Trait-based ecology and biogeography

Traits are important in determining species' responses to global change and recognizing species' trait-based attributes is increasingly seen as vital for conservation prioritization. Even though trait-based ecology has recently been heralded as the key to making generalizable ecological predictions, lack of knowledge regarding the responses of organismal traits to environmental changes has hindered efforts to make trait-based ecology a predictive science. Our work takes advantage of the recent statistical advances and a growing repository of species geographic distributions and trait compilations to pursue trait-based ecology research on a global scale.

Project 1: Elevational gradients of functional and trait diversity

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Mountain ranges are under increasing threat from human development and climate change, yet hold some of the planet’s greatest biodiversity and are key to understanding its origination and maintenance. Functional and trait aspects of biodiversity offer a particularly interesting lens into the mechanisms underlying community assembly, ecosystem-level consequences of global change, and crucial conservation actions, but to date lack a comprehensive and global evaluation across elevational gradients. This project fills this gap with a global assessment of the elevational gradient in functional diversity and trait space of birds.

 

Project 2: Functional dimensions of change in bird diversity

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This Yale BGC-funded project investigates the functional implications of changes in bird diversity. Results suggest increasing functional homogenization and strong spatial and temporal heterogeneity of changes in individual functional components. For example, specific traits such as scavenging and vertebrate diets became more prevalent whereas others such as invertebrate and granivorous diets became less common.