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INDICATOR SPECIES
There are many species of plants and animals that, if present, are indicators of good environmental conditions in an ecosystem or landscape. These are known as Indicator Species or Bioindicators. Although some indicator species may be associated with large, natural, undeveloped areas, there are some that can inhabit residential areas and can provide an indication of the health of your landscape.If you observe any of the following Indicator Species in the landscape, these often suggest that ecologically healthy conditions exist in the environments listed next to them.
Indicator Species Corresponding Healthy Environment Lichens Low air pollution (ozone, sulfur dioxide) Spotted owls, red-cockaded woodpeckers Old growth forests Mayflies, stoneflies Aquatic ecosystems Fish Aquatic ecosystems Frogs, salamanders, toads Watershed and terrestrial ecosystems Lizards, snakes Watershed and terrestrial ecosystems Butterflies, garden spiders, lacewings Low insecticide contamination, watershed and terrestrial ecosystems Earthworms Low insecticide contamination, soil organic matter Kestrel, killdeer Low insecticide contamination Songbirds Watershed and terrestrial ecosystems For more information on specific Indicator Species, visit the following links:
Use of Amphibians as Indicators of Ecosystem Restoration Success
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