纪录片《南太平洋》 第56期 四海为家（24）

From the 13 kinds of spider that made it here,

一开始到达这里的13种蜘蛛

over a 100 new species evolved - like the happy-face spider.

已演化出超过100个新物种，比如这种笑脸蜘蛛

From just one species of fruit fly came over 1,000 others.

这里也逐渐演化出近千种果蝇

And here, caterpillars¹ were free to become carnivores.

就连毛虫也很自然而然地变成了食肉动物

Hawaii's 20 surviving species of honey creeper also evolved from just a few individuals.

夏威夷的20种食蜜鸟也是从不多的几只鸟进化而来的

Compared to seabirds, honey creepers are poor fliers.

食蜜鸟的飞行能力不及海鸟

So how did the ancestors of these forest birds and Hawaii's other castaways get here?

那么它们的祖先和其它漂流者是如何到达夏威夷的呢

The answer may be blowing in the wind.

答案也许是风力

Even the gentlest breeze can have a huge impact.

即使是微风也有巨大的影响

Tree ferns stir and release their lightweight spores².

桫椤树随风摆动，同时释放出轻盈的孢子

Thermal³ updrafts can carry the spores 30,000 feet into the jet stream.

上升的热气流能将孢子带到9000米的高空急流中

And there are even animals designed to ride these high-altitude air currents.

甚至有些动物也会搭乘高空急流

Near-weightless spiderlings are expert ballooners, catching⁴ the wind with their gossamer⁵ threads.

体态轻盈的幼蛛是驾驭气流的专家，它们用蛛丝捕捉风力。

1 caterpillars   

n.毛虫( caterpillar的名词复数 )；履带

参考例句：

• Caterpillars eat the young leaves of this plant. 毛毛虫吃这种植物的嫩叶。
• Caterpillars change into butterflies or moths. 毛虫能变成蝴蝶或蛾子。 来自辞典例句

2 spores   

n.（细菌、苔藓、蕨类植物）孢子( spore的名词复数 )v.（细菌、苔藓、蕨类植物）孢子( spore的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Ferns, mosses and fungi spread by means of spores. 蕨类植物、苔藓和真菌通过孢子传播蔓生。
• Spores form a lipid membrane during the process of reproducing. 孢于在生殖过程中形成类脂膜。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 预防生物武器

3 thermal   

adj.热的，由热造成的；保暖的

参考例句：

• They will build another thermal power station.他们要另外建一座热能发电站。
• Volcanic activity has created thermal springs and boiling mud pools.火山活动产生了温泉和沸腾的泥浆池。

4 catching   

adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住

参考例句：

• There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
• Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。

5 gossamer   

n.薄纱，游丝

参考例句：

• The prince helped the princess,who was still in her delightful gossamer gown.王子搀扶着仍穿著那套美丽薄纱晚礼服的公主。
• Gossamer is floating in calm air.空中飘浮着游丝。