Question

amphibians, biodiversity, and environmental warnings
step 1 — indicator species
amphibians are often called indicator species.

• in your own words, what does it mean for a species to be an indicator species?

Explanation:

An indicator species is a type of organism whose presence, absence, or population changes can show the health or changes in an ecosystem. For example, amphibians' sensitivity to environmental factors like pollution or habitat loss means their well - being (or lack thereof) can signal if the environment is healthy, degraded, or undergoing changes. Their responses (such as population declines or deformities) can indicate issues like water pollution, climate change impacts, or habitat destruction in the area they live in.

Answer:

An indicator species is an organism whose presence, absence, or population dynamics reflect the health, quality, or changes of its surrounding ecosystem (e.g., amphibians' status can signal environmental issues like pollution or habitat loss).