新奇事件簿 人类造成半数生物消失

Humans represent a tiny fraction of all life on Earth, but are responsible for the destruction of 83 per cent of all wild mammals and half of our plant life. This is the analysis of a new study from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel. The ground-breaking report is the first investigation¹ into the weight of every class of creature and life form on our planet. Lead researcher Professor Ron Milo explained what instigated² the research. He said: "I was shocked to find there wasn't already a comprehensive, holistic³ estimate of all the different components⁴ of biomass." He hopes the study will provide, "a perspective on the very dominant⁵ role that humanity now plays on Earth".

人类仅代表地球生命的一个微小部分，但是却对83%的野生哺乳动物和半数地球生命造成破坏。该分析数据出自以色列魏茨曼科学研究学院的一项新研究。此次开拓性报告首次对地球上各阶层生物和生命的影响进行调查。首席研究员Ron Milo教授解释了是什么驱使他们进行此次研究。他说：“我感到震惊，因为直到现在也没有对一个生物量的所有不同结构的综合整体性的评估。”他希望该研究能够，“为人类在地球中所扮演的主导角色”提供一个视角。

There are 7.6 billion people on Earth, but they represent just 0.01% of all living things. Scientists say that is the same percentage as for termites⁶. However, since we began walking on this planet, we have managed to cause the loss of most of its living species. Humans have also greatly changed the ratios of livestock⁷ to wild animals. Today, farmed poultry⁸ (mostly chickens) makes up 70% of all birds on the planet, with just 30% of birds being wild. Similarly, 60% of all mammals on Earth are livestock (mostly cattle and pigs), while just 4% are wild animals. Professor Milo hopes people will use his study, "as part of their world view [and] of how they consume" He said he hopes people will eat less meat.

地球上生活着76亿人，但是人类仅占所有生物的0.01%。科学家表示白蚁的比重也是这么多。但是由于人类开始在地球行走，我们已经造成了多数其他物种的损失。人类极大改变了牲畜与野生动物的比率。现在，农养家禽（主要是鸡）占地球所有鸟类的70%，野生鸟类仅占3%。同样，地球上60%的哺乳动物是家畜（主要为牛和猪），而野生动物仅为4%。Milo教授希望人类将他的研究“作为他们世界观和消费方式的一部分”他表示他希望人类少吃肉。

1 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

2 instigated   

v.使（某事物）开始或发生，鼓动( instigate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The government has instigated a programme of economic reform. 政府已实施了经济改革方案。
• He instigated the revolt. 他策动了这次叛乱。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 holistic   

adj.从整体着眼的，全面的

参考例句：

• There is a fundamental ambiguity in the use of word "whole" in recent holistic literature.在近代的整体主义著作中，“整体”这个词的用法极其含混。
• In so far as historicism is technological,its approach is not piecemeal,but "holistic".仅就历史决定论是一种技术而论，它的方法不是渐进的，而是“整体主义的”。

4 components   

（机器、设备等的）构成要素，零件，成分； 成分( component的名词复数 )； [物理化学]组分； [数学]分量； （混合物的）组成部分

参考例句：

• the components of a machine 机器部件
• Our chemistry teacher often reduces a compound to its components in lab. 在实验室中化学老师常把化合物分解为各种成分。

5 dominant   

adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因

参考例句：

• The British were formerly dominant in India.英国人从前统治印度。
• She was a dominant figure in the French film industry.她在法国电影界是个举足轻重的人物。

6 termites   

n.白蚁( termite的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Termites are principally tropical in distribution. 白蚁主要分布在热带地区。 来自辞典例句
• This spray will exterminate the termites. 这种喷剂能消灭白蚁。 来自辞典例句

7 livestock   

n.家畜，牲畜

参考例句：

• Both men and livestock are flourishing.人畜两旺。
• The heavy rains and flooding killed scores of livestock.暴雨和大水淹死了许多牲口。

8 poultry   

n.家禽，禽肉

参考例句：

• There is not much poultry in the shops. 商店里禽肉不太多。
• What do you feed the poultry on? 你们用什么饲料喂养家禽?