Land use and climate change interact to impact functional and
phylogenetic diversity globally, but this pattern is largely unknown in
Eastern Himalayas. Using data comprising 45 mammal species and 336 bird
species, we investigated the response of taxonomic, functional, and
phylogenetic diversity and structure to land use and climate variables
in the Himalayan biodiversity hotspot of Bhutan. Community diversity and
structure in both groups were lower than expected by chance and
decreased with land-use change resulting in clustering of distinct
assemblages in different land-use settings, but climate produced mixed
results. Functional and phylogenetic overdispersion for mammals were
best explained by precipitation while temperature did so in birds.
Overall, the mammal community better tolerated extreme climates than did
birds. However, the nuances in individual responses were variable across
the phylogenetic tree. Our results highlight the importance of land use
and climate gradients in shaping the regional terrestrial biodiversity
in a fragile and dynamic conservation landscape.