Diatom-based paleoenvironmental research: global trends, regional disparities and the evolving role of South America

Abstract

The use of diatoms in paleoenvironmental research is of the utmost importance for reconstructing past ecosystems because it provides crucial insights into the adaptability and resilience of these systems under ongoing climate change and increased human impacts. Maintaining a comprehensive dataset distribution is crucial to ensure the validity and relevance of these reconstructions on a global scale. This scientometric study aimed to analyze trends in diatom-based paleoenvironmental research on a global scale with an emphasis on South America. This study aimed to investigate disparities in the geographical distribution of diatom-based paleoenvironmental studies, collaboration networks in the field, and regions in which this research is lacking. The Scopus search criteria excluded certain types of publications, such as conference articles and notes. The search focused on articles, reviews, books and chapters of books using specific keywords aligned with the objectives of this study. Using the Scopus database, we identified 7,091 publications (1979-2023) that employed diatoms as a primary proxy for paleoenvironmental reconstruction. The results show significant changes in this field recent decades. The analysis highlights a marked upsurge in publication output during the 1980s and a substantial increase in publications after 2000. This upward trend in scientific documentation reflects the growing interest in and recognition of the importance of this field in the context of palaeoecology and environmental sciences. After 2011, the results revealed a shift in thematic focus from historical and geological reconstruction to ecological, anthropogenic, and climatic interactions. Key researchers, including Smol JP, Leng MJ, and Birks HJB, have been at the forefront of international collaborations. Since the 2000s, South American studies have focused primarily on lakes, climate change effects, and volcanic activity. In this region, researchers such as Maidana N.I., Urrutia, R., and García-Rodriguez, F. emphasized the significance of regional ecosystems and their paleoenvironmental history in the global context of the field. Despite its high biodiversity, South America contributed only 6.7% of the global research output, placing it 19th globally. Socioeconomic factors and other obstacles faced by researchers in the region could explain the observed disparity in scientific output in South America compared to other regions. To unlock South America’s vast potential for diatom-based paleoenvironmental research, which boasts the highest global biodiversity yet remains underrepresented in the field, stakeholders must implement equitable partnerships, increase funding and improve their academic infrastructure and opportunities. These strategies are crucial for advancing the global paleoenvironmental understanding, informing future conservation and environmental policies in South America, and promoting scientific progress on a global scale.