Species that provide early warnings of environmental change in a community or an ecosystem are called ____.
A) invasive species
B) exotic species
C) keystone species
D) indicator species
E) native species

Question

Species that provide early warnings of environmental change in a community or an ecosystem are called ____.​
A) ​invasive species
B) ​exotic species
C) ​keystone species
D) ​indicator species
E) ​native species

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Indicator species are those that provide early warnings of environmental change in a community or an ecosystem. They can be used to monitor ecosystem health and indicate when interventions or conservation actions may be needed. Invasive and exotic species are not necessarily indicators of change, and keystone species are important for maintaining ecosystem balance but not necessarily early warning indicators. Native species can be indicator species, but not all native species serve this function.

Species That Provide Early Warnings of Environmental Change in a Community