纪录片《我们的地球》 第80期 洞穴迷宫(19)

These strange stalactite-like formations are known, rather appropriately, as snottites.

这些奇特的钟乳石状的结构，确切地说，叫做“鼻涕石”

The drops dripping from the ends are sulphuric acid, strong enough to burn skin.

其末端滴落的液滴就是硫酸，酸性强到足以腐蚀皮肤。

The snottites are, in fact, vast colonies of bacteria capable of growing a centimetre a day.

“鼻涕石”其实是大型菌落，每天能长长1厘米。

In this world without sunlight, these bacteria extract energy from the hydrogen sulphide gas.

在这个没有阳光的世界里，这些细菌只能从硫化氢气体中吸收能量

Bacteria like these are known as extremophiles

像这样的细菌被称为嗜极生物

because of their ability to survive in such extreme conditions.

因为它们能在这种极端环境中生存

And these extremophiles play another important role in this cave.

这些嗜极生物还在这个洞中扮演着另一个非常重要的角色。

Surprisingly, they are the basis of a food chain

令人吃惊的是，它们竟然是食物链中的第一环

which supports, amongst other creatures, the larvae¹ of these midges.

用以养活其它生物，例如这些蚋的幼虫。

Villa² Luz's ecosystem³ was certainly very remarkable⁴,

露兹别墅山洞的生态系统的确非同寻常

but cave explorers were soon to make an even more astonishing discovery.

但是洞穴探险家们很快又有了更惊人的发现。

Beneath this arid⁵ landscape lies a subterranean⁶ wonderland.

谁能想到在这些贫瘠的土地下有一处地下仙境。

1 larvae   

n.幼虫

参考例句：

• Larvae are parasitic on sheep.幼虫寄生在绵羊的身上。
• The larvae prey upon small aphids.这种幼虫以小蚜虫为食。

2 villa   

n.别墅，城郊小屋

参考例句：

• We rented a villa in France for the summer holidays.我们在法国租了一幢别墅消夏。
• We are quartered in a beautiful villa.我们住在一栋漂亮的别墅里。

3 ecosystem   

n.生态系统

参考例句：

• This destroyed the ecosystem of the island.这样破坏了岛上的生态系统。
• We all have an interest in maintaining the integrity of the ecosystem.维持生态系统的完整是我们共同的利益。

4 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

5 arid   

adj.干旱的；(土地)贫瘠的

参考例句：

• These trees will shield off arid winds and protect the fields.这些树能挡住旱风,保护农田。
• There are serious problems of land degradation in some arid zones.在一些干旱地带存在严重的土地退化问题。

6 subterranean   

adj.地下的，地表下的

参考例句：

• London has 9 miles of such subterranean passages.伦敦像这样的地下通道有9英里长。
• We wandered through subterranean passages.我们漫游地下通道。