Charleston

Ecosystem Overview

The Charleston ecosystem supports 88 documented wildlife species across 79 taxonomic genera. Located in Kanawha County, West Virginia, this area provides critical habitat with diverse natural communities. The location hosts 18 frequently observed species and 17 occasionally documented species, creating a balanced ecosystem with both resident and visiting wildlife. While Kanawha County nearby has 12% more documented species, Charleston offers unique wildlife observation opportunities. This location ranks #2 for species diversity among 2 Kanawha County County natural areas, placing it in the 0th percentile for biodiversity.

Biodiversity Highlights

Total Species

Documented wildlife species

Genus Diversity

Taxonomic genera represented

Common Species

Frequently observed species

Rare Species

Occasionally documented species

Regional Rank

Out of 2 locations

Species Distribution

Very Common18 species

Common27 species

Occasional26 species

Rare17 species

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

#2 of 2 locations

0th percentile for diversity

vs. Kanawha County

-12% species diversity

Ecosystem Overview

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Biodiversity Highlights

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Species Distribution

Very Common‌

Common‌

Occasional‌

Rare‌

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

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Most Common Species

Showing 20 most frequently observed species out of 88 total documented species.

Erechtites hieraciifolius

American Fireweed

Very Common6 obs.

Ageratina altissima

white snakeroot

Very Common4 obs.

Aquilegia canadensis

Colorado Columbine

Very Common3 obs.

Geranium maculatum

Wild Geranium

Very Common3 obs.

Veronica persica

common field-speedwell

Very Common3 obs.

Linaria vulgaris

common toadflax

Common3 obs.

Lobelia siphilitica

Blue Lobelia

Common3 obs.

Lonicera maackii

Bush Honeysuckle

Common3 obs.

Hackelia virginiana

Beggar'S-Lice

Common2 obs.

Persicaria virginiana

American Jumpseed

Common2 obs.

Stylophorum diphyllum

Yellow Poppy

Common2 obs.

Acer saccharinum

White Maple

Occasional2 obs.

Quercus montana

mountain chestnut oak

Occasional2 obs.

Lamium purpureum

Purple deadnettle

Occasional2 obs.

Platanus occidentalis

American Sycamore

Occasional2 obs.

Hibiscus syriacus

Rose of sharon

Occasional2 obs.

Verbesina occidentalis

Occasional2 obs.

Euonymus americanus

bursting-heart

Rare2 obs.

Ornithogalum umbellatum

Nap-At-Noon

Rare2 obs.

Vespula maculifrons

Eastern Yellowjacket

Rare2 obs.

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Most Common Species

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Want the Complete Field Guide?

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Get Your Personalized Field Guide

Download a professional PDF field guide featuring all the species found in Charleston. Perfect for outdoor adventures, education, and nature exploration.

$6.99

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Regional Comparison

Regional Ranking

Species Count

-12%

vs. Regional Average

Compared to 1 nearby locations in Kanawha County County, West Virginia

Nearby Natural Areas

Kanawha County

Importance: 0.41

100 species

-12% vs. current

About This Comparison

These comparisons are based on documented wildlife observations from citizen science data. Locations with higher species counts may have more observation activity, different habitat types, or larger coverage areas. Regional rankings help identify biodiversity hotspots and unique natural areas within Kanawha County County.

Regional Comparison

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Regional Ranking

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Species Count

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vs. Regional Average

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Nearby Natural Areas

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About This Comparison

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Regional Comparison

Regional Ranking

Species Count

-12%

vs. Regional Average

Compared to 1 nearby locations in Kanawha County County, West Virginia

Nearby Natural Areas

Kanawha County

Importance: 0.41

100 species

-12% vs. current

About This Comparison

Ecosystem Overview

Biodiversity Highlights

Total Species

Documented wildlife species

Genus Diversity

Taxonomic genera represented

Common Species

Frequently observed species

Rare Species

Occasionally documented species

Regional Rank

Out of 2 locations

Species Distribution

Very Common18 species

Common27 species

Occasional26 species

Rare17 species

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

#2 of 2 locations

0th percentile for diversity

vs. Kanawha County

-12% species diversity

Most Common Species

Showing 20 most frequently observed species out of 88 total documented species.

Erechtites hieraciifolius

American Fireweed

Very Common6 obs.

Ageratina altissima

white snakeroot

Very Common4 obs.

Aquilegia canadensis

Colorado Columbine

Very Common3 obs.

Geranium maculatum

Wild Geranium

Very Common3 obs.

Veronica persica

common field-speedwell

Very Common3 obs.

Linaria vulgaris

common toadflax

Common3 obs.

Lobelia siphilitica

Blue Lobelia

Common3 obs.

Lonicera maackii

Bush Honeysuckle

Common3 obs.

Hackelia virginiana

Beggar'S-Lice

Common2 obs.

Persicaria virginiana

American Jumpseed

Common2 obs.

Stylophorum diphyllum

Yellow Poppy

Common2 obs.

Acer saccharinum

White Maple

Occasional2 obs.

Quercus montana

mountain chestnut oak

Occasional2 obs.

Lamium purpureum

Purple deadnettle

Occasional2 obs.

Platanus occidentalis

American Sycamore

Occasional2 obs.

Hibiscus syriacus

Rose of sharon

Occasional2 obs.

Verbesina occidentalis

Occasional2 obs.

Euonymus americanus

bursting-heart

Rare2 obs.

Ornithogalum umbellatum

Nap-At-Noon

Rare2 obs.

Vespula maculifrons

Eastern Yellowjacket

Rare2 obs.

Want the Complete Field Guide?

Get all 88 species with 3-4 high-quality images each, detailed descriptions, and a downloadable PDF for offline use.

Premium field guide includes identification tips, seasonal patterns, and professional layout optimized for field use.