Assessing the state of seahorse research through scientometric analysis: an update

Abstract

Seahorses, widely recognized as a unique genus within aquatic species, are exploited globally across traditional medicine, aquarium, and curio industries. Notwithstanding their popularity, there exists a dearth of current bibliometric investigations capable of discerning key shifts and patterns within seahorse research. In addressing this gap, our study deployed scientometric techniques on the Web of Science database, enabling an encompassing and contemporary bibliometric analysis spanning from 1976 to 2022. Utilizing CiteSpace software, we generated visual data of dual map overlay, citation networks of authors, countries, and documents, and discerned key terms and research clusters prevalent in seahorse-related research. This process yielded 1840 original articles on seahorse research, forming a 13-cluster network, with the three most expansive research clusters being “endangered seahorse”, “habitat association”, and “male pregnancy”. Our investigation highlighted that the terms “gene expression”, “abdominal”, and “embryonic development” were predominantly employed across seahorse-centric scholarly works. The research ecosystem encompassing seahorses constitutes a diverse array of academic domains, showcasing substantial interdisciplinary linkages among areas such as “Marine and Freshwater Biology”, “Environmental Sciences”, “Biochemistry and Molecular Biology”, “Biodiversity Conservation”, “Ecology”, “Fisheries”, “Zoology”, and “Oceanography”. The implications of our findings not only establish a robust foundation for subsequent research but also illustrate the evolved state and potential impact of seahorse research within the sphere of marine biology.