Polychaete research in Brazil: a bibliometric analysis

Abstract

This article shows a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the literature on polychaetes from Brazil, with a focus on the growth of the field, publication venues, citation patterns, the collaboration among the Brazilian community and foreign researchers, and the main research topics over time. The analysis was based on a corpus of 568 articles published in 144 journals, covering a period from 1966 to 2022. The results reveal significant growth in the field, with a surge in publications particularly in the last decade. The top journals for publishing include Zootaxa, JMBA, and Zoologia. However, despite this growth, the overall impact of the research output remains somewhat limited, with most articles receiving relatively low numbers of citations, and those with more citations have broader research questions. This research community directed its efforts especially to taxonomy and phylogenetics research, community ecology, and physiology (ecotoxicology). These topics formed a common ground for more specialized themes. International collaboration was driven by research specialization, better infrastructure, and funding of developed countries. However, seeking collaborations with countries from the global south can also enrich the research conducted by the Brazilian community and stimulate new scientific inquiries. Embracing greater creativity and audacity as well as pursuing common goals, should yet enhance the quality of scientific research and sustain the remarkable growth and consolidation of this renowned research community.