Analysis shows invertebrates are overlooked in favour of mammals and birds despite vital role in healthy ecosystems. Money made available for wildlife conservation by the EU is based on a popularity contest, with vertebrates getting nearly times more funding for each species than invertebrates, according to a new report. This leaves little for less charismatic creatures such as spiders and crustaceans, many of which are crucial to ecosystem health and at greater risk of extinction, the study found. The paper, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B , is the latest to show that invertebrates are being overlooked by conservation efforts, which usually focus on more eye-catching birds and mammals. There is only one spider included in the Habitats Directive, a few crustaceans, and not a single parasite. The risk of extinction did not seem to influence how much money a species received. The paper outlines a strategy for fair spending in the coming decade, and a recent EU proposal suggests it will try to account more for invertebrates in the Life programme.

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