Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Definition
Indicator species are organisms that provide information about the health and condition of an ecosystem. They are sensitive to changes in their environment and can indicate pollution levels or other ecological disturbances.
Keystone Species: A species that has a disproportionately large impact on its ecosystem relative to its abundance.
Bioindicators: Organisms or substances used to assess the quality or health status of an ecosystem.
Biotic Index: A numerical scale used to measure the quality or pollution level of an ecosystem based on the presence and abundance of certain indicator species.