Monitoring Pollution with Indicator Species Flashcards

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What is meant by an indicator species?

It is a species that shows if a place is clean or polluted.

How can people use indicator species to track pollution over time?

People record which indicator species live in a place, then check again later and compare the results.

Why are lichens useful as indicator species for air pollution?

Lichens take in what they need from the air, so many cannot live where sulfur dioxide pollution is high.

What does it usually show if many lichens grow on trees and walls in an area?

It shows the air is quite clean and has low sulfur dioxide levels.

Name one type of small animal used to show if river water is clean.

One example is mayfly nymphs, which live in clean, well-oxygenated river water.

What does the presence of many mayfly nymphs in a stream tell you about the water?

It tells you the water is clean and has a high level of dissolved oxygen.

Which indicator species suggest that water is very polluted and low in oxygen?

Lots of bloodworms and sludge worms show that the water is badly polluted and low in oxygen.

How can sewage or fertiliser in a river change the mix of indicator species found there?

Sewage or fertiliser can reduce oxygen in the water, so clean-water indicator species die and pollution-tolerant species increase.

Apart from using indicator species, how else can people monitor pollution in air or water?

People can take samples and use chemical tests in a lab to measure pollutant levels.

Give one advantage of using indicator species instead of chemical tests to monitor pollution.

It is often cheaper and quicker and shows the real effect of pollution on living things.