The origin, distribution, and function of biological diversity are fundamental themes of
ecology and evolutionary biology. Research on birds has played a major role in the history …

Functional traits offer a rich quantitative framework for developing and testing theories in
evolutionary biology, ecology and ecosystem science. However, the potential of functional …

Behavioral changes, such as those involved in mating, foraging, and migration, can
generate reproductive barriers between populations. Birds, in particular, are known for their …

An organism's ability to disperse influences many fundamental processes, from speciation
and geographical range expansion to community assembly. However, the patterns and …

Avian egg shape is generally explained as an adaptation to life history, yet we currently lack
a global synthesis of how egg-shape differences arise and evolve. Here, we apply …

Species sensitivity to forest fragmentation varies latitudinally, peaking in the tropics. A
prominent explanation for this pattern is that historical landscape disturbance at higher …

Rates of species formation vary widely across the tree of life and contribute to massive
disparities in species richness among clades. This variation can emerge from differences in …

Natal dispersal—the movement from birthplace to breeding location—is often considered
the most significant dispersal event in an animal's lifetime. Natal dispersal distances may be …

The complex island archipelagoes of Wallacea and Melanesia have provided empirical data
behind integral theories in evolutionary biology, including allopatric speciation and island …

The processes that allow some lineages to diversify rapidly at a global scale remain poorly
understood. Although earlier studies emphasized the importance of dispersal, global …