Invertebrates

• 400species recorded in South Gippsland
• 96aquatic invertebrates
• 304terrestrial invertebrates

Invertebrates are critical to the function and health of our natural environment. The ‘services’ they perform include pollination, seed dispersal, nutrient recycling, soil construction and maintenance, water cleaning and reef construction. There are 96 aquatic invertebrates and 304 terrestrial invertebrates recorded in South Gippsland, 400 species in total, making it the largest fauna group for the region.

The most recorded species by far is the nationally vulnerable giant Gippsland earthworm followed by the ghost moth and shouldered brown butterfly.

Invertebrate monitoring is a useful measure of environmental health and aquatic invertebrates have often been used as a fast measure of waterway health. Terrestrial invertebrate sampling could similarly be utilised. Increased understanding and knowledge of invertebrates can assist all land managers to better understand the values on their properties and the potential changes that they may observe under climate change or varied management regimes.

Candidate species for project focus

The plan suggests these threatened species as candidates for continued or new project focus:

• Nationally threatened (EPBC-listed): giant Gippsland earthworm
• State threatened (FFG-listed): freshwater burrowing crays

Ideas in the plan for projects that build on past efforts include:

Threatened Invertebrates – giant Gippsland earthworm, burrowing and spiny Crays. Continue the work of recent years with an ongoing project theme and educational information on the conservation of these species.

Source: South Gippsland Biodiversity Protection Plan (October 2024), section 3.3 Fauna and section 3.4 Threatened species; species figures from Victorian Biodiversity Atlas records cited in the plan.