The Alaska Species Ranking System (ASRS) is a tool that ranks vertebrate taxa (mammals, birds, amphibians) according to their conservation concern in Alaska. It was developed in partnership with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s Threatened, Endangered, and Diversity Program and is based on Florida’s Species Ranking System. Conservation concern is evaluated using 13 questions across three general categories:
- Status (2 questions, 20 points): Measures the trend (e.g. increasing, decreasing, stable) in a taxon’s population status and distribution. Higher status scores acknowledge that taxa with known declining trends are of concern regardless of current population or range size.
- Biological Vulnerability (7 questions, 50 points): Measures aspects of a taxon’s distribution, abundance and life history within the taxon’s geographic range in Alaska. Higher biological scores suggest greater vulnerability to extirpation, for example, because of small population size, low reproductive output, or specialized habitat requirements.
- Action (4 questions, 40 points): Qualifies the current state of knowledge and extent of conservation efforts directed toward a given taxon within Alaska. Higher scores denote greater information needs or conservation action
Looking for more?
Additional range maps are available from the Wildlife Data Portal. References cited in the Conservation Reports can be viewed on our online reference library. Can’t find the report you’re looking for? Reach out to us and we’ll do our best to help!
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Status Score | Biological Vulnerability Score | Action Score | ASRS Conservation Report | Range Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Callorhinus ursinus | Northern Fur Seal | 8 | -6 | -20 |  |  |
| Enhydra lutris kenyoni | Northern Sea Otter, SW Alaska DPS | 4 | -30 | -12 | | |
| Erignathus barbatus | Bearded Seal | 6 | -30 | -16 | | |
| Eumetopias jubatus | Steller Sea Lion, Western DPS | 6 | -16 | 0 | | |
| Phoca largha | Spotted Seal | 6 | -30 | -16 | | |
| Phoca vitulina | Harbor Seal | 10 | -30 | -20 | | |
| Pusa hispida | Ringed Seal | 0 | -32 | -16 | | |
| Ursus maritimus | Polar Bear | 18 | -6 | -32 | | |