Functional and phylogenetic structure of forest bird assemblages along an afrotropical elevational gradient

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F68081766%3A_____%2F25%3A00638789" target="_blank" >RIV/68081766:_____/25:00638789 - isvavai.cz</a>

Alternative codes found

RIV/00216208:11310/25:10505935 RIV/60076658:12310/25:43910496

Result on the web

<a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ece3.72065" target="_blank" >https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ece3.72065</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3.72065" target="_blank" >10.1002/ece3.72065</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Functional and phylogenetic structure of forest bird assemblages along an afrotropical elevational gradient

Original language description

Elevational gradients offer valuable opportunities to investigate biodiversity patterns and the ecological and evolutionary processes that shape them. Although tropical mountains are recognized as biodiversity hotspots, the various dimensions of biodiversity in these systems, particularly in equatorial Africa, remain poorly understood. In this study, we examined the functional (FD) and phylogenetic diversity (PD) of bird assemblages along a primary forest elevational gradient in Cameroon, West-Central Africa, spanning from lowland forests to the treeline (similar to 2300 m a.s.l.). We analyzed how FD and PD vary with elevation and tested the roles of abiotic filtering and biotic interactions, such as competition, in community assembly. Additionally, we assessed whether taxonomic diversity (TD) increases through niche packing or expansion, based on morphological and resource-use traits. Using null models and bird occurrence data, we inferred the drivers of FD and PD patterns and evaluated whether species in more diverse assemblages occupied novel functional space compared to less diverse assemblages. Our results showed that both functional richness and TD declined with elevation, whereas functional nearest neighbor distance, functional evenness, and mean nearest taxon distance increased. Traits related to resource use suggested that bird species at higher elevations were functionally less similar than expected by chance, partially supporting the influence of competition consistent with the guild assembly rule. Phylogenetic clustering observed at both low and high elevations pointed to independent species radiations, likely shaped by historical forest dynamics. In species-rich lowland assemblages, we found evidence of niche packing, suggesting increased specialization or niche overlap. In contrast, niche expansion appeared to contribute to higher TD at elevated sites. Overall, our findings indicate that while abiotic filters along forested elevational gradients and competition in lowland forests play roles in shaping avian diversity, they are not the sole or dominant mechanisms. Nonetheless, partial support for competition aligns with theoretical expectations under the guild assembly framework.

Czech name

—

Czech description

—

Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

—

OECD FORD branch

10618 - Ecology

Project

<a href="/en/project/GA21-17125S" target="_blank" >GA21-17125S: A hazy barrier: Mid-elevation exchange of avian communities on Mt. Cameroon</a><br>

Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Ecology and Evolution

ISSN

2045-7758

e-ISSN

2045-7758

Volume of the periodical

15

Issue of the periodical within the volume

9

Country of publishing house

US - UNITED STATES

Number of pages

17

Pages from-to

e72065

UT code for WoS article

001560665600001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-105014517754