Credits

Research & records

Our species catalog begins with the U.S. Geological Survey's US-RIIS lower-48 register. We combine it with occurrence records, specimen collections, surveys, and identification guidance from the sources below.

These are starting points for exploring the work we draw on. Exact references belong to individual species profiles and research records, where the source, date, and context can be read together. Explore our research and evidence.

• Harvard University

  Harvard University Herbaria: preserved plant specimens used in our occurrence research

• Smithsonian

  Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History: preserved specimens used in our occurrence research

• USGS

  U.S. Geological Survey: US-RIIS and aquatic species records

• USDA

  U.S. Department of Agriculture: plant, pest, and forest research

• EPA

  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: river and stream surveys

• U.S. Fish & Wildlife

  U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: invasive carp monitoring

• NOAA

  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: invasive lionfish and marine species references

• National Park Service

  National Park Service: invasive plant identification and ecological context

• Cornell University

  Cornell Integrated Pest Management: invasive insect identification and practical guidance

• Penn State

  Penn State Extension: allium leafminer monitoring and management guidance

• Purdue University

  Purdue University and USDA Forest Service: Alien Forest Pest Explorer

• University of Florida

  University of Florida IFAS and Florida Museum: plant research and species identification guides

• University of Wisconsin-Madison

  University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension: horticultural research and plant profiles

• University of Georgia

  University of Georgia: Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System

• University of Minnesota

  University of Minnesota Extension: invasive species identification and management guidance

• NC State University

  NC State Extension Plant Toolbox: plant identification and species profiles

• Virginia Tech

  Virginia Tech: weed identification resources used in our species profiles

• Oregon State University

  Oregon State University: landscape plant descriptions and identification

• Forest Service

  USDA Forest Service: forest pest detections and invasive plant surveys

• New York Botanical Garden

  New York Botanical Garden: preserved herbarium specimens

• GBIF

  Global Biodiversity Information Facility: biodiversity records and collections

• iNaturalist

  iNaturalist: research-grade observations

• iDigBio

  Integrated Digitized Biocollections: museum and herbarium specimens

Source attribution does not imply partnership or endorsement. Data providers and original contributors retain their applicable rights; consult each source for its citation and reuse terms.

Maps & boundaries

Mapping libraries are credited under Open-source tools. The geography supplies a frame for the evidence; a boundary itself does not establish that a species occurs there.

Species photography

Photographs help make a species recognizable. They belong to the photographers and contributors identified alongside each image.

Open a profile in the species directory and select Photo credit to find the attribution supplied for that photograph and its source. We keep these credits with the image so the creator is not separated from their work.

Permissions vary by photograph. Follow the original source for its license, required attribution, and reuse conditions.

Typography & design

Open-source tools

• D3 Geo

  Geographic projections and map rendering. Copyright and license notice.

• TopoJSON Client

  Reading and working with our map geometry. Copyright and license notice.

• Lucide contributors

  Interface icons, including work derived from Cole Bemis's Feather icons. ISC and MIT license notices.

The website is also built with Next.js, React, and Tailwind CSS. Their repositories include contributor acknowledgments and license notices.

State & district flag artwork

Flag images are served from Wikimedia Commons and displayed at a smaller size without altering the source artwork. The entries below retain the creator and licensing information recorded for each file. Source pages include contributor histories and current usage terms.

Missing a credit or spotted an error? Please contact us with the page, resource, and correct attribution so we can review it.