1. Many ecological decisions are slowed by the gap between collecting and analysing biodiversity data. Edge computing moves processing closer to the sensor, with edge artificial intelligence (AI) enabling on-device inference, reducing reliance on data transfer and continuous connectivity. In principle, this shifts biodiversity monitoring from passive logging towards autonomous, responsive sensing systems. In practice, however, adoption remains fragmented, with key architectural trade-offs, performance constraints, and implementation challenges rarely reported systematically. 2. Here, we analyse 82 studies published between 2017 and 2025 that implement edge computing for biodiversity monitoring across acoustic, vision, tracking, and multi-modal systems. We synthesise hardware platforms, AI model optimisation, and wireless communication to critically assess how design choices shape ecological inference, deployment longevity, and operational feasibility. 3. Publications increased from 3 in 2017 to 19 in 2025. We identify four system types: (I) TinyML, low-power microcontrollers (MCUs) for single-taxon or rare-event detection; (II) Edge AI, single-board computers (SBCs) for multi-species classification and real-time alerts; (III) Distributed edge AI; and (IV) Cloud AI for retrospective processing pipelines. Each system type represents context-dependent trade-offs among power consumption, computational capability, and communication requirements. 4. Our analysis reveals the evolution of edge computing systems from proof-of-concept to robust, scalable tools. We argue that edge computing offers opportunities for responsive biodiversity management, but realising this potential requires increased collaboration between ecologists, engineers, and data scientists to align model development and system design with ecological questions, field constraints, and ethical considerations.