Use the paragraph to answer the 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? (1 point) Responses by including an example of a non-native animal that has caused problems in a new environment by including an example of a non-native animal that has caused problems in a new environment by including data that shows that the threat of punishment stops people from releasing non-native animals into the wild by including data that shows that the threat of punishment stops people from releasing non-native animals into the wild by including evidence that shows that animals are more likely to thrive in their native environment by including evidence that shows that animals are more likely to thrive in their native environment by including reasons that people might be tempted to take an animal out of its native environment

1 answer

The author supports 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, specifically the tegu lizard in the Florida Everglades. The author explains how the tegu lizard disrupts the ecosystem by preying on a wide variety of native species, placing them at risk of extinction. This illustrates the negative impact of releasing non-native animals and underlines the need for penalties to deter such actions.