Bibliometric analysis of grey literature on the Bolgoda ecosystem with special reference to theses and dissertations

Abstract

Conservation of ecosystems such as Bolgoda is crucial in achieving sustainable development goal 11 – Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. To conserve such valuable ecosystems, the importance of reviewing research has been highlighted. Grey literature such as theses and dissertations are important sources of information since they include valuable context-specific local information not published in conventional scientific publications. Hence this study attempted to carry out a bibliometric analysis of theses and dissertations related to the Bolgoda ecosystem. Keyword searches were conducted across various academic platforms and repositories, seeking records related to the Bolgoda Ecosystem up to the year 2022. Bibliographic details and subject areas were recorded, with particular attention to the frequency of the term "Bolgoda" in retrieved documents. The study identified a total of 45 theses and dissertations related to the Bolgoda ecosystem, with 11 from foreign institutions and the University of Moratuwa contributing the highest number (16) among local universities. The majority were Master of Science (MSc) theses (58%), followed by Ph.D. theses (18%), with 25 documents originating from Taught Postgraduate programs. Categorization of the research according to Millennium Ecosystem Services (MES) revealed that the majority focused on Regulating services (e.g., water), followed by Provisional services (e.g., food) and Cultural services (e.g., aesthetic and recreational). Notably, documents with restricted access had an average of 3.56 occurrences of the word "Bolgoda," while open-access documents had 20.2 occurrences. This bibliometric analysis provided a comprehensive overview of Bolgoda ecosystem-related research, highlighting a concentration on certain ecosystem services. The study emphasizes the need to expand local research into less-explored areas to effectively manage the Bolgoda ecosystem and work towards achieving sustainable development goals.