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The Biosphere
Published in John C. Ayers, Sustainability, 2017
Another recent example of an indicator species signaling ecosystem impairment is colony collapse disorder in bees. Bees are indicator species that provide critically important ecosystem services, the most important being pollination but also the provision of honey. Colony collapse disorder became a recognized problem during the winter of 2006–2007 when beekeepers reported losing 30% to 90% of their hives. Some studies have linked colony collapse disorder in bees to the use of neonicotinoid pesticides (Henry et al. 2012; Whitehorn et al. 2012), and others to rising atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and subsequent reduction in protein content of plants and pollens (Palmer 2016). Fortunately, colony collapse disorder has recently declined, with loss rates averaging ~29% but dropping to 23% in the winter of 2014–2015. Preserving indicator species makes it more likely that we can detect threats to ecosystem health and remedy them before they cause irreversible damage and permanent loss of ecosystem services.
Food Supply
Published in Cameron La Follette , Chris Maser, Sustainability and the Rights of Nature, 2017
Cameron La Follette , Chris Maser
A Rights of Nature system must integrate agriculture into the surrounding ecosystem. It must use and expand some version of the feudal chain of obligation discussed earlier in this book, with rights and obligations extended, in a web rather than a line, to the streams, woods, hedgerows (= naturally vegetated fencerow of woody and herbaceous plants), savannahs, and other aspects of the ecosystem integrated with a mosaic of small fields. Any functional agricultural system will, as indigenous Northwestern cultures have done for millennia, cultivate indicator species (such as huckleberries, salmon, herring, or clams) to both increase the food supply for humans and make the ecosystem more resilient, which is a benefit to all its inhabitants. An “indicator species” is an organism whose presence, absence, or abundance reflects a specific environmental condition. As such, the species’ abundance can indicate a change in the biophysical condition of a particular ecosystem, and thus may be used as a proxy to diagnose the system’s sustainability and its resulting productivity.
Analysing problems and opportunities to deliver sustainable solutions
Published in Adrian Belcham, Manual of Enviromental Management, 2014
Biological indicator species (bio-indicators) are selected for a number of reasons to be representative of pollution impacts to their ecosystem. The following criteria might be considered in selecting an appropriate bio-indicator to be tested or observed to predict or monitor the pollution potential in a given ecosystem: The species is relatively abundant and typically present in the ecosystem likely to be affected, e.g. freshwater microorganisms such as the caddis fly larvae in UK streams.The species displays sensitivity to pollutants of interest, e.g. lichens are particularly sensitive to air pollution.The species manifests observable changes in relation to pollutants of interest, e.g. some micro-organisms will produce new proteins, called stress proteins, when exposed to contaminants like cadmium and benzene. These stress proteins can be used as an early warning system to detect high levels of pollution.
Beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera) as bioindicators of the assessment of environmental pollution
Published in Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 2018
Samir Ghannem, Samir Touaylia, Moncef Boumaiza
As reported by Rainio and Niemela (2003) bioindicators are considered effective tools for observing and monitoring changes in the environment. Lindenmayerr et al. (2000) defined the use of indicator species as an important and realistic tool for defining sustainable management to assess the effects of anthropogenic and natural disturbances in forests. Work et al. (2008) defined an indicator as any higher taxon or species sensitive to environmental changes. In addition, Siddig (2016) says that indicator species can be used in monitoring environmental changes, and provide warning signals for imminent ecological changes. Moreover, indicator species are living organisms that are easily controlled and whose arrangement reproduces or predicts the situation of the environment in which they are located (Bartell 2006; Burger 2006).The approach to employing indicator species is based on the hypothesis that environmental change may affect the abundance, diversity, and growth rate of one or more species in that location (Burrger 2006). Siddig et al. (2016) denoted that the concept of indicator species is related to several terms such as: (a) Indicator species: One or more taxa selected according to their sensitivity to a particular environmental factor, and then evaluated to make inferences about this factor. Eventually used in the concept of habitat management, restoration of ecosystems and wildlife conservation (Morrison 2009; Caro 2010); (b) Bioindicator/Biomonitor: One or more living organisms used as an indicator of the quality of the environment it is living in and the biological component associated with it. Bioindicators or biomonitors are mainly employed to monitor chemical changes in the environment in disciplines such as ecotoxicology (Burger 2006); (c) Umbrella species: Species that prefer large habitat areas, and are most often used for conservation applications and management of protected areas (Morrison 2009; Caro 2010); (d) Keystone species: due to strong interactions with other species, this species depends on the health condition of the ecosystem. They are used frequently for monitoring environmental quality, level of restoration and management of protected areas (Ellison et al.2005; Morrison 2009; Caro 2010); (e) Flagship species: A species that can, without difficulty, attract public support based on its charismatic qualities and state of conservation. Generally used to classify and monitor the conservation situation of the species (Morrison 2009; Caro 2010); (f) Ecosystem engineer: A species that controls the accessibility of resources for other species by creating physical changes in biotic or abiotic supplies. They are mainly used for ecosystem restoration and conservation (Morrison 2009); (g) Foundation species: A species that defines the structure of a community by ensuring the stability of local conditions for other species, the stabilization of basic ecosystem processes, and their role in controlling ecosystem changes (Ellison et al.2005).