新奇事件簿 无人机用于保护沙漠地鼠龟

High-tech¹ drones are flying to the defence of tortoises in California's Mojave Desert. The desert tortoises in the western Mojave are under threat of being wiped out by ravens³. The raven² is a larger version of the crow. Its population in the Mojave has increased by more than 700 per cent in the past 25 years and this is having a catastrophic impact on the desert tortoises. Allison Fedrick, a local conservationist, observed that in some places, "where there used to be 10 ravens, there are now 15,000". Ms Fedrick noted⁴ that if nothing was done to help the tortoises, they would be completely wiped out. Their numbers have plummeted⁵ by more than 90 per cent since 1990.

高科技无人机将被用于保护加利福尼亚莫哈韦沙漠的乌龟。位于莫哈韦沙漠西部的沙漠地鼠龟正面临被大乌鸦消灭的威胁。大乌鸦是体型更大的乌鸦。莫哈韦沙漠大乌鸦的数量已在过去25年间增长超过700%并对沙漠地鼠龟产生了灾难性的影响。当地保护主义者Allison Fedrick观察到，在一些地区“过去有10只大乌鸦，而现在有15000只”。Fedrick女士提出，如果不采取任何措施来帮助沙漠地鼠龟，它们就会被彻底灭绝。它们的数量自1990年来骤然下跌超过90%。

Technology is coming to the rescue of the tortoises. A team of biologists and drone operators has come up with a strategy to reduce the raven population. They are using drones and the use of the method of "egg oiling". This involves flying drones up to the ravens' nests, removing fertilized⁶ eggs, coating them with a film of corn oil, and then replacing them. The oil blocks oxygen from entering the egg, effectively ending the life of the embryo⁷ inside. Biologist Mercy Vaughn said: "If ravens figure out that their eggs are rotten, they are likely to eat them and nest someplace else." Conservationist John Griffin said oiling was justified⁸ as "part of a comprehensive approach that...addresses all other factors".

技术将帮助救助这些乌龟。一个由生物学家和无人机操作员组成的团队提出了减少乌鸦数量的策略。他们将利用无人机和“蛋涂油”的方法。这包括无人机飞到大乌鸦的巢穴，移出受精蛋，给它们涂上一层玉米油，然后替换它们。这些油可以阻止氧气进入但内，有效终止内部胚胎的生命。生物学家Mercy Vaughn表示：“如果大乌鸦发现它们的蛋腐烂了，它们可能会吃掉它们并在别处筑巢。”保护主义者John Griffin表示涂油被认为是“解决所有其他因素的一种综合方法的一部分”。

1 high-tech   

adj.高科技的

参考例句：

• The economy is in the upswing which makes high-tech services in more demand too.经济在蓬勃发展，这就使对高科技服务的需求量也在加大。
• The quest of a cure for disease with high-tech has never ceased. 人们希望运用高科技治疗疾病的追求从未停止过。

2 raven   

n.渡鸟，乌鸦；adj.乌亮的

参考例句：

• We know the raven will never leave the man's room.我们知道了乌鸦再也不会离开那个男人的房间。
• Her charming face was framed with raven hair.她迷人的脸上垂落着乌亮的黑发。

3 ravens   

n.低质煤；渡鸦( raven的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Wheresoever the carcase is,there will the ravens be gathered together. 哪里有死尸，哪里就有乌鸦麇集。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A couple of ravens croaked above our boat. 两只乌鸦在我们小船的上空嘎嘎叫着。 来自辞典例句

4 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• 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。

5 plummeted   

v.垂直落下，骤然跌落( plummet的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Share prices plummeted to an all-time low. 股票价格暴跌到历史最低点。
• A plane plummeted to earth. 一架飞机一头栽向地面。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 Fertilized   

v.施肥( fertilize的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The study of psychology has recently been widely cross-fertilized by new discoveries in genetics. 心理学研究最近从遗传学的新发现中受益匪浅。
• Flowers are often fertilized by bees as they gather nectar. 花常在蜜蜂采蜜时受粉。

7 embryo   

n.胚胎，萌芽的事物

参考例句：

• They are engaging in an embryo research.他们正在进行一项胚胎研究。
• The project was barely in embryo.该计划只是个雏形。

8 justified   

a.正当的，有理的

参考例句：

• She felt fully justified in asking for her money back. 她认为有充分的理由要求退款。
• The prisoner has certainly justified his claims by his actions. 那个囚犯确实已用自己的行动表明他的要求是正当的。