Ecological Biotechnology: Merging Ecology with Biotech Innovation

Ecological biotechnology is the application of biotechnology tools and principles to ecological problems — the restoration of degraded ecosystems, the conservation of biodiversity, the sustainable management of biological resources, and the design of ecological engineering solutions. It differs from environmental biotechnology (which focuses on pollution and waste) in its emphasis on ecosystems and ecological processes, though the two fields overlap substantially.

The discipline draws on a wide range of biotech capabilities: molecular tools for monitoring biodiversity (environmental DNA, metagenomics), bioremediation of contaminated ecosystems, biocontrol of invasive species, microbiome manipulation for agriculture and conservation, and synthetic biology approaches to ecological challenges. Each of these offers new ways to address problems that have traditionally been managed — often unsuccessfully — with chemical or physical interventions.

Hrisana Journal publishes research across the full breadth of ecological biotechnology, from fundamental studies of ecological processes to applied field trials of ecological engineering approaches. Our open-access, peer-reviewed format is well-suited to interdisciplinary work that bridges ecology, microbiology, molecular biology, and engineering.

Environmental DNA (eDNA) — DNA shed by organisms into their environment — has transformed biodiversity monitoring. A single water sample can reveal the presence of fish, amphibians, invertebrates, and microorganisms through metabarcoding of eDNA. The method is non-invasive, sensitive to rare and elusive species, and scalable to large spatial extents. It is now widely used for species detection, biomass estimation, and community composition assessment in aquatic and terrestrial systems.

Genomic tools also support conservation of endangered species. Population genomics identifies genetically distinct units for management, detects hybridization, and guides breeding programmes to maintain genetic diversity. For species with limited remaining habitat, genomic data can inform decisions about translocation, genetic rescue, and ex situ conservation. Cryopreservation of genetic resources — seed banks, gamete banks, tissue culture collections — provides insurance against further loss.

Microbiome research has revealed that the health of plants and animals depends critically on their associated microbial communities. Coral microbiome manipulation is being explored as a tool to enhance thermal tolerance and resist bleaching. Plant microbiome engineering can improve drought tolerance, disease resistance, and nutrient uptake. Amphibian microbiome augmentation with antifungal bacteria offers a potential tool against the devastating chytrid fungus. These approaches represent a new frontier in conservation biology.

Ecosystem restoration — the repair of degraded, damaged, or destroyed ecosystems — is a global priority, exemplified by the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030). Ecological biotechnology contributes to restoration through microbial inoculation to restart soil processes, plant microbiome engineering to improve establishment success, bioremediation of contaminants that prevent recovery, and genetic rescue of small inbred populations.

Mine site restoration presents particular challenges: toxic metals, extreme pH, lack of soil structure, and absence of biological activity. Microbial inoculation with metal-tolerant, plant-growth-promoting bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi can accelerate soil development and plant establishment. Biochar amendments, often inoculated with beneficial microbes, improve soil physical and chemical properties while providing a habitat for microbial colonization. Field trials demonstrating the effectiveness of these approaches at scale are valuable contributions to the literature.

Wetland restoration benefits from microbial community management. Constructed wetlands for water treatment rely on plant-microbe partnerships to remove nutrients, organic matter, and some pollutants. Understanding the assembly and function of wetland microbial communities supports the design of more efficient and robust treatment wetlands. Restoration of natural wetlands similarly depends on re-establishing microbial communities that drive biogeochemical cycling.

Classical biological control — the introduction of natural enemies to control invasive species — has a long history and a mixed record of successes and failures. Ecological biotechnology is enhancing biocontrol safety and specificity through molecular characterization of biocontrol agents, genomic analysis of their target specificity, and modelling of post-release population dynamics. These tools help ensure that biocontrol agents attack only their intended targets and persist at effective densities.

Microbial biocontrol agents — Bacillus thuringiensis for insect control, Pseudomonas and Trichoderma for plant disease suppression, mycoinsecticides and mycoherbicides — offer alternatives to synthetic pesticides. Strain improvement through directed evolution or genetic engineering can enhance efficacy, environmental stability, and host range. Formulation and application technology are equally important for field performance and are active research areas.

Gene drive approaches, while controversial, represent a potential tool for managing invasive species or vector populations. CRISPR-based gene drives can spread engineered traits through populations, potentially suppressing invasive rodents on islands or modifying mosquito populations to resist malaria transmission. The ecological and ethical implications of such interventions demand careful consideration, and Hrisana Journal welcomes submissions that engage with these dimensions alongside the technical research.

Ecological biotechnology manuscripts should clearly articulate the ecological problem being addressed, the biotechnology approach being applied, the experimental or modelling methods, and the implications for ecosystem management or conservation. Interdisciplinary work that bridges ecology and biotechnology is particularly welcome, as is work that engages with the social and ethical dimensions of ecological intervention.

For field studies, detailed site descriptions, experimental designs, and long-term monitoring data strengthen the contribution. For molecular work, sequence data should be deposited in public repositories with accession numbers reported. For modelling studies, model code and parameterization data should be shared to support reproducibility.

Hrisana Journal offers a peer-reviewed, open-access venue for ecological biotechnology research. Visit our Submit Manuscript page to begin your submission, or review our Author Guidelines for preparation requirements. We also offer a Free Publication Programme for eligible researchers from developing countries, where much of the world's biodiversity is concentrated.