Evolving trends in vertebrate palaeontology (2013–2022): a bibliometric analysis using DeepBone and Web of Science databases

Abstract

ABSTRACT Vertebrate palaeontology, essential for understanding the evolutionary processes of backboned animals, has witnessed substantial increase in research activity and publications over the past decade. This bibliometric analysis utilising the data from the DeepBone database, which includes 9,255 literature entries, with 8,259 overlapping entries from the Web of Science, to capture these changes. Our analysis reveals a continuous growth in publication volumes over the decade, alongside a marked expansion in interdisciplinary collaborations and the integration of innovative technological methodologies. The contribution of key regions such as the U.S.A., UK, Argentina, and China underscores the global collaboration in vertebrate palaeontology. The EU, despite its foundational economic and political union focus, stands out as a key contributor in vertebrate palaeontology, showing its extensive influence on scientific collaboration and research funding. A thematic exploration using keyword analysis and Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) analysis identifies prominent research themes, highlighting the field’s towards integrated research approaches. This study offers a quantitative overview of the recent decade in vertebrate palaeontology, providing insights into dynamic trends, major contributions, and future research directions in the field.