Variation in avian morphology along a short tropical elevational gradient

Patterns across species of intraspecific phenotypic variation with environment can shed light on the underlying drivers adaptive evolution. Phenotypic within a along tropical elevational gradients is particular interest because narrow ranges may still experience considerably varied environmental conditions. Here, we examine morphological in 27 bird species, spanning 11 families and 3 orders, 675 m gradient Western Ecuador. We analyzed data set six variables 3263 individual birds using multivariate analyses variance (MANOVAs) canonical correlation (CCAs). found that morphology varies significantly elevation 8 spatial segregation by age or sex was apparently not responsible for this result. The traits strongly species. To best our knowledge, over equally short horizontal distances diverse suite vertebrate has previously been demonstrated. Abstract Spanish available online material.