Spatial mismatch in diversity facets reveals contrasting protection for New Zealand's cetacean biodiversity

Cetaceans play key roles in the world's ecosystems and provide important economic social benefits. New Zealand's Exclusive Economic Zone is a global biodiversity hotspot for cetaceans benefits from system of marine protected areas (MPAs). However, spatial patterns cetacean their overlap with MPAs have never been assessed. We quantify this by using comprehensive at-sea sightings database, high-resolution environmental data layers, information on ecological evolutionary characteristics each species to model taxonomic, functional, phylogenetic diversity cetaceans. examine congruence among hotspots richness uniqueness components measure contribution biodiversity. find that taxonomic are spatially mismatched MPAs, but less true functional diversity. Hotspots indices located continental shelf break, whereas closer shore shelf. Seven high contributions biodiversity, blue whale being only evolutionarily distinct, functionally unique, specialised globally endangered. Our results underline potential multicomponent indices, congruence, be used as guides strategic placement expansion protect