海洋生物大量减少在未来只能提供更少的食物

Fewer Creatures in Future Oceans Could Provide Less Food 海洋生物大量减少在未来只能提供更少的食物

Warming oceans will cause big changes in the biodiversity of sea life. That is a finding from the largest study ever of marine¹ plants and animals. The study found that some sea creatures will expand into new areas. But other creatures, especially in warmer waters, are likely to die out.

The study was done at the University of Queensland in Australia. It examined nearly 13,000 plant and animal species across the Earth’s oceans. Scientists used a model that looked at temperature changes at the sea surface. They then compared that information with what kind of climate and environment is best for the different marine species.

The study found that warmer ocean climates will suffer species loss. But creatures in colder climates will be able to survive by expanding their territory. That is not always a good thing, says John Pandolfi. He is with the ARC Centre of Excellence² for Coral Reef Studies at Australia's University of Queensland.

“So instead of having discrete³ differentiation⁴ of different marine communities in different places, we found in our analysis that projected climate change is going to result in a lot more mixing of species and a lot more sameness of diversity throughout the world’s oceans.”

The study lists these changes through the year 2100. Mr. Pandolfi says that sameness in the ocean is problematic, as researchers consider new ways to meet the food demands of a growing human population. 

“It could be that species that were very abundant in the past and they are good at tracking environments, when they invade a new ecosystem⁵ or a new geographic⁶ region they are not the ‘top dogs’ anymore or they may not be able to reproduce as effectively as they used to.”   

The study also looks at greenhouse gases – pollution linked to rising temperatures. Unless such gases are controlled, our planet and its oceans will continue to heat up, releasing the changes predicted in the study.

John Pandolfi warns the new combinations of marine species will present a major test for efforts to protect sea creatures.

“And that’s something, I think, that it isn’t easy for people to get their heads around, because, you think, ‘I’m going to set up a marine park here so I can make sure that these organisms are preserved through decades or centuries.’ But in fact, with climate change, those communities are going to change. They are going to be dynamic. They are not going to be static entities⁷.”

In the warmer ocean climates, plant and animal species will cross into new territories.

Mr. Pandolfi says the study demonstrates the importance of cooperation among nations to fight climate change and the possible loss of biodiversity. The findings were published in the journal “Nature Climate Change.”

Words in This Story

biodiversity – n. the many different kinds of plants and animals in an area

marine – adj. relating to the water or the plants and animals that live in the sea

species – n. a group of life forms that are similar and can produce young plants or animals

abundant – adj. plentiful⁸

ecosystem – n. everything that exists in an environment

geographic – adj. belonging to an area or country

top dog – idiom. the most important or powerful person in a group

static – adj.  showing little or no change, action, or program

1 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。

2 excellence   

n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德

参考例句：

• His art has reached a high degree of excellence.他的艺术已达到炉火纯青的地步。
• My performance is far below excellence.我的表演离优秀还差得远呢。

3 discrete   

adj.个别的，分离的，不连续的

参考例句：

• The picture consists of a lot of discrete spots of colour.这幅画由许多不相连的色点组成。
• Most staple fibers are discrete,individual entities.大多数短纤维是不联系的单独实体。

4 differentiation   

n.区别，区分

参考例句：

• There can be no differentiation without contrast. 有比较才有差别。
• The operation that is the inverse of differentiation is called integration. 与微分相反的运算叫做积分。

5 ecosystem   

n.生态系统

参考例句：

• This destroyed the ecosystem of the island.这样破坏了岛上的生态系统。
• We all have an interest in maintaining the integrity of the ecosystem.维持生态系统的完整是我们共同的利益。

6 geographic   

adj.地理学的，地理的

参考例句：

• The city's success owes much to its geographic position. 这座城市的成功很大程度上归功于它的地理位置。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Environmental problems pay no heed to these geographic lines. 环境问题并不理会这些地理界限。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

7 entities   

实体对像； 实体，独立存在体，实际存在物( entity的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Our newspaper and our printing business form separate corporate entities. 我们的报纸和印刷业形成相对独立的企业实体。
• The North American continent is made up of three great structural entities. 北美大陆是由三个构造单元组成的。

8 plentiful   

adj.富裕的，丰富的

参考例句：

• Their family has a plentiful harvest this year.他们家今年又丰收了。
• Rainfall is plentiful in the area.这个地区雨量充足。