Biological indicators for pollution detection in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems

Abstract

Environmental pollution from varied sources is now deemed as one of the most serious problems everywhere. Several pollutants, however, could be perceived by certain biological indicators, each one is used to identify assured single or a category of pollutants. The current review presents the use of biotas, i.e., plants, microorganisms, and animals, to perceive ecosystems pollutants. The most significant biological indicators are presented. The plant indicators described belong to higher plants; the microbial indicators were represented by bacteria, fungi, algae, planktons, lichens, helminthes eggs and enzymes and the animal ones were earthworms, macro-invertebrates, frogs & toads, insects and animal toxins.