Scientific Bias Leaves Most Earth's Species Unstudied

Two studies from the University of New South Wales argue that scientific research is skewed toward a small slice of Earth’s biodiversity due to selection bias. Researchers say the problem isn’t simply funding or geography, but cultural preferences, personal interests, and what gets amplified by popular media. The work links attention patterns to “charismatic” species, leaving the majority—especially insects, spiders, slugs, and worms—understudied. An analysis of more than one million ecology and evolution papers found vertebrates appearing in over half of animal studies despite representing just 4.7% of described animal species. The studies highlight how media-driven familiarity can shape research priorities away from what’s most ecologically important.