Vizzuality (Spain)

Abstract Trophic rewilding is proposed as an effective approach to tackle biodiversity loss by restoring ecosystem dynamics through the reintroduction of large-bodied animals. Currently, evidence on the effectiveness of reintroduction programs is sparse and difficult to generalize. To better understand the ecological consequences of trophic rewilding, we simulated the extinction and reintroduction of large-bodied mammals under four distinct environmental conditions. We found that the removal of large-bodied mammals leads to large cascading effects mainly expressed by increases in smaller-bodied herbivores and the release of mesopredators. Our results further suggest that reintroducing extinct large-bodied mammals can largely restore shifts in ecosystem structure, closely resembling the baseline ecosystem conditions. However, the extent to which the ecosystem’s state resembles the original ecosystem is heavily dependent on the reintroduction strategy (only herbivores and omnivores vs. all large-bodied mammals) and timing, as well as local environmental conditions.