The sensitivity of these species to low level environmental threats can also act as a barometer for human health.

CNN: New species found in Colombian forests

Separately, a rise in new orders boosted the Chicago Business Barometer, a gauge of the U.S. manufacturing sector, to its highest level since March 2012, also trumping expectations.

WSJ: European Stocks Post Ninth Monthly Gain

Although NAEP results have become generally accepted among educators and political leaders as a reliable barometer of average pupil academic performance over time, the question of how to define an acceptable level of performance remains controversial.

UNESCO: II Part Analytic Section