Invertebrate Ecology and Conservation. Staffordshire University

Invertebrates make up about 99% of the global fauna, but have been largely ignored in conservation efforts and in ecological impact assessments of new developments. Over the last decade the plight of invertebrates has become better known and there is now more demand for consultants with expertise in both aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates (especially insects). Existing conservation organisations such as Butterfly Conservation (http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/) have grown in size and number of members, and new ones set-up, such as ‘Buglife’ (http://www.buglife.org.uk/)  and Butterfly Conservation Europe(www.bc-europe.org/category.asp?catid=14). New academic journals have been developed to support the science base (such as the Journal of Insect Conservation and Insect Conservation and Diversity) and there are many books on the subject now available. Media interest has never been higher with television programmes and newspaper articles regularly featuring invertebrates.