The concept of rewilding—restoring ecosystems to their pre-human state by reintroducing keystone species—has gained traction as a conservation strategy. Proponents argue that rewilding can restore ecological balance, enhance biodiversity, and mitigate climate change. First, reintroducing apex predators, such as wolves in Yellowstone, controls herbivore populations, preventing overgrazing and allowing vegetation to recover, which supports a cascade of species. Second, rewilding promotes biodiversity by creating habitats for various organisms; for example, beavers build dams that create wetlands, attracting amphibians, birds, and insects. Third, rewilded ecosystems can sequester more carbon; large herbivores like bison trample and fertilize soil, enhancing plant growth and carbon storage, while predators maintain healthy herbivore numbers, preventing carbon loss from overgrazing. These benefits suggest that rewilding is a viable tool for ecological restoration.
🎧 听力讲座
🎯 模拟考试环境：先点「播放讲座」听完内容，再作答。听力原文默认隐藏。
The lecture challenges the claims in the reading, arguing that rewilding is often impractical, unpredictable, and even counterproductive. First, while wolves may control herbivore populations, their effects are not always consistent; in some ecosystems, wolves have not reduced deer numbers as expected due to alternative prey and human interference. Moreover, the reading ignores that rewilding can disrupt existing communities—introducing a predator may harm species that have adapted to current conditions, causing unintended declines. Second, beavers may create wetlands, but they also flood human infrastructure and alter water flow, leading to conflicts with agriculture and settlements; these negative impacts are often overlooked in idealized rewilding scenarios. Third, the carbon sequestration claim is speculative; studies show that soil carbon dynamics are complex, and rewilding can release carbon if, for instance, wetlands dry out or herbivores compact soil in ways that reduce plant growth. Additionally, the time scale for measurable carbon benefits is too long to address current climate urgency. Therefore, rewilding is not a straightforward solution and requires careful, case-specific evaluation.
📝 写作提示 Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they cast doubt on the specific points made in the reading passage.
