bioindicator
Sign in to savethumb|Caddisfly (order Trichoptera), a [[macroinvertebrate used as an indicator of water quality.]] A bioindicator is any species (an indicator species) or group of species whose function, population, or status can reveal the qualitative status of the environment. The most common indicator species are animals. For example, copepods and other small water crustaceans that are present in many water bodies can be monitored for changes (biochemical, physiological, or behavioural) that may indicate a problem within their ecosystem. Bioindicators can tell us about the cumulative effects of different
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Article
18 sectionsContents
- Overview
- Use
- Plant and fungal indicators
- Animal indicators and toxins
- Frogs and toads
- Crustaceans
- Bats
- Microbial indicators
- Chemical pollutants
- In oil and gas exploration
- Microalgae in water quality
- Macroinvertebrates
- Benthic indicators for water quality testing
- Global context
- See also
- References
- Further reading
- External links
thumb|Caddisfly (order Trichoptera), a [[macroinvertebrate used as an indicator of water quality.]] A bioindicator is any species (an indicator species) or group of species whose function, population, or status can reveal the qualitative status of the environment. The most common indicator species are animals. For example, copepods and other small water crustaceans that are present in many water bodies can be monitored for changes (biochemical, physiological, or behavioural) that may indicate a problem within their ecosystem. Bioindicators can tell us about the cumulative effects of different pollutants in the ecosystem and about how long a problem may have been present, which physical and chemical testing cannot.
A biological monitor or biomonitor is an organism that provides quantitative information on the quality of the environment around it. Therefore, a good biomonitor will indicate the presence of the pollutant and can also be used in an attempt to provide additional information about the amount and intensity of the exposure.