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?
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The author supports the claim by providing specific evidence of the negative impact of non-native animals on native species and the environment. The example of the tegu lizard in the Florida Everglades is given, highlighting how it destroys the food chain by eating anything in its path. By stating that the lizard poses a danger to small mammals, birds, insects, plants, and eggs, the author emphasizes the widespread impact of the introduced species. The author also suggests that if all animals in the ecosystem are at risk of extinction due to the tegu's eating habits, then releasing non-native animals puts the entire habitat in danger. This evidence is used to argue that individuals who release non-native animals should be penalized with a significant fine to discourage such actions.
By including an example of a non-native animal that has caused problems in a new environment.
1 answer