Unveiling the potential of biomarkers in the context of climate change: analysis of knowledge landscapes, trends, and research priorities

Climate change is one of the most pressing challenges facing the world, with profound implications for ecosystems, biodiversity, and human societies. The necessity to monitor, comprehend, and mitigate climate change impacts has spurred the emergence of biomarkers as essential tools in ecological and environmental research. This study investigates global knowledge in biomarker research within the context of climate change. Its goal is to offer valuable insights to both researchers and practitioners, thereby guiding the development of well-informed decisions. The analysis encompassed a performance evaluation aimed at scrutinizing both quantitative and qualitative indicators. Visualization techniques utilizing VOSviewer software were deployed to analyze collaboration patterns, co-citation links among prominent knowledge-sharing platforms, and key topics derived from keyword co-occurrence matrices. Globally, a total of 1045 relevant documents were identified and analyzed. The United States stands out as the top contributor (261 documents; 25.0%) with Chinese Academy of Sciences, China, as the most prolific institution (72 documents; 6.9%). Key trends were related to developing and utilizing novel biomarkers based on advancements in omics and nano-based technologies, bioinformatics and data analytics benefiting from machine learning and artificial intelligence tools, and the significance of integrative approaches that merge biomarkers with remote sensing data and ecological models. These advancements contribute to boosting predictive capabilities, precise sensing, and the effective identification of patterns within massive datasets that ultimately improve climate change monitoring and mitigation in ecosystems. Progress in this field demands interdisciplinary collaborations, international cooperation, the establishment of long-term monitoring programs, the creation of biomarker databases, and investment in emerging biomarker technologies. Education and outreach initiatives, accompanied by adequate funding and resources, are critical for advancing biomarker research.