Question

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

Explanation:

The text mentions that other animals use aardvark burrows for various purposes like escaping extreme temperatures, reproducing, and hiding from predators. If aardvark populations shrink (due to rising temperatures etc.), these other animals would have fewer refuges. This implies that aardvarks play a crucial role (like a keystone species) in the ecosystem as their decline would have a cascading effect (trophic cascade) on other species that depend on their burrows.

• Option A: There is no mention of aardvarks shifting territory locations in the text.
• Option C: The text says aardvarks are of "least concern" but also speculates about possible declines elsewhere, not that populations are increasing globally.
• Option D: The text is about how other animals use aardvark burrows, not about providing burrows to aardvarks to maintain their body temperature.

Answer:

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