One scoring method for all states

Tennessee uses the existing North Carolina scoring rules. State adapters supply evidence to one shared calculation; they do not define separate scoring rules.

Calculation

The same fixed NC reference distributions, weights (caterpillars 45%, bees 20%, specialists 15%, birds 10%, structure 10%), score bands, and capped additional insect credit apply. Missing structure is omitted and remaining weights renormalized. Missing interaction records enter the calculation as zero recorded interactions, exactly as in NC; they do not prove zero ecological benefit.

The existing NC conservation-rank adjustment applies: S5 0, S4 −2, S3 −5, S2 −8, S1/SH −10; unranked −5. Rank ranges use the highest rank, following the same NC parser. Final native scores have a floor of 5.

State evidence

Tennessee uses Tennessee Lepidoptera range/host data, shared regional bee and bird evidence, and available growth-habit evidence. The reference remains fixed, not a new Tennessee percentile. Identical inputs produce identical scores in any state.

The atlas native/exotic flag supplies a scoring classification; state-specific sources supplement it. A TN–KY regional native flag does not prove indigenous range in a Tennessee county. Missing or conflicting classifications remain unresolved and source claims stay visible separately.

As in NC, reported non-native plants outside the invasive list are not scored. Listed invasives receive negative scores and a do-not-plant warning. A matched shared species harm profile uses the existing NC rank and documented harm, unchanged. Listed plants without that profile use a provisional −30 Harmful baseline. These transferred profiles and the unranked default are Quercus scoring policies, not Tennessee agency severity ratings. Tennessee listing remains independently sourced; NC listing alone never makes a plant invasive in Tennessee.

County occurrence and yard suitability remain separate. This provisional index is not independently validated. See the existing NC method and source references.

Quercus Score v0.6.4 · built 2026-09-26 · Tennessee beta · sources and limitations on every page