Coping with change: interactive effects of anthropogenic change influence the breeding success and survival of a desert-dwelling cooperative breeder
Data files
Mar 12, 2026 version files 7.91 MB
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Coping_with_change_code.html
5.94 MB
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individual_data.csv
332.82 KB
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nest_data.csv
72.88 KB
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overlaps.csv
6.78 KB
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rainfall.csv
23.69 KB
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README.md
4.06 KB
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study_groups.csv
425 B
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temperature.csv
697.34 KB
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temptest.csv
833.30 KB
Abstract
Habitat modification and climate change are major threats to biodiversity. Using 38 years of data (1985–2023), we examined their combined influence on a desert-dwelling cooperative breeder’s reproductive success and projected the likely magnitude of future effects of these threats under two climate scenarios for the end of the century (2100). In natural habitats, rainfall increased reproductive success, while extreme temperatures reduced survival. Human-modified habitats buffered against climate extremes, resulting in higher reproductive success even in dry and hot conditions. Future projections indicate likely declines in lifetime reproductive success in natural habitats, but the same projected declines are not observed in modified habitats, which may offer temporary refugia against climate effects. Larger social groups had higher reproductive success and survival rates in both habitat types, highlighting the important role of helpers in cooperatively breeding species. Our findings highlight (i) the need to assess multiple anthropogenic factors to fully understand their impact on species' fitness and (ii) the importance of long-term datasets in addressing the complex relationship between the multiple drivers of anthropogenic change.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.zcrjdfnrw
Description of the data and file structure
Files and variables
File: temptest.csv
Description: Temperature values by station to compare the temperature measurements.
Variables
- station: Metheorogical Station
- date: (DD/MM/YYYY)
- max: Maximum temperature
File: individual_data.csv
Description: Data from the individuals present in the study area between 1985 and 2023. Empty values left as blanks (empty cells) to facilitate the use of the provided script.
Variables
- id: Individual id
- group: Combination of three letters in reference to the name of the group (Social unit of a dominant pair and their helpers)
- name: Color ring combination
- sex: 1, male, 2, female, 3, unknown
- natal_group: Group were the individual was born
- entry_date: Date joining the group (DD/MM/YYYY)
- departure_date: Date leaving the group (DD/MM/YYYY)
- born: Date the individual hatched
- presence: Status of the individual at the departure date
- dominance_from: First date as dominant in a group (DD/MM/YYYY). Empty values correspond to individuals that never become dominant during the study period
- dominance_to: Last date as dominant in a group (DD/MM/YYYY). Empty values correspond to individuals that never become dominant during the study period
File: nest_data.csv
Description: Nesting events from 1985 to 2023. Empty values left as blanks (empty cells) to facilitate the use of the provided script.
Variables
- nest_id
- group: Combination of three letters in reference to the name of the group (Social unit of a dominant pair and their helpers)
- year
- hab: Habitat (nat = natural, mod = modified). Empty values are filled when running the code with the information in overlaps.csv
- attempt:
- attempt_n: Number of breeding attempt within the same year
- ringing: Date when the nestlings were ringed. Empty values correspond to nests where nestlings never reach the ringing age (10 days).
- date: Date of laying. Empty values correspond to groups present in the indicated year but didn't attempt to breed.
- n_fledglings: Number of individuals that fledged
- success: 1, successful, 0, non successful. Empty values correspond to absence of breeding events.
- dom_f: Id of the dominant female related with this nest. Empty values are filled when running the code with the information in individual_data.csv
- dom_m: Id of the dominant male related with this nest. Empty values are filled when running the code with the information in individual_data.csv
File: overlaps.csv
Description: Overlap of the groups territory and modified habitats per year. Used in the code for calculating missing values of habitat.
Variables
- group: Combination of three letters in reference to the name of the group (Social unit of a dominant pair and their helpers)
- year
- overlap: Percentage of overlapping between territory and modified habitats
File: rainfall.csv
Description: Daily cummulative rainfall.
Variables
- station
- date (DD/MM/YYYY)
- rain: rainfall (mm)
File: study_groups.csv
Description: Groups that are included in the present study.
Variables
- Name of the study groups; Combination of three letters in reference to the name of the group (Social unit of a dominant pair and their helpers)
File: temperature.csv
Description: Daily temperature (Cº) from 1982 to 2023. Empty values correspond to missing data. Left as blanks (empty cells) to facilitate the use of the provided script.
Variables
- station
- date (DD/MM/YYYY)
- max: Maximum temperature (ºC)
- min: Minimum temperature (ºC)
File: Coping_with_change_code.html
Description: Code used for the analyses
Code/software
Analyses made in R. See the code file for packages and full explanations