A vulnerability assessment framework for terrestrial invertebrate species threatened by wildlife trade

A framework integrating Australian trade records with distribution, abundance, and biological vulnerability identified 266 traded invertebrate species with area of occupancy under 500 km² at greatest relative risk.

• Why it matters: Wildlife trade is an emerging threat to Australian terrestrial invertebrates, but impacts on native populations are poorly quantified, especially for short range endemic species with low dispersal and reproduction.
• What they did: Using a multi-year dataset of Australian invertebrate trade records, the authors screened species used in the pet trade that also show SRE traits, then ranked decline risk by combining trade frequency with distribution, abundance, and vulnerability metrics.
• The result: Arachnids were disproportionately represented among the highest relative risk group, and the authors present this as a tested proof-of-concept screening method that can be refined and applied to other taxa.

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