J. A. Tobias

The evolutionary age-range size relationship is modulated by insularity and dispersal in plants and animals

The paper examines the relationship between evolutionary age and range size in species, finding that age correlates with larger ranges but this effect is modulated by insularity and dispersal ability.

Resolving the climatic and ecological drivers of geographical gradients in avian sexual selection

The paper quantifies sexual selection intensity across bird species globally, showing latitudinal gradients influenced by climate and ecological factors.

Ecological and life history drivers of avian skull evolution

This study investigates how ecological and life history factors influence avian skull evolution, finding significant relationships with habitat density and migration but not developmental mode.

Exploring the Macroevolutionary Signature of Asymmetric Inheritance at Speciation

The paper introduces an Asymmetric Brownian Motion model to study phenotypic inheritance during speciation, finding evidence of character displacement in Darwin finches.

Skeletal morphology of bird wings is determined by thermoregulatory demand for heat dissipation in warmer climates

This study shows that warmer climates correlate with longer wing bones in passerine birds due to increased heat dissipation demands during flight.

Logging alters tropical forest structure, while conversion to agriculture reduces biodiversity and functioning

The paper analyzes the impacts of logging and conversion to oil palm on tropical forest structure, biodiversity, and functioning in Borneo, finding that logging affects structure more than biodiversity, while conversion has greater impacts on biodiversity and functioning.

Trait diversity metrics can perform well with highly incomplete datasets

The paper evaluates trait diversity metrics' robustness to data incompleteness using simulated missing data and imputation methods, finding that imputation improves reliability even with high missingness.

Global plant-frugivore trait matching is shaped by climate and biogeographic history

The paper examines global trait matching between frugivorous birds and palms, finding it influenced by climate, biogeographic history, and species richness.

Global impacts of climate change on avian functional diversity

This study projects future changes in avian functional diversity under climate change, showing shifts in trait structure and greater changes than expected from species richness alone.

The island rule explains consistent patterns of body size evolution in terrestrial vertebrates

This study uses a phylogenetic meta-analysis to show the island rule applies broadly across vertebrates, with variations influenced by climate, island size, and isolation.

Comparative physiology of five tropical montane songbirds reveals differential seasonal acclimatisation and cold adaption

This study compares seasonal physiological changes in five tropical montane songbirds, finding species-specific metabolic adjustments and cold tolerance in one high-elevation species.

The latitudinal gradient in hand-wing-index: global patterns and predictors of wing morphology in birds

The paper presents a global dataset of avian hand-wing index (HWI) and shows it correlates with latitude, migration, and temperature variability, providing a dispersal ability index for ecological studies.

Integrating behaviour and ecology into global biodiversity conservation strategies

The paper assesses the role of behavioural traits in global conservation strategies using bird data, showing that some behaviours are more threatened than others but are less predictive than ecological factors.

Tempo and timing of ecological trait divergence in bird speciation

The paper examines the tempo and timing of ecological trait divergence in bird speciation, finding that trait divergence occurs in pulses followed by stasis and often precedes sympatry.