Working hypotheses integrating environment and traits across spatial and phylogenetic scales to understand patterns of species coexistence in Noronhia on Montagne d’Ambre (MDA). For species composition, symbol shape and colour represent species and trait, respectively. Numerals indicate different assemblages of species, with increasing richness and relatedness from the scale of neighbourhood (lowercase) to the scales of community (uppercase) and region (sum of all communities). Less habitat heterogeneity at a small spatial scale leads to a coexistence pattern mediated by niche partitioning among species exhibiting traits that improve their survival in the environment. At a large spatial scale, environmental filters organize communities along ecological gradients.