Review the two sources below concerning ecological rehabilitation of high-altitude wetland ecosystems (*bofedales*) in the Bolivian Altiplano:
Source 1: Transcript of an Audio Interview from Radio Ecología Andina
*Host:* Today, we speak with Dr. Valeria Quispe, lead hydrologist of the Sajama Wetland Recovery Project.
*Dr. Quispe:* "Glacial retreat has reduced dry-season meltwater runoff by nearly 35% over the past two decades. To protect our high-altitude peatlands, we rehabilitated pre-Columbian stone and clay irrigation canals (*kanchas*). These rudimentary stone conduits decelerate rapid storm runoff, spreading water across degraded peat beds and sustaining soil moisture throughout the arid months. While community members initially feared that keeping livestock would destroy all new vegetation, our fieldwork proved that controlled, low-density alpaca grazing is actually beneficial: camelid padded footfalls gently press seeds into moist moss without rupturing the delicate peat root systems, whereas introducing cattle caused catastrophic bank erosion."
Source 2: Excerpt from an Environmental Research Bulletin
*Title:* Hydrological and Edaphic Dynamics of Restored Andean Bofedales
*Summary:* High-Andean *bofedales* function as critical organic carbon sinks, sequestering up to 1,200 metric tons of carbon per hectare in waterlogged, anaerobic peat layers—a density exceeding adjacent tropical forest soils. Restoring ancestral stone ditch networks has successfully elevated the local water table by 0.45 meters during the dry season. The research highlights that traditional camelid pasturing (alpacas and llamas) maintains healthy tussock density, as their soft footpads do not compact soil horizons. However, the report cautions that future sustainability is threatened by rising regional temperatures, which accelerate organic matter decomposition and could convert these wetlands from carbon sinks into net greenhouse gas emitters if water saturation is not permanently maintained.
Match each analytical claim with the source-corroboration evaluation that accurately describes its evidentiary backing across both sources.
- The rehabilitation of ancestral stone water channels successfully sustains soil moisture and water levels during dry periods.Corroborated by both sources: Dr. Quispe discusses channel function in Source 1, and the bulletin in Source 2 documents the elevated water table.
- Controlled alpaca pasturing supports wetland preservation because their soft footpads do not damage fragile peat moss soils.Corroborated by both sources: Dr. Quispe highlights camelid footfalls in Source 1, and Source 2 confirms soft pads prevent soil compaction.
- Rising atmospheric temperatures risk transforming high-altitude peatlands from carbon reservoirs into net greenhouse gas sources.Supported solely by Source 2: The bulletin analyzes temperature-driven decomposition and emission risks, which Source 1 omits.
- Glacial meltwater runoff feeding the wetland ecosystem has declined by approximately 35% over the past twenty years.Supported solely by Source 1: Dr. Quispe explicitly quantifies the 35% glacial runoff decline, while Source 2 does not cite this figure.