Appendix 3. List of the Dragonflies (Odonata) of British Columbia
and their Conservation Status (December 2005).

The provincial red or blue list designations are based on a ranking process that has been developed over the past 30 years by The Nature Conservancy. Ranking is based on factors such as the population size, quality of remaining habitat, condition and viability of the populations; trends, range and threats that face the species within a jurisdiction. Based on this process, there is a rank assigned by the BC Conservation Data Centre -- an "S" rank. This is indicated on a scale of one to five -- one means that the species is extremely rare; five denotes a common species. For more about conservation ranking and species and habitats at risk, see the CDC website at http://srmwww.gov.bc.ca/cdc/.

Definitions of Provincial (sub-national) Conservation Ranks

Global ranks use the same numbers, reflecting an assessment of the condition of the species across its entire range, rather than only provincially.

• S1: Critically Imperiled -- Critically imperiled in the province because of extreme rarity (often 5 or fewer occurrences) or because of some factor(s) such as very steep declines making it especially vulnerable to extirpation from the state/province.
• S2: Imperiled -- Imperiled in the province because of rarity due to very restricted range, very few populations (often 20 or fewer), steep declines, or other factors making it very vulnerable to extirpation from the province.
• S3: Of Special Concern -- Vulnerable in the province due to a restricted range, relatively few populations (often 80 or fewer), recent and widespread declines, or other factors making it vulnerable to extirpation.
• S4: Apparently Secure -- Uncommon but not rare; some cause for long-term concern due to declines or other factors.
• S5: Secure -- Common, widespread, and abundant in the province.
• S#S#: Range Rank -- A numeric range rank (e.g., S2S3) is used to indicate any range of uncertainty about the status of the species.
• Q: Questionable taxonomy -- Taxonomic distinctiveness of this entity at the current level is questionable; resolution of this uncertainty may result in change from a species to a subspecies or hybrid, or the inclusion of this taxon in another taxon, with the resulting taxon having a lower-priority conservation priority.

Definitions of Colour Lists

• Red List: Species are extirpated, endangered or threatened in BC. Red listed species are candidates for official Extirpated, Endangered or Threatened Status in BC. Not all Red-listed taxa will necessarily become formally designated. Placing taxa on these lists flags them as being at risk and requiring investigation. Extirpated species are those that no longer exist in the wild in BC but do occur elsewhere. Endangered species are those facing imminent extirpation or extinction. Threatened species are those likely to become endangered if limiting factors are not reversed). Includes provincial ranks S1, S1S2, S1S3 and S2.
• Blue List: Indigenous species of special concern (particularly sensitive to human activities or natural events but not endangered or threatened) in BC. (formerly called vulnerable. Includes provincial ranks S2S3, S3 and S3S4.
• Yellow List: List of indigenous species that are not at risk in British Columbia. Includes all provincial ranks not listed in red and blue above.