The thesis of the article is: Butterfly populations are declining, which may represent a decline in insect populations overall.
"Butterflies are Disappearing In Ohio. Here's What That Means for Insects Everywhere" by Vicky Stein In a new study published Tuesday in PLOS ONE, a group of researchers analyzed one of the rare data sets that tracks butterfly abundance, taken from 21 years of volunteer surveys in Ohio. They found an average population decline of 2 percent per year, which means that over the course of the study, Ohio lost more than a third of its butterfly population. … The decline in Ohio’s butterflies is a harbinger of trouble for insects overall — bees, beetles, dragonflies and more. An overall drop in insect numbers and the eventual loss of some insect species would have a severe and significant effect, [researcher Corrie] Moreau said. Trouble for butterflies could indicate trouble for bees, flies and other insects that together are responsible for the pollination and growth of up to three quarters of all human food crops. Meanwhile, we would lose a rich diversity of insect-eating birds, bats and amphibians, with cascading effects through almost every ecosystem on the planet. © NewsHour Productions LLC. All Rights Reserved. Question Use the excerpt to answer the question. What is the thesis of this article? (1 point) Responses Ohio is suffering a decline in insect populations, which is leading to trouble for larger ecosystems. Ohio is suffering a decline in insect populations, which is leading to trouble for larger ecosystems. Butterflies are responsible for the pollination and growth of up to three quarters of all human food crops. Butterflies are responsible for the pollination and growth of up to three quarters of all human food crops. Butterflies serve as food for birds, bats and amphibians, which in turn feed other animals in ecosystems. Butterflies serve as food for birds, bats and amphibians, which in turn feed other animals in ecosystems. Butterfly populations are declining, which may represent a decline in insect populations overall. Butterfly populations are declining, which may represent a decline in insect populations overall. Skip to navigation
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