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We’re discovering new species faster than ever — and it might be our best chance to save them
- New species described annually rose to over 16,000 from 2015 to 2020, the highest rate in modern taxonomy.
- DNA sequencing costs declined dramatically, enabling precise species identification beyond visible differences.
- Environmental DNA enables detection of dozens of species from a single water sample.
- Citizen science platforms surpassed 200 million verifiable observations, accelerating data collection.
- Ocean Census initiatives are identifying numerous likely new marine species from expeditions.
- Despite rapid discovery, many newly described species are already threatened with extinction.
- Some species may vanish before being documented, a phenomenon called 'dark extinction.'
- Linnaeus’s foundational work remains relevant as modern methods accelerate discovery.
- Conservation risk persists: new discoveries must be protected to prevent loss.
- Researchers emphasize the need to accelerate protection as biodiversity knowledge grows.
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