Publication Date
2026
Document Type
Dissertation/Thesis
First Advisor
Jones, Holly P.
Degree Name
Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy)
Legacy Department
Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract
Ecological restoration of natural ecosystems has become a global priority, as the widespread anthropogenic destruction and conversion of natural landscapes threatens biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and the goods and services available to people (Cardinale et al. 2012; Ceballos et al. 2015). Holistic and inclusive ecological restoration is a useful tool for reversing species loss and recovering natural systems, while simultaneously centering and serving local communities (Elmqvist et al. 2015; Elias et al. 2022; Marsh et al. 2023). The success of restoration efforts is important not only for restoring endangered ecosystems but also for providing benefits to those most vulnerable to the degradation of local ecosystem goods and services. Within the United States, the most vulnerable human populations are those whose health, wellbeing, and livelihoods are disproportionately impacted by the inequitable distribution of environmental amenities and burdens, specifically Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) and low-income communities, and those reliant on natural resources. In North America, the most endangered ecosystems are tallgrass prairie ecosystems where nearly 96% of prairie has been destroyed or converted to agricultural farmlands (Samson and Knopf 1994). Modern restoration efforts now target specific functioning outcomes such as biological diversity of primary producers, vegetation structure, and ecosystem processes to help aid and reinstate ecological attributes (Higgs et al. 2018; Suding et al. 2015; Jones et al. 2018). Since the emergence of westernized restoration science in the early 20th century, the field has focused efforts on understanding the ecological mechanisms underlying restoration (Wortley et al. 2013), but it is also equally crucial to center local communities in restoration goals, as emphasized by global restoration agendas (IUCN 2017; United Nations General Assembly 2019). My dissertation aims to advance a more comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted impacts of ecological restoration in the United States. I examine the distribution of restoration benefits among marginalized communities and investigate the ecological mechanisms that influence ecosystem functioning in restored tallgrass prairies. Specifically, I examine the effects of reintroducing consumers, such as bison, that were historically removed by government policies. In this thesis, I address the following research questions: (1) How are restoration benefits, as implemented by restoration science, distributed with respect to BIPOC communities in the United States? (2) How does bison grazing affect ecosystem function in plant communities with varying functional diversity and species richness in a restored tallgrass prairie system?
Recommended Citation
Francia, Regina Mae Dimalanta, "Evaluating the Multifaceted Impacts of Ecological Restoration" (2026). Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations. 8202.
https://huskiecommons.lib.niu.edu/allgraduate-thesesdissertations/8202
Extent
132 pages
Language
en
Publisher
Northern Illinois University
Rights Statement
In Copyright
Rights Statement 2
NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.
Media Type
Text
