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Global Conservation Status Definitions
Listed below are definitions for interpreting NatureServe global conservation status ranks (G-ranks). These ranks reflect an assessment of the condition of the species or ecological community across its entire range. Where indicated, definitions differ for species and ecological communities.
NatureServe Global Conservation Status Ranks
Basic Ranks
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Rank
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Definition
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GX
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Presumed
Extinct (species)— Not located despite intensive searches and virtually no likelihood of rediscovery.
Eliminated
(ecological communities)—Eliminated throughout its range, with no restoration potential due to extinction of dominant or characteristic species.
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GH
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Possibly
Extinct (species)— Missing; known from
only historical occurrences but still some hope
of rediscovery.
Presumed
Eliminated— (Historic, ecological
communities)-Presumed eliminated throughout
its range, with no or virtually no likelihood
that it will be rediscovered, but with the potential
for restoration, for example, American Chestnut
(Forest).
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G1
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Critically
Imperiled—At very high risk of extinction due to extreme rarity (often 5 or fewer populations), very steep declines, or other factors.
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G2
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Imperiled—At high risk of extinction due to very restricted range, very few populations (often 20 or fewer), steep declines, or other factors.
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G3
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Vulnerable—At moderate risk of extinction due to a restricted range, relatively few populations (often 80 or fewer), recent and widespread declines, or other factors.
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G4
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Apparently
Secure—Uncommon but not rare; some cause for long-term concern due to declines or other factors.
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G5
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Secure—Common; widespread and abundant.
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Variant Ranks
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Rank
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Definition
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G#G#
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Range
Rank—A numeric range rank (e.g., G2G3) is used to indicate the range of uncertainty in the status of a species or community. Ranges cannot skip more than one rank (e.g., GU should be used rather than G1G4).
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GU
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Unrankable—-Currently unrankable due to lack of information or due to substantially conflicting information about status or trends. Whenever possible, the most likely rank is assigned and the question mark qualifier is added (e.g., G2?) to express uncertainty, or a range rank (e.g., G2G3) is used to delineate the limits (range) of uncertainty.
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GNR
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Unranked—Global rank not yet assessed.
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GNA
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Not
Applicable—A conservation status rank is not applicable because the species is not a suitable target for conservation activities.
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Rank
Qualifiers
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Rank
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Definition
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?
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Inexact
Numeric Rank—Denotes inexact numeric rank (e.g., G2?)
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Q
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Questionable
taxonomy—Taxonomic
distinctiveness of this entity at the current
level is questionable; resolution of this uncertainty
may result in change from a species to a subspecies
or hybrid, or the inclusion of this taxon in
another taxon, with the resulting taxon having
a lower-priority conservation priority.
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C
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Captive
or Cultivated Only—At present extant only in captivity or cultivation, or as a reintroduced population not yet established.
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Infraspecific Taxon Conservation Status Ranks
Infraspecific taxa refer to subspecies, varieties and other designations below the level of the species. Infraspecific taxon status ranks (T-ranks) apply to plants and animal species only; these T-ranks do not apply to ecological communities.
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Rank
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Definition
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T#
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Infraspecific
Taxon (trinomial)—The status of infraspecific taxa (subspecies or varieties) are indicated by a "T-rank" following the species' global rank. Rules for assigning T-ranks follow the same principles outlined above for global conservation status ranks. For example, the global rank of a critically imperiled subspecies of an otherwise widespread and common species would be G5T1. A T-rank cannot imply the subspecies or variety is more abundant than the species as a whole-for example, a G1T2 cannot occur. A vertebrate animal population, such as those listed as distinct population segments under under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, may be considered an infraspecific taxon and assigned a T-rank; in such cases a Q is used after the T-rank to denote the taxon's informal taxonomic status.
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