General status of wild species

General status of wild species in Canada

Key results

• Of the 24 483 native species with a NatureServe numerical rank:
  • 19 600 species (80%) are ranked as secure or apparently secure
  • 4 883 species (20%) are at some risk of extirpation (ranked as vulnerable, imperiled or critically imperiled)
• 135 species are presumed extirpated or possibly extirpated (no longer found in Canada)

National conservation status of native wild species, Canada, 2020

How this indicator was calculated

Source: Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council (2022) Wild Species 2020: The General Status of Species in Canada, National General Status Working Group.

The status of wild species in Canada has been assessed every 5 years since 2000. Between 2000 and 2020, of those that have a NatureServe numerical rank, the proportion of species ranked as secure or apparently secure has varied between 70% and 80%. This variation is due mainly to the assessment of additional species.

Between 2015 and 2020, 8 107 species had a change in their conservation status rank at the national level, including 1 199 species that have an increased level of extinction risk and 1 186 species that have a reduced level of extinction risk. Among the 92 species that had a genuine change:

• 6 species had a reduced level of extinction risk due to an increase in their population size or distribution, of which one species was previously considered as possibly extirpated and a population of this species was recently discovered
• 18 species had an increased level of risk due to changes in population size, distribution, or threats to their species

Table 1 below highlights the various reasons for changes and the types of changes made to the status of wild species.

General status of selected groups of wild species

The known species in Canada are divided among 5 different kingdoms: protozoa (about 1% of the known species, excluding viruses and bacteria), chromists (about 4%), fungi (about 16%), plants (about 11%), and animals (about 68%). The Wild Species report considers all species other than viruses and bacteria.^{Footnote 5} More than half of the species considered in the report are insects, which make up the majority of the animal kingdom.

Key results

• 143 vertebrate species may be at risk (imperiled, critically imperiled, possibly extirpated and presumed extirpated), the majority of which are birds (50 species) and fishes (43 species)
  • Reptiles have the largest proportion of species that may be at risk (35%)
• Vascular plants have the largest number of species that may be at risk (598 species)
• Information is lacking for more than half of all known coral species (63%) and bee species (65%)

General status of species in selected groups, Canada, 2020

How this indicator was calculated

Note: This interactive chart allows you to explore the data in the Wild species  2020 report. To the left of the chart, you can filter for species groups. 
Source: Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council (2022) Wild Species 2020: The General Status of Species in Canada, National General Status Working Group.

There are 5 324 known vascular plants species in Canada. This species group includes the plants with which we are most familiar, such as flowering plants, ferns, and cone-bearing plants such as pine trees. The majority of the species in this group have been assigned a NatureServe numerical rank (secure to critically imperiled). Of those with a numerical rank, 75% are ranked as secure or apparently secure. 598 species may be at risk (species classified as imperiled, critically imperiled, possibly extirpated and presumed extirpated), including 36 species that are considered to be endemic to Canada, which means that they do not naturally occur anywhere else in the world.

Insects are the largest group with 26 845 species. Not all groups of insects are considered in the report yet. However, it includes a diverse range of species, such as ants, flies and beetles. Species groups containing familiar pollinator species, such as bees, moths and butterflies, are also considered in this category. Insufficient information exists for about half of all insect species. Of those assigned a NatureServe numerical rank, about 84% (or 10 460 species) are considered secure or apparently secure. Also, 676 species may be at risk of extinction. The 2 groups at most risk are the beetles (with 195 species that may be at risk, of which 12 are endemic to Canada) and moths and butterflies (with 188 species, of which 13 are endemic).

Vertebrates (mammals, fishes, birds, reptiles and amphibians), the species we think of most often when we think of wildlife, contain 2 410 known species and make up less than 5% of species considered in the report. Of those with a NatureServe numerical rank, 79% are secure or apparently secure, the majority of which are fish species. Fishes represent more than half of all vertebrates, and is also the group with the highest number of species that are unrankable (382 species). Of the vertebrates, fishes and mammals are the only groups with species that may be at risk that are endemic to Canada (3 fish and 2 mammal species).

Corals, another group of species in the animal kingdom, are a group of species whose conservation is recognized as a national and international priority. When considering species with a NatureServe numerical rank, only 27% are secure or apparently secure.

Several other large groups of organisms have not yet been assessed, including many insects, worms and seaweeds. These organisms perform critical roles in maintaining the healthy functioning of ecosystems on which all organisms, including humans, depend, such as water and air purification, crop pollination, soil formation and many other services.

General status of wild species by region

Key results

• Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec are the three regions with the highest number of species, as well as the highest number of exotic species
• Quebec, Ontario and Alberta have the highest number of species that may be at risk (species that are classified as presumed extirpated, possibly extirpated, imperiled or critically imperiled)
• The percentage of species that are unrankable or unranked ranges from 35% (Atlantic Ocean) to 73% (Eastern Arctic Ocean)

Regional breakdown of the general status of wild species, Canada, 2020

How this indicator was calculated

Note: Refer to the graphic on the regional distribution of exotic species for a visual representation of the regional boundaries.
Source: Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council (2022) Wild Species 2020: The General Status of Species in Canada, National General Status Working Group.

On average, each species is present across 3.7 regions, with birds, bryophytes, earthworms, and dragonflies and  damselflies being the most widespread. There are 17 781 species that occur in only one region in Canada, with British Columbia having the highest percentage (38%). Species that have a smaller geographic distribution may tend to be more restricted to specific habitats, and may therefore be more vulnerable to changes in their habitat and at higher risk of disappearance.

While Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec have the highest number of species, in relation to the size of each region, Prince Edward Island has the highest richness of species (about 1.00 species per km²), followed by Nova Scotia (0.25 species per km²) and New Brunswick (0.18 species per km²).

Exotic species

The species present in Canada include exotic species, which have moved beyond their natural range through human actions and persist in unmanaged populations. Some exotic species may become invasive, spreading and displacing native species or causing other damage to ecosystems. This indicator shows the proportion of exotic species belonging to specific species groups.

Key results

At the national level,

• 3 220 known exotic species exist in Canada, representing 6% of species considered in the Wild Species 2020 report
• More than 90% of the exotic species are insects (1 551 species) or vascular plants (1 372 species)
• 161 new exotic species have been added since the Wild Species 2015 report

Exotic species, Canada, 2020

How this indicator was calculated

Note: Exotic species are species with the NatureServe rank of not applicable and are exotic in origin.
Source: Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council (2022) Wild Species 2020: The General Status of Species in Canada, National General Status Working Group.

Exotic species can arrive in Canada in many different ways. Ornamental garden plants, live food, and species for display in terrariums and aquariums are all examples of organisms that are deliberately brought in and can escape into the wild. Some species are accidentally introduced. For example, imported species may be accompanied by weed seeds, or species may be unintentionally present in soil or aquarium water, ship ballast water, in packing materials, or in the mud under car fenders. In some cases, species entering Canada cannot be easily controlled; some animals can fly, swim or walk across borders.

Not all species that are transported to Canada escape and establish persistent populations. Of those that do, some begin to spread and can cause damage to ecosystems, the economy and society. Exotic species that become excessively damaging are termed invasive. Invasive species threaten native species in a number of ways. For example, they can use up space or other resources, or they may prey upon or cause disease in native species.

Exotic species were identified as part of an effort to assess the conservation status of wild species in Canada. Exotic species are present in Canada, but are not subject to conservation efforts.

Regional distribution of exotic species, Canada, 2020

Note: Exotic species in freshwater ecosystems are attributed to the appropriate terrestrial regions. For example, those in the Great Lakes are attributed to the Ontario region. The Federal Marine Bioregions were used to define the ocean regions.
Source: Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council (2022) Wild Species 2020: The General Status of Species in Canada, National General Status Working Group.

About the indicators

What the indicators measure

Extinction risks vary across groups, as does the state of knowledge. The main indicator summarizes the general status of species in Canada. It also highlights the general status of particular groups of species, as well as the general status in each region (provinces, territories, and oceanic regions). Another indicator reports on exotic species in Canada. Exotic species tend to occur more often in some groups and areas than in others.

The indicators use data from Wild Species 2020. Every 5 years, a Wild Species report by the Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council provides information on a large number of Canadian wild species to assess the general status of species and species groups. This information can reveal early signs of trouble before species reach a critical condition. The reports also identify gaps in our knowledge of wild species.

Why these indicators are important

The indicators provide a measure of extinction risk and an indication of the overall state of biodiversity in Canada, since the loss of a species is a loss of biodiversity. The leading cause of biodiversity loss in Canada and around the world is the loss of habitat to human development. Direct threats such as habitat loss and overharvest can be mitigated through actions, such as habitat protection and harvest regulation. Wild species also face the indirect effects of human activities, including invasive species, new diseases, and climate change. Exotic species can also alter how ecosystems function.

Given the variety of overlapping threats that can put species at risk, there are several initiatives that aim to conserve or restore Canada's wild species and the ecosystems that provide critical habitat, such as: increasing conserved areas on land and in the oceans, funding ecosystem restoration and conservation projects, reducing plastic pollution, and the Pan-Canadian Approach to Transforming Species at Risk Conservation in Canada (pdf; 558 kB).

Related initiatives

This indicator supports the measurement of progress towards the following 2022 to 2026 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy Goal 15: Life on land – Protect and recover species, conserve Canadian biodiversity. 

Related indicators

Changes in the status of species at risk tracks changes in the level of risk for species assessed by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, using different categories than used here.

Species at risk population trends provides an assessment of the recovery trends of species at risk listed under the Species at Risk Act.

Population status of Canada's migratory birds and Trends in Canada's bird populations provide a snapshot assessment of the state of Canada birds and population trends for birds.

Invasive alien species in Canada tracks the number of federally regulated and non-regulated invasive alien species that become newly established in Canada. It provides information on the subset of exotic species that become invasive.

Data sources and methods

Data sources

Data for the indicators are drawn from the Wild Species 2020 report. The Wild Species report provides an assessment of the general status of Canadian species in all provinces, territories and ocean regions, as well as at the national level.

Methods

Conservation status ranks are an assessment of the likelihood that a species will disappear from Canada (become extirpated). This is based on the method developed by NatureServe. NatureServe conservation status ranks are based on the rarity of the species, trends in population size and distribution, and the threats that are present. The NatureServe ranking system includes 10 conservation status ranks: secure, apparently secure, vulnerable, imperiled, critically imperiled, possibly extirpated, presumed extirpated, unranked, unrankable and not applicable. The NatureServe numerical ranks include species that are ranked as secure to critically imperiled. Unranked species are those that have yet to be assessed, and unrankable species are those for which there is not enough information to be assessed. Species that are not suitable for conservation activities, such as exotic species or accidental species, are classified as not applicable.

The main indicator summarizes the number and proportion of species in each NatureServe conservation status rank at the national level. Two subindicators provide information on the general status of selected groups of wild species and on the regional status of wild species. An additional indicator, the Exotic species indicator, reports the proportion of exotic species in 5 broad taxonomic groups: Insects, Vertebrates, Vascular plants, Arachnids and Molluscs. Other species are grouped in Other.

Recent changes

Previous indicators based on the Wild Species report series used a different ranking system (Canada General Status Rank). The indicators have been updated to reflect the new system (NatureServe numerical ranks). The regional indicator has been added to provide information on the abundance and status of wild species in each region. The exotic species indicator has been expanded to consider more taxonomic groups given the large number of new groups represented in the Wild Species 2020 report for the first time.

Past iterations of the indicator excluded species with a NatureServe conservation status rank of unranked, unrankable and not applicable. Now, the indicator reports all species included in the Wild Species report. In calculating the percentage of species that were classified to specific conservation status ranks, only the NatureServe numerical ranks (secure, apparently secure, vulnerable, imperiled and critically imperiled) were considered.

The species groups considered in the Wild Species 2020 report changed slightly from the Wild Species 2015 report. For example, the black flies, mosquitoes, horse flies, bee flies and flower flies species groups were merged in the Wild Species 2020 report as selected flies. Please consult the Wild Species report series for more information.

Caveats and limitations

The number of species included in the Wild Species report series has increased from 1 670 in 2000 to 50 534 in 2020. However, there are still many species left to include; the vast majority of them are insects and other invertebrates.

Conservation status ranks consider only the risk of extirpation from Canada.

Resources

References

Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council (2001) Wild Species 2000: The General Status of Species in Canada. Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada. Retrieved on November 29, 2022.

Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council (2006) Wild Species 2005: The General Status of Species in Canada. National General Status Working Group. Retrieved on November 29, 2022.

Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council (2011) Wild Species 2010: The General Status of Species in Canada. National General Status Working Group. Retrieved on November 29, 2022.

Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council (2016) Wild Species 2015: The General Status of Species in Canada. National General Status Working Group. Retrieved on November 29, 2022.

Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council (2022) Wild Species 2020: The General Status of Species in Canada. National General Status Working Group. Retrieved on November 29, 2022.

Related information

2020 Biodiversity Goals and Targets for Canada
Canada's Species at Risk Public Registry
Canadian Biodiversity Strategy
Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada
Habitat stewardship for species at risk
Oceans Protection Plan
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

Annex A. Additional information

Among the 92 species that show a genuine change in status (due to changes in population size, distribution, or threats) between 2015 and 2020, the following species had a reduced or an increased level of risk.

Species with a reduced level of risk:

• Deepwater Redfish (Sebastes mentella)
• River Bluet (Enallagma anna)
• Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna)
• Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)
• White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi)
• Protean Shield-backed Katydid (Atlanticus testaceus) – was previously considered as possibly extirpated and was recently rediscovered

Species with an increased level of risk:

• Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus)
• Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia)
• Acadian Redfish (Sebastes fasciatus)
• Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus)
• Yellow-banded Bumble Bee (Bombus terricola)
• Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus)
• Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus)
• Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea)
• Long-eared Owl (Asio otus)
• Western Wood-Pewee (Contopus sordidulus)
• Mew Gull (Larus canus)
• Western Green Hairstreak (Callophrys affinis)
• Eastern Red Damsel (Amphiagrion saucium)
• American Golden-Plover (Pluvialis dominica)
• Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis)
• American Beech (Fagus grandifolia)
• White Ash (Fraxinus americana)
• Black Ash (Fraxinus nigra)