A bibliometric analysis of scientific publications on the freshwater crayfish Pontastacus leptodactylus in Türkiye: Trends and developments based on the Web of Science database

In this study, a bibliometric analysis is presented that examined 228 publications concerning Pontastacus leptodactylus (Astacus leptodactylus) in Türkiye, published between 1989 and 2024 and indexed in the Web of Science (WoS) database. The findings reveal that the number of publications increased from the 2000s onward, peaking between 2010 and 2022, but declining in 2023–2024. Research articles (216=94.7%) constitute the main body of academic output, while other document types, such as review articles (7) and conference papers (2), remain limited. Among the most prolific authors, Harlıoğlu, Muzaffer Mustafa (43 publications) leads, followed by Harlıoğlu, Ayşe Gül (17) and Mazlum, Yavuz (16), with research primarily concentrated in the categories of Fisheries (72), Marine and Freshwater Biology (51), and Environmental Sciences (36). Fırat University (73) emerged as the leading institution, with notable contributions from Gazi University (23) and Munzur University (22). The most cited studies include Harlıoğlu and Harlıoğlu (2004) with 77 citations and Kokko et al. (2021) with 62 citations. Keyword analysis highlights the centrality of terms such as Astacus leptodactylus (70), crayfish (69), and growth (19), encompassing topics like reproduction, oxidative stress, and artificial neural networks. The findings indicate that research in Türkiye into P. leptodactylus is predominantly focused on biological, ecological, and environmental aspects; however, greater efforts are needed to enhance international visibility and strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration. Future studies on issues such as disease, the effects of invasive species, stock protection, climate change and habitat loss will be critical for the sustainable management and scientific contributions of the species.