Who gets the spotlight? Disparities in seabird research attention at scientific conferences

Seabirds are among the most threatened bird groups globally, yet research effort is unevenly distributed among species, with some taxa receiving extensive attention while others remain understudied or entirely overlooked. To evaluate patterns of taxonomic and thematic research focus, we reviewed 2962 abstracts from 30 seabird-focused conferences held between 2015 and 2025. Across these abstracts, we recorded 4547 mentions of seabirds and categorized the species and primary research foci for each presentation. Research attention was skewed, with 16 seabird species over-studied, 70 species under-studied, and a further 70 seabird species were never mentioned. There was no significant difference in the proportion of IUCN Red List categories between over- and under-studied taxa. Research topics were dominated by “Tracking,” “Monitoring” and “Threats,” with Common Murre ( Uria aalge ) being disproportionately mentioned. Geographic and taxonomic biases were evident, with under-mentioned or unmentioned species more likely to occur in the Southern Hemisphere. This study highlights an imbalance in seabird representation at conferences and underlines the risk of certain species being excluded from conservation planning due to a lack of ecological data. Addressing these disparities will require deliberate, coordinated efforts to redirect research toward neglected taxa and regions, ensuring seabird science can more effectively support global biodiversity goals. • Decade-long review of >2,950 seabird conference abstracts. • Over 30% of seabird species are rarely or never featured at scientific conferences • Several seabirds listed as Critically Endangered have received little or no attention. • 16 seabird species are over-represented in conferences. • Southern Hemisphere seabirds require greater research attention.