Species energy budgets, species richness, and species extinction under habitat loss with spatial configuration

The global demand for natural resources is driving habitat loss, population declines, and disruptions to interspecies interactions. These changes are accelerating species extinction. Species energy budget is a key factor influencing extinction risk. However, its impact under habitat loss may vary with the species richness of affected communities. Despite its significance, the interaction between species energy budgets and species richness, particularly in spatially complex landscapes, is poorly understood. To address this gap, we constructed evolutionarily stable communities within spatially heterogeneous resource landscapes. These communities were exposed to both random and spatially contagious habitat loss. The results revealed several key findings. First, species with lower energy intake experienced faster extinction and steeper population declines, regardless of the habitat loss pattern. Similarly, species with more diverse energy sources or uniform energy output—particularly in species–rich communities—also faced accelerated extinction and more severe population reductions. Second, random habitat loss was more detrimental than contagious habitat loss for species with lower energy intake, diverse energy sources, or uniform energy output, as measured by extinction time and population decline. Finally, species richness moderated the effects of species energy budgets on extinction risk. Specifically, in species–poor communities, species with similar energy intake were more vulnerable to random habitat loss than to contagious habitat loss. However, this trend was not observed for species with similarly diverse energy outputs or sources. This study provides new insights into the mechanisms underlying species responses to habitat loss. It highlights the importance of integrating species energy budgets and community structure into extinction risk assessments. By incorporating these factors, conservation strategies can be better tailored to mitigate biodiversity loss and improve ecosystem resilience.