AS IT IS 2016-04-03 Saving Wild Areas May Have Unexpected Results

AS IT IS 2016-04-03 Saving Wild Areas May Have Unexpected Results

Wild horses, oxen and reindeer¹ are returning to Siberia for the first time in 10,000 years.

Their new home is Pleistocene Park, a wilderness² area on Russia’s Kolyma River.

The park opened in 1989. It was launched as an experiment to recreate an environment that disappeared long ago, during Earth’s Ice Age.

Russian scientist Sergey Zimov imagined wild horses, musk³ ox and reindeer enjoying the grasslands⁴. He says the animals will eat the plants and fertilize⁵ the soil. This will support the growth of grasslands.

But that has yet to happen. The park is home to fewer than 200 animals. 

David Nogues is an ecologist with the University of Copenhagen. He studies relationships between living things and their environments. What worries him about Pleistocene Park is what he calls the unknown.

“Imagine, like, bringing new species that were not living in our ecosystem⁶ for 10,000 years. … We consider, the researchers in this study, that we researchers cannot predict yet what might be the consequences of this new conservation approach.”

Nogues helped to write a report that urges restraint in “rewilding,” to save wild places. The report was published in the journal Cell Biology.

The recovery of wolves in America's Yellowstone National Park is often noted⁷ as an example as successful rewilding. Ninety-one wolves were brought to Yellowstone in the 1990s. Since then, the park’s wolf population has increased five times.

But the animals cause unexpected changes in the environment, something that Wolf Project Manager Doug Smith noted more than 10 years ago. He says wolves keep elk⁸ away from the park. This enables willow⁹ plants that elk eat to grow.

"Songbirds, moose, muskrat¹⁰, (and) mink¹¹ – all these animals benefit when these willows¹² come back.”

Wildlife researchers are closely watching the wolf population in Yellowstone National Park. But the spread of the animals outside the park has angered local ranchers. They say cattle losses have increased with the wolf population.

Rancher Richard Kinkie says because Yellowstone’s wolves are federally protected, he has few choices.

“Certainly I would like to see the controls loosened up on us, so we can deal with wolves.”

Ecologist Nogues says politicians and the public must consider the best science before launching a rewilding program. He argues that protecting biodiversity is a better first step to avoid the problem of species loss.  

Words in This Story

ecosystem – n. functionality

conservation – adj. of or related to the protection of animals, plants and other things in nature

approach – n. method

species – n. a group of animals or plants that are similar

1 reindeer   

n.驯鹿

参考例句：

• The herd of reindeer was being trailed by a pack of wolves.那群驯鹿被一只狼群寻踪追赶上来。
• The life of the Reindeer men was a frontier life.驯鹿时代人的生活是一种边区生活。

2 wilderness   

n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠

参考例句：

• She drove the herd of cattle through the wilderness.她赶着牛群穿过荒野。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

3 musk   

n.麝香, 能发出麝香的各种各样的植物，香猫

参考例句：

• Musk is used for perfume and stimulant.麝香可以用作香料和兴奋剂。
• She scented her clothes with musk.她用麝香使衣服充满了香味。

4 grasslands   

n.草原，牧场( grassland的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Songs were heard ringing loud and clear over the grasslands. 草原上扬起清亮激越的歌声。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Grasslands have been broken and planted to wheat. 草原已经开垦出来，种上了小麦。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 fertilize   

v.使受精，施肥于，使肥沃

参考例句：

• Fertilizer is a substance put on land to fertilize it.肥料是施在地里使之肥沃的物质。
• Reading will fertilize his vocabulary.阅读会丰富他的词汇。

6 ecosystem   

n.生态系统

参考例句：

• This destroyed the ecosystem of the island.这样破坏了岛上的生态系统。
• We all have an interest in maintaining the integrity of the ecosystem.维持生态系统的完整是我们共同的利益。

7 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

8 elk   

n.麋鹿

参考例句：

• I was close enough to the elk to hear its labored breathing.我离那头麋鹿非常近，能听见它吃力的呼吸声。
• The refuge contains the largest wintering population of elk in the world.这座庇护所有着世界上数量最大的冬季麋鹿群。

9 willow   

n.柳树

参考例句：

• The river was sparsely lined with willow trees.河边疏疏落落有几棵柳树。
• The willow's shadow falls on the lake.垂柳的影子倒映在湖面上。

10 muskrat   

n.麝香鼠

参考例句：

• Muskrat fur almost equals beaver fur in quality.麝鼠皮在质量上几乎和海獭皮不相上下。
• I saw a muskrat come out of a hole in the ice.我看到一只麝鼠从冰里面钻出来。

11 mink   

n.貂，貂皮

参考例句：

• She was wearing a blue dress and a mink coat.她穿着一身蓝色的套装和一件貂皮大衣。
• He started a mink ranch and made a fortune in five years. 他开了个水貂养殖场，五年之内就赚了不少钱。

12 willows   

n.柳树( willow的名词复数 )；柳木

参考例句：

• The willows along the river bank look very beautiful. 河岸边的柳树很美。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Willows are planted on both sides of the streets. 街道两侧种着柳树。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》