Aims: Bees are ecologically and economically vital pollinators underpinning terrestrial ecosystems and food security. Genomic-scale datasets and phylogenomic methods have advanced reconstructions of bee relationships, yet the placement of several key clades remains unsettled, constraining inferences about origins, biogeography, and trait evolution. This review synthesizes recent progress in bee phylogenomics, while outlining key data types, analytical approaches, and representative results to reflect the traceability and value of relevant information. 

Methods: We systematically reviewed recent literatures on bee phylogenetics and phylogenomics, focusing on studies utilizing large-scale genomic datasets such as genomes, transcriptomes, and ultraconserved elements (UCEs). Meanwhile, we harmonized reporting standards, flagged low and unreported support, mapped cross-study conflicts, and compiled a fossil catalog for reference and traceability. 

Review results: Phylogenomics corroborates family-level monophyly and has clarified many higher-level relationships and deep nodes. Temporal frameworks across studies commonly support a Cretaceous origin with subsequent radiations coincident with angiosperm diversification. However, instable clustering remain in several smaller or sparsely sampled lineages, with topological conflicts tied to heterogeneous matrices, analytical choices, and low or unreported support. 

Conclusions: Bee phylogenomics has made substantial advances in reconstructing the evolutionary history of this ecologically vital group, but major challenges remain. To improve phylogenetic resolution and evolutionary inference, we recommend expanding taxon and gene sampling, standardizing fossil calibration practices, and integrating morphological and ecological data. Future research should also prioritize linking phylogenetic frameworks to questions in trait evolution, species diversification, and biogeography. A well-resolved bee phylogeny will serve as a robust foundation for understanding ecological functions, conservation priorities, and co-evolutionary dynamics, ultimately advancing biodiversity science and ecosystem sustainability on a global scale.

Wildlife diversity monitoring is a crucial approach for biodiversity conservation and an essential task within nature reserves. The Ma’anshan Nature Reserve in Ganluo County, Sichuan Province, is located in a mountainous canyon area transitioning from the western edge of the Sichuan Basin to the Tibetan Plateau. It serves as an important distribution area for the southernmost marginal population of the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca). This study compiled a total of 1,136.08 GB of infrared camera monitoring data collected from 2021 to 2024 in the region. After screening and species identification, a comprehensive dataset of bird and mammal observations from infrared cameras was provided. The dataset covers 59 effective survey points, accumulating 17,586 camera days and capturing 38,482 video records. Among these, there were 12,325 mammal records, with 5,911 independent valid detections, covering 24 mammal species across 4 orders and 14 families. Additionally, 5,427 bird records were documented, with 1,578 independent valid detections, involving 51 bird species across 5 orders and 21 families. This dataset provides a checklist of the bird and mammal species and spatiotemporal distribution information, offering fundamental data for understanding the current state of biodiversity in the reserve and supporting subsequent conservation management as well as further research.

Aims: The compilation of authoritative biodiversity catalogs is of great significance for biodiversity research, resource protection, as well as social and economic development. In the era of rapid development and progress on scientific research, a large number of new species and new distribution records are reported every year. It is very important to summarize the discoveries of new taxa and update the species checklist in time. 

Method: The taxonomic data of newly published fungal names were retrieved and analyzed from the Fungal Names nomenclatural repository. 

Results: In 2024, 2,106 scholars have published 5,500 new fungal names all over the world, including 3 new subphylum, 17 new classes and new subclasses, 9 new orders and suborcders, 37 new families and subfamilies, 280 new genera and subgenera, 3,716 new species and intraspecific taxa, 1,094 new combinations, 37 replacement names and 307 other new names. These new names belonged to 3 kingdoms, 16 phyla, 49 classes, 183 orders, 494 families and 1,429 genera, among which agaricomycetes and wood-inhabiting fungi have received more attentions. The newly published 3,681 fungal species were discovered from 107 countries and regions in the world. East and south Asia were the hottest spots of new species discovery, while China retained the top country for yearly new species discoveries, accounting for 48.85% of the world's total. Besides, Chinese scholars led the world in research outputs on fungal taxonomy this year. There are 635 Chinese scholars participated in the publications of 2,686 new fungal names, contributing nearly half of the world’s total. 

Conclusion: After a slight decline in 2023, the number of globally published new fungal names has rebounded to 5,500 last year, which is the highest number in history. Since 2021, the number of new names published by Chinese scholars, and the contribution ratio to the world have broken the historically record for consecutive three years.

Aims: This study aims to systematically summarize the new taxa of extant Coleoptera published worldwide in 2024, with a specific focus on taxonomic additions from China. 

Methods: Literature and monographs were collected through targeted searches of taxonomic databases, review of key journals, and supplementary contributions from specialists. A total of 956 publications were analyzed in the study. 

Results: Globally, 2245 new extant Coleoptera taxa were published in 2024, comprising 3 new subfamilies, 6 new tribes, 1 new subtribe, 92 new genera, 27 new subgenera, 2068 new species, and 48 new subspecies. Additionally, 790 new combinations, 540 new synonyms, 105 raised and 36 downgrades taxa were recorded. China contributed the highest number of new species(subspecies), with descriptions including 11 new genera, 6 new subgenera, 591 new species, and 19 new subspecies. Within China, 10 new record genera, 2 new record subgenera, 108 new record species, and 6 new record subspecies were documented as well. Yunnan Province was the most productive region in China for both new taxa and new records, with 116 new species (subspecies) and 55 newly recorded species (subspecies) were discovered. Compared to 2023, the total number of new global Coleoptera taxa declined in 2024, while the number of new species described in China showed an increasing trend. 

Conclusion: This study provides an overview of the taxonomy of Coleoptera in 2024. Yunnan Province remains China's dominant contributor to both new taxa and new records. Compared to 2023, the number of new taxa of Coleoptera decreased globally, while the number of new species described from China showed an increasing trend.

Henan Province, located in central China, is a crucial transitional zone where the warm temperate and subtropical climates converge, and also serves as a key belt transitioning from the humid climate of the east to the semi-arid climate of the northwest. Due to its unique geographical location and climatic conditions, the region boasts a complex and diverse flora with varied components. The publication timeline of Henan Flora (1980-1997) was prolonged due to limitations in available literature at the time, coupled with advancements in the discipline that led to revisions or mergers of some plant names. With continuous discoveries of new species, Henan Province still lacks an accurate and comprehensive list of plant species. To address this, this study comprehensively utilizes multiple sources including Henan Flora, Flora of China, relevant journal articles, master's and doctoral dissertations, along with field-collected plant specimens and website references, to compile a vascular plant catalog and county-level distribution data for Henan Province. As of March 2025, Henan has recorded 1,840 families and 1,065 genera of wild vascular plants, totaling 3,916 taxonomic units (including species and varieties). Among these, 5 species of 3 fern families were included; 25 families and 68 genera of ferns comprising 254 species; 25 species of gymnosperms from 5 families and 12 genera; while angiosperms constitute the most abundant group with 3,632 species across 153 families and 982 genera. Compared to the merged version in Henan Flora, the number of species increased by 655, with 618 new species added across 116 families and 314 genera. Additionally, statistics indicate that Henan hosts 94 nationally protected wild plant species distributed across 39 families and 65 genera. The results of this study can provide a solid theoretical support and data basis for plant resource background survey, field dynamic monitoring, germplasm resources preservation and biodiversity conservation in Henan.

Background & Aims: Biodiversity data serve as a fundamental basis for advancing biodiversity science and achieving effective conservation outcomes. The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), as the most influential biodiversity information platform, has established a global collaborative network and integrated over 3 billion species occurrence records from across the globe. These resources provide essential support for scientific research, policy-making, and management decisions. Over 12,000 peer-reviewed publications have cited GBIF data, and the platform has been widely recognized by international organizations such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), and the Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON). The development of China's biodiversity data platforms commenced at a relatively early stage and have yielded substantial outcomes. However, challenges remain in their development, limiting the full application potential of China's biodiversity data in scientific research and policy-making. This study aims to systematically examine the key initiatives and corresponding achievements of the GBIF. Drawing on an analysis of China’s current practices and challenges in biodiversity data development, the study seeks to provide well-founded recommendations and insights to inform the advancement of relevant national platforms. 

Progresses: This paper systematically reviews the development history, organizational structure, key initiatives, and major achievements of GBIF, and analyzes its valuable experiences in promoting innovation in scientific research and policy-making, enhancing coordination mechanisms, developing a global network, and strengthening infrastructure. 

Prospects: Based on the development potential of biodiversity data infrastructure in China, the paper proposes recommendations such as establishing a top-level coordination mechanism, enhancing research infrastructure, improving national-level platforms for data-driven innovation, and deepening support for scientific and policy decision-making, aiming to provide practical insights for the planning and development of related platforms in China.

Aim & Background: Given the growing societal awareness of biodiversity conservation, it is imperative to develop a biodiversity media attention index to scientifically evaluate the current status of biodiversity conservation, encourage public participation, optimize resource allocation, and facilitate the achievement of global biodiversity conservation objectives. 

Methods: We employed text mining technology to systematically screen keywords and develop the first China Biodiversity Media Attention Index (CBMAI). The index was constructed using reports from three authoritative news media outlets spanning 2013 to 2024. Its robustness and effectiveness were subsequently validated by varying the time intervals and comparing it with international indices. 

Results: (1) The CBMAI is closely linked to China's biodiversity conservation policies and significant events, accurately reflecting shifts in government and public attention. (2) The CBMAI can be divided into three stages: the rising stage, the consolidating stage, and the deepening stage. During the rising stage, the focus was primarily on policy preparation and planning. The consolidating stage saw accelerated policy implementation, transitioning from plan formulation to concrete execution. The deepening stage was marked by a significant increase in the frequency and broader scope of policies. 

Prospects: The CBMAI will provide valuable data support for policymaking, government regulation, enterprise risk management, scientific research, and investment decision-making.

Aims: Soil bacteria are key components in biological soil crusts (BSCs). They play irreplaceable functional roles in arid and semi-arid ecosystems. Loess sandy-hilly area of northwestern Shanxi Province is typical fragile ecosystem. However, the effects of vegetation and BSCs on soil bacterial diversity in this area remain unknown. 

Method: Algal and moss crusts under three vegetation types (grassland, shrubland, and woodland) were chosen in this area. Soil bacterial community and their key environmental regulating factors were explored by high-throughput sequencing and environmental analysis. The results showed that: (1) Vegetation and BSCs jointly affected soil nutrients. Shrubs and Woodland had significant enrichment effects on soil nutrients. BSCs succession significantly increased the nutrient content in the soil but decreased the soil pH value. (2) Both the BSCs and vegetation types influenced on the α-diversity, relative abundances of key species, and community structure of bacterial communities. Higher species richness was observed in forestlands for both algal and moss crusts. For the same BSC type, significant differences in bacterial relative abundances at the phylum and order levels were observed between grasslands and shrublands (P < 0.05). (3) Mantel tests revealed soil pH, soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen showed significant relation with bacterial community dissimilarity (Bray- Curtis) (P < 0.05), while α- diversity of bacterial community represented strong association with organic carbon and ammonium nitrogen (P < 0.01). 

Conclusion: Vegetation and BSCs co-modulate soil nutrients and bacterial diversity in northwestern area of Shanxi Province, with pH, SOC, TN and NH_₄^⁺-N being key community drivers. The results enhance our understanding of bacterial diversity in BSCs and provide scientific evidence for a deeper comprehension of ecosystem biodiversity and functional stability in this area.

Background & Aims: Biodiversity conservation is essential for ecological security and sustainable human development. Nevertheless, the intricate interactions within ecosystems and the impact of external influences like human actions and climate change create substantial hurdles for conservation efforts. The advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Large Language Models (LLMs) offers new opportunities in this field. This study aims to review how these technologies are being used. 

Methods: We discussed recent progress in using AI and LLMs for biodiversity conservation research and practice. Our focus was on AI and LLMs in knowledge synthesis and discovery, ecosystem modeling, assessment and monitoring, decision-making, and fieldwork. 

Results & Conclusion: There is great potential for AI and LLMs in biodiversity conservation research and practices. Despite the promise, challenges such as data quality, model response times, ecosystem heterogeneity, ethical considerations, and data security remain. Future research should focus on developing specialized AI models and building high-quality, multimodal biodiversity datasets to effectively address these challenges.

Aim: This paper focuses on the advancements in taxonomic studies of spiders in 2024 worldwide, with detailed statistical analyses of new taxa, type localities, arachnologists conducting such research, and journals publishing these works. 

Progress: A total of 1,048 new taxa were described in 2024, including 54 new genera and 994 new species. They belong to 68 families, with type localities spanning across 83 countries or jurisdictions. The new taxa were documented by 394 arachnologists in 329 papers, published separately in 65 different journals. Out of these 329 papers, 57 (17.3%) comprised revisions of selected higher taxa (at family and genus levels), regional studies, and monographs. The proportion of papers incorporating DNA analyses made up 14.9% (totaling 49 papers). Among the 994 new species, 644 new species were published based on both male and female specimens, accounting for 64.8% of the total, and 350 new species only published based on male or female specimens, accounting for 35.2%. China is the country with the highest number of new species discovered, a total of 309, accounting for 31.1% of the global tally. With as many as 92 arachnologists naming new spider taxa, China becomes the country with the highest number of publishing spider taxonomists, accounting for 23.4% of the world’s total. Among them, the most prolific arachnologist is Shuqiang Li, who described a total of 144 new taxa, comprising 13.7% of the worldwide total for 2024. Altogether, Li and the other 91 Chinese colleagues described a total of 344 new taxa, comprising 18 new genera and 326 new species from China, Vietnam, and the other six countries or jurisdictions. These new taxa described by Chinese arachnologists made up 32.8% of the 2024 global aggregate, higher than the Chinese output during the 2016–2020 period (28.1% on average), but lower than in 2021 (33.8%), 2022 (37.0%) and 2023 (41.2%).