The origin, current state, and future of wetland biodiversity

As transitional zones between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, wetlands foster rich and unique biodiversity, providing crucial ecological support for regional socioeconomic development. This paper systematically reviews research progress on wetland biodiversity through a temporal lens. First, we synthesize current knowledge on the origins of wetland biodiversity from a geological evolutionary perspective, highlighting the mechanisms underlying species diversification and the evolution of specialized traits in characteristic wetland flora and fauna. Next, we assess the conservation status of wetland species since the Industrial Revolution, identify key threats across different wetland types and taxonomic groups, and evaluate the effectiveness of existing protection and restoration efforts in maintaining and enhancing wetland biodiversity. We then summarize projections of future trends in wetland biodiversity under varying scenarios of climate change and socioeconomic development, and discuss potential strategies to enhance wetland protection and restoration efforts and reverse the trend of wetland biodiversity loss. Finally, we outline priority research directions to advance wetland biodiversity science and foster synergies between wetland ecological conservation and regional socioeconomic development in China and globally.