ABSTRACT Aim To assess whether newly described species are more likely to be threatened and have smaller ranges than known species. Location Global. Methods In this study, we focus on the timing of species acceptance. We compare two global taxonomic assessments of birds, mammals and amphibians conducted approximately 10 years apart. Our approach allows us to isolate the most recently accepted species, a methodological improvement from earlier studies that depended on the recency of authority year to address similar questions. Instead, we categorised all currently accepted species into four groups: (1) Discovered species; (2) Raised species; (3) Restricted species; and (4) Identical species, with category 1 representing de novo discovered species between the taxonomic assessments, category 4 representing unchanged species, and categories 2 and 3 representing changes in taxonomic treatment of known populations. Results We find that species accepted earlier tend to be widespread and less threatened, while more recently accepted species often have smaller ranges and face a higher risk of extinction. We also find that taxonomic splits typically leave the original name with a widespread species, while newly split species tend to be range‐restricted and more likely to be assessed as threatened. Main Conclusions Our results suggest that many species not yet formally recognised may already be at risk of extinction. This highlights the urgent need for more fieldwork in understudied areas to help prevent extinctions before new species are formally described.

ABSTRACT Aim A key element of the Global Biodiversity Framework Target 3 is ‘representativity’, which refers to the inclusion of the full range of existing ecosystems, ecological processes and regions within protected areas, with the aim of ensuring that the full spectrum of biodiversity is protected. Here we use the New Zealand Seafloor Community Classification (NZSCC), which depicts compositional turnover of 1716 taxa (demersal fish, reef fish, benthic invertebrates and macroalgae) classified in 75 groups representing seafloor communities, and the conservation planning software Zonation to explore how representativity of benthic communities could be enhanced across spatial management areas (including protected areas) in New Zealand's marine environment. Location New Zealand Exclusive Economic Zone. Methods 154 Spatial layers derived from the NZSSC depicting within‐ and between‐ group similarity/dissimilarity and taxonomic richness, representing beta and alpha diversity respectively, are used to explore scenarios to provide an optimal expansion of the current network of spatial management areas. Results Results indicate that a relatively small increase in spatial protection (1.5%) to the existing spatial management network can result in large increases in the representativity of all NZSCC groups, including 46 groups (out of 75) currently underrepresented. Main Conclusions The use of within‐ and between‐group similarity/dissimilarity is a significant improvement on spatial prioritisation processes that consider groups within benthic classifications to be homogenous. These results provide a solid base for informing the development of improved future protection measures within New Zealand that can meaningfully contribute to the representativity element of the Global Biodiversity Framework Target 3, and the approach presented here can be applied to other regions.

ABSTRACT Aim Cave fish, the largest aquatic vertebrates in karst ecosystems, rely heavily on bat guano as a nutrient source. However, ongoing environmental change is degrading cave habitats and altering bat distributions. This study aims to assess how climate‐driven bat migration affects cave fish distributions in China, providing insights for biodiversity conservation. Location China. Methods We developed ensemble species distribution models (ensemble SDMs) for cave bats and cave fish, integrating current and projected climate data to simulate historical and future distributions. Cave bat richness was used as a proxy for food resource availability for cave fish. We then quantified changes in cave fish richness under different climate scenarios and evaluated the amplifying effect of bat migration. Results Both cave bats and cave fish exhibit overlapping richness hotspots in southern China, strongly associated with fragmented karst landscapes. Under future climate scenarios, the cave bat richness center is projected to shift northwestward, with greater displacement under high‐emission conditions. Cave fish richness is predicted to decline due to climate stress alone, but when accounting for bat migration, losses are amplified by 12–40 times. Main Conclusions Climate‐induced shifts in cave bat distributions may drastically intensify habitat and nutrient limitations for cave fish, exacerbating biodiversity loss. These findings highlight the importance of integrating biotic interactions and trophic dependencies in species distribution modelling and conservation planning. The study provides a framework for prioritising cave ecosystem protection under future environmental change.

ABSTRACT Aim A warming climate is predicted to drive shifts in marine species' distribution. Determining the environmental variables influencing the distribution and habitat use of large predators, such as cetaceans, is critical for conservation management, yet remains poorly understood. New Zealand is a global cetacean hotspot, with ecosystem productivity supporting multi‐species cohorts throughout coastal waters. Cetaceans are early indicators of change as shifts in productivity influence prey availability, making them potential sentinel species. Location Hauraki Gulf, Aotearoa New Zealand. Methods We used cetacean sighting data collected by a whale‐watch operator from 2000 to 2019, alongside monthly averaged sea surface temperature (SST) measurements. We modelled the locations and times of sightings to understand spatiotemporal patterns in the occurrence of frequently sighted cetaceans within the Gulf. Using latent Gaussian Markov random fields to model spatially varying effects of SST on cetacean occurrence and to account for spatiotemporal correlations, we investigated distributional shifts over time and how these were related to SST. Results Hotspots and spatial clustering varied depending on prey trophic level. For Bryde's whales and common dolphins, hotspots in density shifted gradually with a spatially varying effect of SST depending on location. These effects were not observed for bottlenose dolphins or killer whales, for which hotspots in density often shifted rapidly and could not be attributed to SST. Probability of occurrence of Bryde's whale and common dolphin peaked along the northern coastline in cooler months, with movement further out under warmer months. Similar seasonal shifts were not evident for the other species. Main Conclusions Finding relatively simple and low‐cost approaches that inform adaptive management decisions is important, particularly for endangered species. We highlight the value of a long‐term dataset, a simple environmental measure (SST), and robust model design to understand the dynamic distribution patterns of cetaceans and associated species in a rapidly changing ocean.

ABSTRACT Global biodiversity is undergoing a rapid decline, underscoring the urgent need for effective conservation strategies. Though biodiversity conservation takes many forms, approaches that incorporate genomic data into decision‐making are necessary for many taxa. Genetic data play a critical role in informing conservation planning and decision‐making. However, the world's most biodiverse and vulnerable areas also have the fewest resources available for generating genetic data for biodiversity protection. Genomic tools remain insufficiently incorporated into conservation programs across the Global South. In contrast to the Global North, countries in the Global South face significant constraints in funding, technical expertise, and research collaborations, leading to a marked underrepresentation of their species in genomic databases. This disparity limits the effectiveness of conservation actions in these regions. Strengthening financial support, fostering equitable collaborations, and investing in capacity‐building are essential to enhance the integration of genomics into conservation efforts in the Global South.

ABSTRACT Aim With the development and operation of offshore wind farms along the United States East Coast, it is imperative that we understand the distributions of vulnerable species so we can track and predict potential interactions. We focused on leatherback sea turtles ( Dermochelys coriacea ) as they depend on this region for important stages of their life history. Our research aimed to determine leatherback distributions, the environmental predictors associated with them, and how they currently overlap with active areas dedicated to offshore wind energy. Location United States Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). Methods Satellite transmitters were affixed to 74 leatherbacks off the coasts of North Carolina and Massachusetts between 2017 and 2023. Location data from these transmitters were implemented in boosted regression tree models to predict leatherback distributions in relation to a suite of static and dynamic environmental covariates. We used the model predictions to categorise core habitat and determine its overlaps with active wind energy leases. Results The final model predicted a higher probability of leatherbacks in the Mid‐Atlantic Bight (MAB) in May and June and Southern New England (SNE) and Nova Scotia in the late summer. We predicted an increased probability of leatherbacks south along the coastline and off the shelf along the Gulf Stream in the winter. We observed notable overlap between core habitat and offshore wind areas in the MAB and SNE peaking in the late summer. Main Conclusions Our results highlight the importance of coastal habitat for leatherback sea turtles along the OCS. Conservation efforts that focus on examining direct effects of wind farm construction and operation on leatherbacks in the MAB and SNE are warranted, especially given the proximity between lease areas and key foraging areas.