The scientometric analysis of Karst ecosystem structure and stability: insights for sustainable protection of World Heritage Sites

Karst ecosystems, characterized by their fragility and sensitivity to disturbances, need structural stability to preserve biodiversity and geological integrity. Despite their ecological importance, systematic reviews on their stability and structure are scarce. This study fills this gap by analyzing 145 papers from Web of Science (WOS) and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) through a systematic literature review. It identifies publication trends, keyword distributions, and regional research focuses, synthesizes key findings on ecosystem structure, disturbance types, and functional influences, and proposes three unresolved scientific questions: the structure-function relationship, a stability evaluation framework, and driving factors for stability optimization. The study provides a foundation for enhancing conservation and sustainable management of karst World Heritage Sites (WHSs), offering new insights into ecosystem stability and protection.