VOA标准英语2008年-Report: One Third of World's Coral Reefs Could

Experts say one-third of the oceans' coral reefs face extinction¹ by the middle of the century if nothing is done to save them. The reefs are home to a vast array of sea creatures, which experts say would also be endangered by the loss of the reefs. VOA's Jessica Berman reports.
　
Coral reef

A group of thirty nine leading coral experts from around the world sounded the alarm in the first-ever global assessment² of coral reefs.

Corals are tiny sea creatures that lay their skeletons down to form large reefs that have been built over millions of years.

Kent Carpenter of Old Dominion³ University in Virginia led the study, published this week in the journal Science, on the threat to the world's coral reefs, which are produced in tropical and sub-tropical seas in coastal⁴ waters.

Carpenter says steps must be taken now to reduce greenhouse gas emissions⁵ and stop over-fishing and pollution of the oceans.
　
Kent Carpenter

"If we do not do those things, then, at the current level of how things are going, we will probably lose our coral reefs by the middle of this century," Carpenter said. "So, 2050 is the date that many people are predicting that coral reefs will cease to exist."

Carpenter says, as ocean temperatures rise, corals throw off algae⁶ attached to them that are essential for their survival.

"Normally, when you see a coral, it's tan or green or some colorful color," he said. "But when they expel their algae inside of them, then they become white. And this is a phenomenon known as bleaching⁷. Another consequence of higher temperatures is increased disease, and this can cause mass die off."

Carpenter says the coral reefs at greatest risk of extinction are the most common - the branching or staghorn coral.

According to the report, the Caribbean has the greatest number of threatened coral species.
The report also lists corals within the Pacific's Indo-Malay-Philippine Archipelago as threatened because of large concentrations of people.

Experts say more than 25 percent of marine⁸ species depend upon the reefs for their survival.

Carpenter says humans also depend upon coral reefs.

"They are important for food and important for other types of livelihoods," he said. "So, if we lose the ecosystems⁹, we lose not only the biodiversity, but we also lose the capability¹⁰ of people to obtain income and food from coral reefs."

However, Carpenter says he and other marine biologists believe the coral reefs can be rescued through targeted conservation efforts and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
Earlier this week, a U.S. government report said nearly half of coral reefs in U.S. government territory are in poor or fair condition.

 

1 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。

2 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

3 dominion   

n.统治，管辖，支配权；领土，版图

参考例句：

• Alexander held dominion over a vast area.亚历山大曾统治过辽阔的地域。
• In the affluent society,the authorities are hardly forced to justify their dominion.在富裕社会里，当局几乎无需证明其统治之合理。

4 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

5 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。

6 algae   

n.水藻，海藻

参考例句：

• Most algae live in water.多数藻类生长在水中。
• Algae grow and spread quickly in the lake.湖中水藻滋蔓。

7 bleaching   

漂白法，漂白

参考例句：

• Moderately weathered rock showed more intense bleaching and fissuring in the feldspars. 中等风化岩石则是指长石有更为强烈的变白现象和裂纹现象。
• Bleaching effects are very strong and show on air photos. 退色效应非常强烈，并且反映在航空象片上。

8 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

9 ecosystems   

n.生态系统( ecosystem的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There are highly sensitive and delicately balanced ecosystems in the forest. 森林里有高度敏感、灵敏平衡的各种生态系统。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Madagascar's ecosystems range from rainforest to semi-desert. 马达加斯加生态系统类型多样，从雨林到半荒漠等不一而足。 来自辞典例句

10 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。