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INDICATOR SPECIES

Species that are indicative of a particular set of environmental conditions. They include umbrella species, keystone species, flagship

species and a range of other surrogates. Certain plants are widely used as indicator species for determining land suitability for forest management and other uses. Certain microorganisms, such as coliform bacteria, are useful indicators of the potential for waterbornedisease outbreaks. Subfossil diatoms, pollen and other organic remains are used as indicators for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction.

[See alsobio-indicators, climatic reconstruction, ecological indicator, niche, pollen analysis, trace fossil]

John L.InnesUniversity of British Columbia
http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781446247501.n2031
10.4135/9781446247501.n2031

CaroT (2010) Conservation by proxy: Indicator, umbrella, keystone, flagship, and other surrogate species. Washington, DC: Island Press.
GoodsellPJ, UnderwoodAJ and ChapmanMG (2009) Evidence necessary for taxa to be reliable indicators of environmental conditions or impacts. Marine Pollution Bulletin58: 323–331.
KlinkaK, KrajinaVJ, CeskaA and ScagelAM (1989) Indicator plants of coastal British Columbia. Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press.
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