The decline in ecological connections signifies the potential extinction of
species, which can be attributed to disruptions and alterations. The decrease
in interconnections among species reflects their susceptibility to changes. For
example, certain insects and plants that rely on exclusive interactions with a
limited number of species, or even a specific species, face the risk of
extinction if they lose these crucial connections. Currently, mining activities
pose significant harm to natural ecosystems, resulting in various adverse
environmental impacts. In this study, we utilized network science techniques to
analyze the ecosystem in a graph-based structure, aiming to conserve the
ecosystem affected by mining operations in the northern region of Scotland. The
research encompasses identifying the most vital members of the network,
establishing criteria for identifying communities within the network,
comparing, and evaluating them, using models to predict secondary extinctions
that occur when a species is removed from the network, and assessing the extent
of network damage. Our study's novelty is utilizing network science approaches
to investigate the biological data related to interactions between insects and
plants.Comment: 9 pages, 16 figure