Indicator Species

These six indicator species represent mammal, bird, plant, and insect examples found at Tucker Prairie.  Each fulfills a niche in the prairie ecosystem and will be impacted by climate change.  Predicting these changes is very difficult as cascading series of changes occur within the prairie.  These six indicator species represent a broad range of possible climate change impacts and are useful in illustrating the complexity of this ecosystem.  Some of these species may benefit from the encroachment of woody plants into Tucker prairie, others may decline.  Use the natural history descriptions, ecological description, range maps, and links provided to predict how adaptable you believe these species can be as the prairie landscape changes.