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Prioritisation of Charismatic Animals in Major Conservation Journals Measured by the Altmetric Attention Score

Author

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  • Pavol Prokop

    (Department of Environmental Ecology and Landscape Management, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia
    Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 845 06 Bratislava, Slovakia)

  • Rudolf Masarovič

    (Department of Environmental Ecology and Landscape Management, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia)

  • Sandra Hajdúchová

    (Department of Environmental Ecology and Landscape Management, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia)

  • Zuzana Ježová

    (Department of Environmental Ecology and Landscape Management, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia)

  • Martina Zvaríková

    (Department of Environmental Ecology and Landscape Management, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia)

  • Peter Fedor

    (Department of Environmental Ecology and Landscape Management, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia)

Abstract

Large, charismatic animals trigger human emotional responses, which consequently result in taxonomic biases that have been proven in various fields. In our research, we analysed the representation of animals and plants in scientific papers published in three major conservation journals ( Conservation Biology , Journal of Applied Ecology and Conservation Letters ) between 2011 and 2020. Furthermore, we examined the Altmetric Attention Score (AAS) and each paper’s total number of citations focused exclusively on a single taxon (59% of all papers). Mammals were represented on journal cover pages significantly more frequently than other taxa, while reptiles, amphibians and fish were underrepresented. The total number of published papers and the AAS favoured mammals significantly, while reptiles, plants and amphibians received the lowest AAS. The AAS of mammals was positively influenced by the body mass and appeal score. Scientific citations showed a slight correlation with the AAS. Papers about mammals, invertebrates and amphibians received the most citations, followed by plants, fish, birds and reptiles. These results showed that there are taxonomic biases that favour large mammals over other taxa, both among scientists as well as the public. Therefore, publication policy should be changed in order to support the shift of scientists and, subsequently, public interest itself toward neglected taxa.

Suggested Citation

  • Pavol Prokop & Rudolf Masarovič & Sandra Hajdúchová & Zuzana Ježová & Martina Zvaríková & Peter Fedor, 2022. "Prioritisation of Charismatic Animals in Major Conservation Journals Measured by the Altmetric Attention Score," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:24:p:17029-:d:1007996
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    References listed on IDEAS

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