时差N小时 成熟的水果(下)

Plants attract fruit eaters–or frugivores–

植物吸引以水果为食者或食果动物。

by packing valuable resources into their fruits like sugar and water

通过将糖分，水分等有价值的资源

or important nutrients¹ such as carotenoids, vitamins and minerals.

或类胡萝卜素、维生素及矿物质等重要营养素打包到果实

Plants often target specific animals that will give their seeds the best chances for germination²,

植物通常将目标锁定为给自身种子带来萌芽最佳机会的特定动物,

and discourage or repel³ animals that won't.

并阻止或排斥其他无所作为的动物。

Plants that want to attract birds rather than mammals

植物如果想吸引鸟类而非哺乳动物

might produce thorns or have fruits that taste unpalatable to most mammals but tasty to birds.

可能产生荆棘或味道令大多数哺乳动物不快,但鸟类尝起来美味的水果。

Plants that want to repel birds but attract mammals might have fruits with thicker, tougher outer skins.

植物如果想驱赶小鸟,但吸引哺乳动物可能就会使水果更厚,外表皮更硬。

Don't forget that selective breeding by humans has dramatically changed many fruits from their wild state,

不要忘记人类的选育配种已经极大地改变了很多水果原先的样子，

often resulting in larger, sweeter fruits with fewer seeds.

现在的水果经常个头更大,更甜而且所含种子较少。

1 nutrients   

n.（食品或化学品）营养物，营养品( nutrient的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a lack of essential nutrients 基本营养的缺乏
• Nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream. 营养素被吸收进血液。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 germination   

n.萌芽，发生；萌发；生芽；催芽

参考例句：

• At the onset of germination, the hypocotyl elongates rapidly by cell enlargement. 萌发开始时，下胚轴依靠细胞增大而迅速伸长。 来自辞典例句
• Excessive moisture is unfavourable for soybean germination. 水分过多对于大豆萌发是不利的。 来自辞典例句

3 repel   

v.击退，抵制，拒绝，排斥

参考例句：

• A country must have the will to repel any invader.一个国家得有决心击退任何入侵者。
• Particles with similar electric charges repel each other.电荷同性的分子互相排斥。