NatureServe Summary Species Schema (2007-06-01, current)
Primary intent of this schema: This schema is intended to serve as the core species attribute schema for all species-related XML Schemas for NatureServe. This will require the Comprehensive Subnational Species Schema to extend this schema just as the Summary Species Occurrence Schema extends this schema. The Comprehensive Species Occurrence Schema extends the Summary Species Occurrence Schema, and therefore includes much of this core schema in its content.

Secondary intent: This schema (or an XML document that validates against this schema) should be able to stand alone, possibly as the simplest unit of information returned from a general purpose query for species data. Since this is a declared intent, we request input from all reviewers as to the suitability of the data content expressed here for the purpose of identifying "search results".

The difference between this and the Global Comprehensive Species Schema: At this time, and possibly into the indefinite future, this schema and the Global Comprehensive Species Schema will diverge. The Global Comprehensive Species Schema may be renamed to reflect its main purpose, which is to model the data presented on NatureServe Explorer's web application interface (for Species data).

Emerging Comprehensive Scope-specific Species Schema: A new comprehensive schema for delivering comprehensive Species information that may be relevant to National or Subnational information needs is beginning to be developed. At this time, it is not known if the emerging schema will eventually replace the Comprehensive Global Species Schema (being comprehensive species information at a "global" scope). The emerging schema will inherit from this summary schema, and this summary schema is expected to represent in whole a subset of the emerging schema. The Comprehensive Scope-specific Species schema (which may be renamed) is expected to be released in late 2007/early 2008. ]]> This is not the normative representation of the draft standard. In the case of any conflict between the two representations, definitions and values in XML schema take precedence. Final 1.0 Release For use in production systems for general query purposes. The discussion is on-going and this documentation will continue to be updated to reflect the evolving consensus. NatureServe 2007-06-01 Added OtherStatuses Added NationalConservationStatus and RoundedNationalConservationStatus Added NationalDistributions and DistributionComments Added NationalScientificName, NationalCommonName, NationalTaxonomyComments, and NationalSynonyms. Also modified element names for SubnationalSynonyms Added OtherIdentifiers. Correct xpath for subnationalDistribution/population. Modified submission date. Created this document from the EPA DET developed for this data content. If a user executes a search that returns 100 results, is the content expressed in this schema likely to be suitable for a cursory list of results? Is there too much data for a cursory list? Do you have specific suggestions as to content? If an optional attribute or element is not present in an instance document, that means that either the data is not being released, or the value is unknown. For schema elements that contain both "code" and "description" elements, the "description" value is a user-friendly version of the "code" value. For schema elements that contain a "searchValue" element in addition to a "code" and "description" value, the "searchValue" value is to help searching codes that describe a range. For example, a "searchValue" of "ABC" corresponds to a code value of "AC". ]]> Data Element Description Notes (Attributes preceded by "@" character)]]> Species Unique Identifier The primary system generated identifier used in NatureServe's Biotics 4.0 system to uniquely identify a species. This is the UID for the primary record being reported, which may be a Global Species, National Species, or Subnational Species record. To obtain the Global UID value, use the natureServeGlobalConcept element's uid attribute. /species|@uid Species Jurisdiction The jurisdiction that is the source of the data for this species. This is an attribute that exists for the purpose of securing the data during delivery (that is, suppressing selected elements within the XML output based upon restrictions defined by subnational security adminstrators). For NatureServe web services this is being populated with subnation_id. /species|@jurisdiction Data Sensitive Species Set to true if the data for the species is considered sensitive. /species|@sensitive Species Type "Animal" or "Plant" /species|@type Species Code The alpha-numeric legacy species code (also known as ELCODE). This is an optional attribute. /species|@speciesCode Jurisdiction Nation Name The nation to which this species record applies. Although a blank (or null) value may imply that this species record represents the Global species, there is no requirement on implementers to supply this information if it exists for National or Subnational species records. Therefore, consuming applications should not make assumptions about the absence of value here. /species|jurisdictionNationName Jurisdiction Subnation Name The state or province to which this species record applies. Although a blank (or null) value may imply that this species record represents the Global or Natioanl species, there is no requirement on implementers to supply this information if it exists for Subnational species records. Therefore, consuming applications should not make assumptions about the absence of value here. /species|jurisdictionSubnationName Other Identifier - name The organization name that uses the identifier. If identifiers used by another organization have been mapped to this species, that organization's name will be here. /species|otherIdentifiers|otherIdentifier|@typeName Other Identifier - Lead Organization The Lead organization that uses and/or sets this identifier value. This is usually the same as the name attribute, but may be used to indicate a more complete Organization name, or sub group. /species|otherIdentifiers|otherIdentifier|identifierLeadOrganization Other Identifier - value This is the identifier value itself. This is the identifier value used (or assigned) by the Lead Organization. /species|otherIdentifiers|otherIdentifier|identifierValue Other Identifier - comments Comments, if any. These are any other additional comments about this identifier. /species|otherIdentifiers|otherIdentifier|identifierComments Jurisdiction Subnational Scientific Name The scientific name for a species adopted for use by a subnation.
/species|subnationalScientificName|formattedName

/species|subnationalScientificName|nomenclaturalAuthor]]> Jurisdiction Subnational English Common Name The common name of a species adopted for use by a subnation. /species|subnationalCommonName Jurisdiction Subnational Taxonomy Comments Pertinent information regarding questions or controversies concerning the validity, taxonomic distinctness, or generic placement of the plant or animal species. May also provide information about the scientific name or its spelling. May include discussion of differing taxonomic or nomenclatural usage by different authors, agencies and organizations. /species|subnationalTaxonomyComments Subnational Synonyms Synonyms, especially those that programs in the NatureServe Network, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, or Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada use for species names.
/species|subnationalSynonyms|subnationalSynonym|formattedName

/species|subnationalSynonyms|subnationalSynonym|nomenclaturalAuthor ]]> Jurisdiction National Scientific Name The scientific name for a species adopted for use by a nation. Not required for Subnational Species.
/species|nationalScientificName|formattedName

/species|nationalScientificName|nomenclaturalAuthor]]> Jurisdiction National English Common Name The common name of a species adopted for use by a nation. Not required for Subnational Species. /species|nationalCommonName Jurisdiction National Taxonomy Comments Pertinent information regarding questions or controversies concerning the validity, taxonomic distinctness, or generic placement of the plant or animal species. May also provide information about the scientific name or its spelling. May include discussion of differing taxonomic or nomenclatural usage by different authors, agencies and organizations. /species|nationalTaxonomyComments National Synonyms Synonyms, especially those that programs in the NatureServe Network, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, or Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada use for species names.
/species|nationalSynonyms|nationalSynonym|formattedName

/species|nationalSynonyms|nationalSynonym|nomenclaturalAuthor ]]> Global Unique Identifier This is the uid for the species at the Global level. With this value, an application may query NatureServe Explorer to determine if a report exists for this species. /species|natureServeGlobalConcept|@uid Global Scientific Name The scientific name for a species adopted for use by NatureServe.
/species|natureServeGlobalConcept|globalScientificName|formattedName

/species|natureServeGlobalConcept|globalScientificName|nomenclaturalAuthor]]> Global Classification Status This is used to indicate whether the concept has been formally recognized, described, and accepted by the standard classification as determined by NatureServe Central Sciences. Possible values include "Standard", "Nonstandard", "Provisional", and "Undetermined" /species|natureServeGlobalConcept|classificationStatus NatureServe Explorer Species URI The URI for the species data (if available) on NatureServe Explorer. /species|natureServeGlobalConcept|natureServeExplorerURI Global Taxonomic Concept Reference Citation for the reference that describes the circumscription of the species.The concept reference together with the name used in that reference serves as a unique identifier for the species, especially in cases where a single concept reference describes the circumscription of more than one species. /species|natureServeGlobalConcept|taxonomicConceptReference|unformattedCitation Global Name Used in Concept Reference The name applied to this species in the concept reference. The concept reference together with the name used in that reference serves as a unique identifier for the species, especially in cases where a single concept reference describes the circumscription of more than one species.
/species|natureServeGlobalConcept|nameUsedConceptReference|formattedName

/species|natureServeGlobalConcept|nameUsedConceptReference|nomenclaturalAuthor]]> Global Taxonomy Comments Pertinent information regarding questions or controversies concerning the validity, taxonomic distinctness, or generic placement of the plant or animal species. May also provide information about the scientific name or its spelling. May include discussion of differing taxonomic or nomenclatural usage by different authors, agencies and organizations. /species|natureServeGlobalConcept|globalTaxonomyComments Global Synonyms Synonyms, especially those that programs in the NatureServe Network, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, or Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada use for species names.
/species|natureServeGlobalConcept|globalSynonyms|synonymName|formattedName

/species|natureServeGlobalConcept|globalSynonyms|synonymName|nomenclaturalAuthor ]]> Global Conservation Status The conservation status rank, developed by NatureServe and our network of member programs, of a species from a global (i.e., rangewide) perspective, characterizing the relative imperilment of the species. /species|natureServeGlobalConcept|globalConservationStatus Global Rounded Conservation Status This value uses an algorithm to evaluate global conservation status ranks and systematically produces easier to analyze values without qualifiers or ranges (e.g. G2G4 becomes G3, G4T1? becomes T1, G4G5 becomes G4). /species|natureServeGlobalConcept|roundedGlobalConservationStatus Jurisdiction Subnational Conservation Status The NatureServe conservation status, developed by NatureServe and our network of member programs, of a species from a state/province perspective, characterizing the relative imperilment of the species. /species|subnationalConservationStatus Jurisdiction Rounded Subnational Conservation Status This value uses an algorithm to evaluate subnational conservation status ranks and systematically produces easier to interpret values without qualifiers or ranges (e.g. S2S4 becomes S3). /species|roundedSubnationalConservationStatus Jurisdiction National Conservation Status The NatureServe conservation status, developed by NatureServe and our network of member programs, of a species from a state/province perspective, characterizing the relative imperilment of the species. The Last changed date refers to the date the status value was last modified. The Last reviewed date refers to the last time the status value was reviewed for modification.
/species|nationalConservationStatus|@lastChangedDate

/species|nationalConservationStatus|@lastModifiedDate ]]> Jurisdiction Rounded National Conservation Status This value uses an algorithm to evaluate subnational conservation status ranks and systematically produces easier to interpret values without qualifiers or ranges (e.g. S2S4 becomes S3). /species|roundedNationalConservationStatus Other Status - name The name of the other status /species|otherStatuses|status|@name Other Status - value The status value /species|otherStatuses|status|statusValue Other Status - Description The status description /species|otherStatuses|status|statusDescription Other Status - Date The status date /species|otherStatuses|status|statusDate Other Status - Implied Status The implied status (particularly if inherited from a parent species) /species|otherStatuses|status|impliedStatus Other Status - Implied Status Date The implied status date /species|otherStatuses|status|impliedStatusDate Species Occurrence Tracking Status The value that indicates whether species occurrences are tracked for this species. /species|speciesOccurrenceTrackingStatus Origin The value that indicates the origin of a species in a nation or subnation. For instance, "Native" or "Exotic"
/species|nationalDistributions|nationalDistribution|origin ]]> Regularity The regularity of occurrence of the species in the nation or subnation. For instance, "Regularly occurring" or "Accidental/Nonregular"
/species|nationalDistributions|nationalDistribution|regularity ]]> Current Presence or Absence The current presence or absence of the species in the nation or subnation. For instance, "Present" or "Absent" or "Unknown/Undetermined".
/species|nationalDistributions|nationalDistribution|currentPresenceAbsence ]]> Distribution Confidence The confidence that the Element was ever (either currently or in the past) present in the nation or subnation. For instance, "Confident" or "Reported but doubtful" or "Never was there".
/species|nationalDistributions|nationalDistribution|distributionConfidence ]]> Population The value that indicates the type of residency that characterizes populations of the animal species in the nation or subnation. For instance, "Year-round", or "Breeding", or "Transient".
/species|nationalDistributions|nationalDistribution|population ]]> Distribution Comments Comments about the distribution.
/species|nationalDistributions|nationalDistributionComments ]]> References Primary sources for information for this species data. /species|metaData|references|citation Version Date Date of the current version of this Species record (i.e., the date that this record was first completed, or since then, comprehensively revised). /species|metaData|versionDate License License statment: All usage of this data must abide by NatureServes data usage license which can be found at: http://services.natureserve.org/idd/developer/license.jsp. /species|metaData|license FGDC Metadata URI URI to FGDC Metadata for the service that produced this repsonse. /species|metaData|FGDCMetadataURI Contact Organization Name of the organization to contact for information on the Species. /species|metaData|pointOfContact|organizationName Contact Organization Uri URI to contact information from the contact organization. /species|metaData|pointOfContact|organizationUri