Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss: An Ecological Network Analysis Perspective

Abstract

Climate change and biodiversity loss represent two of the most critical and interconnected global crises of the twenty-first century, with far-reaching consequences for ecological integrity, human well-being, and planetary sustainability. Rising temperatures, shifting precipitation regimes, ocean acidification, and habitat fragmentation are accelerating species declines at an unprecedented rate, yet the impacts extend beyond individual species to the disruption of complex ecological interactions that sustain ecosystem function. Traditional ecological research has largely emphasized species-level vulnerabilities or ecosystem-scale changes, but such approaches often overlook the cascading consequences that emerge when interactions within ecological networks are destabilized. To address this gap, this paper adopts an ecological network analysis (ENA) framework, in which species are conceptualized as nodes and their trophic, mutualistic, or competitive interactions as edges, thereby enabling a systems-level evaluation of climate-induced perturbations. ENA provides quantitative insights into systemic vulnerabilities, the role of keystone species, and resilience thresholds, while also revealing nonlinear dynamics and extinction cascades triggered by even minor disturbances. Case studies spanning terrestrial rainforests, coral reef systems, and freshwater grasslands illustrate how climate stressors alter energy flows, disrupt phenological synchrony, and erode structural stability, ultimately driving network fragmentation and biodiversity collapse. Results indicate that ecosystems with high redundancy and modularity exhibit greater robustness, whereas those dominated by specialized or keystone interactions are disproportionately fragile. These findings underscore the urgent need for conservation strategies that transcend species-centric management and instead prioritize the protection of ecological interactions, the reinforcement of redundancy, and the preservation of critical hubs within ecological networks. By integrating network theory with climate adaptation frameworks, policymakers and conservation practitioners can design adaptive management strategies that bolster ecosystem resilience, safeguard biodiversity, and mitigate the systemic risks posed by ongoing climate change, offering a pathway toward more sustainable and robust socio-ecological systems.