diff --git a/tests/test_data/test_annotations/test_annotations.py b/tests/test_data/test_annotations/test_annotations.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bcca259
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_data/test_annotations/test_annotations.py
@@ -0,0 +1,152 @@
+"""Tests for the public load_annotated_dataset dispatcher.
+
+Covers:
+- load_annotated_dataset dispatches correctly to each of the three
+  registered annotation format loaders.
+- The base_dir keyword argument is forwarded to the loader.
+
+The internal load functions, config models, and filtering logic for each
+format are tested in their respective modules
+"""
+
+import json
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from soundevent import data, io
+
+from batdetect2.data.annotations import (
+    AOEFAnnotations,
+    BatDetect2FilesAnnotations,
+    BatDetect2MergedAnnotations,
+    load_annotated_dataset,
+)
+
+ROOT_DIR = Path(__file__).parent.parent.parent.parent
+
+
+class TestLoadAnnotatedDataset:
+    def test_load_example_batdetect2_files_annotation_project(self):
+        """load_annotated_dataset works end-to-end with BatDetect2Files format.
+
+        Uses the committed example data so this test doubles as a smoke test
+        against the real on-disk data.
+        """
+        audio_dir = ROOT_DIR / "example_data" / "audio"
+        anns_dir = ROOT_DIR / "example_data" / "anns"
+        config = BatDetect2FilesAnnotations(
+            name="test",
+            audio_dir=audio_dir,
+            annotations_dir=anns_dir,
+        )
+
+        result = load_annotated_dataset(config)
+
+        assert isinstance(result, data.AnnotationSet)
+        assert result.name == "test"
+        assert len(result.clip_annotations) == 3
+
+    def test_dispatches_to_aoef_loader(
+        self,
+        tmp_path: Path,
+        create_recording,
+        create_clip,
+        create_clip_annotation,
+        create_annotation_set,
+    ):
+        """load_annotated_dataset returns an AnnotationSet for AOEFAnnotations."""
+        audio_dir = tmp_path / "audio"
+        audio_dir.mkdir()
+        rec = create_recording(path=audio_dir / "rec.wav")
+        clip = create_clip(rec)
+        ann = create_clip_annotation(clip)
+        annotation_set = create_annotation_set(
+            name="aoef_test", annotations=[ann]
+        )
+        anns_path = tmp_path / "anns.json"
+        io.save(annotation_set, anns_path)
+
+        config = AOEFAnnotations(
+            name="aoef_test",
+            audio_dir=audio_dir,
+            annotations_path=anns_path,
+        )
+
+        result = load_annotated_dataset(config)
+
+        assert isinstance(result, data.AnnotationSet)
+        assert len(result.clip_annotations) == 1
+
+    def test_dispatches_to_batdetect2_merged_loader(
+        self,
+        tmp_path: Path,
+        wav_factory,
+    ):
+        """load_annotated_dataset returns an AnnotationSet for BatDetect2Merged."""
+        audio_dir = tmp_path / "audio"
+        audio_dir.mkdir()
+        wav_factory(path=audio_dir / "rec.wav", duration=2.0)
+
+        merged = [
+            {
+                "id": "rec.wav",
+                "duration": 2.0,
+                "time_exp": 1.0,
+                "class_name": "Myotis",
+                "annotation": [],
+                "annotated": True,
+                "issues": False,
+                "notes": "",
+            }
+        ]
+        anns_path = tmp_path / "merged.json"
+        anns_path.write_text(json.dumps(merged))
+
+        config = BatDetect2MergedAnnotations(
+            name="merged_test",
+            audio_dir=audio_dir,
+            annotations_path=anns_path,
+        )
+
+        result = load_annotated_dataset(config)
+
+        assert isinstance(result, data.AnnotationSet)
+        assert len(result.clip_annotations) == 1
+
+    def test_passes_base_dir_to_loader(
+        self,
+        tmp_path: Path,
+        wav_factory,
+    ):
+        """base_dir is forwarded to the loader so relative paths are resolved."""
+        audio_dir = tmp_path / "audio"
+        audio_dir.mkdir()
+        anns_dir = tmp_path / "anns"
+        anns_dir.mkdir()
+
+        wav_factory(path=audio_dir / "rec.wav", duration=2.0)
+        ann_data = {
+            "id": "rec.wav",
+            "duration": 2.0,
+            "time_exp": 1.0,
+            "class_name": "Myotis",
+            "annotation": [],
+            "annotated": True,
+            "issues": False,
+            "notes": "",
+        }
+        (anns_dir / "rec.wav.json").write_text(json.dumps(ann_data))
+
+        config = BatDetect2FilesAnnotations(
+            name="base_dir_test",
+            audio_dir=Path("audio"),
+            annotations_dir=Path("anns"),
+        )
+
+        result = load_annotated_dataset(config, base_dir=tmp_path)
+
+        assert isinstance(result, data.AnnotationSet)
+        assert len(result.clip_annotations) == 1
+        assert (
+            result.clip_annotations[0].clip.recording.path
+            == audio_dir / "rec.wav"
+        )
diff --git a/tests/test_data/test_annotations/test_aoef.py b/tests/test_data/test_annotations/test_aoef.py
index 0bedfd5..ce89e3f 100644
--- a/tests/test_data/test_annotations/test_aoef.py
+++ b/tests/test_data/test_annotations/test_aoef.py
@@ -767,7 +767,7 @@ def test_load_aoef_annotated_dataset_wrong_object_type(
     )
 
     wrong_type_file = tmp_path / "wrong_type.json"
-    io.save(dataset, wrong_type_file)  # type: ignore
+    io.save(dataset, wrong_type_file)
 
     config = aoef.AOEFAnnotations(
         name="test_wrong_type",
diff --git a/tests/test_data/test_batdetect.py b/tests/test_data/test_batdetect.py
deleted file mode 100644
index fc9285d..0000000
--- a/tests/test_data/test_batdetect.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,24 +0,0 @@
-"""Test suite for loading batdetect annotations."""
-
-from pathlib import Path
-
-from soundevent import data
-
-from batdetect2.data import BatDetect2FilesAnnotations, load_annotated_dataset
-
-ROOT_DIR = Path(__file__).parent.parent.parent
-
-
-def test_load_example_annotation_project():
-    path = ROOT_DIR / "example_data" / "anns"
-    audio_dir = ROOT_DIR / "example_data" / "audio"
-    annotation_set = load_annotated_dataset(
-        BatDetect2FilesAnnotations(
-            name="test",
-            audio_dir=audio_dir,
-            annotations_dir=path,
-        )
-    )
-    assert isinstance(annotation_set, data.AnnotationSet)
-    assert annotation_set.name == "test"
-    assert len(annotation_set.clip_annotations) == 3