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Guest blog post by Narmin Sadigova
Wetlands, river valleys, meadows and coastal habitats support a remarkable diversity of plant life. Among the plant groups found in these environments is Cyperaceae, a family of flowering plants that occurs across a range of ecological conditions and includes many species associated with different levels of soil moisture.
Although this plant family may receive less attention than some other groups, its members are important components of natural ecosystems. Understanding where they occur, which habitats they occupy and how their ecological characteristics relate to environmental conditions can improve our knowledge of regional plant diversity.
Azerbaijan has a diverse landscape, extending from lowland plains and river valleys to foothills, mountains and coastal areas. Investigating the distribution and ecological characteristics of Cyperaceae in this setting provides an opportunity to connect traditional botanical research with modern geospatial analysis.
Our recent study, published in Biodiversity Data Journal, examines the taxonomic diversity, ecological characteristics and spatial distribution of Cyperaceae in Azerbaijan using botanical information, climate data and geographic information systems (GIS).
115 taxa across Azerbaijan’s diverse landscapes
Our research identified 115 taxa belonging to 14 genera of Cyperaceae in Azerbaijan. These taxa were recorded across eight of the country’s 11 main landscape types, demonstrating that the family occurs in a variety of environmental settings.
The distribution of Cyperaceae is particularly relevant in habitats where soil moisture and hydrological conditions influence plant growth. Marshes, meadows, coastal areas and river valleys provide important environments for different members of this family.
Examining their distribution across different landscape types helps reveal the ecological diversity of Cyperaceae and provides a foundation for further research into the relationship between plant occurrence and environmental conditions.
What can ecological groups tell us?
One of the key aspects of our study was the assessment of the ecological groups represented within Cyperaceae.
Percentage of ecological groups according to their water regime. Credit to Ibadullayeva et al., 2026
According to our findings, mesophytes—plants associated with moderately moist conditions—accounted for 58% of the identified taxa. Hygromesophytes, associated with moist environments, represented 21%, while hygrophytes, typically linked to wet habitats, accounted for 16%. Xerophytes, adapted to comparatively dry conditions, made up the remaining 5%.
These findings illustrate the range of moisture requirements represented within the family. Although many members of Cyperaceae are associated with moist environments, the group is not ecologically uniform.
Light requirements also revealed a clear pattern: heliophytes, or plants associated with well-lit conditions, accounted for 82% of the taxa, while sciophytes, which tolerate or favour shaded conditions, represented 18%.
Together, these ecological characteristics help us better understand the environmental settings in which Cyperaceae occurs across Azerbaijan.
Bringing botany and GIS together
Traditional botanical research provides essential information about plant identity, ecology and distribution. Geographic information systems, however, allow these observations to be examined in a spatial context.
In our study, we used ArcGIS Pro to analyse and visualise spatial patterns, combining botanical information with environmental datasets. Climate indicators from WorldClim and elevation data obtained through OpenTopography supported the geographical assessment.
This approach makes it possible to examine plant distribution alongside landscape characteristics and selected climatic variables. Maps can help researchers identify spatial patterns, compare different areas and formulate questions for future field investigations.
GIS does not replace botanical expertise or field observations. Instead, it provides an additional analytical framework through which botanical records and environmental information can be studied together.
For botanists, this integration is particularly valuable because the distribution of a plant taxon is not simply a point on a map. It is part of a broader ecological context involving habitat, moisture, elevation and other environmental conditions.
Examining climate indicators: what can a short-term comparison show?
Our study also examined selected climatic indicators for 2020 and 2024. The results showed differences between the two years in the temperature indicators considered, while precipitation patterns varied across the study area.
These observations provide an environmental context for examining the distribution of Cyperaceae. However, a comparison between two individual years cannot, on its own, establish a long-term climate trend or demonstrate that climate change has caused a shift in the geographical distribution of this plant family.
Longer time series, repeated field observations and more detailed species-level distribution data are needed to investigate these relationships more thoroughly.
This distinction is important when interpreting ecological maps: they help us identify patterns and develop research questions, but the causes of those patterns must be evaluated using appropriate evidence.
Why does mapping plant diversity matter?
Reliable information about plant diversity and distribution is an important foundation for biodiversity research and environmental monitoring.
For plant groups associated with wetlands, meadows and other moisture-dependent habitats, spatial information can help researchers document their occurrence and identify areas that merit closer ecological investigation.
A GIS-based approach also offers opportunities to integrate botanical records with future environmental observations. As additional field data and longer climatic records become available, researchers can build on existing assessments to investigate changes in plant distribution and habitat conditions over time.
In Azerbaijan, where several major landscape types occur within a relatively compact geographical area, combining floristic knowledge with spatial analysis can contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of plant diversity.
Our research provides a regional assessment of Cyperaceae and demonstrates how botanical knowledge, ecological classification and geospatial tools can be brought together to investigate plant distribution.
The next step is to strengthen this foundation through continued field research, improved distribution records and longer-term environmental monitoring.
Read the full study
Ibadullayeva, S.J., Sadigova, N.I., Mammadova, Z.J., Movsumova, N.V., Shiraliyeva, G. & Khudaverdiyeva, S.F. (2026). Climate-driven spatial distribution and ecogeographical analysis of Cyperaceae using GIS and remote sensing. Biodiversity Data Journal, 14: e194618. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.14.e194618