THE RELATIONSHIP OF LOCAL ENDEMIC PLANT DISTRIBUTION WITH ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS: A GIS BASED APPLICATION IN MALATYA PROVINCE, TURKIYE

It is critical to comprehend the impact of the physical environment on the spatial patterns of endemic plant species in order to be considered in the development of conservation strategies, especially in areas with semi-arid climatic conditions such as Malatya Province, Turkey. The research uses the GIS-based spatial evaluation and zonal statistics techniques to discuss the influence of elevation, slope, aspect, geology, soil, temperature, and precipitation on the occurrence of 36 local endemic plant species. The results indicate a distinct peak of endemicity at moderate environmental extremes—in particular, in mid-range altitude (1000m–2000m), between 15° and 25° slopes and limestone units. It was noted that the soil properties of Nitrogen 201-300 cg/kg and moisture retention properties of 301-310 units, plus the hydrological variable (stream density of 0.2-0.3) influence species expansion a lot. Also, these findings depend on the interrelations of different factors-forming topography, soil, water, and rock layers. The research points out the need to include physical environmental parameters into conservation plans in order to preserve endemic species effectively despite the impacts of climate shifts and human activities. Where such species exist, this work aids in conservation development since it identifies the particular conditions that are conducive to the existence of endemic species and why they are important in improving interactions between organisms and the environment in semi-arid regions. Keywords: Local Endemics, Species-Environment Relationship, Spatial Distribution, Zonal Statistics, GIS