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Charismatic species
A Charismatic species is a species or higher taxonomic group of plant, animal, fungus, or microbe that has prominent characteristics or is especially recognizable to humans. These well-known organisms can be used to teach about the diversity of life (especially regarding a region), to describe a common experiment or landmark study (such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, or to influence conservation efforts by using a species familiar to the public (World Wildlife Fund). When directing conservation efforts to a region, the project managers hope for a trickle-down effect for other organisms in the area. Most often, the term refers to Charismatic Megafaunal species used in the light of conservation. Such large species have been historically imperiled by overzealous hunting, e.g. American bison, Giant Moa. Endemic species such as the California Condor, North Island Brown Kiwi, and Galápagos tortoise have been hallmarks of conservation campaigns. Such usage of organisms as symbols to represent a region have been scrutinized as being shortcuts to overcome proper population distribution studies.

Charismatic Species are often unique in their morphology or life strategies, as seen in hummingbirds. Their flight patterns, prevalence, and size make them attractive and recognizable to birders around the New World.

A species can be known by a variety of traits.


 * Carnivorous plants such as Pitcher plants and Venus fly traps have drastically different nutrient uptake from their phylum.


 * Poisonous plants like Poison ivy gain fame as popular deer browse species, but much more so for their toxicity to humans.


 * A Woodpecker's drumming makes its presence known throughout a large area.


 * The remaining structures of a charismatic species's home might remain for years and have a drastic effect on the landscape, e.g. Beaver dams.

Conservation efforts
There have been a number of distinctly regional conservation efforts to restore populations of keystone, umbrella or symbolic species.


 * Operation Nest Egg: a program run in New Zealand that raises kiwi eggs and chicks taken from the wild into captivity and raised until they reach approximately 1200 grams. They are then released into a suitable habitat to live on their own. It has been remarkably successful, raising survival rates from 5% in wild individuals to 65% in captive-raised individuals. This is a significant success for the national symbol and namesake of New Zealand’s citizens.


 * Western Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis longipes): this subspecies became extinct in 2011 even after massive translocation efforts in central-west Africa were made after poaching for its distinctive horn had reduced the population to a critical level.


 * DDT & Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus): removal of the pesticide DDT after publication of Silent Spring by Rachel Carson. Bald Eagles, the national symbol of the United States, suffered from eggshell thinning from an apparent inhibition of calcium ATPase synthesis during development. Their reestablishment came in large from a nationwide public outcry of the pesticide's damaging properties.

Economic relationships
A species representing a region often has a major economic impact. For instance, the four highly competitive economies of Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and South Korea are known as the Four Tigers. Into the 21st century, these economies maintained a strong showing in the world marketplace, keeping true to the tenacity associated with tigers.

Furthermore, a country must perform a cost-benefit analysis on matters of conservation with money from its citizens. China's premier symbol, the Panda, has had a tumultuous past and has had habitat developed for the species' disposal. The public's willingness to pay must be accounted for, as must the use of the panda as a "potential instrument for greater  biodiversity  conservation". (Kontoleon and Swanson, 2003)

Classification implications
For the purposes of initiating awareness and elevating a charismatic species' status, taxonomic inflation may apply. This means that a subspecies may be elevated to a species level. This is not the work of new genetic analysis, rather the objective and result stems from honoring the important organism.

Georgina Mace recommends setting standards for species classification, especially in the light of biodiversity conservation. A proper system for the scientific community to sort these organisms, she argues, would define more clearly which levels the conservation efforts should be focused toward in order to understand the potential ecological effects. Also, the methods of standardizing the units to be used on lists, e.g. IUCN Red List. These classifications not only impact the scientists involved with a study, but have far-reaching policy-making implications with the public's understanding of the species.