VOA慢速英语2018--“公民科学家”寻求解决大黄蜂问题的方法
时间:2018-12-08 作者:英语课 分类:2018年VOA慢速英语(六)月
‘Citizen Scientists’ Seek Solutions to Bumblebee’s Problems
Hundreds of amateur 1 “citizen scientists” have begun studying the Pacific Northwest area of the United States. They are seeking to learn more about the nearly 30 species 2 of bumblebees that live there.
Bumblebees are important for the growth of wild and agricultural plants. They help spread the substances that make it possible for flowers to reproduce 3 through the process known as pollination 4.
But some bumblebee species have disappeared from the places where they were once common.
The new, three-year-long research effort is known as the Pacific Northwest Bumble Bee Atlas 5 project. Organizations in Idaho, Oregon and Washington are working together as part of it.
Researchers hope to collect enough information to suggest ways to protect bumblebees and their habitat.
Ann Potter works with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. She told the Associated Press it is important for humans to study honeybees – “the little guys that make the world go around.”
Rich Hatfield works with the conservation group the Xerces Society. He noted 6 that there is growing interest in returning the habitats for pollinators to their earlier, healthier conditions.
The project’s leadership is sending citizen scientists to selected one-hectare sites. They will have tools to capture insects, as well as plant and bee guides. The amateur researchers will also have a special application, or app, on their smartphones. The app makes it so that findings can be recorded, photographed, mapped and sent to a central database 7.
Researchers say a little more than 200 people have agreed to visit 400 sites through the end of August. Hatfield said more volunteers are needed, especially to work in more difficult-to-reach areas.
For the study, the bees are captured and put in a low-temperature container so that they go into a sleep-like state. Photos are taken that examine the condition of the bees. The bees are then released unharmed once they warm up.
Unlike honeybees, bumblebees do no spend the winter living in their self-made structures known as hives. Instead, they usually spend the winter in holes in the ground. There are usually only a few hundred individual bumblebees left alive by the time fall arrives. Any honey they produce they eat.
When winter begins, all bumblebees die except a few pregnant 8 queen bees. In the spring, those queens head out alone to start a new structure to live and produce worker bees in, beginning the process all over again.
Andony Melathopoulos is with Oregon State University. His research interest centers on this period of bumblebees’ lives when they live alone.
“Here’s a species that spends a big part of its life as a vulnerable 9 queen,” he said.
Honeybees first came to the United States from Europe. People brought them in order to help with the pollination of their crops.
But when it comes to native North American plants and some crops, bumblebees are much more useful. They are much stronger and can hold onto an entire flower, shaking loose the necessary substance for plant reproduction. For some plant species, the bumblebee is the only insect strong enough to do so.
The Western bumblebee was once considered common and widespread. But it has since disappeared from many of the areas it once lived in. And experts for the current study are hoping to find reasons for the sudden decrease in Western bumblebee populations.
Ross Winton of Idaho Fish and Game admitted that scientists do not know much about bumblebees.
“The more we learn, the more concerned we get,” he added.
In the end, the Pacific Northwest Bumble Bee Atlas could be an example for other states interested in learning more about how their bumblebee populations are doing.
Melathopoulos said, “I think everyone is looking at the Pacific Northwest and this initiative 10 as a test case.”
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is paying for the research done in Idaho and Washington. In Oregon, another government group called the Foundation for Food and Agricultural Research is providing financial support.
I’m Pete Musto.
Words in This Story
amateur – adj. describing a person who does something such as a sport or hobby for pleasure and not as a job
species – n. a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants
pollination – n. the process of moving the very fine, usually yellow dust that is produced by a plant for reproduction to another plant
habitat – n. the place or type of place where a plant or animal naturally or normally lives or grows
smartphone(s) – n. a mobile telephone that can be used to send and receive e-mail, connect to the Internet and take photographs
hive(s) – n. a place where bees live and usually lay eggs or take care of their young
honey – n. a thick, sweet substance made by bees
vulnerable – adj. easily hurt or harmed physically 11, mentally, or emotionally
initiative – n. a plan or program that is intended to solve a problem
- He made an amateur attempt to build a cupboard.他很外行地试做了一个碗柜。
- Although Tom's only an amateur he's a first-class player.虽然汤姆只是个业余爱好者,但却是一流的高手。
- Are we the only thinking species in the whole of creation?我们是万物中惟一有思想的物种吗?
- This species of bird now exists only in Africa.这种鸟现在只存在于非洲。
- The machine can reproduce a key in two minutes.这机器能在两分钟内复制一把钥匙。
- The picture will reproduce well.这照片会印得很清楚。
- The flowers get pollination by insects.这些花通过昆虫授粉。
- Without sufficient pollination,the growth of the corn is stunted.没有得到充足的授粉,谷物的长势就会受阻。
- He reached down the atlas from the top shelf.他从书架顶层取下地图集。
- The atlas contains forty maps,including three of Great Britain.这本地图集有40幅地图,其中包括3幅英国地图。
- The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
- Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。
- I discovered some new information in the database.我在资料库里发现了一些新信息。
- We planned to build an online database.我们计划建一个联机数据库。
- He volunteered to protect her as she looked so vulnerable.她看上去很脆弱,他就主动去保护她。
- The company is in an economically vulnerable position.该公司目前经济状况不稳定。
- He went to see the headmaster on his own initiative.他主动去看望校长。
- His employer had described him as lacking in initiative and drive.雇主说他缺乏进取心和干劲。
- He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服,心绪也很乱。
- Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。