The findings of a $176,000 project investigating the habitat of creepy crawlies found only in small, confined areas of the Pilbara will help mining companies determine suitable protocols for targeted fauna surveys.

The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) project, funded by DEC and BHP Billiton Iron Ore, aims to increase understanding about the habitat of short range endemic invertebrates - invertebrates found nowhere else that have small, naturally limited distributions.

DEC research scientist Brad Durrant said these invertebrates, which typically include trapdoor spiders, millipedes, land snails and pseudoscorpions, had been a focus of environmental impact assessments in recent years and this had highlighted the deficiencies of available information.

"We don't know enough about the habitats these invertebrates are restricted to and this limits the surveys that are undertaken to establish the presence of short range endemic invertebrates," he said.

"Without detailed habitat information you can't accurately select the sites to be surveyed or assess the risk to any species found.

"We have selected 26 sites in Karijini National Park that represent the typical discontinuous habitats found in the central Pilbara such as gullies, ridges and woodlands."

Mr Durrant said field work, to collect short range endemic invertebrates and habitat information, had been undertaken in April and July/August by teams that included DEC science division staff, volunteers, students on work experience and environmental consultants seeking field experience with short range endemic species.

"Collaboration is a significant feature of this project and this has a number benefits," he said.

After the WA Museum has identified the invertebrates and the information has been collated, the data will be analysed to gain a better understanding of how the habitats are related and may be influencing the distributions of short range invertebrates.

"We are aiming to provide information that will help determine suitable protocols for surveys to document the presence of short range endemic invertebrates and inform the environmental approvals process," Mr Durrant said.

"The information will also help us determine the significance of isolated habitat patches and provide greater confidence for decisions made during risk assessments and the environmental impacts approval process."