Disparities in avian genomic resources highlight gaps across the Global South

Abstract

Avian genomes have proliferated rapidly in recent years while expanding our knowledge of genomic evolution. However, evaluating bird sampling across the tree of life and across their distributions is necessary to assess their contributions to global bird diversity and diversification patterns. We evaluated all available avian genome assemblies across geography, taxonomy, conservation status, and time. The 1,712 species with at least one genome assembly represent only ~15% of recognized avian diversity. Although all orders were represented, 24 bird families (all restricted to the Global South) lacked any genome assembly, and only ~37% (N= 2,397) of recognized genera had genomic representation. Nearly 78% of the most evolutionarily distinct and globally endangered (EDGE) lineages lacked a genome. Genomic resources are concentrated in temperate regions of the Global North, whereas species-rich tropical regions in Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia remain severely underrepresented relative to their diversity. Even after accounting for conservation status, evolutionary distinctiveness, and ecology, Global South species had roughly fourfold lower odds of having a genome than Global North species. Notably, the post-2021 surge in genome sequencing has counter-intuitively widened this gap. Together, our results highlight persistent gaps in genomic resources across the Global South and the need to collectively address these global knowledge gaps via collaborative efforts.