纪录片《我们的地球》 第298期 茂密丛林(16)

With the coming of the night, a new cast of jungle characters takes to the stage.

当夜幕降临，另一批雨林主角们登上了舞台。

Flying insects begin to glow as they search for mates.

飞虫们开始为寻找伴侣而发光。

Fungi¹, unlike plants, thrive in the darkness of the forest floor.

菌类与植物不同，在阴暗的森林地面茁壮地成长。

They're hidden until they begin to develop the incredible structures with which they reproduce.

它们隐匿起来，直到绽放的时刻，便以惊人的姿态生长繁殖。

Each releases millions of microscopic² spores³ that drift invisibly away.

每株蘑菇释放出数以百万的微型孢子，无形地飘散各处。

Many have fruiting bodies that reach upwards⁴ to catch any feeble current there might be in the clammy air.

许多长出子实体的蘑菇努力朝上生长，以捕捉潮湿空气中可能存在的稀薄氧气。

But this one, as it grows, becomes luminous⁵.

然而这一株，长着长着，却发起了光。

Why fungi light up has remained a mystery... until now.

蘑菇发光的原因一直是个谜团，直到现在才被解开。

Scientists studying the brightest fungi in the world think they may have an answer.

科学家研究了世界上最亮的蘑菇，认为他们或许找到了答案。

Like a beacon⁶, the light attracts insects. From far and wide.

光线像灯塔一样吸引着昆虫。从四处赶来。

1 fungi   

n.真菌，霉菌

参考例句：

• Students practice to apply the study of genetics to multicellular plants and fungi.学生们练习把基因学应用到多细胞植物和真菌中。
• The lawn was covered with fungi.草地上到处都是蘑菇。

2 microscopic   

adj.微小的，细微的，极小的，显微的

参考例句：

• It's impossible to read his microscopic handwriting.不可能看清他那极小的书写字迹。
• A plant's lungs are the microscopic pores in its leaves.植物的肺就是其叶片上微细的气孔。

3 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

4 upwards   

adv.向上，在更高处...以上

参考例句：

• The trend of prices is still upwards.物价的趋向是仍在上涨。
• The smoke rose straight upwards.烟一直向上升。

5 luminous   

adj.发光的，发亮的；光明的；明白易懂的；有启发的

参考例句：

• There are luminous knobs on all the doors in my house.我家所有门上都安有夜光把手。
• Most clocks and watches in this shop are in luminous paint.这家商店出售的大多数钟表都涂了发光漆。

6 beacon   

n.烽火，（警告用的）闪火灯，灯塔

参考例句：

• The blink of beacon could be seen for miles.灯塔的光亮在数英里之外都能看见。
• The only light over the deep black sea was the blink shone from the beacon.黑黢黢的海面上唯一的光明就只有灯塔上闪现的亮光了。