Montana State University and Universidad de los Andes researchers have detected a significant imbalance in the distribution of tetrapod reference genomes. They find a disproportionate concentration of studies in high-latitude regions compared to where global biodiversity is most concentrated.
This sounds to me like a “grad students are sequencing the genomes of donated roadkill and livestock” rather than them neglecting the rainforests. Considering there’s already a bias towards the global north in academics, this kinda follows that flow since there’s going to be more people doing basic level research (like gathering samples for references) closer to the backyard of where they’re doing research.