Role of ecological and evolutionary processes in structuring global river bird assemblages

Rivers and their riparian zones present a unique context to study the effect of selective pressures in structuring species assemblages and discerning the key processes driving them. These linear ecosystems provide land-water interface habitats prone to natural disturbance regimes that result in challenging living conditions. A few bird species have specialized to live exclusively along the margins of high energy montane rivers with richness peaking in areas of high productivity and topographic relief. Current understanding of species distribution patterns and assembly patterns depends on modelling environmental and climatic correlates without accounting for historical processes. BAIRS aims at an understanding of the relative roles of historical contingency, environmental filtering and adaptation as drivers of community assembly in specialist riverine birds of the world. To achieve this, BAIRS will analyse the historical diversification, lineage persistance and range dynamics of riverine birds. I will analyse morphological, colour and acoustic trait space to undermine key adaptations in foraging and mate signaling strategies to reveal the role of adaptation and convergence in the evolution of a riverine lifestyle in birds. I will assess how past glaciation events and refugias have played a role in driving divergence and dispersal events thus facilitating only a few species of birds with unique traits to specialize for a life dependent on riverine areas globally. Adopting an interdisciplinary approach, findings from BAIRS will inform conservation prioritization in an ecosystem that is highly threatened through an in depth understanding of a group which is highly visible and vocal. During this project, I will gain expertise in models of morphological evolution, experience in advanced analytical skills and open science practices, mentorship, teaching that will improve my career prospects and foster my growth as an independent researcher.