African wildlife has lost one-third of its “ecological power” as biodiversity declines, oxford study reveals

A groundbreaking new study has quantified something scientists have long struggled to measure: exactly how the loss of wildlife affects the fundamental workings of entire ecosystems. The research, published in Nature and led by conservation biologist Ty Loft at the University of Oxford, reveals that African wildlife has lost a staggering third of its “ecological power” – the energy that drives critical ecosystem functions.

Unlike traditional approaches that simply count animal populations, this innovative study tracked energy flows throughout ecosystems to understand how biodiversity losses translate into real-world impacts. The researchers focused on “ecological energetics” – measuring how species shape their environments through food consumption, their specific ecological roles, and the energy that flows through them as they interact with their surroundings.

This energy-based approach reveals the true interconnectedness of natural systems. When animals graze and browse, they directly reshape landscapes. When they disperse seeds through their droppings or migrate across vast distances, they indirectly influence entire regions. These aren’t simply creatures living alongside static environments – they’re integral components of dynamic, living ecosystems where energy constantly transfers from plants to animals, between different animal species, and back into the environment.

The one-third loss of ecological power has profound implications for vital ecosystem services that humans depend on, including nutrient cycling, seed dispersal, and natural pest control through predation. This research provides a new lens for understanding conservation priorities and offers concrete evidence of how wildlife declines ripple through entire ecological networks, potentially compromising the stability and resilience of Africa’s natural systems.