Quote the author's claim

Releasing non-native animals into the wild upsets the food chains of native species. The tegu lizard has been introduced into the Florida Everglades and is destroying the environment. The lizard will eat anything that crosses its path, including small mammals, birds, insects, plants, and eggs, leaving animals of this ecosystem in danger. If all parts of the environment are on the tegu’s menu, then all animals in the habitat are at risk of extinction. For this reason, anyone caught releasing non-native animals into the wild should be penalized with a significant fine.

"The author's claim is that anyone caught releasing non-native animals into the wild should be penalized with a significant fine."

Quote a sentence from the text that gives a reason for the claim.

"If all parts of the environment are on the tegu’s menu, then all animals in the habitat are at risk of extinction."

The author's claim is: "Anyone caught releasing non-native animals into the wild should be penalized with a significant fine."