Importance Of Arthropoda

The phylum Arthropoda has been called the most ‘important’ animal group. To what extent can this be said to be true?
Members of the Phylum Arthropoda were in existence over 600 billion years ago during the Cambrian Era. The name “Arthropoda” was derived from the Greek word meaning “jointed-feet” and is used to classify over ¾ of named species and 80% of all animal species. (Science Clarified, 2007). The 9 main Animal Phyla consist of; Chordata, Echinodermata, Mollusca, Arthropoda, Annelida, Nematoda, Platyhelminthes, Coelenterata and Porifera, many of which are reliant on Arthropoda to stabilise the environment in order for them to survive (Marguis and Schwartz, 1988). The Arthropods are the most successful animal phylum, both in their diversity of distribution and in numbers of species and individuals. They have adapted successfully to life in water, land and air and are present in all aspects of the Biosphere (Bird, 2002). Arthropods are found in a greater variety of habitats than any other animal group; on mountains, deep in oceans and in extreme temperatures. Common examples of Arthropods consist of Crustaceans, Arachnids, Myriapods and Insects which are all characterised

Despite its disadvantages; particular the spreading of disease and the economic damage, the importance of Arthropods overall as a phylum is unequivocal and unsurpassable. Although they are important economically and medicinally, they are critically advantageous for ecosystems for they are fundamental within food chains in all aspects of the Biosphere, providing the foundations for life on Earth, without which many species would go extinct. Many of the other 8 Animal Phyla are reliant on Arthropoda for food, and economic stability highlighting its prominence over other Phyla and validating the theory that Arthropoda is the most important animal