Mountains harbor exceptional biodiversity and high levels of endemism, making them global biodiversity hotspots. Yet, montane biotas are particularly vulnerable to climate change due to their narrow ecological niches and restricted dispersal opportunities. In this seminar, I will present recent and ongoing projects exploring the origins and diversification of mammals on the Tibetan Plateau, highlighting how major geoclimatic events shaped species radiations and community turnover. Moving from macro-level patterns to a finer scale, I will discuss adaptations that allow pikas to thrive on the highest plateau on Earth, reaching altitudes up to 6,200 m (20,300 ft). The final part of the talk will explore how functional traits are associated with uneven climate-driven extinction resilience, and how these insights can help us forecast species’ responses to global warming and guide conservation strategies for montane ecosystems