Ecological drivers of trait variation

Traits shape how organisms interact with their environments and each other. I study how trait variations across space are shaped by biotic and abiotic pressures.

• Bird nest architectures: By integrating nest traits and environmental variables across global birds, we tested whether dome and cavity nests serve to reduce predation risk or regulate nest microclimate (Chia et al. 2026).
• Moth body size across elevations: Using changes in moth body size composition along an elevational gradient, we investigated how climate influences the relative importance of environmental filtering and niche partitioning in shaping insect assemblages (Chia et al. 2024).