VOA标准英语2009年-Scientists Embark on Expeditions to Study

By Lisa Bryant
Paris
28 October 2009

 
Map of Madagascar
European and African scientists are embarking¹ on two major expeditions to take stock of the biodiversity in little known areas of Mozambique and Madagascar.  The projects focus on areas considered to be "biodiversity hotspots" that are also threatened by development.

The expeditions are being launched by the National Museum of Natural History in Paris and Pro-Natura International, along with the International Union for Conservation of Nature.  The first team is setting out in November, to conduct an inventory² of fauna³ and flora⁴ in little-known areas of Mozambique.

Worldwide, scientists have only identified a small fraction of the millions of species they estimate are living on our planet.  Taking these kinds of inventories⁵ is critical, they say, because habitats are disappearing.

A botanist⁶ at London's Royal Botanic Gardens, Jonathan Timberlake, is a member of the research team going to Mozambique to focus on little-known coastal⁷ forest areas.

"These coastal forests have been looked at in quite a lot of detail, particularly in Kenya and Tanzania in recent years and they show very high levels of diversity and also high levels of endemism - that is species that are only found in very restricted areas," said Jonathan Timberlake. "And it has always been assumed these forests continue into Mozambique, but nobody has ever really looked at it."

The project is being conducted in close collaboration⁸ with Mozambican research institutes.  Timberlake says taking stock of the country's biodiversity is critical because Mozambique is developing rapidly.  Agriculture, timber extraction, oil and gas exploration all pose threats to wildlife.

"If we are aware of what [wildlife] is there and which particular sites are most important, maybe the Mozambican government, which has shown interest in this, can help conserve⁹ these areas and allow development to go on in adjacent areas, but allow some of the most special sites, the ones which are particularly rich or have particular species, which do not occur outside Mozambique or in just limited areas across the border," he said. "They can help get these areas conserved¹⁰.  And hopefully we are all going to benefit from that."

Next year, scientists will also take stock of the marine¹¹ biodiversity in previously¹² unexplored areas of Madagascar.  The two projects are part of a massive, 10-year enterprise dubbed¹³ "Our Planet Reviewed."   The goal is to conduct biodiversity inventories of little known areas around the world that are considered priorities in nature conservation.

1 embarking   

乘船( embark的现在分词 )； 装载； 从事

参考例句：

• He's embarking on a new career as a writer. 他即将开始新的职业生涯——当一名作家。
• The campaign on which were embarking was backed up by such intricate and detailed maintenance arrangemets. 我们实施的战争，须要如此复杂及详细的维护准备。

2 inventory   

n.详细目录，存货清单

参考例句：

• Some stores inventory their stock once a week.有些商店每周清点存货一次。
• We will need to call on our supplier to get more inventory.我们必须请供应商送来更多存货。

3 fauna   

n.(一个地区或时代的)所有动物，动物区系

参考例句：

• This National Park is an area with unique fauna and flora.该国家公园区域内具有独特的动物种群和植物种群。
• Fauna is a biological notion means all the animal life in a particular region or period. 动物群是一个生物学的概念，指的是一个特定时期或者地区的所有动物。

4 flora   

n.(某一地区的)植物群

参考例句：

• The subtropical island has a remarkably rich native flora.这个亚热带岛屿有相当丰富的乡土植物种类。
• All flora need water and light.一切草木都需要水和阳光。

5 inventories   

n.总结( inventory的名词复数 )；细账；存货清单（或财产目录）的编制

参考例句：

• In other cases, such as inventories, inputs and outputs are both continuous. 在另一些情况下，比如存货，其投入和产出都是持续不断的。
• The store must clear its winter inventories by April 1st. 该店必须在4月1日前售清冬季存货。

6 botanist   

n.植物学家

参考例句：

• The botanist introduced a new species of plant to the region.那位植物学家向该地区引入了一种新植物。
• I had never talked with a botanist before,and I found him fascinating.我从没有接触过植物学那一类的学者，我觉得他说话极有吸引力。

7 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

8 collaboration   

n.合作，协作；勾结

参考例句：

• The two companies are working in close collaboration each other.这两家公司密切合作。
• He was shot for collaboration with the enemy.他因通敌而被枪毙了。

9 conserve   

vt.保存，保护，节约，节省，守恒，不灭

参考例句：

• He writes on both sides of the sheet to conserve paper.他在纸张的两面都写字以节省用纸。
• Conserve your energy,you'll need it!保存你的精力，你会用得着的！

10 conserved   

v.保护，保藏，保存( conserve的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He conserved his energy for the game. 他为比赛而养精蓄锐。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Under these conditions, the total mechanical energy remains constant, or is conserved. 在这种条件下，总机械能保持不变或机械能保存。 来自辞典例句

11 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。

12 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

13 dubbed   

v.给…起绰号( dub的过去式和过去分词 )；把…称为；配音；复制

参考例句：

• Mathematics was once dubbed the handmaiden of the sciences. 数学曾一度被视为各门科学的基础。
• Is the movie dubbed or does it have subtitles? 这部电影是配音的还是打字幕的？ 来自《简明英汉词典》