohesionbacterial diversitymolecular traitsstochasticity analysesdeterminismDOM compositional variationsmicrobially driven chemical ecologycoastal ChinaEnvironmental heterogeneityDOM-microbe linkages
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#14 of 4,453
2618m citations

Aquatic deoxygenation as a planetary boundary and key regulator of Earth system stability

Kevin C Rose et al.Nature Ecology & Evolution202410.1038/s41559-024-02448-y

Kevin C. RoseRensselaer Polytechnic Institute, United States

deoxygenationplanetary boundaryEarth system stabilityhypoxiaanoxiaaquatic ecosystemsBiogeochemical cyclingclimate change feedbacksfreshwater deoxygenationtipping pointssafe operating spacedissolved oxygennutrient loadingeutrophicationGlobal change biology
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#16 of 4,453
2518m citations

Long-term effects of dead algal deposition on sediment surfaces: Behavior of endogenous phosphorus release in sediments

Yanqi Chen et al.Water Research202410.1016/j.watres.2024.122742

Dapeng Li, Songqi LiuSuzhou University of Science and Technology, China

dead algal depositionsediment surfacesInternal phosphorus loadingsediment phosphorus dynamicsalgal biomass decompositionsediment-water interfaceNutrient cyclingeutrophicationOrganic matter degradationsediment biogeochemistry
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#17 of 4,453
2418m citations

Temperature and nutrients drive distinct successions between diatoms and dinoflagellates over the past 40 years: Implications for climate warming and eutrophication

Yuqiu Wei et al.The Science of The Total Environment202410.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172997

Zhengguo Cui, Jun SunYellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, China

DiatomsDinoflagellatesphytoplankton successionclimate warmingeutrophicationtemperature effectsNutrient cyclinglong-term ecological trends40-year time seriesPhytoplanktontaxa-specific responsesenvironmental driversalgal community shiftsnutrient-temperature interactions
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#18 of 4,453
2418m citations

Impact of anthropogenic global hypoxia on the physiological response of bivalves

Jingjing Song et al.The Science of The Total Environment202410.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172056

Kianann Tan, Karsoon TanBeibu Gulf University, China

anthropogenic global hypoxiabivalvesphysiological responsehypoxia tolerancedeoxygenationmarine invertebratesenvironmental stressmetabolic depressionanaerobic metabolismgill functionrespiratory adaptationoxidative stresshemolymph oxygenhypoxia-inducible factorShellfish aquaculture
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#19 of 4,453
2418m citations

Tracking the Changes of DOM Composition, Transformation, and Cycling Mechanism Triggered by the Priming Effect: Insights from Incubation Experiments

Wenrui Yao et al.Environmental Science & Technology202410.1021/acs.est.4c03784

Yulin QiTianjin University, China

priming effectDissolved organic matterLand-ocean aquatic continuumSuwannee River natural organic matterDOM compositionDOM transformationCarbon cycleincubation experimentsterrestrial versus autochthonous carbon sourcescarbonyl functional groupsalcohol functional groupsmethyl groupsmethylene groupsheteroatomssalinitymolecular biomarkerscarbon fluxpositive priming effectnegative priming effectcoastal environment
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#20 of 4,453
2318m citations

The Central Paratethys Sea—rise and demise of a Miocene European marine biodiversity hotspot

Mathias Harzhauser et al.Scientific Reports202410.1038/s41598-024-67370-6

Mathias HarzhauserNatural History Museum Vienna, Austria

Central Paratethys SeaMiocene Climate Optimumgastropod speciesMiddle Miocene Climate TransitionCoral reefEnvironmental heterogeneitycorallivorous gastropodsdeep-water faunasbiogeographic fragmentationturnover ratesSarmatianbottom water dysoxiaplanktotrophic speciesarchipelago-like landscapetectonic reorganizationEarly/Middle Miocene boundaryCircum-Mediterranean Regiongeoreferenced datasetMarine biodiversity hotspot
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Dominant research themes and year-over-year shifts in Marine Biology and Ecology Research

What Topics Define the Class of 2026?

The Class of 2026 in marine biology and ecology research is prominently defined by studies on marine carbon cycling and biogeochemical ocean processes. Leading the cohort, carbon sequestration stands out as the single most frequent core concept with a 12% normalized frequency, closely accompanied by phytoplankton biomass dynamics at 10% normalized frequency. Researchers are increasingly focusing on the biological carbon pump, evaluating how primary production drives elemental flux and long-term carbon storage in ocean reservoirs. Alongside marine carbon dynamics, ecosystem health indicators such as eutrophication (8%) and seasonal biogeochemical variability (8%) represent central research focal points across high-impact literature. Additional dominant themes include particulate organic carbon export, chlorophyll a remote sensing, and regional ecological assessments centered in marine hotspots like the Mediterranean Sea. Furthermore, high-throughput technologies such as autonomous BGC-Argo float arrays and comparative marine genomics are becoming integral to baseline monitoring. Together, these topics illustrate a strong consensus around quantifying oceanic carbon budgets, predicting biological responses to global environmental change, and developing mechanistic models of marine ecosystem function.

Leading research themes
Leading research themes

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

Comparing the Class of 2025 to the Class of 2026 reveals a distinct shift toward high-resolution observation and mechanistic genomic approaches in marine ecology. The most pronounced expansion occurred in particulate organic carbon tracking, which jumped from zero representation in 2023 to 8% of top papers in 2024. Similarly, comparative genomics and deep-ocean reservoir dynamics emerged as major new growth areas, reflecting an increasing emphasis on molecular-level adaptation and deep-sea biogeochemistry. Substantial gains were also observed in coral reef resilience, biodiversity loss assessments, and depth-resolved autonomous sampling using BGC-Argo platforms. Conversely, several established concepts saw a relative decline in representation: research focused on marine heatwaves dropped by 50% (from 8% in 2023 to 4% in 2024), and general studies on phytoplankton community composition declined from 6% to 4%. This shift suggests that the field is moving from broad observational studies of thermal anomalies toward granular, process-oriented investigations of organic carbon export, microbial genomic capacity, and subsurface ocean dynamics.

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 Marine Biology and Ecology Research Papers, Class of 2026. https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/marine-biology-and-ecology-research/2026. Accessed 2026-07-23.

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