Ecological Specialization Emberizoidea

Ecological specialization is a key aspect of species adaptation, yet the drivers shaping its geographical distribution remain debated. This study examines ecological specialization in the Emberizoidea superfamily (Aves: Passeriformes), analyzing the effects of colonization time, climatic stability, and competition on diet, foraging, and habitat specialization across global and regional scales. Our findings indicate that globally, temperature stability promotes diet specialization, while time since colonization positively influences habitat specialization but negatively affects foraging specialization. However, at regional scales, distinct patterns emerge. Studying the Neotropics, Nearctics, and Palearctic, we show that ecological specialization is not driven by a single global factor but is shaped by region-specific interactions between evolutionary history, environmental stability, and interspecific competition. Our findings also challenge the assumption that biotic interactions primarily drive specialization in the tropics, suggesting a more complex interplay of factors at different latitudes, at least for Emberizoidea. Understanding these drivers has important implications for biodiversity conservation, as ecological specialization affects species resilience to environmental changes. <br>