Top 50 Important Species
S.No. Species/Group Ecological Role / Importance IUCN Status (if applicable) Region / Notes UPSC/PYQ Relevance 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 F…
