Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

An overview of ecological vulnerability: a bibliometric analysis based on the Web of Science database

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Ecological vulnerability has become one of the hot issues of ecology and environmental science under global change and sustainable development scenarios. However, no study quantitatively analyzes the global scientific performance and hot research areas in this field by adopting the bibliometric method. Based on 935 pieces of literature retrieved from the Web of Science database, we comprehensively analyzed the research on ecological vulnerability in terms of growth trend, research content, publication journal and country, and co-occurrence network of keywords. The results showed that research on ecological vulnerability had experienced rapid growth since 2000, while ecological vulnerability research at the World Heritage sites was still embryonic. The top two productive countries in ecological vulnerability research were America and China, and the top two productive journals were Ecological Indicators and Regional Environmental Change. Study on ecological vulnerability was mainly classified as empirical evaluation and regional synthesis, whereas theoretical research is rare. Based on the summary of the main progress and achievements in ecological vulnerability research, we proposed five scientific issues that remain to be resolved in the field of ecological vulnerability. Overall, this study could shed light on a comprehensive and systematic understanding of ecological vulnerability and provide directions for future research on ecological vulnerability in a rapidly changing world.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 5.

Similar content being viewed by others

Availability of data and materials

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article.

References

  • Abson D, Dougill A, Stringer L (2012) Using principal component analysis for information-rich socio-ecological vulnerability mapping in Southern Africa. Appl Geogarphy 35:515–524

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allan J, Venter O, Maxwell S, Bertzky B, Jones K, Shi Y (2017) Recent increases in human pressure and forest loss threaten many natural world heritage sites. Biol Conserv 206:47–55

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beroya-Eitner M (2016) Ecological vulnerability indicators. Ecol Indic 60:329–334

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cai L, Yan L, Ni J, Wang C (2015) Assessment of ecological vulnerability under oil spill stress. Sustainability 7:13073–13084

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cao T, Han D, Song X (2021) Past, present, and future of global seawater intrusion research: a bibliometric analysis. J Hydrol 603:126844

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen X, Chen J, Cui P, You Y, Hu K, Yang Z (2018) Assessment of prospective hazards resulting from the 2017 earthquake at the world heritage site Jiuzhaigou Valley, Sichuan, China. J Mt Sci 15:779–792

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen Y, Xiong K, Ren X, Cheng C (2021) Vulnerability comparison between karst and non-karst nature reserves—with a special reference to Guizhou Province. China Sustainability 13:2442

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chi Y, Shi H, Wang Y, Guo Z, Wang E (2017) Evaluation on island ecological vulnerability and its spatial heterogeneity. Mar Pollut Bull 125:216–241

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Clements F (1905) Research methods in ecology. University Publishing Company, Nebraska

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Dai X, Gao Y, He X, Liu T, Jiang B, Shao H (2021) Spatial-temporal pattern evolution and driving force analysis of ecological environment vulnerability in Panzhihua City. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28:7151–7166

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Darabi H, Farsani I, Behbahani I (2019) Evaluation of ecological vulnerability in Chelgard mountainous landscape. Pollution 5:597–610

    Google Scholar 

  • de Noronha VE, Cabral P, Caetano M, Nijkamp P, Painho M (2012) Urban heritage endangerment at the interface of future cities and past heritage: a spatial vulnerability assessment. Habitat Int 36:287–294

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ding Q, Shi X, Zhuang D (2018) Temporal and spatial distributions of ecological vulnerability under the influence of natural and anthropogenic factors in an eco-province under construction in China. Sustainability 10:3087

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duguy B, Alloza J, Baeza M, Riva J, Echeverria M, Ibarra P (2012) Modelling the ecological vulnerability to forest fires in Mediterranean ecosystems using geographic information technologies. Environ Manag 50:1012–1026

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farshad R, Safavi H, Ahmad A (2013) Groundwater vulnerability assessment using fuzzy logic: a case study in the Zayandehrood Aquifers. Iran Environ Manag 51:267–277

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • GLP (2005) Science plan and implementation strategy. IGBP Report No. 53/IHDP Report No. 19. IGBP Secretariat, Stockholm

  • Guo B, Zang W, Luo W (2020) Spatial-temporal shifts of ecological vulnerability of Karst mountain ecosystem-impacts of global change and anthropogenic interference. Sci Total Environ 741:140256

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hao Y, Zhou H (2002) A grey assessment model of regional eco-environment quality and its application. Environ Eng Sci 20:66–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Hong W, Jiang R, Yang C, Zhang F, Su M, Liao Q (2016) Establishing an ecological vulnerability assessment indicator system for spatial recognition and management of ecologically vulnerable areas in highly urbanized regions: a case study of Shenzhen, China. Ecol Indic 69:540–547

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IPCC (2010) Special Report on Emissions Scenarios (SRES). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Ippolito A, Sala S, Faber J, Vighi M (2010) Ecological vulnerability analysis: a river basin case study. Sci Total Environ 408:3880–3890

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kan A, Li G, Yang X, Zeng Y, Tesren L, He J (2018) Ecological vulnerability analysis of Tibetan towns with tourism-based economy: a case study of the Bayi District. J Mt Sci 15:1114–1101

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kang H, Tao W, Chang Y, Zhang Y, Li X, Chen P (2018) A feasible method for the division of ecological vulnerability and its driving forces in Southern Shaanxi. J Clean Prod 205:619–628

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li P, Fan J (2014) Regional ecological vulnerability assessment of the Guangxi Xijiang River Economic Belt in Southwest China with VSD model. J Resources Ecol 5:163–170

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li W, Zhao Y (2015) Bibliometric analysis of global environmental assessment research in a 20-year period. Environ Impact Assess Rev 50:158–166

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li H, Zhang P, Cheng Y (2008) Concepts and assessment methods of vulnerability. Prog Geogr 27:18–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Li H, Jing S, Yang Z (2018) Ecological vulnerability assessment for ecological conservation and environmental management. J Environ Manag 206:1115–1125

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li Q, Shi X, Wu Q (2020) Effects of protection and restoration on reducing ecological vulnerability. Sci Total Environ 761:143180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Q, Shi T (2019) Spatiotemporal differentiation and the factors of ecological vulnerability in the Toutun River basin based on remote sensing data. Sustainability 11:4160

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu D, Cao C, Dubovyk O (2016) Using fuzzy analytic hierarchy process for spatio-temporal analysis of eco-environmental vulnerability change during 1990–2010 in Sanjiangyuan region, China. Ecol Indic 73:612–625

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Q, Yang Z, Han F, Shi H, Wang Z, Chen X (2019a) Ecological environment assessment in world natural heritage site based on remote-sensing data. A Case Study from the Bayinbuluke. Sustainability 11:6385

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Q, Yang Z, Shi H, Wang Z (2019b) Ecological risk assessment of geohazards in Natural World Heritage Sites: an empirical analysis of Bogda, Tianshan. Open Geosci 11:327–340

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Niu W (1989) The discriminatory index with regard to the weakness, overlapness, and breadth of ectone. Acta Ecol Sin 9:97–105

    Google Scholar 

  • Pei H, Fang S, Lin L, Qin Z, Wang X (2015) Methods and applications for ecological vulnerability evaluation in a hyper-arid oasis: a case study of the Turpan Oasis, China. Environ Earth Sci 74:1449–1461

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peng B, Huang Q, Elahi E, Wei G (2019) ecological environment vulnerability and driving force of Yangtze River urban agglomeration. Sustainability 11:6623

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shi H, Lu J, Zheng W, Sun J, Li J, Guo Z (2020) Evaluation system of coastal wetland ecological vulnerability under the synergetic influence of land and sea: a case study in the Yellow River delta, China. Mar Pollut Bullet 161:111735

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Song Y, Zhao T (2013) A bibliometric analysis of global forest ecology research during 2002-2011. SpringerPlus 2:204

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sun B, Ma X, Materin D, Bao X (2019) Assessment on island ecological vulnerability to urbanization: a tale of Chongming Island, China. Sustainability 11:2536

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tian Y, Chang H (2012) Bibliometric analysis of research progress on ecological vulnerability in China. Acta Geograph Sin 67:1515–1525

    Google Scholar 

  • Timmerman P (1981) Vulnerability, resilience and the collapse of society: a review of models and possible climatic applications. In: Institute for Environmental Studies. University of Toronto, Toronto

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner B, Matson P, McCarthy J, Corell R, Christensen L, Eckley N (2003) Illustrating the coupled human-environment system for vulnerability analysis: three case studies. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 100:8080–8085

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • UNESCO (1972) Convention concerning the protection of the world cultural and natural heritage. Available online: https://whc.unesco.org/en/convention. Accessed 10 Dec 2020

  • UNESCO (2010) World Heritage Centre. Available online: http://whc.unesco.org/en/about. Accessed 10 Dec 2020

  • Wang R, Fan Z (1998) Study on the evaluation of ecological frangibility of Tarim River Basin. Arid Environ Monit 12:39–44

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang X, Zhong X (2003) Approaches to concept of vulnerability of ecology and environment. J Mt Sci 21:21–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang L, Guo H, Liu Y, Dai Y, Wang J (2005) Ecological fragility of Qionghai Lake basin and its asssessment. Chin J Ecol 10:1192–1196

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang S, Liu J, Yang C (2008) Eco-environmental vulnerability evaluation in the Yellow River Basin, China. Pedosphere 18:171–182

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang B, Pan S, Ke R, Wang K, Wei Y (2014) An overview of climate change vulnerability: a bibliometric analysis based on Web of Science database. Nat Hazards 74:1649–1666

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wei W, Shi S, Zhang X, Zhou L, Xie B, Zhou J (2020) Regional-scale assessment of environmental vulnerability in an arid inland basin. Ecol Indic 109:105792

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weisshuhn P, Muller F, Wiggering H (2018) Ecosystem vulnerability review: proposal of an interdisciplinary ecosystem assessment approach. Environ Manag 61:904–915

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams L, Kapustka L (2000) Ecosystem vulnerability: a complex interface with technical components. Environ Toxicol Chem 19:1055–1058

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu J, Lin X, Wang M, Peng J, Tu Y (2017) Assessing agricultural drought vulnerability by a VSD model: a case study in Yunnan Province, China. Sustainability 9:918

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xie Z, Li X, Jiang D, Lin S, Yang B, Chen S (2019) Threshold of island anthropogenic disturbance based on ecological vulnerability assessment-a case study of Zhujiajian Island. Ocean Coast Manag 167:127–136

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xu J, Li G, Wang Y (2016) Review and prospect of research on ecological vulnerability in China and abroad. East China Econ Manag 30:149–162

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang Y, Ren X, Zhang S, Chen F, Hou H (2017) Incorporating ecological vulnerability assessment into rehabilitation planning for a post-mining area. Environ Earth Sci 76:245

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang H, Zhai G, Zhang Y (2021) Ecological vulnerability assessment and spatial pattern optimization of resource-based cities: a case study of Huaibei City, China. Hum Ecol Risk Assess 27:606–625

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yu X, Li Y, Xi M, Kong F, Pang M, Yu Z (2019) Ecological vulnerability analysis of Beidagang National Park, China. Front Earth Sci 13:385–397

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang L, Wang M, Hu J, Ho Y (2010) A review of published wetland research 1991-2008: ecological engineering and ecosystem restoration. Ecol Eng 36:973–980

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang D, Fu H, Ho Y (2017a) Characteristics and trends on global environmental monitoring research: a bibliometric analysis based on Science Citation Index Expanded. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24:26079–26091

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang F, Liu X, Zhang J, Wu R, Ma Q, Chen Y (2017b) Ecological vulnerability assessment based on multi-sources data and SD model in Yinma River Basin, China. Ecol Model 349:41–50

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang X, Yu W, Cai H, Guo X (2018) Review of the evaluation methods of regional eco-environmental vulnerability. Acta Ecol Sin 38:5970–5981

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao K, Rao Y, Wang L, Lou Y (2004) Evaluation of ecological fragility in Soutwest of China. J Geol Hazards Environ Preserv 15:38–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao J, Ji G, Tian Y, Chen Y, Wang Z (2018) Environmental vulnerability assessment for mainland China based on entropy method. Ecol Indic 91:410–422

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou X, Yan Y, Wang H, Zhang F, Wu L, Ren J (2011) Assessment of eco-environment vulnerability in the northeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China. Environ Earth Sci 63:667–674

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This research was supported by China Overseas Expertise Introduction Program for Discipline Innovation (Grant No. D17016), the Key Science and Technology Program of Guizhou Province (Grant No. 5411 2017 Qiankehe Pingtai Rencai), and the World Top Discipline Program of Guizhou Province (Grant No. 125 2019 Qianjiao Keyan Fa).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Karst Science, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, 550001, China

    Yue Chen, Kangning Xiong, Xiaodong Ren & Cai Cheng

  2. State Engineering Technology Institute for Karst Desertification Control, Guiyang, 550001, China

    Yue Chen, Kangning Xiong, Xiaodong Ren & Cai Cheng

Authors
  1. Yue Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kangning Xiong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Xiaodong Ren
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Cai Cheng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

YC and KX initiated and designed the research. YC collected and analyzed the data. YC, KX, XR, and CC contributed to the writing and development of the manuscript. All author contributed to the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kangning Xiong.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval

Not applicable

Consent to participate

All the co-authors agreed to participate in the research.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Philippe Garrigues

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chen, Y., Xiong, K., Ren, X. et al. An overview of ecological vulnerability: a bibliometric analysis based on the Web of Science database. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 12984–12996 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-17995-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-17995-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation