Trait-based macroecology and community ecology

Functional traits are the interface between organisms and their environments. I study how traits reflect ecological functions and selective pressures, with the aim of understanding the mechanisms that shape biodiversity.

• Ecological function of enclosed nests in global birds: We tested whether domes and cavity nests primarily serve to reduce predation risk or regulate microclimate across global bird species (Chia et al. 2023; Chia et al. in revision).
• Community assembly of moths along climate gradients: We used shifts in body size composition along an elevational gradient to understand the roles of environmental filtering and niche partitioning in shaping insect assemblages (Chia et al. 2024).