Invertebrate biodiversity and conservation

Biodiversity is changing at alarming rates as a result of human activities; yet biodiversity is the basis for ecosystem services upon which humans depend. Most of what we know about past, current, and projected biodiversity trends, as well as the ecosystem consequences of biodiversity change, is based on charismatic species, mostly plants and vertebrates. But 31 out of 32 animal phyla are invertebrates, representing roughly 75% of all described species on Earth. Evolution has not only produced an astonishing taxonomic diversity of invertebrates, but also an unparalleled morphological and functional diversity that has allowed invertebrates to populate marine, terrestrial, and freshwater realms. Invertebrates are responsible for many ecosystem services and disservices, which makes their appreciation and conservation a top priority of future research and policy.