Influence of ecoregion-scale variables
We found assemblage position relative to the ecotone —either as an isolated effect or interacting with habitat type— among the main predictors of aTR, aST, and aLT. Position had the largest coefficient in the model of aTR (Table 2). Position x habitat type interaction had the largest coefficient in the model of aST, and the third largest coefficient in the model of aLT (Table 2).
Position, habitat type, and the position x habitat type interaction were the variables causing the largest deviation in aTR from the expected aTR mean (Table 2). Although there was substantial phylogenetic uncertainty on parameter estimates, as observed by the range of values along the x-axis of the density plot, we found that ecotone assemblages generally had lower aTR than the expected aTR mean (intercept, Fig. 2). Assemblages at the ecotone of forested ecoregions had higher aTR than the expected aTR mean (Fig. 2). Assemblages at forested ecoregions had lower aTR than the expected aTR mean (Fig. 2). Density plots of least important coefficients —the ones with small regression coefficients (Table 2) and generally tight overlap of intercept and coefficient estimates— can be found in the Supplementary Results (Figs. S2-S4).
Position x habitat type interaction, location at Atlantic Rainforest, and position were the variables causing the largest deviation in aST from aST mean (Table 2). Although there was substantial phylogenetic uncertainty, with different groups of phylogenies leading to two different peaks of aST estimates, we found that assemblages at the ecotone of forested ecoregions generally had higher aST than the expected aST mean (Fig. 3). Assemblages in Atlantic Forest had higher aST than the expected aST mean. Points at ecotones had lower aST than the expected aST mean (Fig. 3).
Habitat type, location in Atlantic Rainforest, and position x habitat type interaction were the variables causing the largest deviation in aLT from aLT mean (Table 2). Although phylogenetic uncertainty again affected parameter estimates, we found that assemblages at forested ecoregions generally had longer last transition time than the expected aLT mean (Fig. 4). Assemblages in Atlantic Forest had lower aLT than the expected aLT mean, and assemblages at the ecotone of forested ecoregions had lightly higher aLT than the expected aLT mean (Fig. 4).