英语听力：自然百科 澳洲夜宴蛙

 The tiny northern corroboree frog of Australia is only just hanging on. Populations of both the northern and southern corroboree frogs have declined catastrophically in the wild over the last two decades. The primary culprit is the deadly chytrid fungus¹ which has devastated² frog populations across the world.

 

The corroboree frog suffered another crippling blow in 2003 when bushfires destroyed most of the alpine³ habitat the frogs called home. The loss of habitat due to drought and human-introduced animal grazing has also negatively impacted the frog populations. With fewer than 100 breeding pairs remaining in the wild by 2008, it's estimated the northern corroboree frog has become virtually extinct in the Australian Capital Territory.

 

“Corroboree frogs are fascinating species. They only occur in the high altitude areas of the Australian Alps, nowhere else in the world. And their bright colorings, we believe, serve as a warning signal to other animals. Black and yellow in the environment is generally a warning color. They have chemicals in their skin that show affinities⁴ to the poison arrow frogs in other countries. We don't think they are poisonous, but they are certainly taste bad.”

 

If current trends continue, experts believe the species faces the real threat of extinction⁵ in the next five to ten years. Last year, government scientists made a breakthrough. At Tidbinbilla Nature Preserve, they bred the frog in captivity⁶ for the first time, producing around 100 frogs. This year they produced 1,000 precious eggs, and most have begun hatching into tadpoles⁷. Experts are optimistic. They believe the long-term survival of this species is looking much brighter.

 

“And if current trends continue, we think that species faces the real threat of extinction in the next five to ten years. So this population is key to the survival of the corroboree frogs in the wild.”

 

It's a painfully slow process. Corroboree frogs produce only about 25 eggs a year, compared to the 20,000 made by Cane⁸ Toads⁹. The success of the captive population gives new hope to the species.

 

 

“This captive population does that. It buys us time. It gives us a window of opportunity that we can help overcome the effects of this deadly disease.”

 

The ultimate goal of the breeding program is to release the frogs back into the wild within the next two years.

1 fungus   

n.真菌，真菌类植物

参考例句：

• Mushrooms are a type of fungus.蘑菇是一种真菌。
• This fungus can just be detected by the unaided eye.这种真菌只用肉眼就能检查出。

2 devastated   

v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的

参考例句：

• The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city. 这颗炸弹炸毁了旧城的一大片地方。
• His family is absolutely devastated. 他的一家感到极为震惊。

3 alpine   

adj.高山的；n.高山植物

参考例句：

• Alpine flowers are abundant there.那里有很多高山地带的花。
• Its main attractions are alpine lakes and waterfalls .它以高山湖泊和瀑布群为主要特色。

4 affinities   

n.密切关系( affinity的名词复数 )；亲近；（生性）喜爱；类同

参考例句：

• Cubism had affinities with the new European interest in Jazz. 主体派和欧洲新近的爵士音乐热有密切关系。 来自辞典例句
• The different isozymes bind calcium ions with different affinities. 不同的同功酶以不同的亲和力与钙离子相结合。 来自辞典例句

5 extinction   

n.熄灭，消亡，消灭，灭绝，绝种

参考例句：

• The plant is now in danger of extinction.这种植物现在有绝种的危险。
• The island's way of life is doomed to extinction.这个岛上的生活方式注定要消失。

6 captivity   

n.囚禁；被俘；束缚

参考例句：

• A zoo is a place where live animals are kept in captivity for the public to see.动物园是圈养动物以供公众观看的场所。
• He was held in captivity for three years.他被囚禁叁年。

7 tadpoles   

n.蝌蚪( tadpole的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The pond teemed with tadpoles. 池子里有很多蝌蚪。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Both fish and tadpoles have gills. 鱼和蝌蚪都有鳃。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8 cane   

n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的

参考例句：

• This sugar cane is quite a sweet and juicy.这甘蔗既甜又多汁。
• English schoolmasters used to cane the boys as a punishment.英国小学老师过去常用教鞭打男学生作为惩罚。

9 toads   

n.蟾蜍，癞蛤蟆( toad的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• All toads blink when they swallow. 所有的癞蛤蟆吞食东西时都会眨眼皮。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Toads have shorter legs and are generally more clumsy than frogs. 蟾蜍比青蛙脚短，一般说来没有青蛙灵活。 来自辞典例句