Abstract
Aim Terrestrial mammal communities are crucial indicators of tropical ecosystem health and sustainability. However, the role of shared species responses driven by functional traits and phylogenetic relatedness in shaping community assembly remains underexplored for identifying conservation hotspots. Spatial predictions of species diversity also remain limited by approaches that fail to jointly account for species occupancy and abundance. This study evaluates trait‐ and phylogeny‐informed environmental filtering in structuring mammal communities and maps spatial diversity patterns by integrating species occupancy and abundance across spatial–temporal scales. Ultimately, areas of high mammal diversity reflecting underlying assembly processes are identified to guide regional conservation planning. Location Myanmar and China. Time Period 2015–2021. Major Taxa Studied Terrestrial mammals. Methods We deployed 936 camera traps over 6 years across Upper Myanmar and Xishuangbanna, China, using a nested sampling design that ensured robust spatial–temporal replication, and analysed the data using community hierarchical models. Results Climate and habitat factors predominantly drive species richness, while traits and phylogenetic relatedness jointly shape distinct community patterns. Seasonal variation in local diversity underscores the role of environmental filtering in structuring mammal communities across space and time. Large‐bodied omnivores favour stable temperature niches, whereas reduced precipitation filters communities towards wide‐ranging mammals. Anthropogenic disturbances and forest cover loss alter community structure, diminishing the prevalence of carnivorous traits. Predictive community maps with uncertainty estimates guide future survey efforts through a more integrative, data‐informed approach to regional planning. Main Conclusions This study presents a novel framework for improving climate‐ and habitat‐based biodiversity models by integrating trait‐ and phylogeny‐informed assembly processes with abundance‐based predictions across suitable habitats. The findings, including phylogenetically clustered niches in Cervidae and Felidae, suggest that shared evolutionary adaptations, such as temperature tolerance in ungulates and disturbance tolerance in carnivores, shape community assembly under varying environmental pressures and can inform spatial conservation prioritisation.