干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

This article summarizes the beneficial effect that human activity in Israel has had on certain birds and mammals since the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. About 40 bird and 20 mammal species have increased in number and/or distribution during the last 50 years. They comprise about 20% of the breeding bird species, about 10% of the wintering species, and 20% of the mammals. Two main factors account for most of these increases: construction of fish ponds and water reservoirs, and increased food availability, either from garbage or agriculture. Israel is located at the edge of the Saharo-Arabian desert, thus any increase in the aquatic habitat strongly affects some animals. Of the species which have increased in number, about 13 species of birds and 8 species of mammals have become pests in parts of their ranges in Israel, and several introduced species have the potential to become pests in the future.