Scientometric analysis of water ecology research: Insights from Chinese ocean universities

In response to increasing concerns about water ecology sustainability, this paper employs scientometric analysis to examine research trends at seven leading Chinese ocean universities from 2010 to 2021. Using CiteSpace software to analyze data from the Web of Science, we explored a comprehensive dataset of dissertations and published papers across disciplines such as water ecology, marine biology, fisheries, and environmental sciences. Our analysis shows a significant rise in research output after 2016, highlighting the pivotal role these universities play in advancing water ecology research. Through keyword co-occurrence and clustering analyses, we identified shifting research focuses, ranging from biodiversity and ecosystem dynamics to emerging topics like water quality management and ecological restoration. This study not only consolidates existing research achievements but also provides valuable insights for shaping future research directions in water ecology.