Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.stqjq2cdk

This dataset was generated to support biodiversity and conservation planning research by providing high-resolution habitat suitability maps for a wide range of species. The data was produced using species distribution models (SDMs) applied to Switzerland, leveraging a spatially nested hierarchical modelling framework. The models integrate species occurrence records with environmental predictors to estimate habitat suitability under current conditions and future climate change scenarios. The dataset includes raster files representing habitat suitability maps for about 7,500 species across various taxonomic and functional groups.

For the use and validation of habitat suitability maps, please note:

a. The habitat suitability maps were primarily developed for research purposes.

b. These maps were not validated for each individual species; therefore, interpretation at the species level should be complemented with additional taxonomic or faunistic expertise.

c. The results of these models were not systematically validated by InfoSpecies.

d. Individual maps should not be used directly for practical applications or management decisions without consultation with experts in the relevant taxonomic groups. The authors disclaim responsibility for the accuracy of individual maps.

e. Maps for 83 sensitive species (1.1% of the 7,508 modelled) whose distribution data posed conservation or legal concerns were excluded from the archives. These concerns relate to the risk of collection, destruction, or disturbance of rare and endangered species, such as certain orchids and reptiles, their potential exploitation through the international illegal wildlife trade, and the requirements of Swiss biodiversity conservation law. However, individual habitat suitability maps for all these sensitive species are available upon formal request to InfoSpecies (Swiss Species Information Centre) by contacting info.species@unine.ch, in accordance with their standard access procedure. The detailed species list is available in the file 1_SDMapCHv1_3_spinfo.csv.

File: SDMapCHv1_3_current.tar.zst

Description: Individual maps for the 7,425 species (out of 7,508 modelled, excluding 83 sensitive species) for the current period. The file is a .zst compressed file, which can be decompressed and extracted using the following command: zstd -dc archive.tar.zst | tar -xvf -. All extracted files are in GeoTIFF (.tiff) format, which can be opened with a wide range of free and open-source software. For each species, values were rescaled to a 0–100 range for data storage purposes and improved readability.

File: SDMapCHv1_3_2020_2049.tar.zst

Description: Individual maps for the 7,425 species (out of 7,508 modelled, excluding 83 sensitive species) for for the future period 2020_2049 under two future climate scenarios (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5). The file is a .zst compressed file, which can be decompressed and extracted using the following command: zstd -dc archive.tar.zst | tar -xvf -. All extracted files are in GeoTIFF (.tiff) format, which can be opened with a wide range of free and open-source software. For each species, values were rescaled to a 0–100 range for data storage purposes and improved readability.

File: SDMapCHv1_3_2045_2074.tar.zst

Description: Individual maps for the 7,425 species (out of 7,508 modelled, excluding 83 sensitive species) for for the future period 2045_2074 under two future climate scenarios (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5). The file is a .zst compressed file, which can be decompressed and extracted using the following command: zstd -dc archive.tar.zst | tar -xvf -. All extracted files are in GeoTIFF (.tiff) format, which can be opened with a wide range of free and open-source software. For each species, values were rescaled to a 0–100 range for data storage purposes and improved readability.

File: SDMapCHv1_3_2070_2099.tar.zst

Description: Individual maps for the 7,425 species (out of 7,508 modelled, excluding 83 sensitive species) for for the future period 2070_2099 under two future climate scenarios (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5). The file is a .zst compressed file, which can be decompressed and extracted using the following command: zstd -dc archive.tar.zst | tar -xvf -. All extracted files are in GeoTIFF (.tiff) format, which can be opened with a wide range of free and open-source software. For each species, values were rescaled to a 0–100 range for data storage purposes and improved readability.

File: SDMapCHv1_3_aggregates.tar.zst

Description: Mean (mn) and coefficient of variation (cv) maps by ecological GUILD (refer to _spinfo.csv, column "GUILD.X"), Swiss Red List STATUS category (refer to _spinfo.csv, column "status"), major taxonomic GROUP (refer to _spinfo.csv, column "group"), and ALL species combined. Maps are provided for the current period as well as for three future periods (2020_2049, 2045_2074, 2070_2099) under two future climate scenarios (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5). The file is a .zst compressed file, which can be decompressed and extracted using the following command: zstd -dc archive.tar.zst | tar -xvf -. All extracted files are in GeoTIFF (.tiff) format, which can be opened with a wide range of free and open-source software.

File: metadata.zip

1. Detailed species list
   • File: 1_SDMapCHv1_3_spinfo.csv
   • Description: Taxonomic information (genus, family, order, class, phylum, group), conservation status according to the Swiss Red List (“status”), and species origin (“origin”). The Red List status follows specific codes: Regionally extinct (RE), Critically endangered (CR), Endangered (EN), Vulnerable (VU), Near threatened (NT), Least concern (LC), Not evaluated (NE), Not applicable regionally (NA), Data deficient (DD), and No assigned status (NULL). The species origin classification follows specific codes: Species within their natural distribution range: IEN (endemic), IEP (shared endemic), INN (indigenous), INR (indigenous, regionally introduced), INM (indigenous, sporadic reproduction). Species outside their natural distribution range: NEO (exotic), NLI (exotic, potentially invasive), NLS (exotic, invasive), NLV (exotic, prohibited under ODE). The dataset also provides guild classifications (ranging from 1 to 26; see details below) for each species, as well as spatial prediction categorization (“scheme,” aquatic or terrestrial), automatically determined based on the location of occurrence points. Finally, the “sensible” column flags species considered sensitive under Swiss regulations, for which the dissemination of distribution data may pose conservation or legal concerns (individual maps for these 83 species were not made available). See Guild explanations in _Table of Contents.pdf within the metadata.zip folder.
2. ODMAP Protocol
   • File: 2_SDMapCHv1_3_odmap.pdf
   • Description: Standardized ODMAP protocol for reporting the modelling framework.
3. Detailed candidate covariate list
   • File: 3_SDMapCHv1_3_candidate_covariates.csv
   • Description: Candidate covariates for the models, providing detailed information on each covariate's environmental category, dataset, variable, level, attribute, and measurement radius (focal). Additionally, it includes the DOI for cross-referencing with the SWECO25 dataset.
4. Expert Table
   • File: 4_SDMapCHv1_3_expert_table.csv
   • Description: N-SDM expert table completed by experts to evaluate candidate covariates for modelling species groups. In this table, each covariate is marked as either a candidate (1) or a non-candidate (0) for modelling, based on expert assessment of its relevance.
5. Covariate selection and importance results
   • File: 5_SDMapCHv1_3_selected_covariates.csv
   • Description: Covariates automatically selected by N-SDM for modelling each individual species, along with their relative importance (avg_importance; max=1), averaged over five modelling algorithms (GLM, GAM, MAX, RF, and GBM; see nsdm::nsdm.varimp for further details). It also specifies the measurement radius in meters for each covariate.
6. Model evaluation results
   • File: 6a_SDMapCHv1_3_evaluationbyspecies.csv
   • Description: Evaluation metrics for each individual species and each modelling algorithm. Metrics provided are Sommer’s D AUC (AUC_S), Continuous Boyce Index (CBI), maximized True Skill Statistic (maxTSS), and their average "Score" value. Additionally, the dataset provides the "threshold" at which the TSS value is maximized. For further details, refer to nsdm:: nsdm.all_metrics_function.
   • File: 6b_SDMapCHv1_3_evaluationbygroup.csv
   • Description: Evaluation metrics averaged by main taxonomic group for each modelling algorithm. Metrics provided are Sommer’s D AUC (AUC_S), Continuous Boyce Index (CBI), maximized True Skill Statistic (maxTSS), and their average "Score" value. For further details, refer to nsdm:: nsdm.all_metrics_function.
7. N-SDM settings
   • File: 7_SDMapCHv1_3_nsdm_settings.csv
   • Description: Configuration settings used to run N-SDM.
8. Note on taxonomic matching
   • File: 8_SDMapCHv1_3_species_matching.pdf
   • Description: Note on the matching between GBIF and InfoSpecies taxonomies.