Sentinel Species

Category: Environment / Ecology / Biodiversity

UPSC Notes & Key Pointers

  • A sentinel species is a species whose presence, absence, health or population changes can provide information about environmental conditions.

  • They can act as early-warning indicators of pollution or ecological change.

  • Certain organisms are particularly useful because they respond rapidly to environmental contaminants.

  • Examples can include lichens, amphibians and certain fish, depending on the environmental parameter being studied.

  • Prelims Focus: Indicator species vs sentinel species.