What is an umbrella species?

An umbrella species is characterized by having large habitat requirements that, when protected, also help ensure the survival of numerous other species within the same ecosystem. The concept is founded on the idea that by conserving the habitat used by this species, a variety of coexisting species that inhabit the same environment will also benefit from those conservation efforts. This can create a protective "umbrella" over the entire habitat, promoting biodiversity.

In contrast, an invasive species disrupts the natural balance of an ecosystem and does not provide protection to other species. A species that lives in one specific area, while potentially important, does not cover the broader conservation aspects associated with an umbrella species. Lastly, a species with low reproductive rates may face conservation challenges, but this characteristic alone does not relate to the broader ecological role of an umbrella species in habitat protection.