Aim: To collate and report on new vertebrate taxa in China published in 2024.

Method: This paper summarizes the basic information about new vertebrate taxa in China from the academic literature published in 2024.

Results: In 2024, 133 new vertebrate taxa were recognized in China, including 97 new species, 24 new record species, and 7 subspecies elevated to species rank, in addition, 1 new subspecies was described, and 4 species were reinstated as valid. These taxa belong to 16 orders, 47 families, and 87 genera. Among them, there are 40 new species of fish; 30 species of amphibian, including 25 new species and 5 new record species; 43 species of reptile, including 28 new species and 10 new record species in China, in addition, plus 1 new subspecies and 4 reinstated valid species; 10 species of bird, including 6 subspecies elevated to species rank and 4 new record species; 10 species of mammal, including 4 new species, 5 new record species, and 1 subspecies elevated to species rank. Ectothermic vertebrates account 85% of new discoveries; most representative orders were Cypriniformes (28/40) for fish, Anura (26/30) for amphibians, Squamata (39/43) for reptiles, Passeriformes (8/10) for birds, and Eulipotyphla (5/10) for mammals. These 133 new vertebrate taxa were recorded across 34 provincial-level regions. Most species (115) were found in only one region, while Yunnan, Guangxi, Xizang, Guangdong, and Fujian were the top five regions, with 46, 25, 18, 18, and 13 species recorded, respectively. A total of 111 of these discovered taxa have been supported by molecular systematics. Most findings (126 taxa) were published in 28 academic journals, with 15 of which were published in 4 English journals and 9 of which were published in 3 Chinese journals in China.

Conclusion: This article provides essential baseline data for the classification and conservation of vertebrates in China. In addition, it highlights that ectothermic vertebrates are a major focus of current diversity research, and underscores the importance of an integrated taxonomic approach for future studies.

Aim: The order Hymenoptera encompasses rich biodiversity and provides essential ecosystem services. This study aims to comprehensively review the progress in describing new taxa of Chinese Hymenoptera in 2024, based on systematic database searches and literature compilation of newly described extant Hymenoptera taxa published globally in 2024.
Methods: We obtained and analyzed a total of 427 journal publications on the new taxa of extant Hymenoptera in 2024 by searching the available zoological databases and conducting comprehensive literature compilation.
Results: Across 427 journal articles, 1,420 new taxa were recognized, including 2 new subfamilies, 36 new genera, 19 new subgenera, 1,362 new species, and 1 new subspecies, spanning 18 superfamilies, 58 families, and 419 genera. The superfamilies Ichneumonoidea, Chrysidoidea, and Vespoidea display the highest number of new species, accounting for approximately 28.5% (388/1,362), 18.1% (247/1,362), and 16.1% (219/1,362) of the total new species, respectively. Regionally, Asia remains the most important source of newly described Hymenoptera species (45.7%, 622/1,362), with East Asia contributing the highest proportion (20.5%, 279/1,362). China published a total of 196 new taxa, including 1 new genus and 195 new species. With 195 new species, China ranked first globally, accounting for 14.3% of all newly described species worldwide. These new species belong to 11 superfamilies, 26 families, and 81 genera. Chinese new species were primarily concentrated in Vespoidea (30.8%, 60/195), Ichneumonoidea (19.5%, 38/195), and Chalcidoidea (15.9%, 31/195). Additionally, Chinese scholars reported 9 newly recorded genera and 89 newly recorded species. Papers were published in 100 journals, with English articles comprising 96.7% (413/427). A total of 509 scholars worldwide participated in species naming, including 108 Chinese scholars (21.2%).
Conclusion: In summary, global Hymenoptera taxonomic research continued to demonstrate an active trend in 2024, with China ranking at the forefront worldwide in both new taxonomic unit publications and new species naming participation, highlighting China’s important academic strength in Hymenoptera taxonomic research and insect diversity conservation, and providing a solid scientific foundation for global Hymenoptera diversity understanding and conservation.

Aim: Lepidoptera is the second largest order in insects. It exhibits high diversity and economic importance. Lepidopteran insects encompass many pest species, as well as others that have beneficial or ornamental value. China has a vast territory, spanning two major biogeographic regions, the Palearctic and the Oriental, with complex and diverse biota, and a large number of new species are described every year. The purpose of this study was to systematically summarize the new taxa recorded in China in 2024.

Methods: Information regarding new species, new synonyms, new combinations, and newly recorded species for China was obtained from related taxonomic journals. The scientific names and type localities of the new species, as well as other relevant information, were sorted out based on a total of 91 articles. The new taxa of Chinese Lepidoptera published by domestic and foreign researchers in 2024 were summarized.

Results: A total of 248 new taxa were recorded, including 6 new genera, 230 new species, 12 new subspecies, 11 newly recorded genera and 57 newly recorded species in China. Additionally, 31 new combinations, 14 new synonyms, and 2 new replacement names were proposed. In addition, 2 genera, 5 species, and 2 subspecies have been restored to their original taxonomic status. All of the new species and subspecies belong to 73 genera and 22 families in Lepidoptera, of which 2 new genera and 163 new species belong to the Microlepidoptera, 4 new genera, 53 new species and 4 new subspecies belong to the Macrolepidoptera, 14 new species and 8 new subspecies belong to the butterflies.

Conclusion: In 2024, the number of new species and newly recorded species in Yunnan remained significantly higher than that in other regions of China, accounting for 39.67% and 56.14% of the total new species and newly recorded species published in China, respectively. This was followed by Hainan (19.01% and 38.60%) and Xizang (19.01% and 29.82%). Overall, the number of new species and newly recorded species collected in southern China in 2024 was still significantly higher than that in northern China.

Aims: This study aims to provide a systematic review of new Diptera taxa from China described in 2024.
Methods: By searching databases and relevant taxonomic journals, 51 journal publications on new taxa of Diptera from China in 2024 were systematically collected and analyzed.
Results: In 2024, a total of 107 new taxa were identified, including 1 new genus, 106 new species. Two genera, 18 species, and 2 synonyms were newly recorded. These new taxa belong to 23 families. Empididae exhibited the highest number of new species descriptions (28 species), representing 26.4% of the total new species and significantly exceeding the contributions of other families. New taxa and records were distributed from 24 provincial-level administrative regions. Yunnan Province emerged as the core area for new species discovery, with 35 new species recorded, constituting about one-third of all new species described. The 51 relevant research papers were mainly published in three journals: Zootaxa, ZooKeys, and Entomotaxonomia.
Conclusion: In 2024, the total number of papers and the number of involved journals showed a downward trend, reaching the lowest level in the past five years. The locations where new species were discovered remained concentrated in hotspots. Many Diptera species in different regions and ecosystems have not been thoroughly explored and described, and more attention is needed in the future.

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

Results Globally, 2,245 new extant Coleoptera taxa were published in 2024, comprising 3 new subfamilies, 6 new tribes, 1 new subtribe, 92 new genera, 27 new subgenera, 2,068 new species, and 48 new subspecies. Additionally, 789 new combinations, 540 new synonyms, 106 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 was the most productive region in China for both new species and new records, with 116 new species (subspecies) and 55 new record species (subspecies) were discovered.

Conclusion This study provides an overview of the taxonomy of Coleoptera in 2024. Yunnan remains China’s dominant contributor to both new species and new record species. 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.

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.

Results: 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 regions. 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, 643 new species were published based on both male and female specimens, accounting for 64.7% of the total, and 351 new species only published based on male or female specimens, accounting for 35.3%. 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 regions. 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%).

Background & 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, super classes and subclasses, 9 new orders and suborders, 37 new families, subfamilies and tribe, 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: Under the dual pressures of climate change and anthropogenic disturbances, biological invasions by non-native species have intensified and become a major driver of global biodiversity loss. Mountain regions are considered biodiversity refugia under global change, yet the mechanisms by which mountain ecosystems resist non-native plant invasions are still poorly understood. Exploring the mechanisms underlying the “barrier effect” of mountain ecosystems against non-native species invasions is crucial for understanding how biodiversity refugia function under global change, informing conservation strategies, and enhancing the resilience of mountain ecosystems to biological invasions.
Methods: This study investigated the mechanisms underlying invasion resistance in mountain ecosystems using data from 134 plant communities in the Qionglai Mountain Range, China. By integrating phylogenetic metrics, native community attributes, and environmental variables such as elevation and anthropogenic disturbance, we evaluated the relative importance of biotic and abiotic factors in shaping the occurrence and abundance of non-native species. Analytical approaches included generalized linear mixed models, Bayesian structural equation modeling, and random forest analysis.
Results: The results showed that both the occurrence and abundance of non-native species significantly decreased with increasing phylogenetic distance between non-native species and native species, particularly mean nearest taxon distance (MNTD), supporting the pre-adaptation hypothesis. This indicates that phylogenetic proximity facilitates invasion and that environmental filtering plays a key role in limiting the establishment and expansion of non-native species in mountainous regions. Notably, pre-adaptation effects remained significant even after accounting for native community diversity. In contrast, native species richness, abundance, and phylogenetic diversity all significantly suppressed non-native invasions, supporting the biotic resistance hypothesis. The analysis revealed that MNTD was the most important predictor of invasion severity, followed by elevation and anthropogenic disturbance, with native community attributes showing lower importance.
Conclusion: These findings support the view that the resistance of mountain ecosystems to non-native plant invasions in the Qionglai Mountain Range is primarily driven by environmental filtering, with native community attributes showing comparatively lower importance. However, the effectiveness of environmental filtering can be weakened by human disturbance and elevational gradients. Our study highlights the need to prioritize the management of non-native species closely related to native flora and to implement conservation measures such as maintaining native community diversity and limiting anthropogenic disturbance, to safeguard the invasion resistance of mountain ecosystems.

Aims: China has high diversity of bryophyte species, and many of them have high ornamental and horticultural value. With the rapid development of online trading platforms, the online trade of bryophytes has become increasingly prevalent. This study aims to investigate the scope of online bryophyte trade in China, focusing on Taobao, the most popular trading platform in the country.
Methods: We analyzed the bryophytes trade on Taobao by crawling online transaction data using software Octopus v8.6.4 and Amingchacha v6.0.2, combined with manual browsing.
Results: The online trade involves 187 bryophytes species from 89 genera across 47 families. Among them, Leucobryum juniperoideum and Sphagnum multifibrosum are classified as national second-class key protected wild plants. Bryophytes from Hypnaceae, Thuidiaceae, Leucobryaceae, Mniaceae, Bryaceae, Pottiaceae, Brachytheciaceae, and Grimmiaceae are the largest trade commodities. The trade forms of bryophyte mainly consist of four categories: fresh bryophyte, bryophyte bedding, bryophyte spore powder, and bryophyte micro-landscape products. Among these, the price point corresponding to the highest sales volume for fresh bryophyte products and bryophyte spore powder is < 10 yuan per box, while for bryophyte bedding, 49.07% of the items are priced between 10-49 yuan. For bryophyte micro-landscape combination products, 72.92% of the items are priced above 10 yuan. The sources of goods are relatively concentrated, primarily including Zhejiang, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Fujian, Shandong, Anhui, and Sichuan provinces. 176 species of bryophytes were sold solely for ornamental purposes, 4 species of bryophytes marketed exclusively for horticultural/reptile bedding purposes, and 7 species of bryophytes promoted for both purposes. This study recorded 146 bryophyte species entirely derived from wild sources, and identified some suppliers deliberately marketing them as “rare” and “wild”.
Conclusion: To strengthen the protection of biodiversity of China’s wild bryophytes, it is recommended that online platforms formulate rules for the release of bryophyte product information based on the latest List of National Key Protected Wild Plants in China (2021). Meanwhile, bryophyte cultivation techniques should be vigorously promoted in sourcing areas, and relevant institutions and researchers should be allowed to access certain trade parameters. Relevant departments should also utilize online platforms to enhance public education and information exchange on bryophytes, collectively safeguarding the resources of wild bryophytes.

Aims: Research on the behavior of captive animals has significant scientific value for improving animal welfare, optimizing management strategies, guiding conservation breeding of endangered species, and revealing mechanisms of environmental adaptation. Golden snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana), a first-class nationally protected species in China, currently lack systematic behavioral studies across age groups based on individual identification. This research provides a theoretical basis for improving environmental enrichment, enclosure infrastructure, and food supply for captive golden snub-nosed monkeys.

Methods: From October 2022 to December 2023, we observed and recorded the behavior of captive golden snub-nosed monkeys at the Guizhou Forest and Wildlife Park. Based on the current population status of this species in captivity, we systematically documented behavioral expressions of target individuals, established an ethogram for captive golden snub-nosed monkeys, and used the PAE (posture-act-environment) coding system to classify and code the observed behaviors. Behavioral diagrams were constructed, and the time allocation patterns and behavioral rhythms of the monkeys were analyzed.

Results: The constructed PAE ethogram included 20 postures, 99 actions, and 69 distinct behaviors. These were classified into 11 categories: foraging, feeding, intimacy, thermoregulation, rest, movement, abnormal behaviors, reproduction, parenting, mating, and others. The daily activity distribution and rhythms of monkeys of different ages showed resting as the dominant activity, followed by movement, feeding, grooming, play, and aggression. Significant age-related differences were observed: adults rested more frequently, whereas juveniles engaged more often in movement, feeding, and play. During feeding peaks, resting decreased while movement increased. Outside feeding peaks, movement declined before noon, rose again until the second feeding peak, then declined. Grooming and play peaked around midday, while aggression and other behaviors remained relatively stable.

Conclusion: This study systematically documented the daytime behavior of captive golden snub-nosed monkeys, established a standardized classification system based on the PAE coding framework, and analyzed time allocation and behavioral rhythms. The findings indicate that the monkeys’ activity patterns align with the species’ typical energy-saving strategy while also reflecting adaptive adjustments to artificial feeding regimes. The PAE coding system developed here offers a quantifiable, repeatable method for behavioral research in captive primates, enhancing objectivity and comparability in ethological studies. These results provide a scientific basis for optimizing management practices for captive golden snub-nosed monkeys and lay the groundwork for welfare assessment and future behavioral ecology studies of wild populations.

Aims: Soil bacteria are key components in biological soil crusts (BSCs). They play irreplaceable functional roles in arid and semi-arid ecosystems. Wind-sandy 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.

Methods: 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.

Results: (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 abundance of key species, and community structure of bacterial communities. Higher species richness was observed in woodlands for both algal and moss crusts. For the same BSC type, significant differences in bacterial relative abundance at the phylum and order levels were observed between grasslands and shrublands (P< 0.05). (3) Mantel tests revealed soil pH, total soil organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) showed significant relation with bacterial community dissimilarity (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, TOC, TN and NH₄⁺-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.

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.

Located in central China, Henan Province 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. Flora of Henan (1980-1997) had a prolonged publication timeline 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 Flora of Henan, 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 184 families and 1,065 genera of wild vascular plants, totaling 3,916 taxonomic units (including taxa under species). Among these, there are 26 families and 71 genera of 259 species of lycophytes and ferns; 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 Flora of Henan, the number of species increased by 655, with 618 new species added across 116 families and 314 genera. Furthermore, statistics indicate that Henan hosts 94 nationally protected wild plant species distributed across 39 families and 65 genera. The results can provide a solid theoretical and data basis for plant resource background survey, field dynamic monitoring, germplasm resources preservation and biodiversity conservation in Henan.

Seed plants, as a fundamental component of ecosystems and a critical genetic resource reservoir, play key ecological functions and contain rich genetic diversity. They possess significant ecological, genetic, economic, and cultural value, making them indispensable for human survival and development. However, Hunan Province currently lacks a systematically organized inventory of wild seed plant resources. This study aims to integrate multi-source data to develop a comprehensive, classified dataset that includes a checklist and the geographical distribution of wild seed plants in the region. The dataset is intended to provide robust data support for plant diversity research, conservation initiatives, and sustainable resource utilization in Hunan Province. The dataset was constructed through an extensive review of academic literature, digitized herbarium records, and authoritative plant diversity databases. Species identification and taxonomic arrangement followed the latest systems and research advances. Up to August 31, 2025, the finalized dataset documents 194 families, 1,272 genera, 5,476 taxa (4,910 species, 92 subspecies, 468 varieties, and 6 forms) of wild seed plants in Hunan Province. Each entry in the dataset includes detailed taxonomic information (family, genus, species, and infraspecific taxa), leaf phenology (for woody plants), life form, growth form, county-level distribution in Hunan Province, elevational range, endemism, endangered status (according to IUCN or national criteria), and conservation level. Specimen vouchers or photographic records are provided as supporting evidence where available. The dataset covers all 122 county-level administrative regions across the 14 prefecture-level cities and autonomous prefectures of Hunan Province. This dataset constitutes the most complete checklist and geographical distribution dataset of wild seed plants in Hunan Province at present. It provides essential baseline data for conserving plant genetic diversity, establishing germplasm resource banks, and supporting genetic breeding research. It also offers a scientific basis for practical applications such as nature reserve planning, ecological corridor design, and the identification of priority conservation areas. The dataset is expected to make a substantial contribution to regional biodiversity conservation strategies and biosecurity management.

Wildlife diversity monitoring is a crucial approach for biodiversity conservation and an essential task within nature reserves. The Ma’anshan Provincial 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 Qinghai-Xizang 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 camera sites, 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.

Odonata, one of the most ancient lineages of aquatic insects, is highly sensitive to environmental change and serves as a crucial link between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. As such, Odonata plays an important role in biodiversity research and ecological monitoring and is widely recognized as a key indicator group for assessing ecosystem health and guiding conservation efforts. Guangdong Province is one of China’s biodiversity hotspots for Odonata. However, systematic surveys of the region’s Odonata diversity remain limited, largely because comprehensive species distribution data are lacking, which hinders effective conservation planning. To address this gap, we compiled a comprehensive checklist and geographic distribution dataset of Odonata for Guangdong Province, based on long-term field surveys, literature review, and multi-source database integration. The dataset covers records from 1980 to 2024 and documents 261 species (including subspecies) across 115 genera and 19 families, including 180 (including subspecies) Anisoptera and 81 (including subspecies) Zygoptera species. At the family level, Libellulidae (24.14%), Gomphidae (19.54%), Aeshnidae (13.03%), Coenagrionidae (8.81%), and Macromiidae (5.75%) are the most species-rich family. The dataset integrates IUCN Red List status information for 149 Odonata species. With its high spatial resolution, this dataset enables identification of insect diversity hotspots and provides a foundation for long-term monitoring and conservation assessment. The accompanying species checklist constitutes a key resource for characterizing the biogeographic structure of insect assemblages in South China and for providing baseline information to guide the establishment of Nanling National Park.

Background: Bees are ecologically and economically vital pollinators that underpin terrestrial ecosystems and global food security. Genomic-scale datasets and phylogenomic methods have greatly advanced reconstructions of bee relationships, yet the placement of several key clades remains unsettled, constraining inferences about the origins, biogeography, and evolution of key traits. Here we synthesize recent progress in bee phylogenomics, with particular emphasis on major genomic data types (genomes, transcriptomes and ultraconserved elements), commonly used analytical pipelines and representative phylogenetic results. We harmonize reporting standards across studies, flag nodes with low or unreported support, map cross-study topological conflicts and compile an updated fossil catalogue, in order to enhance the traceability, comparability and reuse of existing phylogenomic evidence.

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.

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.

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. 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. 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.

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.