Data Coverage

NatureServe Explorer contains information on plants, animals, ecological associations and alliances, and ecological systems.

The Comprehensive Report for each species includes information arranged in the following categories: classification; concept reference (the literature source describing how NatureServe refers to the taxon, together with taxonomic notes); conservation status; distribution; ecological and life history; economic attributes; management summary; population/occurrence delineation; population/occurrence viability; U.S. invasive species impact rank (I-Rank); authors and contributors; and references. The Comprehensive Reports for ecological units contain information in the following categories: classification; related names; global conservation status; distribution; environmental setting; vegetation structure; dynamic processes; authors and contributors; and references

The table below summarizes the taxonomic coverage of data currently provided by NatureServe Explorer. Data are available for species and ecological communities and systems occurring in the United States and Canada for each of the following groups:

• Plants: all currently accepted native and exotic species, subspecies, varieties and hybrids of vascular plants, non-vascular plants, and lichen. In addition, selected non-lichenized fungi including all those listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and those with status assigned by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada.
• Vertebrate Animals: all currently accepted vertebrate species native to the United States and Canada except marine fishes; selected native subspecies and populations including all those listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and those with status assigned by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada; selected exotic species and subspecies.
• Invertebrate Animals: all currently accepted species native to the United States and Canada in the following groups; freshwater mussels; freshwater snails; terrestrial snails; crayfishes; fairy, clam, and tadpole shrimps; butterflies and skippers; saturniid moths (giant silkworm, royal and related moths); sphinx moths; notodontid moths; underwing moths; Papaipema moths; tiger moths; tiger beetles; stoneflies; caddisflies; mayflies; dragonflies and damselflies. In addition selected other species and subspecies including all those listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and those with status assigned by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada; selected exotic species and subspecies; and many moths of conservation concern.
• Ecological Units: all natural communities and ecological systems thus far defined by NatureServe as part of the International Ecological Classification Standard: Terrestrial Ecological Classifications with an emphasis on the contiguous United States, Hawaii, and parts of Canada for associations and alliances*, and the United States and adjacent Canada and Mexico for ecological systems.

Overview of Species and Ecological Units in NatureServe Explorer

*Alliances are under review and are not represented on NatureServe Explorer at this time.