Although invertebrates are commonly perceived to be pests, they play several unobserved yet crucial roles in the maintenance and care of our environment.
Invertebrates are indispensable – especially in agriculture, where they pollinate plants, disperse seeds, and aerate and create soil, leading to the growth and production of healthy crops.
On the other hand, invertebrates form a large percentage of prey in the food chain, and provide sustenance to their bird, fish, and mammalian predators. Certain invertebrates also prey on others of their type, and help clear environments of waste by decomposing and breaking down organic matter, which in turn nourishes and replenishes soil.
Invertebrates eclipse all other forms of life on Earth, not only in sheer numbers, diversity, and biomass, but also in their importance to functioning ecosystems. Although invertebrates are vitally important, they are often overlooked in management decisions, especially in management for endangered species.
