Indicator species

• What are indicator species used for?

  To monitor pollution levels
• Why are certain organisms sensitive to environmental changes?

  They react to changes in their environment
• How can indicator species show the effects of human activities?

  By studying their population changes
• What are the types of water pollution indicators mentioned?

  1. Water pollution indicators:

  • Microorganisms from fertilizers
  • Stonefly larvae and freshwater shrimp
  • Sensitive to dissolved oxygen levels
• What do stonefly larvae indicate about water quality?

  They indicate clean water
• What happens when fertilizers are released into rivers?

  Microorganisms increase in the water
• If you find stonefly larvae in a river, what does it suggest?

  The water is likely clean
• How do certain invertebrates adapt to polluted conditions?

  They evolve to survive in polluted environments
• How does blackspot fungus indicate air quality?

  It is sensitive to sulfur dioxide levels
• What does a high presence of blackspot fungus suggest?

  High levels of air pollution
• Why might you find more lichens away from city centers?

  Less pollution in those areas
• What is a potential flaw in using indicator species?

  They may not always reflect pollution accurately
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of using indicator species?

  Advantages:

  • Easy to monitor
  • Reflect environmental changes

  
  

  Disadvantages:

  • May not always indicate pollution accurately
  • Sensitive to other environmental factors
• What is the significance of monitoring indicator species?

  It helps assess environmental health
• How can data on indicator species be useful in an exam context?

  It shows trends in environmental health
• What might indicate a problem if many indicator species are found?

  High levels of pollution in the area
• What is likely the reason for less pollution outside the city center?

  Less pollution outside the city center
• How does air quality differ outside the city center?

  It contains less sulfur dioxide and pollutants
• What is a flaw in using indicator species?

  They may not provide accurate pollution levels
• What are two ways to use indicator species to measure pollution?

  1. Conduct simple surveys to check species presence
  2. Count occurrences of species in an area for numerical values
• What does a simple survey of indicator species indicate?

  It shows if an area is polluted or not
• Why is counting the number of indicator species useful?

  It provides a numerical value for pollution comparison
• What is a limitation of indicator species in measuring pollution?

  They can't give precise pollution figures
• What factors can influence the presence of indicator species?

  Factors other than pollution can affect presence
• How do dissolved oxygen meters help in measuring pollution?

  They measure oxygen concentration in water
• What do electronic meters measure in the air?

  Concentration of sulfur dioxide
• Why might it be better to use non-living indicators?

  They provide more accurate pollution measurements
• What can the absence of certain indicator species suggest?

  Possible pollution in the environment
• What does the absence of stonefly larvae indicate?

  Potentially polluted water conditions
• What does the presence of black spot fungus on rose leaves indicate?

  Possible local air quality issues
• What is the significance of the absence of indicator species?

  It may indicate pollution or environmental issues
• What is the implication of using indicator species in clean rooms?

  They are not found in clean environments
• What does the absence of indicator species suggest about the environment?

  It could mean pollution is present
• What is the main takeaway regarding indicator species?

  They can indicate pollution but have limitations
• What is the relationship between indicator species and environmental health?

  Indicator species reflect the health of the environment
• How can the absence of indicator species mislead assessments?

  It may suggest pollution when other factors exist
• What is the significance of the presence of indicator species?

  They suggest a healthy environment
• What does the presence of certain species indicate about air quality?

  It reflects the local air quality conditions
• What does the presence of black spot fungus indicate about air quality?

  It suggests potential air quality issues
• What is the importance of understanding indicator species?

  They help assess environmental health