Spatial biodiversity indicators and a composite index for conservation prioritization in Switzerland

We present a 25-meter resolution dataset for Switzerland, encompassing three key biodiversity indicators—Complementarity, Extinction Risk, and Ecological Connectivity—developed across 17 major taxonomic groups, using habitat suitability maps for approximately 7,500 individual species. These three indicators capture (1) the contribution of landscapes to taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity, (2) species vulnerability to extinction and (3) ecological connectivity. Outputs are provided for both terrestrial and aquatic realms, including versions adjusted for species richness, and integrated into composite indices. A summary table listing all taxonomic groups and their inclusion (Yes or No) in the terrestrial and aquatic aggregations is provided below. File: CH3Div_all_aqua_terr.zip This archive provides 25-m resolution raster objects (.tif files) for the three key biodiversity indicators: Complementarity (CI), Extinction Risk (ERI), and Ecological Connectivity (ECI), as well as their composite versions (adjusted and unadjusted for species richness) at the aggregate level for all taxonomic group combined, terrestrial and aquatic. See the companion manuscript and the table below for technical details and the aggregation scheme. Number of rasters in the archive: N = 24, corresponding to three taxonomic aggregation levels (terrestrial, aquatic, all species), four indicators (three individual indicators plus the composite index), and two species-richness adjustment versions. File: CH3Div_individual_taxa.zip This archive provides 25-m resolution raster objects (.tif files) for the three key biodiversity indicators: Complementarity (CI), Extinction Risk (ERI), and Ecological Connectivity (ECI), as well as their composite versions (adjusted and unadjusted for species richness) at the taxonomic group level. See the companion manuscript and the table below for technical details and the aggregation scheme. Number of rasters in the archive: N = 248, corresponding to 31 taxonomic units (17 main taxonomic groups and 14 additional terrestrial- or aquatic-specific subcomponents), four indicators (three individual indicators plus the composite index), and two species-richness adjustment versions. File: CH3Div_pa_simulations.zip This archive provides 100-m resolution raster objects (.tif files) for simulated protected area networks under Current (13%) and Target (30%) scenarios. The simulation produced a classification in which each pixel was assigned to one of three categories: (1) unprotected areas, which remained unprotected under the scenario; (2) protected areas, which were already part of the network; and (3) extended protected areas, which were newly added to meet the scenario target. This classification was produced for both the “current” and “target” scenarios, using the composite index in both its species richness-adjusted and unadjusted versions. See Appendix S3 of the companion manuscript for additional technical details and the R code used for these simulations. Number of rasters in the archive: N = 4, corresponding to two scenarios and two species-richness adjustment versions. File: appendices.zip 1. Detailed species listo File: Appendix S1_species list.csvo Description: List of the 7,461 species considered in this study, along with information on the grouping schemes (main taxonomic groups, and aquatic vs terrestrial realms).2. Trait information summary per taxonomic groupo File: Appendix S2_traits summary.csvo Description: Summary of the traits retained for the computation of the CI indicator, provided per taxonomic group. Trait definitions and descriptions are available in the files metadata.xlsx, Delarze_bryo_class_desc.csv, Flora-indicativa_plant_class_desc.csv, and InfoGuildes.csv from TraitCH v1.0 (https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15063844).3. Supplementary information on indicator computationo File: Appendix S3_indicator computation.docxo Description: Supplementary information on the weighting schemes for species occurrence and IUCN conservation status used for the ERI indicator (Text S3.1) and on the methods used for computing ecological proximity and distance for the ECI indicator (Text S3.2).4. Protected areas extension scenarioso File: Appendix S4_protected areas scenarios.docxo Description: Supplementary information on the simulations of protected areas extension scenarios in Switzerland, exemplifying a potential use of the dataset. Includes Text S4.1. Simulating protected areas extension scenarios in Switzerland, Figure S4.1. Simulated protected areas figures, and Code S4.1. R script.5. Expert evaluation questionnaireo File: Appendix S5_expert evaluation form.pdfo Description: Questionnaire used for the expert-based assessment of the spatial indicators, including the scoring framework and evaluation criteria.6. Supplementary figureso File: Appendix S6_figures.docxo Description: Supplementary figures. List of taxonomic groups included in the dataset and their contribution to the terrestrial and aquatic aggregations. See the taxonomic group summary table in the main manuscript and the detailed species list in Appendix S1 for further details. Taxonomic Group Terrestrial Aquatic Amphibians Yes Yes Bees Yes No Beetles Yes No Birds Yes Yes Bryophytes Yes Yes Butterflies Yes No Dragonflies No Yes Fishes No Yes Fungi Yes No Grasshoppers Yes No Lichens Yes No Mammals Yes Yes Mayflies–Stoneflies–Caddisflies No Yes Molluscs Yes Yes Reptiles Yes Yes Spiders Yes No Vascular Plants Yes Yes Disclaimer: EN : The input biodiversity data are based on spatial extrapolations (species distribution models). The maps therefore provide an initial overview of overall biodiversity patterns, with a focus on species richness, and do not allow for conclusions regarding population sizes or the occurrence of threatened species or similar attributes. To adequately account for biodiversity, it is essential to complement these maps with on-site biodiversity data on habitats and species. DE: Die Biodiversitätsdaten beruhen auf Extrapolationen (SDM). Die Karten vermitteln somit einen ersten Eindruck, wobei der Fokus auf der Artenzahl liegt, und erlauben keine Aussagen zu Populationsgrössen oder zum Vorkommen gefährdeter Arten o. Ä. Um die Biodiversität aussagekräftig und stufengerecht zu berücksichtigen, ist es unabdingbar, zusätzlich Biodiversitätsdaten zu Lebensräumen und Arten vor Ort zu erheben. FR: Les données de biodiversité utilisées en entrée reposent sur des extrapolations spatiales (modèles de distribution des espèces). Les cartes fournissent ainsi une première vue d’ensemble des patrons de biodiversité, en mettant l’accent sur la richesse spécifique, et ne permettent pas de tirer des conclusions sur les tailles de population ni sur la présence d’espèces menacées ou d’attributs similaires. Pour une prise en compte adéquate de la biodiversité, il est indispensable de compléter ces cartes par des données de terrain sur les habitats et les espèces. IT: I dati sulla biodiversità si basano su estrapolazioni spaziali (modelli di distribuzione delle specie). Le mappe forniscono pertanto una prima panoramica dei pattern di biodiversità, con particolare attenzione alla ricchezza di specie, e non consentono di trarre conclusioni sulle dimensioni delle popolazioni né sulla presenza di specie minacciate o di attributi simili. Per tenere adeguatamente conto della biodiversità, è indispensabile integrare queste mappe con dati di campo su habitat e specie.