Some ornithologists believe that many species of songbirds are threatened by deforestation. Yet they also claim that, despite recent reforestation, matters continue to worsen, since it is fragmentation of forest rather than reduction of forest size that endangers songbird species. The introduction of open spaces and corridors in forests reduces the distance of songbird nests from unforested areas and thus reduces the songbirds' natural shield from predators. The claim that there has recently been reforestation plays which one of the following roles in the ornithologists' argument? ["It is presented as evidence for the claim that songbirds' predators are threatened by extinction unless they have open spaces and corridors that give them access to their prey.", "It is presented as a phenomenon that is compatible with the ornithologists' claim that the threat to songbirds continues to worsen.", "It is used as evidence that songbirds' predators will continue to have a habitat and so will continue to pose a threat to songbirds.", 'It is used as evidence that various species of songbirds will continue to be threatened with extinction.']