澳大利亚研究团队对近140万篇生态学和进化论文献进行了分析，揭示了科学界在物种研究中的严重失衡现象1。这项研究涵盖了来自600多个期刊的论文，发现超过50%的研究聚焦于脊椎动物，而脊椎动物仅占地球所有物种的5%1。相比之下，应当成为研究重点的无脊椎动物遭到显著忽视1。
研究人员指出，这种偏差的根源在于科学家的情感偏好和社会观念1。调查的868名动物行为研究人员的倾向进一步反映了这一问题1。令人担忧的是，在过去20年间，这一偏差不仅未见改善，反而呈现恶化趋势1。以鱼类研究为例，其占比从2001年的35.8%上升至2025年的49.7%1。
这种研究取向的失衡带来了实际后果。研究作者强调，这一偏差阻碍了对濒危物种和生态系统功能的深入理解，进而影响了整体的科学进展1。尽管如此，一些来自被忽视物种的科学突破仍产生了重大影响，如2008年发现的绿色荧光蛋白源自生物发光水母并获得诺贝尔奖1，以及Ozempic等减肥药基于1980年代对科莫怪蜥唾液的研究1。
A comprehensive analysis of nearly 1.4 million scientific papers has revealed a striking imbalance in how researchers distribute their attention across animal species.1 The study examined publications from over 600 journals and found that more than 50% of papers focus on vertebrates, which account for only 5% of all species on Earth.1 This disparity reflects emotional preferences and social perceptions held by scientists rather than the actual distribution or ecological importance of organisms, according to researchers.1
The bias has not improved over time; instead, it has intensified in recent decades.1 Fish research, for instance, increased from 35.8% of animal behavior studies in 2001 to 49.7% by 2025.1 Meanwhile, invertebrates—which should represent the primary focus of ecological and evolutionary research—remain severely understudied relative to their abundance and diversity.1 This systematic neglect carries real consequences for scientific progress, limiting our understanding of endangered species and ecosystem functions.1
The research team surveyed 868 animal behavior researchers to understand the roots of these preferences.1 Notably, the study highlights how foundational discoveries in overlooked organisms have yielded major scientific breakthroughs: a green fluorescent protein derived from a bioluminescent jellyfish earned the Nobel Prize in 2008, and weight-loss medications such as Ozempic were developed based on research into Komodo dragon saliva conducted in the 1980s.1 These examples underscore the scientific value that remains hidden within underexamined species.
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