Reviving Ecosystems: Maximizing Biodiversity Recovery Through Network-Based Restoration Strategies
Image: Auroop Ganguly, COE Distinguished Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering and Northeastern alumnus Udit Bhatia, PhD, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Alumnus Udit Bhatia, PhD’18, civil and environmental engineering, and Auroop Ganguly, COE distinguished professor of CEE, were two of the co-authors of the paper “Network-based Restoration Strategies Maximize Ecosystem Recovery” published in Communications Biology via nature.com. Joining them as co-authors are Sarth Dubey, a PhD student of Udit Bhatia from the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, and Tarik C. Gouhier from Northeastern University Marine Science Center.
The paper discusses how global biodiversity loss demands predictive frameworks for ecosystem collapse and effective restoration strategies. The research of Bhatia, Ganguly, Dubey and Gouhier suggests that the most effective way to maximize biodiversity recovery after collapse is by reintroducing species based on their original number of connections in the network, rather than employing complex strategies focusing on higher-order topological features. These findings offer a promising approach to designing efficient restoration plans for ecosystems with limited data, ensuring the revival of critical natural services essential for global economic development, food security, and human health.