| 1 |
Bees (Apis spp.) |
Pollination of crops and wild plants |
Various (Some declining) |
Global, incl. India |
Pollinator collapse, Agri sustainability |
| 2 |
Phytoplankton |
Base of marine food chains, O₂ production |
- |
Oceans |
Ocean acidification, Climate Regulation |
| 3 |
Amazon Rainforest Trees |
Carbon sink, ecosystem health |
- |
South America |
Carbon sequestration |
| 4 |
Corals (GBR, etc.) |
Biodiversity hotspots, reef building |
Endangered |
Indo-Pacific, GBR |
Coral Bleaching, Biorock tech PYQs |
| 5 |
Mangroves (Rhizophora spp.) |
Coastal protection, Blue carbon |
Least Concern (some species VU) |
India (Sundarbans), SE Asia |
UPSC 2023: Blue Carbon ecosystems |
| 6 |
African Elephant |
Seed dispersal, landscape engineer |
Endangered |
Africa |
Flagship species |
| 7 |
Wolves (Gray) |
Trophic regulation, ecosystem balance |
Least Concern |
North America, Eurasia |
Rewilding concept |
| 8 |
Bats |
Pollination, pest control |
Various |
India (Fruit bats, etc.) |
Nipah Virus, Biodiversity regulation |
| 9 |
Anchovies, Sardines |
Food chain base in marine ecosystems |
- |
Oceans |
Marine trophic pyramid |
| 10 |
Mycorrhizal Fungi |
Soil-plant nutrient exchange |
- |
Global |
Sustainable agriculture |
| 11 |
Seagrasses (Posidonia) |
Carbon sinks, prevent erosion |
Varies |
Coastal ecosystems |
Blue Carbon, Dugong habitat |
| 12 |
Sphagnum Moss |
Peatland formation, carbon storage |
- |
Boreal, temperate regions |
COP discussions on peatlands |
| 13 |
Whales |
Whale pump, ocean carbon sink |
Endangered (Blue, etc.) |
Oceans |
Marine carbon cycle, Conservation |
| 14 |
Boreal Forest Trees |
Carbon sequestration |
- |
Canada, Russia |
Global carbon sink |
| 15 |
Kelp Forests |
Marine biodiversity & carbon storage |
- |
Temperate coasts |
Marine ecosystems |
| 16 |
Soil Microbes (Rhizobium) |
Nitrogen fixation |
- |
Agricultural soils |
PYQs on nitrogen-fixing species |
| 17 |
Oak Trees |
Habitat support, carbon sink |
- |
N. Hemisphere |
Reforestation |
| 18 |
Krill |
Feed whales, penguins, base of food chain |
Not Threatened |
Antarctic oceans |
Climate link, Ocean cycles |
| 19 |
Saiga Antelope |
Steppe ecosystem balance |
Critically Endangered |
Central Asia |
Poaching, Conservation status |
| 20 |
Lichens |
Bioindicators of air pollution |
- |
Global |
Ecological indicators |
| 21 |
Rice (Oryza sativa) |
Staple food, water-intensive crop |
Cultivated |
India, Asia |
Food security, Water-agri linkage |
| 22 |
Wheat |
Food security crop |
Cultivated |
Global |
MSP, Climate-resilient crops |
| 23 |
Maize |
Food & biofuel crop |
Cultivated |
Americas, India |
Bioenergy |
| 24 |
Soybean |
Protein, oil, soil-fixing |
Cultivated |
Americas, Asia |
Agri-economy |
| 25 |
Potato |
Staple root crop |
Cultivated |
Andean origin, Global |
Climate adaptation |
| 26 |
Cassava |
Drought-resistant crop |
Cultivated |
Africa, Asia |
Resilience in agriculture |
| 27 |
Chickens |
Major poultry meat source |
Domesticated |
Global |
Nutrition, economy |
| 28 |
Salmon |
Nutrient transport, aquaculture |
Vulnerable (Atlantic species) |
N. Atlantic, Pacific |
Fisheries management |
| 29 |
Cattle |
Livestock economy |
Domesticated |
Global |
Methane emissions, land use |
| 30 |
Bananas |
Fruit crop, export economy |
Cultivated |
Tropical regions |
Agri-diversity |
| 31 |
Snow Leopard |
Apex predator, alpine indicator |
Vulnerable |
Himalayas |
UPSC: Himalayan ecology |
| 32 |
Tigers |
Flagship species, forest health |
Endangered |
India, SE Asia |
NTCA, Project Tiger |
| 33 |
Polar Bears |
Arctic species, climate indicator |
Vulnerable |
Arctic |
Global Warming impact |
| 34 |
Pangolins |
Insect control, heavily trafficked |
Critically Endangered |
Asia, Africa |
Illegal wildlife trade |
| 35 |
Vultures (Gyps spp.) |
Scavengers, prevent disease |
Critically Endangered (India) |
India, SA |
Diclofenac ban, UPSC PYQ topic |
| 36 |
Orangutans |
Seed dispersal, forest ecosystem |
Critically Endangered |
Borneo, Sumatra |
Deforestation issues |
| 37 |
Gorillas |
Forest ecosystem integrity |
Endangered |
Africa |
Primatology, eco-balance |
| 38 |
Sea Turtles |
Marine indicator species |
Varies (e.g., Olive Ridley – VU) |
Coasts, beaches |
UPSC PYQ on mass nesting |
| 39 |
Rhinoceroses |
Grazing balance, flagship species |
Endangered (Black, Indian) |
India, Africa |
Kaziranga, Rhino poaching |
| 40 |
Monarch Butterfly |
Pollinator, migration marvel |
Endangered |
Americas |
Migration corridors |
| 41 |
Tardigrades |
Survival in extreme conditions |
Not Evaluated |
Microscopic, global |
Space biology, Research models |
| 42 |
Horseshoe Crabs |
Biomedical applications (LAL test) |
Vulnerable |
US, Asia |
COVID-19 vaccine, Biomedical use |
| 43 |
Venomous Snakes (Naja spp.) |
Antivenom source |
Varies |
India |
Snakebite mortality |
| 44 |
Ginkgo biloba |
Living fossil, medicinal use |
Endangered |
China |
Ethnobotany, Pharma |
| 45 |
Penicillium |
Antibiotic revolution |
- |
Global |
Penicillin discovery |
| 46 |
Cephalopods (Octopus, Squid) |
Complex behavior, neurobiology research |
Not Threatened |
Marine |
Neuroscience model |
| 47 |
Streptococcus pyogenes (CRISPR) |
Gene editing tool discovery |
- |
Microbial labs |
CRISPR technology |
| 48 |
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) |
Medicinal properties, Ayurveda link |
Cultivated |
India |
Bio-prospecting, AYUSH relevance |
| 49 |
Algae (Spirulina, Chlorella) |
Future food, carbon absorber |
- |
Aquatic |
Superfood, NASA research |
| 50 |
Tasmanian Devil |
Facial tumor disease research |
Endangered |
Australia |
Cancer research model |
