An indicator species is any biological species that defines a trait or characteristic of the environment. For example, a species may delineate an ecoregion or indicate an environmental condition such as a disease outbreak, pollution, species competition or climate change. Indicator species can be among the most sensitive species in a region, and sometimes act as an early warning to monitoring biologists.
Read more about Indicator Species: Indicators of Environmental Condition, Definitions
Famous quotes containing the word species:
“The further our civilization advances upon its present lines so much the cheaper sort of thing does fame become, especially of the literary sort. This species of fame a waggish acquaintance says can be manufactured to order, and sometimes is so manufactured.”
—Herman Melville (18191891)