Economic importance of invertebrates

1. Overview of the economic
importance of invertebrates

2. • .Invertebrates are the lower animals lacking spinal column and back
bone.
• They are multicellular in origin, they lack cell wall.
• They are devoid of any exoskeleton.
• They are very much beneficial in certain aspects and serve the
following purposes:-

3. 1. POLLINATION:- Insects generally serve the purpose of pollination.
• Bees, wasps butterflies usually derieve they nourishment from
flowers and thus thus by their movements cause pollination.
• They ultimately turn flowers into food which is food.

5. 2. PEST CONTROL:-
• In augmentation biological control (ABC) invertebrates are usually
released in large numbers to reduce pests.
• Biological control can save agricultural production when pesticides fail
or not available.
• Various beetles, ladybugs etc help in pest control in kitchen gardens
and fields.

6. Pest control

7. 3.FOOD FOR VERTEBRATES:-
• Invertebrates serve as food for vertebrates including humans.
• Many crustaceans, shrimps etc serve as delicious cum healthy food
for humans.
• Many molluscs are cultivated especially for meat and are used as
world famous cuisines.

8. Invertebrates as food

9. 4.DECOMPOSERS AND CLEANERS:-
• Invertebrates cause decomposition of the dead matter such as
wooden logs in the forests or dead organisms.
• Decomposers eventually convert all the organic matter into
carbondioxide.
• This release raw nutrients which plants and lower animals can
incorporate into their cells.
• This also improves soil fertility.

10. Decomposition by invertebrates

11. 5.SOIL AERATORS AND CREATORS:-
• Invertebrates such as annelids and arthropods improve soil fertility,
aeration and water infiltration.
• The burrowing habit of annelids and arthropods increases soil
porosity.
• Faeces of arthropods are humus, which physically stabilise the soil.
• Soil organisms are responsible for many services like nutrient cycling.

12. Invertebrates as aerators and creators

13. • 6.INVERTEBRATES IN MEDICAL SCIENCES:-
• Invertebrates are serving in the formation of therapeutic drugs.
• Members of invertebrates contribute to biotherapy such as worms
and insects.
• 7 INVERTEBRATES IN RESEARCH PURPOSES:-
• Invertebrates have less life span and their anatomy is not complex so
they are used for research purposes.
• They lack tight regulatory requirements so can be used more freely
with concern record keeping.