RESTORATION OF PADDY ECOSYSTEMS: ASSESSING BIODIVERSITY AND BIOTIC INTERACTIONS ACROSS AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPES OF PAKISTAN

Paddy ecosystems represent multifunctional agroecosystems that contribute simultaneously to food production, biodiversity conservation, and ecosystem service provision. In Pakistan, intensive rice cultivation across Punjab and Sindh has increasingly led to biodiversity loss, habitat simplification, and disruption of ecological processes due to agrochemical intensification and landscape fragmentation. This study evaluates the effects of ecological restoration practices on biodiversity patterns and biotic interactions in paddy ecosystems across major rice-growing regions of Pakistan, including Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Sheikhupura, Narowal, and Larkana. A comparative field-based assessment was conducted over two rice-growing seasons (2022–2024), involving restored and conventional paddy systems. Multi-trophic biodiversity was assessed, including plant communities, arthropods, pollinators, amphibians, birds, and soil microorganisms, along with ecological network and landscape analyses. Results demonstrated that restored paddy ecosystems significantly enhanced biodiversity across all trophic levels. Plant species richness increased from 31 to 48 species, while arthropod diversity shifted towards beneficial functional groups, with predator abundance increasing by more than 70%. Pollinator populations increased by 56%, amphibian species richness by 80%, and bird abundance by 42% in restored systems. Soil microbial biomass carbon increased by 42.2%, indicating improved belowground ecosystem functioning. Ecological network analysis revealed stronger trophic connectivity and higher ecosystem stability in restored fields. Landscape heterogeneity, vegetated field margins, and wetland connectivity emerged as key drivers of biodiversity enhancement. Overall, the findings demonstrate that ecological restoration significantly improves biodiversity, strengthens biotic interactions, and enhances ecosystem resilience in rice agroecosystems. The study highlights the potential of biodiversity-friendly farming practices to achieve sustainable rice production while supporting ecological conservation in Pakistan.