Research Progress on Moss Traits in the Last Decade: A Bibliometric Analysis Based on CiteSpace

Abstract

Mosses are small, higher plants with a wide variety of species and are an important component of various ecosystems. The study of moss traits helps in understanding their physiological and ecological processes, as well as enhancing our overall knowledge of the plant kingdom. To clarify the research context and development trends of moss traits, this paper conducts a bibliometric analysis of 471 existing articles using the Web of Science database and CiteSpace (6.4.R1) software. The results show that research on moss traits experienced a rapid increase from 2015 to 2021 before leveling off. The main disciplines publishing articles on moss traits are Plant Sciences, Ecology, and Environmental Sciences. The primary publishing countries are the USA, People's Republic of China, and Germany. Major journals include Plants-Basel (Q1), American Journal of Botany (Q2), and New Phytologist (Q1). Among all journals, New Phytologist (255), Journal of Ecology (233), and Ecology (211) are the most frequently cited. Research hotspots in moss traits mainly focus on functional traits, growth, and community, and comparative studies with other groups (such as lichens) are expected to be a future research trend.