Intraspecific trait variability and community assembly in hawkmoths (Lepidoptera: ) across an elevational gradient in the eastern Himalayas, India.

We investigated some aspects of hawkmoth community assembly at 13 elevations along a 200- to 2770-m transect in the eastern Himalayas, a little studied biodiversity hot spot of global importance. We measured the morphological traits of body mass, wing loading, and wing aspect ratio of 3,301 free-ranging individuals of 76 species without having to collect or even constrain them. We used these trait measurements and metrics to assess the strength of intracommunity ("internal") and extra-community ("external") filters which determine the composition of communities the regional pool of species.