Question

study finds aardvarks suffering as african climate heats up
little is known about africas elusive aardvarks, but new research says they are vulnerable to climate change like many other species.
hotter temperatures are taking their toll on the aardvark, whose diet of ants and termites is becoming scarcer in some areas because of reduced rainfall.
drought in the kalahari desert killed five out of six aardvarks that were being monitored for a year, as well as 11 others in the area.
the aardvarks body temperatures plummeted during the night because they were not getting enough energy from diminished food sources. they tried to conserve energy by looking for insects during the warmer daytime, but their efforts to adapt could not save them.
researchers said some birds, reptiles and other animals use aardvark burrows to escape extreme temperatures, reproduce, and hide from predators. they could have fewer refuges available if aardvark populations shrink because of rising temperatures, they said.
the aardvark, which lives in many parts of sub-saharan africa, is identified as an animal of \least concern\ on an international
ed list\ of threatened species. there are no indications that the population is changing significantly in southern africa, though it is speculated that numbers may be declining elsewhere because of habitat destruction, the bushmeat trade and other factors.
\study finds aardvarks suffering as african climate heats up,\ christopher torchia, phys.org, july 31, 2017.
which of the following best identifies the authors claim?
a aardvarks are shifting the location of their territories as a response to global climate change.
b aardvarks are a keystone species and their decline could have a trophic cascade effect on the ecosystem.
c the loss of aardvarks described in the study was an isolated incident because most aardvark populations are increasing globally.
d providing aardvarks with more burrows will help them maintain their body temperature and increase survival rates.

Explanation:

• Option A: The text does not mention aardvarks shifting territory locations.
• Option B: The text states that other animals use aardvark burrows for various purposes (escape, reproduction, hiding). If aardvark populations shrink (due to climate - related issues), these other animals will have fewer refuges. This implies that aardvarks play a crucial role (like a keystone species) and their decline could have a cascading effect (trophic cascade) on the ecosystem as multiple species that depend on their burrows will be affected.
• Option C: The text says “it is speculated that numbers may be declining elsewhere” and also mentions the impact of climate change (e.g., drought in Kalahari Desert affecting aardvarks), so it is not an isolated incident and there is no indication of global population increase.
• Option D: The text does not suggest that providing more burrows will help aardvarks. The main issue is food scarcity (due to climate - related reduced rainfall affecting ants and termites) and subsequent energy conservation problems.

Answer:

B. Aardvarks are a keystone species and their decline could have a trophic cascade effect on the ecosystem.