Which factor has counterintuitively led to an *increase* in the natural range of the zebra finch within Australia?
Answer
The proliferation of artificial dams and water tanks
An interesting dynamic emerges when comparing the zebra finch's natural habitat requirements against the results of human agricultural and pastoral land use in Australia. While they are naturally restricted by ephemeral water sources, human infrastructure development has dramatically altered this constraint. The proliferation of artificial structures designed to hold water, such as dams and water tanks, has created reliable, permanent watering holes across the landscape. This stability of water supply has, counterintuitively, allowed the bird's natural range to expand into areas that would have been previously too dry to support a sustained presence.
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