Habitat Connectivity for the Spineless: Fragmentation Hurts Invertebrates Too

When we think about road crossings, stream connectivity, and conservation corridors, we tend not to think about the little things: the myriad insects, spiders, millipedes, crustaceans, slugs, worms, and other invertebrates that might be affected. Yet these little animals make up 97% of all animal species and the heart of our local ecosystems. As go the invertebrates, so goes everything else.

Habitat fragmentation is as much a problem for invertebrates as it is for big animals like bear and elk. This webinar describes the ways in which the Virginia Institute for Invertebrates is working to connect patches of prime habitat, and the unique opportunities and challenges of corridor construction for invertebrates. We'll also discuss the enormous uncertainty about nearly every aspect of the impact of barriers like roads and culverts on invertebrates. Despite their incredible numbers and diversity, most questions remain unanswered: How could crossing designs be altered to improve use by nocturnal insects? Can road losses be reduced for butterflies and spiders alike? Learn what we know and what we don't know about preserving Virginia's rich and essential invertebrate life through improved habitat connectivity.