Phylogenetic and ecomorphological structure of assemblages of breeding leaf warblers (Phylloscopidae) along Himalayan elevational gradients

摘要: Aim To understand the relative importance of ecological and biogeographical processes structuring assemblages Himalayan leaf warblers (family Phylloscopidae), through an evaluation (1) patterns species richness phylogenetic community structure, (2) their environmental determinants, (3) dispersion morphological traits within communities. Location Elevational gradients across east west Himalayas, India. Methods Species presences were assessed at 16 sites along eight elevational gradients. Phylogenetic conservatism was in three functional (body size, tarsus length, beak shape) structure terms net relatedness index (NRI) quantified using a published tree. Site-specific NRI related to climatic variables arthropod abundance. Morphological trait metrics also calculated observed assemblages. Results The assemblages, composed two species, ran entire spectrum significance resulting many clustered low elevations few overdispersed higher elevations. not significantly correlated with richness, although variation both largely explained by maximum temperature At regional scale, filtering (beak convergence (tarsus length) seem influence distribution Dispersion body size suggested competition as predicted while shape competitive interactions even phylogenetically assemblages. Main conclusions The interaction multiple assembly (competition, history) appears warbler assemblages. reflected history accumulation into local better traits.