Editing Polypore (section)

===Indicator value===
Polypores have been used as indicator species of healthy natural forests or [[old-growth forests]] in Europe. They are good indicators of invertebrate diversity on dead wood and include many endangered species. Polypores make good indicators because they are relatively easy to find – many species produce conspicuous and long-lasting fruiting bodies – and because they can be identified in the field.<ref name="Parmasto 2001"/>

The first indicator list of polypores widely used in forest inventories and conservation work was developed in northern Sweden in 1992 ("Steget före" method).<ref>Karström M (1992) Steget före – en presentation. ''Svensk Botanisk Tidskrift'' 86: 103-114.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hkust.se/snf-ovik/Steget.htm |title=Steget Före-metoden |access-date=2013-04-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100811142826/http://www.hkust.se/snf-ovik/Steget.htm |archive-date=2010-08-11 }}</ref> "Steget före" list included six polypores in three value classes. In Finland, [[Indicator fungi in forest protection, Finland|a list of 30 species for spruce-dominated forests]] was published in 1993 and widely adopted.<ref>Kotiranta H, Niemelä T (1996) ''Uhanalaiset käävät Suomessa''. 2nd ed. Suomen ympäristökeskus, Helsinki.</ref> Later a similar list for pine-dominated forests was published. Longer lists of indicator species have since been published in Sweden.<ref>Nitare J (2000) ''Signalarter. Indikatorer på skyddsvärd skog. Flora över kryptogamer''. Skogsstyrelsen förlag, Jönköping.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.skogsstyrelsen.se/Myndigheten/Skog-och-miljo/Biologisk-mangfald/Signalarter/ |title=Signalarter - Skogsstyrelsen |access-date=2014-10-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006084033/http://www.skogsstyrelsen.se/Myndigheten/Skog-och-miljo/Biologisk-mangfald/Signalarter/ |archive-date=2014-10-06 }}</ref>

Many indicator species are [[red list|red-listed]], but not necessarily all. National red lists of fungi typically include many polypores and are used as indicator lists of conservation value in many European countries.