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National Park Species Inventory Data
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About
Explore species information from the most visited National Parks in the USA. This dataset documents animal and plant species identified within individual national parks, validated by observations, physical evidence, or formal reports. The National Park Service makes these records publicly available, with appropriate safeguarding for sensitive, threatened, or endangered species. It offers a valuable insight into the presence and status of biodiversity within these protected areas, despite acknowledging that species lists are dynamic and may have ongoing updates or gaps due to varied inventory efforts and taxonomic changes.
Columns
- ParkCode: The official code for each National Park.
- ParkName: The full name of the National Park.
- CategoryName: The broad taxonomic category for the species (e.g., Vascular Plant, Insect).
- Order: The scientific order of the species.
- Family: The scientific family of the species.
- TaxonRecordStatus: Indicates whether the species taxon record is currently active or inactive.
- SciName: The scientific name for the species, including genus, species, and subspecies.
- CommonNames: Common names by which the species is known.
- Synonyms: Alternative names that the species may be known by.
- ParkAccepted: A boolean indicating if the park formally accepts the presence of this species.
- Sensitive: A boolean indicating if the species is classified as 'sensitive'.
- RecordStatus: The approval status of the species record by the National Park Service (e.g., Approved, In Review).
- Occurrence: The verified status of the species' presence in the park, reflecting confidence and currency of evidence (e.g., Present, Unconfirmed).
- OccurrenceTags: Additional descriptive tags related to the species' occurrence.
- Nativeness: Indicates whether the species is native or foreign to the park (e.g., Native, Unknown).
- NativenessTags: Further informational tags regarding the species' nativeness.
- Abundance: Describes the presence and visibility level of the species within the park (e.g., Unknown).
- NPSTags: System-wide attributes and tags applied across all parks and species by NPSpecies.
- ParkTags: Custom attributes created and applied by individual parks to their species records.
- References: The count of associated documents, publications, or other information resources substantiating the species' status.
- Observations: The count of subjective evidence (without physical proof) regarding the identity and location of an organism.
- Vouchers: The count of physical evidence, such as specimens or photographic images, confirming identity and location.
- ExternalLinks: The count of external links providing additional information on park species.
- TEStatus: The status assigned by the US Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) for Threatened or Endangered species.
- StateStatus: Classification of species according to various state and US territory lists of concern.
- OzoneSensitiveStatus: Identifies plant species in parks known to be negatively affected by high ozone exposure.
- GRank: An assessment of the global rarity or abundance of a taxon across its entire range.
- SRank: An assessment of the rarity or abundance of a taxon within a specific state.
Distribution
This dataset is typically provided as a CSV data file. The sample includes 28 columns and contains over 61,000 records. While specific row counts can fluctuate with updates, this indicates a sizeable collection of species records. The data is structured to provide detailed attributes for each species identified within the parks. Updates to the dataset are expected to occur annually.
Usage
This dataset is ideal for:
- Ecological Research: Analysing species distribution patterns, biodiversity trends, and ecosystem health within US National Parks.
- Conservation Initiatives: Identifying at-risk species, tracking conservation statuses (e.g., Threatened, Endangered), and informing conservation strategies.
- Environmental Monitoring: Studying the impact of environmental factors like ozone on plant species and overall species dynamics.
- Educational Purposes: Providing rich, factual content for academic studies, public education programmes, and citizen science projects related to wildlife and plant life.
Coverage
The dataset's geographic scope is limited to the United States of America, specifically focusing on species found within the 15 most visited National Parks. The time range for the data reflects the present, with ongoing updates and refinements. It covers a broad range of animal and plant species. It is important to note that species lists are dynamic works and the absence of a species from a list does not definitively mean it is absent from a park; data collection efforts and taxonomic interpretations can vary. Information for sensitive, threatened, or endangered species is managed with discretion to protect the species.
License
CC0: Public Domain
Who Can Use It
This dataset is intended for a diverse group of users, including:
- Researchers and Scientists: For biodiversity studies, ecological modelling, and environmental impact assessments.
- Conservation Organisations: To support wildlife protection efforts, species monitoring, and habitat preservation.
- National Park Management: For internal planning, species inventory management, and resource allocation.
- Educators and Students: As a valuable resource for teaching and learning about natural sciences, conservation, and national park ecosystems.
- Data Analysts and Visualisation Specialists: For creating compelling visualisations and reports on national park biodiversity.
Dataset Name Suggestions
- US National Park Biodiversity Records
- National Park Species Inventory Data
- Most Visited US Parks Species List
- NPS Ecosystem Species Insights
- America's Parks Wildlife & Flora Data
Attributes
Original Data Source: National Park Species Inventory Data
QUALITY