美国科学60秒 SSS 2012-10-05
时间：2019-01-08 作者：英语课 分类：Scientific American(十)月
英语课
A rabbit might outrun a fox, but stalks of wheat aren’t making any quick getaways. Plants, for the most part, don’t flee from predators 2.
But some primitive 3 marine 4 plants are breaking the rules. Marine scientists at the University of Rhode Island School of Oceanography recently discovered a species of phytoplankton that actively 5 avoids being eaten.
The scientists observed that the phytoplankton, called Heterosigma akashiwo, swam away from zooplankton, its natural predator 1, yet remained undaunted by the presence of predators with an appetite for other things.
What’s more, when the scientists provided an area that the predators couldn’t tolerate, sort of a safe haven 6 if you will, the phytoplankton took refuge in that location. They also avoided empty water that had previously 7 contained predators, leading researchers to believe they’re responding to some sort of chemical signal. The discovery is published in the journal PLoS ONE.
It was already known that phytoplankton could move toward light and food, but this is the first time they’ve been known literally 8 to go out of their way to avoid being a meal themselves.
n.捕食其它动物的动物；捕食者
- The final part of this chapter was devoted to a brief summary of predator species.本章最后部分简要总结了食肉动物。
- Komodo dragon is the largest living lizard and a fearsome predator.科摩多龙是目前存在的最大蜥蜴，它是一种令人恐惧的捕食性动物。
n.食肉动物( predator的名词复数 )；奴役他人者（尤指在财务或性关系方面）
- birds and their earthbound predators 鸟和地面上捕食它们的动物
- The eyes of predators are highly sensitive to the slightest movement. 捕食性动物的眼睛能感觉到最细小的动静。 来自《简明英汉词典》
adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物
- It is a primitive instinct to flee a place of danger.逃离危险的地方是一种原始本能。
- His book describes the march of the civilization of a primitive society.他的著作描述了一个原始社会的开化过程。
adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵
- Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
- When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。
adv.积极地，勤奋地
- During this period all the students were actively participating.在这节课中所有的学生都积极参加。
- We are actively intervening to settle a quarrel.我们正在积极调解争执。
n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所
- It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
- The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。
adv.以前，先前（地）
- The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
- Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。