Climate-driven spatial distribution and ecogeographical analysis of Cyperaceae using GIS and remote sensing

The research is dedicated to the study of the ecogeographic distribution of the Cyperaceae Juss. family in Azerbaijan, related to the dynamic changes occurring in plant communities formed under the influence of landscape diversity and climatic factors through RS (Remote Sensing) and GIS. Based on the results of the study, 115 taxa consisting of 14 genera belonging to the Cyperaceae family were identified. These taxa are widespread in eight of the eleven main landscape types of Azerbaijan. According to their ecological requirements for humidity, 58% of species belong to the mesophytic, 21% to the hygromesophytic, 16% to the hygrophytic and 5% to the xerophytic ecological groups. Representatives of the family are mainly observed in marshy, meadow, and coastal zones, which indicates their high ecological sensitivity to the hydrological regime. WorldClim (average annual temperature and precipitation indicators for 2020 and 2024) and OpenTopography (Digital Elevation Model) data were used for the research, and the analyses were conducted using ArcGIS Pro software. The aim was to assess the spatial distribution of temperature and precipitation and to examine their interannual variation in relation to Cyperaceae plant communities during 2020–2024. A comparison of data from the WorldClim database shows that, between 2020 and 2024, the minimum temperature increased from −10.2°C to −8.8°C, the maximum temperature increased from 7.75°C to 8.13°C and annual precipitation decreased, albeit partially. These interannual climatic differences may potentially influence moisture-dependent habitats and Cyperaceae plant communities, particularly in regions where water availability is already limited. The integration of remote sensing, spatial data analysis and climate data provides a useful framework for assessing potential relationships between climatic variation, vegetation distribution and biodiversity.