Climate & Environment
Umbrella Species
A species with large habitat needs whose protection automatically shelters many other species — conservation's strategic shortcut.
Definition
An umbrella species is a species selected for conservation attention because protecting its habitat confers protection on many co-occurring species — typically wide-ranging animals with large area requirements, such as tigers, elephants, grizzly bears and jaguars. The concept (with its cousins flagship species — charismatic fundraising ambassadors — and keystone species — ecological linchpins) guides reserve design: meet the umbrella's needs and a viable slice of the whole community comes with it.
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