From clustering to overdispersion: a north to south gradient in the patterns of phylogenetic structure in North American hummingbird assemblages

Imprints of historical and ecological factors in the phylogenetic structure of Australian Meliphagides assemblages

“…The existence of basal phylogenetic clustering in those assemblages where at least one Manorina species was detected shows the relevance of miners as drivers of community composition in southeastern Australia even at small phylogenetic scale. Since clustering patterns tend to be more prevalent at large scales and a deep phylogenetic depth (Parmentier et al, 2014; Puga‐Caballero et al, 2022), we hypothesize that had we expanded our analysis to include other bird families (e.g. robins Petroicidae, whistlers Pachycephalidae, woodswallows Artamidae and finches Estrildidae), we would have obtained a stronger effect of miners on the phylogenetic structure of assemblages.…”

“…For instance, using DAMOCLES Pigot and Etienne (2015) showed that the overdispersion pattern reported in some studies on communities of birds and primates from the Manu Biosphere Reserve (Peru) and previously interpreted as evidence of competition, did not differ from that expected under a null model of allopatric speciation, colonization and extinction. Despite its potential, the number of studies that have used this methodology is practically anecdotal (but see Marx et al, 2017; Pinto‐Ledezma et al, 2019; Puga‐Caballero et al, 2022) and it is not clear what the capacity of this model is to distinguish between trait‐based mechanisms arising from species interactions (competition) and purely historical factors like allopatric speciation.…”