Question

Butterflies on the Rise achieve 3000
What are some threats to the monarch butterfly? How does the loss of a species change the environment?
Give me atleast 3 sentences simple and in 8th grade wording and show me the evidence from the article.
In February 2011, a conservation group reported some good news: There was an increase in the number of monarch butterflies flying to Mexico for the winter. This news was especially good because the previous year's migrating population had dropped to a historic low. The comeback is reassuring. However, the insects' numbers remain well below average. Concerns persist about monarchs' long-term survival.

Scientists have been closely monitoring the population of monarch butterflies. Every September, monarchs migrate by the millions from Canada and the U.S. to the mountains of central Mexico. There, in their winter home, the black-and-orange insects hang together in magnificent clumps from the boughs of fir trees. In recent years, those clumps were getting thinner. To butterfly experts, the size of the monarch population in 2009-2010 was particularly troubling. It represented a 75 percent decline compared to 2008-2009. The monarchs' population in 2010 was also the smallest since similar record-keeping methods were put in place in 1993. However, according to a report released by World Wildlife Fund Mexico (WWF), nearly 10 acres (about 4 hectares) of forest were blanketed by colonies of monarchs during the 2010-2011 winter. This was more than double the 4.7 acres (1.9 hectares) covered the previous winter.

"These figures are encouraging, compared to last year," said Omar Vidal. Vidal is the head of WWF. "They show a [move] toward recovery."

Lincoln Brower is an expert on monarch butterflies. Brower said that this year's comeback in migrating monarchs is a hopeful sign. However, the long-term decline in monarch populations remains worrisome. The amount of trees covered by monarch colonies in 2010-2011 might be an improvement over the 2009-2010 season. Still, it is well below the almost 20 acres (about 8 hectares) covered in the 2008-2009 winter. It is also well below the record high of 45 acres (about 18 hectares) in the 1996-1997 season.

According to experts, it's normal for the size of insect populations to change from year to year. However, they say, this doesn't fully account for a long-term decline in winter monarch migrations.

"What is [worrisome] is that all of the last seven years have been below average," Brower said.

Brower listed potential causes of the decline of monarch populations. He named changing climate conditions in the U.S. and Canada. This is where the migrating butterflies are born. Brower also said that certain crops are crowding out milkweed plants where monarchs lay their eggs.

One of the greatest threats to monarchs is deforestation. Many trees are being cut down in the mountaintop forests in Mexico. The forest canopy of tall trees is critical to the survival of butterflies. The canopy provides shelter from the freezing winter rain. It shields against the cold night air that could kill the delicate insects.

"The forest is like a blanket and umbrella to protect the monarchs from the cold winters," Brower said.

The Mexican government, WWF, and a host of other groups are working to reduce deforestation. In the past decade, they sent police to raid illegal sawmills. The groups also launched tree nurseries and other income projects. They did this to provide farm communities with income sources other than logging.

The effort to stop deforestation appears to be working. At a reserve in central Mexico, illegal loggers got away with less than 4 acres (1.6 hectares) of trees. This number is down 97 percent from two years ago. At its peak in 2005, illegal tree-cutting destroyed as many as 1,140 acres (about 460 hectares) annually.

According to Brower, efforts to stop deforestation are essential to the survival of monarchs.

"By even taking a single tree out near the butterfly colony you allow heat to escape from the forest," said Brower. "That then [threatens] the butterflies."

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Answer 1

Here are simple 8th-grade sentences, followed by evidence from the article.

Sentences:
1. Monarch butterflies are threatened by changing climate, crops that crowd out milkweed, and deforestation.
2. If trees are cut down in their winter forests, the butterflies lose the shelter that keeps them warm and safe.
3. Because of these threats, the monarch numbers fell a lot in some years and their winter colonies became much smaller.

Evidence from the article (quotes and parts that support each sentence):
- Threats: "Brower listed potential causes of the decline of monarch populations. He named changing climate conditions in the U.S. and Canada. Brower also said that certain crops are crowding out milkweed plants where monarchs lay their eggs."
- Deforestation and loss of shelter: "One of the greatest threats to monarchs is deforestation. Many trees are being cut down in the mountaintop forests in Mexico." and "The forest is like a blanket and umbrella to protect the monarchs from the cold winters," Brower said. "By even taking a single tree out near the butterfly colony you allow heat to escape from the forest," said Brower. "That then [threatens] the butterflies."
- Population decline: "the size of the monarch population in 2009-2010 was particularly troubling. It represented a 75 percent decline compared to 2008-2009." and the article notes colonies covered "nearly 10 acres ... this was more than double the 4.7 acres ... the previous winter" but still "well below the almost 20 acres ... covered in the 2008-2009 winter."