The Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has drawn up a list of the plant and animal species that will serve as indicators of the health of the marine ecosystems in the Russian Arctic. The document has been devised to prevent economic and other types of activities from negatively affecting the environment in the Russian Arctic. The list of indicator species includes, in addition to the white whale, the eider duck, the ivory gull, the polar bear, the walrus, the great polar whale and the rough seal, as well as a number of algae species, including brown, red and green algae, several invertebrate species (shell fish, echinoderms) and crustaceans, the Arctic lyre crab, the rainbow smelt, Arctic cod and the northern skate.

These species were chosen because they quickly react to any environmental changes, with their response ranging from changes in appearance, behaviour or chemical composition to complete extinction. The study of indicator species for environmental monitoring is a more reliable method than the use of special devices, as these species are capable of reacting to all environmental processes, even those that cannot be detected by equipment. It also enables scientists to track the environmental pollution history over lengthy periods.

The list of indicator species is expected to serve as a blueprint for devising progammes aimed at preserving biodiversity.