Monarch butterflies return to California in higher numbers after record low

Monarch¹ butterflies return to California in higher numbers after record low

Transcript²

In 2020, the number of monarch butterflies migrating to California dropped to less than 2,000. This past year the number jumped back up, but the species is still in danger.

RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:

People along the California coast have a chance to pause in coming weeks, take a breath and watch the migration³ of Western monarch butterflies. Just as many people do, they come to California for its moderate temperatures. They wait out the coldest parts of the year. And as they do, biologist Emma Pelton takes part in a butterfly census⁴.

EMMA PELTON: We counted almost 250,000 butterflies.

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

Pelton is a biologist with the Xerces Society for Invertebrate⁵ Conservation. Two hundred fifty thousand is a big number, and I, for one, would not want to be the person standing⁶ there counting. But Pelton finds some reassurance⁷ in it.

PELTON: In the last few years, we've seen the population do some pretty funky⁸ things and really crash. The population is about 5% of what it was in the 1980s.

MARTIN: In the 1980s, millions of monarchs⁹ flocked to the West Coast. Then, by 2020, their numbers had dropped to fewer than 2,000.

INSKEEP: Wow, that collapse¹⁰ may be linked to destruction of habitat or climate change, though to some extent, it's a mystery, just like their partial recovery.

PELTON: We're not out of the woods yet, and one year of 250,000 butterflies is not recovery. Half a decade ago, this would not have been an impressive number of butterflies.

MARTIN: So while Pelton is pleased, she and others still want monarchs to be added to the endangered species list. She wants legal protections so some future generation can also witness the marvel¹¹ of so many butterfly wings.

(SOUNDBITE OF NIFTY EARTH'S "PINECREST")

1 monarch   

n.帝王，君主，最高统治者

参考例句：

• The monarch's role is purely ceremonial.君主纯粹是个礼仪职位。
• I think myself happier now than the greatest monarch upon earth.我觉得这个时候比世界上什么帝王都快乐。

2 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

3 migration   

n.迁移，移居，（鸟类等的）迁徙

参考例句：

• Swallows begin their migration south in autumn.燕子在秋季开始向南方迁移。
• He described the vernal migration of birds in detail.他详细地描述了鸟的春季移居。

4 census   

n.(官方的)人口调查，人口普查

参考例句：

• A census of population is taken every ten years.人口普查每10年进行一次。
• The census is taken one time every four years in our country.我国每四年一次人口普查。

5 invertebrate   

n.无脊椎动物

参考例句：

• Half of all invertebrate species live in tropical rain forests.一半的无脊椎动物物种生活在热带雨林中。
• Worms are an example of invertebrate animals.蠕虫是无脊椎动物的一个例子。

6 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

7 reassurance   

n.使放心，使消除疑虑

参考例句：

• He drew reassurance from the enthusiastic applause.热烈的掌声使他获得了信心。
• Reassurance is especially critical when it comes to military activities.消除疑虑在军事活动方面尤为关键。

8 funky   

adj.畏缩的，怯懦的，霉臭的；adj.新式的，时髦的

参考例句：

• The kitchen smelled really funky.这个厨房有一股霉味。
• It is a funky restaurant with very interesting art on the walls.那是一家墙上挂着很有意思的绘画的新潮餐馆。

9 monarchs   

君主，帝王( monarch的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Monarchs ruled England for centuries. 世袭君主统治英格兰有许多世纪。
• Serving six monarchs of his native Great Britain, he has served all men's freedom and dignity. 他在大不列颠本国为六位君王服务，也为全人类的自由和尊严服务。 来自演讲部分

10 collapse   

vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。

11 marvel   

vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事

参考例句：

• The robot is a marvel of modern engineering.机器人是现代工程技术的奇迹。
• The operation was a marvel of medical skill.这次手术是医术上的一个奇迹。