Organisms

Sentinel Species

Organisms used to determine measurable environmental risks or hazards to human health and or well-being, thereby serving as advance or early warning signs of impending danger to humans. Examples of sentinel species are monkeys, guinea pigs, and the fabled canary in the coal mine.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Organisms used to determine measurable environmental risks or hazards to human health and or well-being, thereby serving as advance or early warning signs of impending danger to humans. Examples of sentinel species are monkeys, guinea pigs, and the fabled canary in the coal mine.

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Related Concepts

Knowledge Graph

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MeSH Record

See Also

MeSH Record

Synonyms

6 entry terms
  • Sentinel Organism
  • Sentinel Organisms
  • Bioindicator Species
  • Sentinel Animal
  • Sentinel Animals
  • Sentinel Plants

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

17 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings abnormalities, anatomy & histology, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, classification, embryology, genetics, growth & development, immunology, injuries, metabolism, microbiology, parasitology, physiology, surgery, urine, virology.

MeSH Record

History Note

2017

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Animals (1996-2016)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Number

  1. B05.698w

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Sentinel Species. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D000072739. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D000072739
  2. Sentinel Species. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentinel_species
  3. Sentinel Species. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4764975