The value of human resources changes with season for a social desert passerine bird

Abstract For desert species, human development may buffer against resource scarcity by providing reliable resources in an otherwise stark environment. We used high-throughput tracking technology to explore the movement patterns of a social desert passerine bird (the Arabian babbler—Argya squamiceps,...

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Main Authors: Krista N. Oswald, Tamir Rozenberg, Oded Keynan, Gabriel Oliveira de Caetano, Sivan Toledo, Ran Nathan, Uri Roll, Oded Berger-Tal
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:npj Biodiversity
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s44185-025-00078-6
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author Krista N. Oswald
Tamir Rozenberg
Oded Keynan
Gabriel Oliveira de Caetano
Sivan Toledo
Ran Nathan
Uri Roll
Oded Berger-Tal
author_facet Krista N. Oswald
Tamir Rozenberg
Oded Keynan
Gabriel Oliveira de Caetano
Sivan Toledo
Ran Nathan
Uri Roll
Oded Berger-Tal
author_sort Krista N. Oswald
collection DOAJ
description Abstract For desert species, human development may buffer against resource scarcity by providing reliable resources in an otherwise stark environment. We used high-throughput tracking technology to explore the movement patterns of a social desert passerine bird (the Arabian babbler—Argya squamiceps, Leiothrichidae) in a mosaic of human-modified and semi-natural habitats. From late summer to early winter, as natural food and water resources increase, we tracked 21 individuals representing 10 groups. Toward winter, groups spent less time within villages, had smaller home ranges, and were less territorial. In general, birds showed a preference for spending time in the vegetated semi-natural habitat. We further found that even a small section of uncultivated agricultural land (~2 km stretch of mostly bare dirt) can act as a movement barrier for babblers. Altogether, we highlight how the complex interaction between resource availability and anthropogenic changes to habitats, can shape animals’ responses to our changing planet.
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issn 2731-4243
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publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
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series npj Biodiversity
spelling doaj-art-e776be5bb72145109403848f02de5ecd2025-08-24T11:35:06ZengNature Portfolionpj Biodiversity2731-42432025-04-014111010.1038/s44185-025-00078-6The value of human resources changes with season for a social desert passerine birdKrista N. Oswald0Tamir Rozenberg1Oded Keynan2Gabriel Oliveira de Caetano3Sivan Toledo4Ran Nathan5Uri Roll6Oded Berger-Tal7Jacob Blaustein Center for Scientific Cooperation, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the NegevMitrani Department of Desert Ecology, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the NegevDead Sea and Arava Science Center, Central Arava BranchMitrani Department of Desert Ecology, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the NegevBlavatnik School of Computer Science, Tel Aviv UniversityMinerva Center for Movement Ecology, The Hebrew University of JerusalemMitrani Department of Desert Ecology, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the NegevMitrani Department of Desert Ecology, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the NegevAbstract For desert species, human development may buffer against resource scarcity by providing reliable resources in an otherwise stark environment. We used high-throughput tracking technology to explore the movement patterns of a social desert passerine bird (the Arabian babbler—Argya squamiceps, Leiothrichidae) in a mosaic of human-modified and semi-natural habitats. From late summer to early winter, as natural food and water resources increase, we tracked 21 individuals representing 10 groups. Toward winter, groups spent less time within villages, had smaller home ranges, and were less territorial. In general, birds showed a preference for spending time in the vegetated semi-natural habitat. We further found that even a small section of uncultivated agricultural land (~2 km stretch of mostly bare dirt) can act as a movement barrier for babblers. Altogether, we highlight how the complex interaction between resource availability and anthropogenic changes to habitats, can shape animals’ responses to our changing planet.https://doi.org/10.1038/s44185-025-00078-6
spellingShingle Krista N. Oswald
Tamir Rozenberg
Oded Keynan
Gabriel Oliveira de Caetano
Sivan Toledo
Ran Nathan
Uri Roll
Oded Berger-Tal
The value of human resources changes with season for a social desert passerine bird
npj Biodiversity
title The value of human resources changes with season for a social desert passerine bird
title_full The value of human resources changes with season for a social desert passerine bird
title_fullStr The value of human resources changes with season for a social desert passerine bird
title_full_unstemmed The value of human resources changes with season for a social desert passerine bird
title_short The value of human resources changes with season for a social desert passerine bird
title_sort value of human resources changes with season for a social desert passerine bird
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s44185-025-00078-6
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