Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.q573n5tz5

This repository contains the raw and processed data used in the manuscript “Climate-Driven Changes in Habitat Suitability of Two Keystone Species in Dry Afromontane Forests of Ethiopia,” accepted for publication.

The repository includes the following datasets and associated R scripts.

1. Ethiopia_current_clim.tif

This raster dataset contains the 19 standard WorldClim bioclimatic variables representing current climatic conditions. The global bioclimatic data were downloaded and subsequently cropped and masked to the geographical boundary of Ethiopia.

2. Ethiopia_elevation_no_lakes.tif

This raster dataset contains elevation data for Ethiopia at approximately 40 m spatial resolution. The elevation data were downloaded using the elevatr R package and subsequently cropped to the geographical boundary of Ethiopia. Areas corresponding to Ethiopian lakes were masked using lake boundary polygons.

3. Ethiopia_future_245.tif

This raster dataset contains future bioclimatic projections under the SSP2-4.5 (SSP245) climate scenario. Future climate projections were obtained using the CMIP6_world() function in R for the selected Global Climate Model (GCM) and future time period. The resulting global raster layers were subsequently cropped and masked to the geographical boundary of Ethiopia using functions available in the terra package, producing Ethiopia-specific future bioclimatic datasets for subsequent species distribution modelling.

4. Ethiopia_future_585.tif

This raster dataset contains future bioclimatic projections under the SSP5-8.5 (SSP585) climate scenario. The data were obtained using the CMIP6_world() function in R for the selected Global Climate Model and future time period, following the same procedures described for the SSP2-4.5 scenario. The resulting global raster layers were cropped and masked to the geographical boundary of Ethiopia using the terra package.

5. Ethiopia_slope_no_lakes.tif

This raster dataset contains slope values expressed in degrees. Slope was derived from the elevation data described above using the terrain() function in the terra R package:

library(terra)

 slope <- terrain(Ethiopia_elev,

                 v = "slope",

                 unit = "degrees")

The resulting slope raster was subsequently masked using the boundary polygons of Ethiopian lakes.

6. Ethiopia_tpi_no_lakes.tif

This raster dataset contains the Topographic Position Index (TPI). TPI was derived from the elevation raster using a 3 × 3 focal neighbourhood. It was calculated as the difference between the elevation of each raster cell and the mean elevation of its surrounding cells using functions available in the terra package:

library(terra)

# Calculate mean elevation within a 3 × 3 neighbourhood

mean_elev <- focal(

  Ethiopia_elev,

  w = matrix(1, 3, 3),

  fun = mean,

  na.rm = TRUE

)

# Calculate Topographic Position Index

tpi <- Ethiopia_elev - mean_elev

The resulting TPI raster was subsequently masked using the boundary polygons of Ethiopian lakes.

Positive TPI values indicate locations that are higher than their surrounding areas, whereas negative values indicate locations that are lower than their surroundings.

7. Occurrence data for Juniperus procera (Occurence_data_of_Juniperus_procera.xls)

Occurrence records for Juniperus procera were obtained from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) using the rgbif R package. Records were retrieved by specifying the scientific name of the species and were subsequently clipped to the geographical boundary of Ethiopia. Additional data were generated using Google Earth 3D and information in herbarium sheets of the collection at the National Herbarium of Addis Ababa University

8. Occurrence data for Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata (Occurence_data_of_Olea_europaea.xls)

Occurrence records for Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata were obtained from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) using the rgbif R package. Records were retrieved by specifying the scientific name of the species and were subsequently clipped to the geographical boundary of Ethiopia. Additional data were generated using Google Earth 3D and information in herbarium sheets of the collection at the National Herbarium of Addis Ababa University.

Neither species is considered endangered in Ethiopia. However, both are important native tree species of the dry Afromontane forests of the Ethiopian Highlands, which are recognized as areas of high biodiversity and conservation importance. Although the species are not currently classified as endangered, their populations and habitats may be subject to increasing pressures from habitat degradation, land-use change, deforestation, and climate change, rather than from targeted hunting. Therefore, reporting the geographical coordinates to four decimal places does not, in this context, present a meaningful additional conservation risk or facilitate the targeted removal of individuals of either species.

Software Requirements

The data processing and analysis scripts were developed and executed in R version 4.6.0.

The principal R packages used for data acquisition and processing include:

• terra
• elevatr
• rgbif