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.

Question

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.

How does the author support the claim that people who release non-native animals into the wild should be punished.
by including an example of a non-native animal that has caused problems in a new environment.

Answer 1

The author supports the claim by providing an example of the tegu lizard in the Florida Everglades, which is described as destroying the environment by eating anything in its path. This example illustrates how releasing non-native animals can disrupt the natural food chains and put native species at risk of extinction.