Environmental indicators
The foliose lichen Parmelia spp.
Conservationists need to assess the status of biodiversity in order to decide on how to safeguard it. Instead of trying to check the status of all the species in an ecosystem, biodiversity indicators are used. These may be one species, or a group of species, whose condition reflects the state of the whole ecosystem where they are found.
The development of indicators is, therefore, important for monitoring the status and trends of biological diversity. Indicators provide information on ways to continue to improve the effectiveness of biodiversity management programmes, and can develop monitoring and research programmes.
What is the Museum doing to help?
Museum science helps us better understand the relationships between species. This information is vital for developing indicators, as species within ecosystems are often highly interdependent.
Find out more about some of the Museum's environmental indicators projects.