VOA慢速英语2009-SCIENCE IN THE NEWS - Oldest Examples of Two Cor

VOICE ONE:

This is SCIENCE IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English. I'm Bob Doughty¹.

VOICE TWO:

And I'm Faith Lapidus. This week, we will tell about newly-found organisms that are said to be among the oldest living organisms on Earth. And, we will tell about the first complete report of bird populations in the United States.

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VOICE ONE:
　
Hawaiian coral that is more than 4,200 years old

A research team says it has found corals that are more than four thousand years old. The corals were discovered at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, near the Hawaiian Islands. The team made the discovery with a vehicle designed to operate deep underwater. At depths of nearly four hundred meters, the researchers found the oldest examples of two species of coral. One is a kind of deep-water black coral called Leiopathes. The other was a gold coral, called Gerardia.

A report on the team's discovery was published recently in the Proceedings² of the National Academy of Sciences.

VOICE TWO:

The team collected pieces of the coral and then used radio-carbon dating methods to find their age. The tests showed the organisms were, in fact, much older than reported in earlier estimates.

One of the researchers was Brendan Roark of Texas A-and-M University. He says the Leiopathes corals were shown to be about four thousand two hundred sixty-five years old. The Gerardia is believed to be about two thousand seven hundred forty-two years old.

The age of the corals would make them among the oldest living creatures in existence. Scientists know that some of the Bristlecone pines in northern California are also more than four thousand years old.

VOICE ONE:

Deep sea corals face numerous threats. They include illegal harvesting and activities linked to deep-sea fishing. Other threats include human pollution, acidification from carbon dioxide and rising temperatures in Earth's atmosphere.

Professor Roark says corals are important because they support many other forms of sea life. He says they also can show part of the ocean's ancient history. Corals have hard, stony³ skeletons that grow like tree trunks. The skeletons have growth rings that represent ocean water conditions at the time.

Professor Roark says knowing the age of the corals might help scientists understand earlier water conditions and ocean surface productivity. And, he says the discovery will add to what scientists know about Earth's changing climate.

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VOICE TWO:

We share our environment with many organisms. But few give us more pleasure than birds. Their beauty and songs have become part of our understanding of what a healthy environment should support.

Yet a report released in March shows that many kinds of American birds are in trouble. The report is called "The State of the Birds United States Two Thousand Nine." It says that nearly one third of about eight hundred bird species in the United States are threatened in some way.

VOICE ONE:

The report is said to provide the first complete study of American bird populations. It was based on three separate studies by a partnership⁴ of government agencies and environmental groups. The groups include the Cornell Lab of Ornithology⁵, the National Audubon Society and the American Bird Conservancy.

Much of the information came from observations made by thousands of volunteers in more than four thousand places over forty years. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service led the effort to combine the information into one report.

VOICE TWO:
　
The Northern Bobwhite is a grassland⁶ bird that is close to disappearing

Interior Secretary Ken⁷ Salazar praised the report as an important scientific document on the health of American birds. But it is not only a warning about falling bird populations. The health of bird species tells researchers a lot about the condition of the environment.

The study grouped birds by the environments in which they live. It said grassland bird populations fell by about forty percent in forty years. That was the biggest drop reported. One reason for this is the disappearance⁸ of grasslands⁹ in the central United States. The report says only two percent of the grasslands that existed two centuries ago remain today.

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VOICE ONE:

Birds depend on their environment to provide food and shelter. The report said loss of habitat is the biggest threat to American birds. Sixty-seven species are federally listed as endangered or threatened. But the report lists one hundred eight-four species that are considered in danger because of limited habitat, serious threats or falling populations.

The report also notes successes in bird conservation efforts. For example, the numbers of many wetland birds have recovered since measures were taken to protect more than twelve million hectares of wetlands.

One hundred thirty-nine wetland species have increased in number since the late nineteen-seventies. Pelicans¹⁰, herons and geese are just a few of many recovering wetland species.

VOICE TWO:
　
The American Bald Eagle

Numbers of America's national bird, the bald eagle, have recovered largely because of measures to fight pollution. In nineteen seventy-two, the federal government banned most uses of the insecticide D.D.T. The chemical used to kill mosquitoes also caused bird egg shells to thin and break. Species like the bald eagle, peregrine falcon¹¹ and osprey nearly disappeared. Now, their populations seem secure.

But threats to other species continue to grow. Land development and agriculture are just two uses of natural resources that change and destroy environments that birds need. The cutting of forests is threatening woodland species like the Northern Spotted¹² Owl¹³.

VOICE ONE:

In addition to loss of habitat, birds face many other man-made threats. The report says up to one billion birds die each year from flying into objects like power lines, windows and tall buildings.

Environmentalists are studying ways to reduce this number, but these efforts are only beginning.

Climate change is one of the least understood threats to birds. The report says temperatures are estimated to increase by several degrees Celsius¹⁴ in the next one hundred years. And sea levels could rise by one half meter.

Already, rising temperatures have had an effect on migratory¹⁵ birds. Studies show that some American Robins¹⁶ are appearing in their nesting areas two weeks earlier than thirty years ago. Other birds, like the red-winged blackbirds and eastern bluebirds, are laying eggs earlier because of warmer temperatures. The fear is that, as birds move to nesting areas earlier, they will arrive before food is available.

VOICE TWO:
　
The I'iwi of Hawaii

Birds native to one state are of special concern to wildlife experts. More than one third of all threatened or endangered bird species in America live on the Hawaiian Islands. Each island is home to a rich collection of animal and plant life. One hundred thirteen bird species are found nowhere else.

Seventy-one bird species have disappeared forever since people first arrived on the Hawaiian Islands one thousand seven hundred years ago. Today, thirty-one Hawaiian species are federally listed as endangered or threatened.

Non-native plants, animals and diseases are the main threats. Non-native animals like rats, cats and mongooses kill flightless birds and raid nests. Also, the loss of habitat to development and agriculture continue to endanger many rare species.

VOICE ONE:

Alicia King works for the Fish and Wildlife Service. She says the main message of the report is that conservation measures work when they are put in place. The successful recovery of some well-known species is evidence of this. But more needs to be done. She says there currently are not enough programs to study bird numbers and behavior.

Partnerships¹⁷ between public, private and tribal¹⁸ groups can help to provide the resources needed to protect America's birds. But Miz King says the American people are an important part of the solution, too.

Americans spend one hundred twenty-two billion dollars on watching wildlife each year. And, millions of Americans enjoy watching birds. But the economic value of wild birds is only part of their importance. They also represent a part of a healthy environment that cannot be replaced.

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VOICE TWO:

This SCIENCE IN THE NEWS was written by Mario Ritter and Brianna Blake, who was also our producer. I'm Faith Lapidus.

VOICE ONE:

And I'm Bob Doughty. Read and listen to our programs at voaspecialenglish.com. Join us again next week for more news about science in Special English on the Voice of America.

1 doughty   

adj.勇猛的，坚强的

参考例句：

• Most of successful men have the characteristics of contumacy and doughty.绝大多数成功人士都有共同的特质：脾气倔强，性格刚强。
• The doughty old man battled his illness with fierce determination.坚强的老人用巨大毅力与疾病作斗争。

2 proceedings   

n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

3 stony   

adj.石头的，多石头的，冷酷的，无情的

参考例句：

• The ground is too dry and stony.这块地太干，而且布满了石头。
• He listened to her story with a stony expression.他带着冷漠的表情听她讲经历。

4 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

5 ornithology   

n.鸟类学

参考例句：

• He found his vocation in ornithology.他发现自己适于专攻鸟类学。
• His main interests are botany and ornithology.他主要对植物学和鸟类学感兴趣。

6 grassland   

n.牧场，草地，草原

参考例句：

• There is a reach of grassland in the distance.远处是连绵一片的草原。
• The snowstorm swept the vast expanse of grassland.暴风雪袭击了辽阔的草原。

7 ken   

n.视野，知识领域

参考例句：

• Such things are beyond my ken.我可不懂这些事。
• Abstract words are beyond the ken of children.抽象的言辞超出小孩所理解的范围.

8 disappearance   

n.消失，消散，失踪

参考例句：

• He was hard put to it to explain her disappearance.他难以说明她为什么不见了。
• Her disappearance gave rise to the wildest rumours.她失踪一事引起了各种流言蜚语。

9 grasslands   

n.草原，牧场( grassland的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Songs were heard ringing loud and clear over the grasslands. 草原上扬起清亮激越的歌声。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Grasslands have been broken and planted to wheat. 草原已经开垦出来，种上了小麦。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 pelicans   

n.鹈鹕( pelican的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Kurt watched the Pelicans fire their jets and scorch the grass. 库尔特看着鹈鹕运兵船点火，它们的喷焰把草烧焦。 来自互联网
• The Pelican Feeding Officers present an educational talk while feeding the pelicans. 那个正在喂鹈鹕的工作人员会边喂鹈鹕边给它上一节教育课。 来自互联网

11 falcon   

n.隼，猎鹰

参考例句：

• The falcon was twice his size with pouted feathers.鹰张开羽毛比两只鹰还大。
• The boys went hunting with their falcon.男孩子们带着猎鹰出去打猎了。

12 spotted   

adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的

参考例句：

• The milkman selected the spotted cows,from among a herd of two hundred.牛奶商从一群200头牛中选出有斑点的牛。
• Sam's shop stocks short spotted socks.山姆的商店屯积了有斑点的短袜。

13 owl   

n.猫头鹰，枭

参考例句：

• Her new glasses make her look like an owl.她的新眼镜让她看上去像只猫头鹰。
• I'm a night owl and seldom go to bed until after midnight.我睡得很晚，经常半夜后才睡觉。

14 Celsius   

adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的

参考例句：

• The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
• The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。

15 migratory   

n.候鸟，迁移

参考例句：

• Many migratory birds visit this lake annually.许多候鸟每年到这个湖上作短期逗留。
• This does not negate the idea of migratory aptitude.这并没有否定迁移能力这一概念。

16 robins   

n.知更鸟，鸫( robin的名词复数 )；（签名者不分先后，以避免受责的）圆形签名抗议书（或请愿书）

参考例句：

• The robins occupied their former nest. 那些知更鸟占了它们的老窝。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Benjamin Robins then entered the fray with articles and a book. 而后，Benjamin Robins以他的几篇专论和一本书参加争论。 来自辞典例句

17 partnerships   

n.伙伴关系( partnership的名词复数 )；合伙人身份；合作关系

参考例句：

• Partnerships suffer another major disadvantage: decision-making is shared. 合伙企业的另一主要缺点是决定要由大家来作。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
• It involved selling off limited partnerships. 它涉及到售出有限的合伙权。 来自辞典例句

18 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。