Birds on the Brain

Photo 31 Aug 45 notes

Twenty percent of invertebrates are at risk of extinction, according to a new report that looks at the 12,621 invertebrates assessed by the IUCN Red List to date. Although invertebrates never garner the same conservation attention as big, charismatic animals such as tigers and elephants, they play an undeniable role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. In addition, since invertebrates make-up 80 percent of the world’s species, the report raises new concerns about global biodiversity decline….
Invertebrates, which include 97 percent of the world’s animals, are those animals that lack backbones. They span such broad taxonomic categories as insects, molluscs, squid, and even coral reefs. Although generally small (the colossal squid being one large exception), invertebrates play a major role in the environment. From recycling waste to pollinating flowers to food sources, they provide numerous services, many still unrecognized, to human society….
Described as “the most comprehensive assessment” of the Earth’s invertebrates, the report finds that freshwater invertebrates have the highest rate of endangerment. This is not surprising as freshwater species in general are considered more at risk than terrestrial and marine. For example, the report notes that one third of all freshwater molluscs currently face extinction, the same percentage as the world’s amphibians, which are currently stated to be in a crisis….
“In contrast, the global extinction risk experienced by flying insects such as dragonflies, damselflies, and butterflies tends to be much closer to that of birds (around one in ten species threatened),” the report reads.
Still, even as the IUCN has now assessed over 12,000 invertebrates this remains less than 1 percent of all known invertebrates, which number over a 1.3 million species. Beetles alone number around 400,000 unique species. In addition, every year scientists usually document over 10,000 new invertebrates.

(via Biodiversity faltering: 20% of invertebrates threatened with extinction)

Twenty percent of invertebrates are at risk of extinction, according to a new report that looks at the 12,621 invertebrates assessed by the IUCN Red List to date. Although invertebrates never garner the same conservation attention as big, charismatic animals such as tigers and elephants, they play an undeniable role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. In addition, since invertebrates make-up 80 percent of the world’s species, the report raises new concerns about global biodiversity decline….

Invertebrates, which include 97 percent of the world’s animals, are those animals that lack backbones. They span such broad taxonomic categories as insects, molluscs, squid, and even coral reefs. Although generally small (the colossal squid being one large exception), invertebrates play a major role in the environment. From recycling waste to pollinating flowers to food sources, they provide numerous services, many still unrecognized, to human society….

Described as “the most comprehensive assessment” of the Earth’s invertebrates, the report finds that freshwater invertebrates have the highest rate of endangerment. This is not surprising as freshwater species in general are considered more at risk than terrestrial and marine. For example, the report notes that one third of all freshwater molluscs currently face extinction, the same percentage as the world’s amphibians, which are currently stated to be in a crisis….

“In contrast, the global extinction risk experienced by flying insects such as dragonflies, damselflies, and butterflies tends to be much closer to that of birds (around one in ten species threatened),” the report reads.

Still, even as the IUCN has now assessed over 12,000 invertebrates this remains less than 1 percent of all known invertebrates, which number over a 1.3 million species. Beetles alone number around 400,000 unique species. In addition, every year scientists usually document over 10,000 new invertebrates.

(via Biodiversity faltering: 20% of invertebrates threatened with extinction)

#conservation #invertebrate #insects #extinction #endangered #IUCN Red List #Schoenherr's blue weevil #Eupholus schoenherri #weevil #beetle #Indonesia #New Guinea